Silk as a motif in Tang poetry and related meanings

Sericulture has been a part of Chinese culture since ancient times. The silk dress was a symbol of the social privileges of the educated elite and the court. On the other hand, silk production and silk processing were also part of the everyday life of common villagers. For Chinese society, silk was an important material both economically and culturally. This diploma thesis analyzes how various aspects of life in Tang society, which were connected to silk, are portrayed in the works of the middle Tang poets Wang Jian 王建 (cca. 751-830) and Bai Juyi 白居易 (772-846). This paper identifies various themes and describes meanings that silk as a literary motif helps to express