长安一百零八坊 部贰 大道之心

Chang'an is not merely a city-it is a vessel of civilization. The Tang Dynasty's glory was more than mere power; it embodied spirit and belief.

Continuing the historical thread from Book One, Secrets of the Glorious Tang, this volume, The Heart of the Great Dao: Spirit and Integrity, shifts focus from the outward splendor of the dynasty to the inner core of its civilization. Tracing the roots, it explores how the Tang became the pinnacle of Chinese cultural achievement.

The people of Tang structured their world with the Dao:

Confucian reverence for heaven and ancestors, Buddhist light flowing from the west, and Daoist unification of all laws. The convergence of the Three Teachings, harmonized with imperial authority, not only shaped the spiritual landscape of the Tang but also forged a civilization of inclusivity, breadth, and confidence. Tang strength rested not merely on vast territories and formidable armies, but on the magnetic power of its spirit and the gravitational pull of its culture.

From "the great affairs of the state lie in ritual and military might," to the legendary halls of the Guozijian, the Wenxuan Wang Temple, the Wucheng Wang Temple, Daxingshan Temple, and Xuandu Guan; from the former residence of Persian Prince Pirooz in Chang'an to the extraordinary tales of Emperor Xuanyuan's intervention; from the secret paths of Tang Esoteric Buddhism to the vibrant convergence of foreign customs, music, and entertainment; from the brilliance of the imperial examination graduates to the colorful culture and fascinating souls of the Tang people-this book portrays not just faith, governance, and thought, but also a "mental map" of a world empire where diversity thrived and ideas collided.

This is a pursuit of the "Great Dao": the way of ritual and law, of governing and self-cultivation; the Dao of the Daoist path, the Buddhist path, and the Tang's assimilative, civilizing virtue; and a mirror for our own understanding of the Dao today.

In the Tang Dynasty, belief was not a retreat from reality-it was a force to engage with it. Integrity was not merely the moral compass of scholars; it was the spiritual anchor of an entire era. The Heart of the Great Dao writes not only of faith and ritual, but of that enduring spark in the hearts of millions.

Walking through the 108 Fangs is an intimate dialogue with the core of civilization. Chang'an was not just a capital-it was a grand convocation of thought and faith, the convergence point of civilization's currents.

May we revisit that epoch of spiritual radiance together, witness heaven and earth, observe humanity, and reflect upon ourselves-rediscovering the Dao and integrity that belong to our time.