On The Ritual Activities Of Tang Gaozong In The Post-Wuhan Period

Known as its etiquette,China has attached great importance to the construction of ritual system since ancient times.Tang Dynasty,as an important stage of the development of ancient Chinese ritual system,underwent many different changes in this respect.In the development of the Tang Dynasty ritual system,the period of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu attracts lots of concern for its changeabilty.Unlike other periods,ritual revision activities were repeatedly changed in this period,which can be divided into three stages in terms of specific contents.The first stage is the first six years since Gao Zong ascended the throne,which was focused on the supplement of "Zhenguan Ritual".The second stage is from the sixth year of Yonghui to Qianfeng(666AD-668AD).This stage is symbolized by the amendment and implementation of "Xianqing Ritual".The third stage is the period after Qianfeng,during which time "Zhenguan Ritual" and "Xianqing Ritual" were repeated used until abolished,then ritual matters were discussed when needed.Although the changes of ritual system is the product of many factors intertwined,the decisive influence of state politics on ritual system is its most important motive,which makes the change of ritual system often the product of political structure at that time.The change of ritualism in three different stages of the period of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu was due to the political game among the three different political forces of former ministers of Zhenguan Period,Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu.The early rites of Tang Gaozong demonstrated the power of the reign of the former ministers;after holding the authentic power of the emperor,Tang Gaozong consolidated his political authority by the restoration of etiquette and personally presiding over the important ceremonial activities;until the conflict between Tang Gaozong and Wu Zetian,ritual system once again became a tool for the power struggle of the two.The change of ritual system in this period is a microcosm of the development of the traditional ritual system in China.The ritual system serves the function of real politics and is the driving force for the development of the etiquette system.Although the contents of the ritual system are repeated,But it also promote the Tang Dynasty ritual system development and improvement,and later related to the establishment of the relevant rules and regulations,the compilation of books,provides a wealth of materials and theoretical guidance.