Ep. 25 | The Tang Dynasty (Part 1)
As the Sui peters out, Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang, seizes power and establishes the Tang Dynasty in 618. Along with the Song, the Tang Dynasty is considered the pinnacle of China’s long history. In culture, art, poetry, painting, ceramics, science, navigation, and diplomacy this was a golden age. Buddhism made even greater inroads into Chinese society.
And Chang’an was the center of the world where the great and mighty Taizong emperor ruled and people came from as far away as Persia to marvel at China’s greatness and might. In this week’s episode, we look at the founding of the Tang up to the demise of the third emperor Gaozong. With her husband’s death in 683, Empress Wu Zetian came to the fore and began ruling in her own name.
Today we zero in on the history and legends behind the Wing Chun style of king fu. We’ll also look at Grandmaster Ip Man and all those Wing Chin greats who came before him going back to the founder Ng Mui (Wu Mei).