Tang Dynasty
/ˈtæŋ ˌdaɪnəsti/noun
The imperial dynasty that ruled much of China from 618 to 907 CE, with a brief restoration in 690–705.
Did you know?Tang-era Chang’an was one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, where travelers, religions, goods, and ideas arrived from across Asia and beyond.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
唐 (*tˤaŋ)
“The name of the Tang state; the original sense is uncertain, though it later became a dynastic name.”
7th Century BCE
Chinese
Tang
“A state in ancient China associated with the ancestral territory of the Li ruling house.”
618 CE
Chinese
唐朝 (Táng cháo)
“The Tang dynasty, founded by Li Yuan after the collapse of the Sui dynasty.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
dynasteía (δυναστεία)
“Rule, dominion, or the power of a ruler; from dynástēs, “lord” or “ruler.””
Late Antiquity
Latin
dynastia
“A ruling family or succession of rulers.”
16th Century
English
dynasty
“A succession of rulers from the same family or lineage.”
Modern English
English
Tang Dynasty
“The imperial Chinese dynasty renowned for cultural, political, and economic influence across East Asia.”