Tang
Minghuang (618-907 BC), also known as Emperor
Xuanzong, was the seventh emperor in the Tang dynasty. He lived in the
most prosperous period in the Tang dynasty and was a great ruler.
Tang Minghuang was famous for his love
affair with Yang Guifei, his imperial concubine in history. But people seldom
learn that he had also a very good ear for music.
Tang Minghuang set up Liyuan (Pear Garden)
in the palace to train good performers. He often presented at Liyuan's
performances, and corrected their mistakes. Some people say that he was the same
as a conductor nowadays.
Tang Minghuang liked dances very much and he
composed Nishang Yuyi Wu (The Dance in Leathery Clothes) based on
Poluomen Qu.
Tang Minghuang was good at playing many
instruments including Pipa (lute), Erhu (a two-stringed
instrument), Dizi (bamboo flute). He contributed a lot to the art
development during that period.