Court and Region in Medieval China: The Case of Tang Bianzhou

Abstract

Although Bianzhou (modern Kaifeng) is well known as the imperial capital of the Northern Song dynasty, its history prior to the tenth century reveals much about the political fortunes of the Tang dynasty, especially after the An Lushan rebellion. A careful analysis of the backgrounds of the Military Commissioners appointed to govern the region indicates that following an initial period of instability, the Tang court was able to maintain control over this strategically vital transportation hub late into the ninth century and to repeatedly appoint commissioners who had passed the civil-service examinations. This experience helps explain the continuing optimism of Tang elites about the dynasty’s prospects and made Bianzhou itself an important example for the educated elite of why civil values were essential to good government and the survival of the Tang dynasty. Si Bianzhou (actuel Kaifeng) est bien connu comme capitale imperiale des Song du Nord, son histoire avant le Xe siecle nous en apprend beaucoup sur le destin politique des Tang, particulierement apres la rebellion de An Lushan. L’analyse minutieuse du parcours des commissaires militaires successivement nommes a la tete de la region revele qu’apres une periode initiale d’instabilite, la cour des Tang a ete en mesure jusque tard dans le IXe siecle de maintenir son controle sur ce qui etait un nœud strategique de communications et d’y poster l’un apres l’autre des commissaires passes par la voie des examens civils. L’experience contribue a expliquer l’optimisme persistant des elites des Tang concernant l’avenir du regime, le cas de Bianzhou etant a leurs yeux un exemple important des raisons pour lesquelles les valeurs civiles demeuraient essentielles a la qualite du gouvernement et a la survie de la dynastie.