Sui And Tang Wang Taiyuan, Changes And Influence

This thesis mainly focuses on the changes and influence of Clan Wang in Taiyuanin Sui and Tang Dynasty. There are seven chapters in this paper. After four hundredsyears of heritage and development, mainly from the Wei and Jin Dynasty to thebeginning of Sui Dynasty, the Clan Wang in Taiyuan owns a characteristic ofcomplicated marital relationship. The author investigates the reputation, maritalrelationship and descent heritage of the Clan Wang. Their family structures andrelationships will be further discussed. It is commonly acknowledged that the ancestorof the Clan Wang in Taiyuan is the King Zhou Ling, that is, prince Jin. A General ofthe state of Qin, Wangjian and the King Wangba are also considered to be their eldergeneration. Apart from that, a large number of people are generally referred to as theClan Wang in Taiyuan. Jinyang and Qi County are two senior branches of the ClanWang. The Clan Wang mainly has main, second, third and four branches, which iscontinuation of the marriage with Shandong nobles and is close and frequentestablishment of marital relation with Qinghe Cui, Boling Cui, Long Xi Lee; the ClanWang in Taiyuan is estranged with Zhao Jun Lee, Ying Yang Cheng, Fan Yang Lu’smarriage. In the Early Tang Dynasty, Qi county Wang and the royal family hadfrequent marital relationship, showing strong political attributes. Branches of theClan Wang in Taiyuan in Sui and Tang dynasty developed themselves in differentways in terms of politics-involvement. The political status of Taiyuan Wang hasdropped somewhat in Sui Dynasty, but the representative figures of the family werestill close to the political center. The main and second branches of Jinyang Wang,completely excluded from the upper ruling strata, were often appointed official titlesthat were not so important. The situation gradually changed until after the EmperorTang xuanzhong and continued to the late Tang. In the early Tang dynasty, branch ofJinyang Wang in the North had a very close relationship with royal families while theZhongshan branch, seldom had prominent figures except the chancellor Wangjun. TheQi county Wangbing-branch, in Sui and Tang dynasty were respected and did notdecline until the reign of Tang Xuanzhongt. The Qi county Wuwan-branch was prosperous in the early Tang dynasty. Main income of branches of the Clan Wang issalary, reward, officials operation. In addition, land, mansions, gardens, tombs andfamily temple also reflect the economic strength of the family. The economicactivities of the Clan Wang are evident features of their political behaviors.The Clan Wang families stick to etiquette. All members generally have highcultural and academic level. They hold etiquette, focusing on filial piety, showing asuccessive family tradition of respecting martial arts and writing. The Clan Wangfamilies also pay great attention to the education of their children, and femalemembers, as a member of noble family, play an important role in their childrenseducation. Taking imperial classics examination is the usual way for the Clan Wangfamilies to become officials, especially examination on the highest imperialexamination、answer emperor questions、studying Confucian classics etc. Besides,fame of their ancestor and their military medals are another ways for the Clan Wangmembers to take official position. The Clan Wang, influenced by social culture in theSui and Tang dynasty that Buddhism was highly admired, make friends with themonks or cultivate them in believing in Buddhism and Taoism. Confucianism isgreatly valued in their family culture. A small part of members believe in Buddhismand Taoism and the number that totally believe in one kind of religion is even less.Their calm attitude in the face of death or fame should be related to the social andcultural atmosphere and family culture mentality.The main and second branches of the Clan Wang in Taiyuan relocated in Luoyang,and some ones moved to Changan.The Qi county branch lived in Changan dignitaries.A considerable number of members of the Clan Wang lineage difficult to testifyburied in East capital Luoyang and most of them buried in the Mountain Mang region.Because of officialdom and the war, there are some members moved to other areas. Inaddition, a number of the Clan Wang branches untraceable moved to Luoyang,Chang’an and Shangdang. The members of Taiyuan Wang descendants of the Sui andTang dynasty out of honor of their ancestor called themselves the Jinyang people orTaiyuan Qi, but most of their residence actually moved out of Taiyuan. The ClanWang in Taiyuan, as nobles, in the main gathering place like Luoyang, Changan and Taiyuan, still had great social impact on the Society then.