The Tang Dynasty refined the Three Departments and Six Ministries System from the Sui Dynasty. This political structure consisted of three main departments: the Chancellery, which reviewed edicts; the Secretariat, which drafted edicts; and the Department of State Affairs, which implemented policies. Under the Department of State Affairs were six ministries handling personnel, revenue, rites, war, justice, and public works. This system strengthened central administration and became a model for later dynasties.
The Tang Dynasty expanded the Imperial Examination System that began in the Sui Dynasty. This merit-based system selected officials through a series of increasingly difficult examinations. Candidates progressed through county, provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations, earning titles like Xiucai, Juren, Gongshi, and ultimately Jinshi. This system promoted social mobility by allowing talented individuals from various backgrounds to enter government service based on their knowledge and abilities rather than family connections. It created a class of scholar-officials who were well-versed in Confucian classics and literary composition.
The Tang Dynasty continued and refined two important systems from the Sui Dynasty: the Equal-Field System for land distribution and the Zuyongdiao System for taxation. Under the Equal-Field System, land was distributed based on household size, with adult males receiving 80 mu of land, approximately 13 acres. Most of this land had to be returned to the state after death, but families could keep permanent plots for growing mulberry trees and other long-term crops. The Zuyongdiao System was a three-tax structure consisting of Zu, a grain tax; Yong, labor service that could be commuted to payment; and Diao, a textile tax. These systems provided stable revenue for the government while ensuring fair land distribution, forming the economic foundation for Tang prosperity.
The Tang Dynasty implemented two other significant systems: the Fubing System for military organization and the Tang Code for legal governance. The Fubing System was a militia structure where soldiers were also farmers. They cultivated land during peacetime and served in the military when needed, with rotational service at the capital. This system reduced military expenditure and maintained a large reserve force, though it declined after the An Lushan Rebellion in the mid-8th century. The Tang Code was a comprehensive legal framework with 12 sections covering everything from general principles to specific crimes. It combined Confucian ethics with legalist principles and influenced legal systems throughout East Asia for centuries. The code established clear hierarchies of punishment based on social status while maintaining consistent legal principles.
The Tang Dynasty is renowned for its open and inclusive cultural policy, which welcomed foreign religions, ideas, and people. Buddhism flourished during this period, while Daoism was supported as an indigenous tradition. The Tang government also tolerated other religions like Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Manichaeism. This openness facilitated extensive cultural exchange via the Silk Road, creating a cosmopolitan atmosphere in the capital Chang'an, which became the world's largest city at that time with over one million residents. The Tang Dynasty established diplomatic relations with many countries and absorbed foreign influences in art, music, fashion, and cuisine. This cultural openness, combined with effective governance systems, made the Tang Dynasty one of China's golden ages and established a model that influenced East Asian civilization for centuries to come.