system also
disappeared. It was not actually the first time in Chinese history that
the experiment had been tried. An emperor of the third century A.D. had
already opened public life to women, and it is said that many of them
rose to high office; but here too the system was of short duration, and
the old order was soon restored.

Another striking picture of the T'ang dynasty is presented by the career
of an emperor who is usually spoken of as Ming Huang, and who, after
distinguishing himself at several critical junctures, mounted the throne
in 712, in succession to his father, who had abdicated in his favour. He
began with economy, closing the silk factories and forbidding the palace
ladies to wear jewels or embroideries, considerable quantities of which
were actually burnt. He was a warm patron of literature, and schools
were established in every village. Fond of music, he founded a college
for training youth of both sexes in this art. His love of war and
his growing extravagance led to increased taxation, with the usual
consequences in China--discontent and rebellion. He surrounded himself
by a brilliant court, welcoming men of genius in literature and art;
at first for their talents alone, but finally for their readiness
to participate in scenes of revelry and dissipation provided for the
amusement of a favourite concubine, the ever-famous Yang Kuei-fei
(pronounced _Kway-fay_). Eunuchs were appointed to official posts, and
the grossest forms of religious superstition were encouraged. Women
ceased to veil themselves, as of old. At length, in 755, a serious
rebellion broke out, and a year later the emperor, now an old man of
seventy-one, fled before the storm. He had not proceeded far before his
soldiery revolted and demanded vengeance upon the whole family of the
favourite, several unworthy members of which had been raised to high
positions and loaded with honours. The wretched emperor was forced to
order the head eunuch to strangle his idolized concubine, while the
rest of her family perished at the hands of the troops. He subsequently
abdicated in favour of his son, and spent the last six years of his life
in seclusion.

This tragic story has been exquisitely told in verse by one of China's
foremost poets, who was born only a few years later. He divides his
poem into eight parts, dealing with the _ennui_ of the monarch until he
discovers _beauty_, the _revelry_ of the pair together, followed by the
horrors of _fl