Text|Odd Thing-kun
Editor|Odd Thing-kun
preface
The Tang Dynasty was one of the most prosperous periods in Chinese history and the pinnacle of the development of Chinese culture and art. At the same time, the Tang Dynasty was also an era of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural integration, in which the existence and influence of the Hu people could not be ignored.
As an ethnic minority at that time, the Hu people's urban living in Chang'an has certain particularity and uniqueness. This paper will explore the urban life of the Hu people in Chang'an from the perspectives of social status, occupational distribution, religious beliefs, and cultural inheritance of the Hu people in the Tang Dynasty.
The social status of the Hu people in the Tang Dynasty
During the Tang Dynasty, the term "Hu people" referred to nomadic peoples in Central Asia and Mongolia, such as Turkic, Hui, Khitan, Jurchen, etc. These nomads had many wars and trade exchanges with the Tang Dynasty and occupied a certain position in Tang society.
During the Tang Dynasty, the social status of the Hu people varied according to their origin, occupation, and official position. In the early days of the Tang Dynasty, some Hu tribes established friendly relations with the Tang Dynasty by uniting against foreign enemies, and the Turks became allies of the Tang Dynasty with their strength and martial arts.
Since then, some Hu tribes have also integrated into the society of the Tang Dynasty through marriage and marriage.
In the officialdom of the Tang Dynasty, some Hu people also gained a certain status. For example, some famous generals and politicians during the Tang Dynasty, such as An Lushan and Shi Siming, were people from the Hu tribe. At the same time, the Hu people could also enter the Tang Dynasty officialdom through the imperial examination and become some officials.
On the other hand, due to cultural and linguistic differences, as well as discrimination against foreigners in the Tang Dynasty, some Hu people did not gain equal social status. Some Hu people had a lower status in Tang society, were treated as foreigners, and were discriminated against and ostracized.
In general, the social status of the Hu people during the Tang Dynasty was complex and diverse. The status and treatment of different Hu people in Tang society varied according to their origin, occupation, and official rank.
Their social status in the Tang Dynasty was different from that of the Han Chinese, but they were not completely marginalized and excluded. In the Tang Dynasty, the social status of the Hu people mainly depended on their official position, wealth, and educational level.
During the Tang Dynasty, the Hu people held many important positions in the imperial court, such as prime ministers, generals, ambassadors, etc., and their status and fame were comparable to those of Han officials.
At the same time, the Hu people also developed greatly in commerce and handicrafts, with Turkic, Uighur and Arab merchants being the most active. In terms of culture, the poetry, paintings and other works of art of the Hu people of the Tang Dynasty also have high artistic value and have become an important part of the culture of the Tang Dynasty.
Occupational distribution of Hu people in Chang'an
Chang'an was the capital of the Tang Dynasty and one of the most prosperous metropolises in the world at the time, and the Hu people's occupational distribution here was also very diverse.
First of all, the Hu people made up a large proportion of the army of the Tang Dynasty, and they held many high-ranking positions in the army of the Tang Dynasty. For example, the Turkic Ashina Sheai, the Bone Rushi of the Uighurs, and the Yelü Dashi of the Khitan were all famous generals and military strategists of the Tang Dynasty.
Secondly, the Hu people also developed greatly in commerce and handicrafts, and the Uighurs and Turks accounted for a large proportion of the commerce of the Tang Dynasty, mainly engaged in animal husbandry such as horses, cattle, and sheep, and obtained great wealth from them.
At the same time, the Uighurs also operated a number of trading companies, and their commodities included tea, silk, jade, etc., which became an important pillar of the economy of the Tang Dynasty. In terms of handicrafts, the Hu people were mainly engaged in the production of ironware, pottery, fabrics, etc., and their handicraft level was also very superb at that time.
In addition, the Hu people also held many important positions in the official offices, academies, temples and other institutions of the Tang Dynasty, such as translators, calligraphers, poets, etc.
Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty was one of the most prosperous cities in the world at that time, attracting a large influx of Hu people. These Hu people have a wide range of occupations in Chang'an, mainly as follows:
Military generals: The Hu people were an important part of the military power during the Tang Dynasty, and many Hu people held important positions in the Tang Dynasty army, such as Turkic, Uighur, etc.
Merchant trade: Chang'an was one of the most prosperous trading cities in the world at that time, attracting a large number of merchants to trade. Many Hu people are also engaged in commercial activities, such as the transportation of goods, the buying and selling of goods, etc.
Artisan handicrafts: The handicraft industry in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty was very developed, and the Hu people were also involved in it, such as leather, ceramic making, embroidery and other industries.
Civil Scholars: Some Hu people also held important positions in the government and academic fields of the Tang Dynasty, such as taking the imperial examination, holding official positions, and compiling documents.
Peasants: Some Hu people were also engaged in agricultural production on the outskirts of Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, such as growing rice and fruit trees.
In general, the Hu occupations of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty were widely distributed and participated in all aspects of society at that time, with military, commerce and handicrafts as the main occupations. The influx of these Hu people made important contributions to the economic and cultural development of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty.
The religious beliefs of the Hu people
The religious beliefs of the Hu people in the Tang Dynasty were relatively diverse, mainly including Zoroastrianism, Nestorianism, Manichaeism, Buddhism and Islam.
Zoroastrianism is a primitive religion in ancient Central Asia and the main religion of the Hu tribes such as the Turks and Hui. Zoroastrian beliefs mainly worship the gods and ancestors of nature and earth, and are rich in myths and rituals. During the Tang Dynasty, some Hu officials and folks also believed in Zoroastrianism.
Nestorianism is a branch of Christianity in ancient Persia that was introduced to Central Asia with the spread of Persians and Zoroastrians. During the Tang Dynasty, Nestorianism was also introduced to China and spread in some areas of the Tang Dynasty, such as the Hexi Corridor. The Nestorian faith worships mainly Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, with its own church and Bible.
Manichaeism is a religion that originated in China during the Eastern Han Dynasty and spread to Central Asia and the Hu tribes as the Han and Tang dynasties expanded their rule and influence over Central Asia. The Manichaean faith worships Manichaean Buddha and other deities, with its own set of teachings and rituals. During the Tang Dynasty, some Hu people also believed in Manichaeism.
Buddhism was one of the main religions in China during the Tang Dynasty, and also spread to Central Asia and the Hu tribes. Some Hu people also believed in Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty, such as Khitan and Jurchen. They share similarities in faith with Han Buddhists and also have their own Buddhist culture and traditions.
Islam was a religion that was introduced to Central Asia in the 7th century and later to the Mongols and other Hu tribes.
At the end of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period, some Hu people believed in Islam, such as Arab merchants and Persian merchants, etc., who spread Islam to China during the Tang Dynasty and established some mosques and educational institutions, such as the Great Mosque in Xi'an Muslim Street.
Hu cultural inheritance
During the Tang Dynasty, the cultural contribution of the Hu people could not be ignored. In terms of literature and art, the Hu people have created many excellent works, such as the "Great Wind Song" by the Turkic Luo Bing King, and the "Yuanjue Sutra" by the Uighur Agandoro Chaga.
At the same time, in the painting art of the Tang Dynasty, the influence of the Hu people is also very large, and their paintings have unique characteristics in form, content and style, such as "Tang Tu" and "Tang Feng". In addition, in the science and technology of the Tang Dynasty, the Hu people also made many contributions, such as the "Li Jing-style" gunpowder formula of the Turkic Li Jing.
In terms of cultural inheritance, the Hu people also made a lot of efforts during the Tang Dynasty. They integrated their national culture into the culture of the Tang Dynasty, while also accepting and absorbing the essence of Han culture.
For example, the "Li Jifu Collection" created by the Turkic Li Jifu during the Tang Dynasty integrates Han, Turkic, Hui and other cultural elements, and has become an important part of Tang Dynasty culture.
In addition, the Hu people also made a lot of contributions to the language and writing of the Tang Dynasty, they spread their language and script to all parts of the Tang Dynasty, and integrated with Chinese characters and Chinese to form a unique language and writing system, such as Turkic, Uighur, etc.
The cultural inheritance of the Hu people of the Tang Dynasty is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Language and writing: The Hu people of the Tang Dynasty had their own language and writing systems, such as Khitan and Uighur, which had their own characteristics and developments. Some Hu people also learn Chinese characters and communicate with Han Chinese people for cultural exchanges.
Literature and art: The Hu people of the Tang Dynasty had their own art forms and traditions in literature, music, dance, etc. For example, Hu poetry is mostly based on the theme of praising heroes and worshipping nature, and music and dance also incorporate elements such as Hu folk art and traditional musical instruments.
Religious beliefs: The religious beliefs of the Hu people of the Tang dynasty, such as Zoroastrianism and Buddhism, also influenced their cultural inheritance to some extent. For example, Zoroastrian and Buddhist stories and legends became important subjects and materials in the literature and art of the Hu people.
Social customs: The Hu people of the Tang Dynasty had their own social customs and traditions, such as weddings, funerals, etc. These customs and traditions have also become an important part of the Hu culture, interacting and integrating with the traditional culture of the Han people.
In short, the cultural inheritance of the Hu people in the Tang Dynasty is diverse and rich, and has had a certain exchange and influence with the Han culture. This pluralism and exchange not only enriched the cultural diversity of the Tang Dynasty, but also provided new perspectives and ways of thinking for the cultural development in Chinese history.
The state of life of the Hu people in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty
During the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an, as one of the most prosperous cities in the world at that time, attracted a large influx of Hu people. The living conditions of these Hu people in Chang'an are somewhat different from those of the Han people, but on the whole they are relatively stable.
The Hu people live loosely in Chang'an, mainly in the suburbs and peri-urban areas. They usually live in their own settlements, separate from the Han Chinese. These settlements are usually made up of people of the same ethnic group, where people live, work and play.
The food culture of the Hu people in Chang'an is different from that of the Han people, and the eating habits of the Hu people are more inclined to meat and dairy products. They usually make and sell these foods in their own settlements or in their own shops. The food culture of the Hu people had a great influence on the Chang'an market at that time, bringing diversity to the food culture of Chang'an.
The religious beliefs of the Hu people in Chang'an are also different from those of the Han people, and their religions mainly include Zoroastrianism and Buddhism. These religious beliefs provided spiritual sustenance and living norms for the Hu people, and also brought new elements to Chang'an's cultural inheritance.
The Hu people were a relatively independent group during the Tang Dynasty, and they had a certain status and rights in the society at that time. Some Hu people played important roles in the fields of politics, military, commerce, and culture, and they contributed to the development and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
In general, the Hu people in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty lived differently from the Han people, but they were relatively stable. The exchanges and interactions between them and the Han people also brought new elements and opportunities for the Chang'an market and cultural exchanges at that time.
Author's opinion:
The author believes that the urban life of the Hu people in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty was very diverse and colorful. They have made great development and contributions in military, commerce, handicrafts, culture and other aspects, and at the same time have integrated their own national culture with Han culture, and developed a unique cultural form on this basis.
The urban living conditions of the Hu people in Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty not only reflected the diversity and openness of Chinese society at that time, but also provided an important reference and reference for the cultural inheritance and development of future generations.
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