The Tang era is heralded as a golden age in Chinese history. It witnessed the prosperity of culture, economy, diplomacy and politics under a unified government. Stability within China led to an expansion of foreigners entering and living within the country, bringing with them their own cultural and social habits. With the introduction of different cultures, a new movement was ushered in. People were open to new ideas and beliefs, integrating and learning from new cultures. Normal class and social boundaries were dispelled with. Art was a particular genre that flourished with this new prosperity. Like other areas of the Chinese world, Tang art was influenced by the influx of new ideas and cultures. The emergence of the ‘Court Fat Lady’ as a popular image of Chinese identity first made its appearance under the Zhou Dynasty, which briefly interrupted the Tang Dynasty. Women were thought to have been liberated during this era. The Tang Dynasty saw one of the most female influenced political periods within Chinese history. The aspect of new culture and ideas influenced art and fashions. Fat Lady figures represented the tang beauty standards, the fashion of court robes was changed to adapt to the fuller figure rather than the previous standard of slimmer body types. These figures are thought to have been decorative and funerary items. These statues have been interpreted as a celebration of female beauty.
For more information on Tang Dynasty Fat Women, please see our blog post: The Importance of the Fat Lady in Chinese Tang Art
