In the life of the nobles of the Tang Dynasty, there were three treasured things, like a sign of luxury: Kunlun slave, Silla maid, and Bodhisattva man. What is so wonderful about these three that they can become the beloved objects of the aristocracy? Is this particular preference simply the result of extravagance and vanity, or is there a deeper cultural, historical, or social reason behind it?
In 618 AD, Li Yuan established the Tang Empire, which began one of the most prosperous dynasties in Chinese history. In the reign of Xuanzong Tianbao of the Tang Dynasty, the national strength of the Tang Dynasty reached its peak, not only the economy was prosperous and the culture was prosperous, but the etiquette system and Chinese character culture of the Central Plains also deeply affected dozens of surrounding ethnic groups. According to the "Old Tang Book", more than 70 countries have paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty and made pilgrimages, and the "Wandering Ghost Country" in the northeast of Russia sent envoys to come.
In such a powerful Tang Empire, the exotic color also became stronger. At that time, Chang'an, the cosmopolitan city, had gathered foreigners of all colors, the most eye-catching of which were the black people who were collectively known as "Kunlun slaves".
Kunlun "Kunlun" in Chinese originally refers to high mountains and rivers, and can also refer to black things. In the Tang Dynasty, the term was used to refer to all the tanned foreign population. Most of these Kunlun slaves are from the South China Sea Islands, all of them are as black as ink, and their curly black hair is as dense as wool. They may be naked, with only a hide around their waists; Or full of messy hair, holding a spear, full of murderous face, vividly displayed in the Kunlun slave figurines of the Tang Dynasty.
There were three ways for these Nanyang giants to enter the Central Plains: first, they were sent to Chang'an as tributary tribute; second, as a native of the South China Sea, he was captured by Tang Dynasty merchants and brought back to the Central Plains; The third is to follow the missions of Southeast Asian and South Asian countries into the Tang Dynasty, and later was abandoned here. But no matter what their origins, the Kunlun slaves who were sold to the Central Plains far exceeded other means, they were mostly used as slaves, and some were hired by the nobles to learn songs and dances for banquets and entertainment.
In addition, a small number of Kunlun slaves came from more distant North Africa, and these people were called "monk slaves", black slaves who were captured by Arab traders and became the playthings of the Tang aristocracy.
Kunlun Nu is tall and mighty like an ox, with a gentle temperament and extreme loyalty. These characteristics made them favored by wealthy nobles in the Tang Dynasty, and wealthy families even boasted of their status as the number of Kunlun slaves they owned. And when these blacks were hired, the slave owners would castrate them so that they could have better control.
In the heyday of the Tang Dynasty, the appearance of Kunlun slaves undoubtedly brought an exotic atmosphere to the upper class, and also made people see that behind this beautiful picture is the dark side of society built on the slavery system.
Compared with the "savages" of the tropical South China Sea, the court maids of Goguryeo and Silla, which are close to the east, also occupied an irreplaceable position in the hearts of the Tang Dynasty aristocracy. These Korean women, known as "Silla maids", all came from the Silla Kingdom in the southeastern part of the Central Korean Peninsula.
In the mid-7th century, Silla united with the Tang Dynasty and destroyed two powerful enemies, Baekje in the west and Goguryeo in the north. However, after the victory, Silla did not submit to the Tang Dynasty for a long time, and the two countries fought for dominance of the peninsula, and a seven-year war broke out. It was not until 676 that Silla finally surrendered in the face of the powerful Tang army and paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty every year as a sign of submission.
Among these tributes, there were many handmaidens carefully selected by the Silla court, and they were the legendary "Silla maids". Before coming to the Tang Dynasty, these Silla princesses had already received layers of training in Chinese, singing and dancing, **, etc., in order to emerge in the Central Plains.
Different from the arrogant Kunlun slaves, the Silla maid is gentle and modest, showing the charm of the Oriental style in her gestures. Their fair skin and petite figures are not much different from those of Tang women, but their facial features are deep and their eyes are flowing, all revealing a touch of exotic mystery. As soon as they arrived in Chang'an, they were popular with the aristocracy, and the rich even competed to buy them as maids in the family.
The talents and virtuous ladies of Silla also made the lord choose to rely on them. They are not only proficient in Chinese and understand the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty, but also have sweet singing voices and graceful dancing, and often perform at banquets. On weekdays, Silla maids are also known for their diligence and ability, and are favored by their masters. A few lucky Silla maids even had the opportunity to become concubines of the main family.
It can be said that among the nobles of the Tang Dynasty, it has become fashionable to have Silla maids. It not only satisfies their yearning for a foreign culture, but also achieves the embodiment of new power and status. It's just that these Silla princesses, after all, could not escape the fate of slaves, and were forced to leave their hometowns and become other people's playthings. Their joys and sorrows have also become a touch of sadness under the glory of this prosperous era.
If the Kunlun slaves and Silla maids were already quite exotic, then in the last century of the Tang Dynasty, the group of "bodhisattva barbarian" women who came from the depths of Central Asia can be said to have pushed this fashion to a historical peak.
According to the history of the Tang Dynasty, between 847 and 859 in the middle of the 9th century, there was a small state called the "Female Barbarian State" that paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty many times. And the unique dress and beauty of the women of that country make them attract attention in the long **, and they are respected as "Bodhisattva Man".
The female barbarian kingdom was located in the northwest of the Tang Dynasty, probably in Central Asia. The women there are all blonde and blue-eyed, with high noses and deep eyes, tall and plump figures, and three-dimensional facial features. He wears a gold crown on his head, a jade jue on his neck, and a red tiger skin robe, which has a unique Central Asian style. These women were not only good-looking, beautiful in singing, and light in dancing, but they were dazzling in Chang'an at that time, and were favored by the upper class.
But we can't ignore that most of the Bodhisattvas did not come to the Central Plains voluntarily, but were plundered to the Tang Dynasty by merchants from all walks of life as trophies, and became the playthings of the powerful and rich. They either sang and danced at the banquet to please their hosts and guests; or become the concubine of a rich family, living a luxurious life of fine clothes and food.
Golden hair, fair skin, and a red gauze dance skirt constitute a stunning color. The singing, dancing and exoticism brought by the Bodhisattva Man undoubtedly promoted the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty culture. But behind this lies a brutal history of the powerful tribes of Central Asia who contributed their populations to powerful empires. Is there a faint cry in the exotic singing and dancing? We have no way of knowing.
Kunlun Nu, Silla and Bodhisattva constitute the three monuments of the exotic culture of the Tang Dynasty. Behind each of them, there is a moving story hidden.
They either voluntarily or forcedly left their homeland and came to the distant Tang Dynasty. Some were reduced to slavery, others domesticated themselves to please their masters; Some sang and danced during the banquet, and some became concubines. They brought exotic sounds and dances, enriched the cultural connotation of the Tang Dynasty, and also promoted the extravagant carnival of the upper class. But they can't escape the fate of slaves after all, a bridge connecting two very different worlds, which is destined to be bumpy.
All this shows the darkness and cruelty hidden behind the glory of the prosperous era. It heralded the imminent decline of this once proud empire, and the inevitability of a change of dynasty and another eastward shift of civilization.