The Tang Dynasty was an exotic and glorious era. In this dynamic and multicultural period, the life of the aristocracy was undoubtedly the most exciting. Not only do they have supreme power and great wealth, but they also have a unique aesthetic taste and extravagant lifestyle. Among them, their preference for Kunlun Nu, Silla maids, and Bodhisattvas is an interesting manifestation of their taste for life.
Kunlun slaves, as the name suggests, are slaves from the Kunlun Mountains. This is a group of captives with Caucasian characteristics, they are tall, fair-skinned, and have deep facial features, which are extremely exotic. In the eyes of the nobles of the Tang Dynasty, they were not only hard-working and capable servants, but also "living ornaments" that showed the prestige and taste of their masters. Some Kunlun Nu even received specialized training in the arts and manners to serve the aristocracy.
Silla maids were slave girls from Silla (present-day Korea). Most of them have fair complexions, delicate skin, graceful demeanor, and a charming temperament of "ice skin and snow skin". The aristocracy regarded them as "the beauty of the world" and an excellent choice for decorating a good life. Silla maids were also in short supply in the Tang Dynasty, and they not only needed to have excellent talents and appearance, but also had to undergo strict training in demeanor and service.
The Bodhisattva Man came from the Western Regions and was a widely spread form of foreign music and dance. Most of them come from present-day India, Iran, and other places, and they are dark-skinned and petite-bodied, but they are extremely talented in dancing and singing. They danced lightly on the stage and sang emotionally in the music, which became an indispensable part of the court culture. Many bodhisattvas were also specially accepted as concubines by the nobles to accompany them.
For these three "exotic favorites", the nobles of the Tang Dynasty undoubtedly came out of a yearning for foreign culture, as well as the need to be unconventional and show off a luxurious life. Kunlun Nu embodies their imagination of the distant and mysterious Western Regions; The Silla maids satisfied their longing for oriental elegance and beauty; And the bodhisattvas give them artistic enjoyment and the happiness of being out of the ordinary.
In these exotic people, the Tang people saw exotic customs that were completely different from the local culture, and the mystery, strangeness, and uniqueness they brought made people yearn for it. It is precisely based on this interest and pursuit of foreign culture that the Tang Dynasty aristocracy will have such a unique aesthetic preference.
The aristocrats were keen to place Kunlun Nu, Silla Maiden, and Bodhisattva Man in the depths of the palace as rare treasures to show their status and taste. They elaborate and elaborate sumptuous costumes for the Kunlun slaves, dressed the Silla maids in splendid brocade robes, and hired the bodhisattvas to entertain the feasts. In their eyes, these exotic people are a symbol of luxury living, and owning them is equivalent to owning the essence of the whole world.
However, this pursuit of exotic aesthetics was not unique to the Tang Dynasty. Since ancient times, China's upper class has longed for foreign treasures and is full of curiosity about foreign scenery. This is not only due to self-confidence in self-culture, but also from a kind of human nature - the yearning for the unknown. It was this curiosity and aesthetic need that gave birth to the Tang people's preference for Kunlun Nu, Silla Maiden, Bodhisattva Man, etc.
Of course, this aesthetic preference also reflects some negative effects. Treasured and flaunted people of different races as "objects" certainly shows the power and wealth of the owner, but it also reflects a condescending attitude that objectifies human nature. In addition, it is even more unethical to use foreign women as a tool to satisfy selfish desires. However, from another point of view, as slaves, they can enter the rich and noble families and enjoy a relatively comfortable life, which can be regarded as a gift of fate.
In any case, the unique identities and status of Kunlun Nu, Silla Maiden, and Bodhisattva have left us with many interesting historical imprints. They more or less participated in and witnessed the extravagant life of that glorious era, and became a vivid footnote to the aesthetic taste and cultural pursuit of the Tang Dynasty aristocracy. Through them, we not only see the way of life of the upper class in ancient China, but also get a glimpse of a tolerance and curiosity about foreign cultures.
Coincidentally, similar aesthetic preferences exist in some other ancient civilizations. In the case of the Persian dynasty, the kings also liked to recruit beautiful concubines from foreign lands, which were regarded as a symbol of wealth and status. In India, exotic female dancers such as "Jiheri" are popular, who use their dancing and singing voices to please the princes and nobles. It can be seen that the yearning for and tolerance of foreign cultures are the common psychology of human societies around the world.
History is always so rich and colorful, and the love of the Tang Dynasty aristocracy for foreign objects and cultural elements undoubtedly adds to its color. Through this aesthetic preference, we understand the curious nature of human beings about the unknown, as well as the tolerance and openness of the Chinese upper class to multiculturalism. Although there are some dark sides, we should look at this history with empathy, because it is the various human emotions and pursuits that have shaped this rich and colorful cultural landscape.