The Research About Exotic Gems Of Tang Dynasty

From the literature handed down from ancient times, unearthed documents and unearthed cultural relics, the Tang Dynasty had very many different kinds of exotic gems. From the big categories, these gems included two kinds of natural stones and artificial gems. The natural gems were diamond, crystal, crystal beads, agate, Lazurite,Lapis lazul, pearl, coral, amber, hawksbill, giant, clam, ivory and rhino horn;The artificial gems were coloured glaze and glass.The sources of foreign stones in Tang Dynasty were fat lot, mainly from Persia and Arab Empire of the West Asia Persian, Fulin around the Mediterranean Sea, Tianzhu,Shiziguo of the South Asia, Kanguo, Shiguo, Tuhuoluo, Jibin Julan and Geshimi of the Central Asia, Linyi, Chenla, Keling, Tuohuan, Poli, Duoheluo and Duomie of the Southeast Asia countries, Japan of the Northeast Asian and, Bobali of the Africa.Foreign gems tribute and folk trade in the Tang Dynasty were very prosperous.According to the literature, the number of foreign countries for tribute gems to the Tang Dynasty was 26 times. Being bounded by the An Shih Rebellion, the early and late stage of the Tang Dynasty tribute times were 23 and 3, respectively. These show that the precious stones tribute trade was political heavily in Tang Dynasty. Its quantity scale was not large, and its economic meaning was unprominent. The number of people involved in gems tribute trade was limited. The management institutions of the tribute trade were Jiuqing system for the allied agencies David bunch Temple, and the guest of honor Secretary chancery which managed the tribute trades trictingly.The Tang Dynasty folk gems trade was more prosperous compared with the tribute trade.The Land of the Silk Road the Tang Dynasty gems trade and maritime Silk Road trade were very flourishing. Various states of gems were through the Anxi road into theterritory of the Tang Dynasty. Xizhou(Turpan), Shazhou(Dunhuang), Chang’an and Luoyang all were important foreign gems trade collection and distribution center.The gems of the South China sea counties and other places were through Guangzhou into the Tang Dynasty. Guangzhou, Hongzhou and Yangzhou were also exotic gems trade important collection and distribution center. From the point of literature, the gems trade scale of maritime Silk Road, compared to the land Silk Road, was much larger. The size of the people participated in folk gems trade was extremely large. The Tang government attaches great importance to the folk trade, and had set up the port office enhance the management of the folk trade. Merchants of exotic gems in the Tang Dynasty were Hu Merchants.They were the Persian traders, the Sogdiana’s city-states traders, the South China sea states’ s traders,the Tianzhu’s traders and Shiziguo’s traders.Exotic gems’ s uses in secular and religious life of the Tang Dynasty were extensive.In secular life, Exotic gems were maded to daily necessities,stationeries, beauty products, and medicines. Exotic gems in the religious life of the tang dynasty uses mainly embodied in the foreign gem purposes in Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.In buddhist life, the exotic gems mainly were maded to beads, incense burner, gem set pendant,the decoration of bodhisattva clothes, coloured glaze of store or offerings to buddhist relics.In the Taoist life, the exotic gems mainly were maded to build wonderland of Taoism. They were used in practice and alchemy.They were used to cure diseases. In the Confucianism life, the exotic gems mainly reflected the status of users.They were maded to the belt and crown cap of emperor,nobles,bureaucrates; Alsoly they were maded to the carriage of emperor, the prince and swallow flying like chariot;being maded of the note board of more than five grade’s officials.