A brief analysis of the difference and development of the monarchy and the status of the imperial family in the Tang Dynasty

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I. Introduction

The Tang Dynasty was one of the important periods in the development of China's feudal system, and great progress was made in various aspects such as politics, economy and culture. In the feudal system of the Tang Dynasty, the power of the monarchy and the status of the imperial family were topics of great concern. Monarchical power refers to the source and representation of the supreme power of the state, while royal status refers to the status and influence of the royal family in political, social and cultural aspects. This paper aims to analyze the characteristics and changes of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty, and the impact of these changes on the politics and society of the Tang Dynasty through the discussion of the monarchy and the status of the imperial family in the Tang Dynasty.

Second, the characteristics and development of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was one of the important periods in the development of China's feudal system. In the Tang Dynasty, the feudal system reached a relatively perfect level, and its characteristics were mainly manifested in the following aspects:

1. Improvement of the bureaucratic system: The Tang Dynasty established a relatively complete bureaucratic system, established officials at the central and local levels, and formed a complete selection and promotion system. According to their different positions, these officials are divided into officials of the ninth grade, officials of the fifth grade and above, and officials of the third grade or above, and each official has clear responsibilities and the scope of power.
2. Decentralization of local administration: The Tang Dynasty implemented the "prefecture-county system", which divided local administrative districts into prefectures and county levels, realizing the decentralization and hierarchical management of local administration. This system guarantees the effectiveness and flexibility of local administration, while also facilitating the jurisdiction and control of the central government.
3. Development of the feudal land system: The Tang Dynasty inherited the Sui Dynasty's Juntian system, and improved and perfected it on this basis. The development of the feudal land system in the Tang Dynasty was mainly manifested in two aspects: one was to strengthen the private ownership of land, and the other was to strengthen the state control and management of land.
4. Development of the family system: The Tang Dynasty practiced a patriarchal system, in which the family system played an important role. The family system emphasizes the blood relationship and hierarchy of the family, and was also an important organizational form of Tang society.

The above are some of the basic characteristics of the feudal system of the Tang Dynasty, which had a far-reaching impact on the politics, economy, society and culture of the Tang Dynasty. Next, this article will discuss the further development and changes of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty from two aspects: the power of the monarchy and the status of the imperial family.

Third, the source and characteristics of the monarchy of the Tang Dynasty

The source and characteristics of the monarchy of the Tang Dynasty were an important part of the feudal system of the Tang Dynasty. The monarchy of the Tang Dynasty came from the idea of the Mandate of Heaven and Taoist philosophy, advocating that "heaven bestows the world on saints, the king is the son of heaven, and the position of king is granted by heaven". Therefore, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty was considered the Son of Heaven granted by heaven, and his power was sacred and inviolable. The characteristics of the monarchy of the Tang Dynasty are mainly manifested in the following aspects:

1. Respect for official culture: The monarchy of the Tang Dynasty respected culture, attached importance to cultural arts such as rituals, music, and poetry, and used these cultural arts as symbols that reflected the civilization and respect of the monarch. The emperor of the Tang Dynasty personally presided over many cultural activities, such as imperial music, imperial writing, imperial fu, etc., which reflected the cultural authority of the monarchy and support for culture.

1. Strengthening of centralization: The Tang dynasty monarchy was very evident in centralization, and the emperor's control over the central power was very strong. The Tang Dynasty established official offices such as Yushi Tai, Zhongshu Province, and Shangshu Province, and the emperor directly held the power of these official offices, and carried out political management and decision-making through these official offices.
2. The Emperor's Power to Judge and Pardon: The Tang Dynasty emperor had the power to judge and pardon, and this power was one of the most direct and obvious ways to embody the power of the monarchy. The emperor could decide civil disputes and the fate of criminals, and this power gave a more direct expression of monarchical power.
3. Use of marriage policy: The monarchy of the Tang Dynasty established close ties with other wealthy families through the marriage policy. The emperor can unite various wealthy families through marriage, thereby controlling and stabilizing social order, and at the same time consolidating the position of the monarchy.

To sum up, the Tang Dynasty monarchy was a centralized feudal monarchy, which emphasized cultural and judicial power, and consolidated and maintained the status and power of the monarchy through means such as marriage policies and bureaucratic systems.

Fourth, the changes and influence of the status of the imperial family in the Tang Dynasty

The imperial status of the Tang Dynasty was also a very important aspect in the Tang feudal system. In the Tang Dynasty, the changes in the status of the imperial family were mainly manifested in the following aspects:

1. Increase in the number of royal families and nobles: The number of imperial families in the Tang Dynasty showed a clear growth trend, mainly because the Tang emperors implemented a large number of marriage policies, consolidating the status and power of the monarchy through marriage.
2. Privileged status of the royal family and aristocracy: The imperial family status of the Tang Dynasty was very special, and they enjoyed extremely high privileged status, such as the ability to monopolize certain land, have unique legal status and tax incentives, etc. This privileged position was very prominent in the feudal society of the Tang Dynasty.
3. Intra-royal strife: The intra-royal strife of the Tang dynasty was very intense, mainly due to the instability of the imperial succession system and the imperfection of the political system of the Tang dynasty. The deposition and killing of emperors in the Tang Dynasty also reflected the strife within the imperial family.
4. Decline of Imperial Status: With the development of Tang society and changes in the political situation, the Tang Dynasty's imperial status began to gradually decline. Especially in the late Tang Dynasty, due to political corruption and the intensification of various social contradictions, the status of the imperial family declined to a very low level.

The changes in the status of the imperial family in the Tang Dynasty had a profound impact on the evolution of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty. On the one hand, the particularity of the status of the imperial family made the imperial family an important force in the feudal society of the Tang Dynasty, and they had a great influence on the development of the political and social life of the Tang Dynasty; On the other hand, the internal strife of the imperial family also aggravated the instability of the political system of the Tang Dynasty, which gradually led to the decline of the Tang Dynasty.

V. Conclusion

The Tang Dynasty was an important stage in the development of feudal society in China, and the monarchy and royal status of the Tang Dynasty played a vital role in the feudal system of the Tang Dynasty. The strengthening of the monarchy and the change of the status of the imperial family in the Tang Dynasty had a profound impact on the evolution of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty.

The strengthening of monarchical power in the Tang Dynasty was mainly manifested in cultural and political aspects, and the emperor consolidated and maintained the status and power of the monarchy through bureaucracy and marriage policies. The changes in the status of the imperial family in the Tang Dynasty were mainly manifested in the increase in numbers, privileged status, internal strife and decline, which had a profound impact on the evolution of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty.

In general, the monarchy and royal status of the Tang Dynasty were an important part of the feudal system of the Tang Dynasty, and they all played a very important role in the political, cultural and social life of the Tang Dynasty. The evolution of the feudal system in the Tang Dynasty not only reflects the law and trend of social development in the Tang Dynasty, but also provides us with a useful reference and reference for studying the evolution and development of the feudal system in China.