A Study of the Tang Dynasty Music Bureau

This book explores three themes: the Tang dynasty's Jiaofang system, its music, and its literature. Regarding the Jiaofang system, it analyzes the names of Jiaofang institutions, a subject on which scholars have yet to reach consensus, and proposes a model in which Tang Jiaofang operated as a “trinity” with a “central–local” structure. Newly discovered epitaphs have helped identify and supplement information about several Jiaofang musicians and officials, revealing patterns of family succession. Regarding Jiaofang music, the book clarifies disputes surrounding the four musical divisions and offers a new interpretation of the Hu division's prominence during the middle and late Tang. Using the Jiaofang song “Wen Xu Zi” as a case study, it examines the conventions governing the creation and performance of Tang Jiaofang songs. Regarding the relationship between Jiaofang and literature, it investigates the settings in which Tang Jiaofang's arts and literature emerged, focusing on two spaces closely connected to Jiaofang: princely residences and Pingkang Ward (Beili). Through in-depth examination of these three themes, this book presents a new perspective on the study of Tang Jiaofang.