The stories written during the Tang Dynasty

(AD 618-907) form a notable part of early

Chinese fiction. Indeed, in importance they

are comparable to Tang poetry. The

prosperity of the Tang Dynasty with its rapid

development of agriculture, handicrafts and

commerce supplied a rich material basis

for the complex social life which was the

background to these stories. Since the

authors were consciously writing fiction,

they produced something more imaginative

than the earlier Chinese tales of the

supernatural or anecdotes of famous men.

The middle period of the Tang Dynasty -

the eighth century and early ninth century

- was the hay-day of this form of literature.

This collection includes some of the best

stories of this period.

Cover: Detail from "Women Wearing Flowers" by Zhou

Fang (Tang Dynasty)