The Tang dynasty was full of leisure and entertainment given that it offered the mandarin sufficient time for leisure. This consisted of fifty eight days of leave. The dynasty also gave its high caliber employees 15 days off for farming holiday while they were also added extra 15 off days for the sake of bestowing robes. The officials of the dynasty were given one day leave for every ten days off of their service to the Tang dynasty.
Common citizens like the artisans also were given few days off compare to the rest of the high ranking employee. All of them spent their leave days making merry and having fun in various centers of amusement and entertainment.
The dynasty officials were privileged to have irregular days off. These included 30 days off in 3years period for the official s whose parents stayed while 15 days were awarded to the officials whose parents lived more than 167 miles away from them. In addition, 9 days were awarded to a son’s wedding. The officials were also given 3 days off for a son’s circumcision rite and weiqi.
The employees were also given offs to pay tribute to their relatives. There were two festivals in Tang dynasty. These were the solar and the lunar festivals.
The Tang carnivals trace their origin to the third century B.C.E .In 221, the China Emperor commanded everybody to take part in drinking for the celebration of the unifying of China. The emperor declared a regulation barring people from drinking, null and void having invoked ‘Blessed Bestowals’ indulgence.
The successor of the Chinese emperor ordered an amnesty of 5 days and gave his subjects beef for celebration. The Tang dynasty held feasts 3 times during the emperor’s reign. These feasts were held in the town streets and there was an aspect of parading.
The Tang feasts’ entertainments were just like those of Carnivores given that performers of art performed in tents. The Tang carnivals existence was determined by the emperor’s decisions.
Independent entertainers dominated the entertainment scene .This group did not receive state support neither were they subject to the imperial courts. They survived on the earnings they received from their audience and patrons. This group was discriminated on the grounds of their class and ideologies.
During the medieval times of China Tang sports were relevant hence expertise in archery was a qualification for high social status. These people were sent as emissaries to combat an oncoming enemy. The three forms of archery included mounted, sitting and standing.
Mounted archery was achieved through the control of a horse by foot while attacking an enemy. Games have a long history in china. During the ancient times people engaged in it for commercial purpose. Gambling was part of the games, which were played even by the emperor himself.
References list
Benn, C. D. (2012). Daily life in traditional China: The Tang dynasty. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.
