A Lady Medical Practitioner Travels Back to the Tang Dynasty

In the city of Chang 'an, the warm spring sun lazily shines on Zhuque Street. Along the street, tea houses and restaurants are filled with a rich cultural atmosphere everywhere. At this time, in the Tang Dynasty, culture was at its peak and had reached an unprecedented heyday.

Art forms such as poetry, painting and music have flourished and reached new heights. Behind this, Empress Dowager Li Yi and Empress Dowager Lin Yue made significant contributions, and the new Emperor Li Muyang also worked hard to promote it, allowing the prosperous wave of Tang culture to sweep through every inch of land.

Although Emperor Taishang Li Yi has retired from the limelight, he is always concerned about the inheritance of culture. He often gathered a group of scholars and poets to hold poetry gatherings in the imperial garden within the palace. The garden is ablaze with flowers and winding paths lead to secluded spots. Poets sit around pavilions and terraces, drinking and composing poems, freely expressing their feelings.

Li Yi moved among them, discussing the rules of poetry with everyone and sharing his own insights on poetry.

Although he was an emperor, he showed no AIRS and encouraged and guided the works of young poets, which inspired many people to be inspired and produce many excellent works. Those verses, either passionate and heroic or gentle and delicate, linger in the imperial garden, infusing the poetry culture of the Tang Dynasty with an endless stream of vitality.

Empress Dowager Lin Yue was also a firm supporter of cultural development. She was particularly passionate about the art of painting and often ordered painting exhibitions to be held in the palace, inviting painters from all over to perform. At the exhibition site, a series of exquisite paintings are on display, featuring landscapes, figures, flowers and birds, with diverse themes and unique styles. Lin Yue carefully examined each work, had a cordial chat with the painters, and inquired about their painting techniques and creative inspirations.

She also specially established a painting award to offer generous rewards to outstanding painters, inspiring more people to engage in painting creation. As a result, the Tang Dynasty's painting circle witnessed a continuous emergence of talents, with increasingly diverse painting styles and the vigorous development of painting art.

After ascending the throne, the new emperor Li Muyang regarded cultural development as an important part of governing the country. He is well aware that talents are the foundation of cultural prosperity, so he opens up channels for expression and attaches great importance to talented people.

In the imperial court, he was close to virtuous officials and humbly listened to their suggestions on cultural construction. For those who flatter villains, they should be resolutely abandoned. When selecting officials, he attaches great importance to assessing the cultural literacy and moral character of talents to ensure that every person entering the officialdom can contribute to cultural development.

He also reasonably arranged positions for officials based on their different specialties, allowing those skilled in literature to be responsible for cultural promotion affairs and those proficient in art appreciation to participate in the planning of cultural activities, making the best use of everyone's talents and resources.

In order to further stimulate the enthusiasm for cultural creation among the people, Li Muyang promulgated a series of incentive policies.

Whether it is the poetry and articles created by scholars and literati or the musical performances and paintings by folk artists, as long as they have unique artistic value, once discovered, they will be rewarded in a timely manner.

In the city of Chang 'an, there is a young musician who has composed a novel piece of music, blending the musical styles of the Western Regions and the Central Plains. The melody is melodious and touching. Upon hearing this, Li Muyang immediately announced his entry into the palace to perform and bestowed upon him a hundred taels of gold, appointing him as a court musician. After this incident spread among the people, it greatly inspired the enthusiasm of the common folk for creation. On every street and in every alley, one could hear people discussing artistic creation everywhere.

Under Li Muyang's promotion, various cultural activities were held in different parts of the Tang Dynasty. Every spring, Chang 'an holds a grand poetry conference. Scholars from all over the country gather together to make friends through poetry and exchange ideas with each other.

At the competition site, the contestants were quick-witted and witty, and one wonderful poem after another came out of their mouths. The audience below the stage was also immersed in it and burst into enthusiastic applause from time to time.

In autumn, there is a painting competition. Painters come to participate with their carefully created works. The judges of the competition are both palace painters and highly respected folk artists, ensuring the fairness and authority of the selection. In terms of music, there are also extremely rich activities.

In Chang 'an City, music troupes have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Every night, when the lights come on, the music hall is brightly lit and the sounds of music and bamboo can be heard constantly. Folk musicians gather here to exchange playing techniques and attempt new musical creations. Some music bands also hold regular concerts and invite the people in the city to watch for free.

At the concert, there were traditional Central Plains pieces such as "Feathered Robe and Feathered Skirt". The musicians performed them with instruments like the pipa and guzheng, presenting the melodious and dreamlike tunes to the fullest extent, as if allowing people to witness the grand dance and song scenes in the imperial court. There was also a piece of music that incorporated the charm of the Western Regions. The huqin wailed and the Jiegu was passionate. The lively melody made the audience sway involuntarily. Different styles of music collided and merged with each other, playing a magnificent symphony of the prosperity of Tang culture.

In the imperial court, the development of music was also changing with each passing day. Li Muyang attached great importance to the cultivation of court musicians and recruited music talents from all over the world. The Imperial Yuefu constantly innovates its performance forms, ingeniously combining various Musical Instruments to create more diverse musical effects.

For instance, at a grand court banquet, musicians, with the chime bells as the core, combined with the zither, se, flute and flute, played a magnificent yet elegant piece of music. The crisp sound of the chime bells is like the grand yellow bells and lychees, stirring the heart. The harmonies of the zither and the se are gentle and melodious, adding a touch of tenderness to the music. The ethereal timbres of the flute and the xiao weave through it, creating a dreamlike and illusory atmosphere. The nobles present were intoxicated and cheered for the wonderful music one after another.

The music creation of the Tang Dynasty also reached a new height. Musicians are no longer confined to traditional tunes and themes. They begin to delve into life and draw inspiration from folk tales and natural landscapes.

A young musician named Zhang Ruoxu, inspired by the night view of the Yangtze River, composed a piece titled "Spring River Moonlit Night". This piece of music, with its beautiful melody, depicts the magnificent scenes of the spring river tide and the bright moon over the sea, as well as the continuous longing of a wanderer and his wife.

Once the piece was released, it quickly spread among the people and became a well-known classic. Whether on the fishing boats by the river or in the alleys of the market, one can hear people humming this touching melody.

In terms of music education, the Tang Dynasty also achieved remarkable accomplishments. Private schools and academies in various places have successively set up music courses and hired professional musicians to teach. Children are exposed to music from a young age and learn to play Musical Instruments and learn music theory. Some children from poor families but with great musical talent also have the opportunity to receive financial support and enter specialized music institutions for further study.

These educational institutions have cultivated batch after batch of outstanding musical talents, laying a solid foundation for the continuous prosperity of music in the Tang Dynasty.

With the prosperous development of culture, the influence of the music culture of the Tang Dynasty gradually expanded to neighboring countries. Japan, Silla and other countries have sent students to study the music of the Tang Dynasty one after another. They not only learn the skills of playing Musical Instruments, but also conduct in-depth research on the music theories and creative methods of the Tang Dynasty.

After these international students brought Tang Dynasty music back to their home countries, they had a profound impact on the development of local music and promoted the exchange and integration of music culture in East Asia.

Meanwhile, the musical envoys of the Tang Dynasty also frequently visited various countries, showcasing the charm of Tang Dynasty music on the international stage. Their performances enabled the world to appreciate the unique charm of Eastern music, won countless praises, and further consolidated the status of the Tang Dynasty as a world cultural center.

Against the backdrop of cultural prosperity, the creation of poetry in the Tang Dynasty reached a new peak. Poets are no longer confined to traditional themes and have begun to pay attention to the delicate expression of social livelihood, natural scenery and personal emotions.

Li Bai's bold and unrestrained style, Du Fu's melancholy and cadence, and Wang Wei's freshness and naturalness - their poems have distinct styles, yet they all demonstrate the grandeur of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

One classic work after another has been widely circulated among the people. On the streets and in the alleys, children can recite a few lines of Tang poetry. Poetry not only served as a communication tool for scholars and literati, but also integrated into the lives of ordinary people, becoming a bright calling card of Tang culture.

The art of painting has also made considerable progress. Painters have boldly innovated on the basis of inheriting traditions, and their painting techniques have become increasingly exquisite.

Wu Daozi, with his unique "Wu Dai Dang Feng" painting technique, depicted figures so vividly that they seemed to leap off the paper. Yan Liben's paintings focus on depicting the expressions of characters, revealing their inner world through delicate brushstrokes. Their works are not only highly regarded at home but also spread overseas, allowing the world to appreciate the unique charm of Tang Dynasty paintings.

The subjects of paintings have also become increasingly diverse. Besides the traditional landscapes and figures, paintings depicting the life of the common people and the exotic customs have emerged in an endless stream, vividly presenting the rich and colorful society of the Tang Dynasty.

In terms of music, the Tang Dynasty integrated the musical elements of various ethnic groups and formed a unique musical style.

Court music is elegant and solemn, while folk music is lively and cheerful. Traditional Musical Instruments such as the pipa, guzheng and erhu blend with the huqin and Jiegu from the Western Regions, creating music with beautiful melodies and lively rhythms. Whether at court banquets or in folk teahouses and taverns, pleasant music can be heard everywhere.

Many musical works are also accompanied by poems and sung far and wide, becoming an indispensable part of people's lives.

With the prosperous development of culture, the cultural influence of the Tang Dynasty gradually expanded to neighboring countries. Japan, Silla and other countries sent students to study the culture of the Tang Dynasty one after another. They brought back the art forms such as poetry, painting and music of the Tang Dynasty to their own countries, promoting the development of local culture.

The cultural envoys of the Tang Dynasty also frequently visited various countries to spread the culture of the Tang Dynasty and conduct cultural exchanges with them. During the process of cultural exchange, the culture of the Tang Dynasty continuously absorbed the essence of foreign cultures, further enriched and developed itself, and became the center of world culture at that time.

Behind the cultural prosperity lies the hard work of countless scholars, poets and artists, as well as the vigorous promotion of rulers such as Empress Dowager Li Yi, Empress Dowager Lin Yue and the new Emperor Li Muyang. They jointly created a relaxed and free cultural creation environment, allowing the culture of the Tang Dynasty to shine brightly in the long river of history.

As night fell, the city of Chang 'an was ablaze with lights. The melodious music and the recitation of poetry could still be heard from the restaurants and tea houses. The cultural prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, just like these brilliant lights, illuminated the historical sky and became a beautiful story passed down through the ages, inspiring generation after generation to make unremitting efforts for the inheritance and development of culture.

Under the nourishment of this culture, the Tang Dynasty became increasingly prosperous and flourishing, standing firm in the east of the world and writing its own glorious chapter.