Tang-Five dynasties residences: royal, bureaucrats, literati

Abstract

The residential layout of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period can be roughly understood from physical materials, paintings, documentary records, and literary works such as poetry of that era. Its characteristics include a preference for luxury, emphasis on decorativeness and a strong cultural atmosphere. The royal residences focused on entertainment, the residences of bureaucrats and nobility emphasized elegance, and the residences of literati emphasized leisure and comfort. The residential layout of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period reflected the development of material productivity, the flourishing culture of the time, and the exchange of Chinese and foreign cultures. It had a profound influence on society after the Song Dynasty and has significant reference value for modern residential layout.