City of Marvel and Transformation: Chang'an and Narratives of Experience in Tang Dynasty China
City of Marvel and Transformation: Chang'an and Narratives of Experience in Tang Dynasty China By Linda Feng
2015 | 312 Pages | ISBN: 0824841069 | PDF | 2 MB
2015 | 312 Pages | ISBN: 0824841069 | PDF | 2 MB
During the Tang dynasty, the imperial capital of Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) was unrivaled in its monumental scale, with about one million inhabitants dwelling within its walls. It was there that one of the most enduring cultural and political institutions of the empire—the civil service examinations—took shape, bringing an unprecedented influx of literati men to the city seeking recognition and official status by demonstrating their literary talent. To these examination candidates, Chang'an was a megalopolis, career launch pad, and most importantly, cultural paradigm. As a multifaceted lived space, it captured the imaginations of Tang writers, shaped their future aspirations, and left discernible traces in the writings of this period.