A Study on the Phenomenon of Eyan in the Tang Dynasty as Reflected in Bai Kong Liu Tie

Abstract

As a special type of rumor with popular influence and supernatural undertones, eyan (false rumors) in the Tang Dynasty possess the basic feature of being factually ungrounded and false. Based on Bai Kong Liu Tie, Tang eyan can be classified into four categories. An analysis of their timing, locations, and contexts shows that their emergence and spread were closely associated with social crises, religious superstition, information asymmetry, and power struggles. Meanwhile, the government's regulation was marked by a contradiction between strict legal provisions and ineffective governance. Eyan persisted despite repeated bans due to several factors: the rulers' sensitivity to chenyu (prophetic sayings), their monopoly over the interpretation of the Heaven‑Human relationship, inconsistencies between rulers' personal superstition and official policies, uneven administrative capacity among officials, and the failure of control measures to address root causes. The phenomenon of eyan recorded in Bai Kong Liu Tie reflects both the ruling class's monopoly and control over information and the role of ordinary people in interpreting and spreading information in Tang society.