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 The Sui had done much to bring about a political union within the country. However, due to their short term in power they had achieved little by way of integrating the various nation states that made up the empire. The Tang played an important role in this respect and accelerated the process that had been commenced under the Jin (265 - 420) and continued under the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The obvious benefits of the Tang political and social structures were attractive to neighboring states and they sought contact and intercourse with the empire.
The Tang adopted a policy of extending friendship and co-operation with the ethnic group states along its borders but at the same time developed a strong defence system in order to prevent an attack. During the sixth and seventh centuries, the Tubo (Tibet), Tujue (Turk) and Huihe emerged as the most powerful of the neighboring tribes and special efforts were made to consolidate relations with them.
Tang and Tubo
The Tubo inhabited the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and was the ancestry group of present day Tibetans. Early in the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 BC), they had contact with the Han people of the Central Plains. In the seventh century, a hero of the Tubo, Songtsan Gambo, united a number of tribes and formed the Tubo Khan Kingdom, proclaiming himself Zanpu (king) of it.
At this time, the Tang Empire was at its peak and the Tubo in common with other countries was eager to form an alliance with their all-powerful neighbor. Early in 634, Songtsan Gambo twice dispatched envoys to the Tang court in Chang'an seeking the hand of one of the emperor's daughters in marriage.
Emperor Taizong saw the benefit of such an alliance and Princess Wencheng was betrothed to the Tubo Zanpu. In 641, the Princess accompanied by the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites set out for the Tubo kingdom. The Princess took with her offerings of grain and vegetable seeds, technology and medicine books as well as Buddhist scriptures. The marriage sealed an amicable link between the Tubo and Tang and engendered economic development in the country. Such was the importance of this event, that it is still remembered by the Han and Tibetan peoples.
Later, in the eighth century, Emperor Zhongzong's daughter, Princess Jincheng, was betrothed to yet another Tubo king, Chidaizhudan. Thus it was said, 'the Tubo and Tang had been combined into one family'.
Tang and Tujue
The Tujue was a nomadic tribe that lived in the Altai Mountains. In the mid sixth century, they formed the Tujue Khan kingdom and set about extending their territory. They had maintained a close alliance with the people of the Central Plains for a very long time. However, from the days of the Northern Qi (550 - 557) and Northern Zhou (557 - 581) Tujue armies had frequently harassed the Central Plains plundering property and enslaving captives.
By the end of the sixth century, the kingdom was split in two and became Eastern and Western Tujue. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the eastern Tujue continually raided the Chinese border. Gathering up his military might, Emperor Taizong finally defeated the Eastern Tujue and made it a tributary of the Tang. Later, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, a series of campaigns against the Western Tujue resulted in the collapse of that kingdom.
Tang and Huihe
Huihe, the ancestry group of the Uigur ethnic group, gradually became a powerful state during the Sui Dynasty (581-618). During the Tang Dynasty they managed to defeat the Tujue and in the mid eighth century Gulipeiluo, chief of the Huihe united the tribes and established the Huihe Khan kingdom.
The Huihe maintained good relations with the Tang. By way of recognition, Emperor Xuanzong named Gulipeiluo "Khan Huairen" which meant "a Benevolent Khan." Following this, no less than three Tang Princesses were to be married to Khans of the Huihe. Such was the strength of the alliance between the two countries that the Huihe provided troops on two occasions to help quell the Rebellion of An and Shi.
Foreign Relations
The Tang Dynasty also marked a golden age of relations with foreign powers. The excellence of its advanced civilization rendered the Chinese Empire the envy of countries throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Each in their turn sent envoys and merchants to trade with the Tang, whose empire was to become a world center for trade and cultural exchange.
The Tang was trading with more than seventy countries. To foster this trade, the government allowed tax concessions to foreigners, who were permitted to settle in China and to marry Chinese citizens. Some even went on to secure positions within the government. Many foreign countries began to call the Chinese 'Tang people', an appellation that survives in some countries to this day.
Tang and Japan
Contact between China and Japan had been established in the early part of the Han Dynasty. This was enhanced by both the Sui and the Tang. During the Tang Dynasty Japan sent envoys to China on nineteen separate occasions. Students and monks swarmed into the empire to study.
There were two people in particular worthy of mention here. They were Apeizhongmalu and a monk named Konghai.
Apeizhongmalu was the most famous of the Japanese students who came to China. Emperor Taizong gave him the Chinese name Chaoheng. Not only did he become an official in the central government through the examination system but he also became a close friend of famous poets such as Libai and Wangwei. Of the monks who came to China, Konghai was the most outstanding. They arrived in 804 and studied Buddhism at the Qinlong Temple. On his return to Japan, he took with him over one hundred and eighty Buddhist scriptures and established the Tantra sect of Buddhism there.
Students and monks were sent also to Japan from China. Jianzhen is considered to be the most influential of the monks. He successfully traveled to Japan in 754 after five attempts to visit. It was he who introduced Lu Buddhism to the Japanese and he taught sculpture, architecture and painting.
It was thanks to these cultural exchanges that benefits were derived by both nations. Chinese culture and technology spread to Japan. The Japanese political system, legislation, economic policy, life style and culture were all deeply influenced by that of the Tang. In return, Japanese culture was introduced into China, in particular this was true of music and dance, which became very popular.
Tang and Xinluo
In the early years of the Tang, the Korean Peninsula was divided into three separate kingdoms. These were Gaoli, Baiji and Xinluo. All three had contact with China but in 660 China conquered Baiji and in 668 did likewise with Gaoli. Xinluo resisted the might of the empire and the Tang retreated from the Korean Peninsula. In 675, Xinluo united the peninsula.
Xinluo maintained its relations with China and its students formed the greatest number studying in China. Meanwhile, on the basis of the volume of imports from the empire, Xinluo became China's greatest trading partner.
The Tang culture began to have an enormous influence on the Xinluo. In 675 they adopted the tang calendar. In mid eighth century, they reformed their administration on the lines of that of the Tang and then in 788 adopted the civil service examination system for the appointment of officials. Tea cultivation, engraving and printing skills were also introduced from China. In return, Gaoli music was introduced to China and imported goods from Xinluo further enriched the lifestyle of the people of the Tang Empire.
Friendship with Persia and Dashi
Friendly relations were established and maintained with both Persia (today's Iran) and Dashi (Arab nations).
Two Persian princes settled in Chang'an and Persian merchants established themselves all over the empire. In Chang'an, Luoyang, Yangzhou and Guangzhou, shops owned by Persian merchants were noted for the gems, coral, carnelian, spices and medicines that they offered for sale. Persian dates and spinach were introduced into China. Chinese merchandise such as silk, porcelain and paper was brought by the Persians and traded in the West via the Silk Road.
Arabians were known to the Tang as Dashi. In 651, the Dashi sent envoys to Chang'an to establish trade on over forty occasions and their merchants set up businesses in Guangzhou, Yangzhou, Chang'an, Luoyang, Quanzhou and other cities. They settled down and learned Chinese culture, while some were appointed to government posts. They built their mosques and their religion was given due respect by the Tang.
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