Tang Dynasty Princess Married Life

Outline: The Tang princesses, who were a special noble class of aristocratics,are being kept a keen study in the research world and many achievements have been made. So far, however, the study on the Tang princess matrimony has not been performed as broadly and deeply as it should be. Therefore, this book has made a detailed study on the Tang princesses' marriages for the hope of making the research go further.The Tang princess matrimony had a close relationship with the politics of that period. The men chosen as the Emperors' sons-in-law were varied as the political groups changed, which appeared a clear characteristic of different stages.Because of their nobility and special status, the Tang princess matrimony was certainly different from the civilian girls' marriages. As for the purposes of the princess matrimonies, there were four types of marriages, including peacemaking, rewarding, related and transformed. Compared with other dynastic princess matrimony, the Tang princess marriages have obvious features like opening, shutting and especially political purposes.In imperial families during Tang Dynasty, The selections for the princesses' future husbands were carried out so seriously according to the similar standards as those of choosing emperors' sons-in-law with a political purpose without exception. The wedding for the princess was just like that of a lord. Surely, in order to show up their noblest identities, some honorable titles would be conferred to the princesses. The married princesses had little restrictions but a relatively rich marriage life. It was very common for a married princess to remarry after her husband died at the early Tang dynasty. It was permitted by the imperial laws and acceptable as the princesses had a slight attitude towards purity.Judging from their matrimony, the Tang princesses were divided into two groups. One was peacemaking, the other was nonpeacemaking. As to the latter, based on the traditional standard, non-peacemaking princesses were furher divided into three types as fine princess with virtues, the princess without virtues and ordinary princess according to their performances in matrical life. Because their marriages had a close relation with politics, the emperors' daughters often became victims in competitions for powers. The princesses' matrimonies were certainly full of tragic fate. Nevertheless, since they belonged to a special class, the princesses in Tang Dynasty played a very important part in economy, politics, customs and cultures. They made contributions to many aspects through their marriages.It is very significant to make a deep study on the matrimony of the Tang princesses in both the research world and the reality. Broadly speaking, it may discover the fact that political marriage had its own meanings and it will make us observe the power patterns of that period. Narrowly speaking, it can help us understand a lot through its historical destination and find its influence on the whole development of the history. Thus, it does good to the study on the Tang dynastal women's life and it is also helpful for us to find some hints of social development in Tang Dynasty. We can have a deep thought about its social problems. What is more, we may learn a lot from the remarks and statements for the matrimony of Tang princesses to direct our present life.There are three chapters in this book.ChapterⅠIt will tell us something about princesses marritial chosen range, status and features of their marrige. It gives us a whole view over the Tang princesses' matrimony.ChapterⅡIt mainly tells us something about the princesses' marriage. It tells us the selective process for Tang Emperors' sons-in-law and the ceremony. It also will give the remarks about their remarrying.ChapterⅢFrom the point of marriage the book describes the historical fates and influence of Tang princesses. On the whole it tells us that Tang princesses' matrimonies were tragic and offers an objective view that in some way their marriages played a very important part in the historical progress.