A Cultural Perspective on the Prostitutes in Beili who"Belong to Jiaofang"
During the middle and late Tang dynasty,the phenomenon of"prostitutes in Beili,Pingkangfang,Wannian county,Chang'an,who belonged to Jiaofang"emerged.These prostitutes,who were affiliated with the Jiaofang,were essentially musicians employed by the Jiaofang in Wannian county,Jingzhao prefecture.They were specifically hired for public and private banquets.Together with the internal and external Jiaofang institutions established by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty,they formed a two-tiered system:central and local,within the realm of music.Pingkangfang,as a hub for folk entertainment,enjoyed a natural geographical advantage.Its proximity to the imperial city made it a preferred residence for numerous dignitaries,scholars,and officials,in line with the popular banquet culture of the middle and late Tang dynasty.Pingkangfang gave rise to a vibrant blend of elite and citizen cultures,creating a unique cultural scene.The integration of diverse literary and artistic traditions established Pingkangfang as a significant location for Tang dynasty's"lectural"activities and as a backdrop for the narratives of literati and prostitutes as they may be found in the legendary novels of that era.