From the Editor

Tang Studies 25 (2007) From the Editor The present anniversary volume commemorates the publication of the twentyfifth issue of Tang Studies. Initially conceived in 1982 as the T' ang Studies Society's newsletter, "intended as an informal means to bring the T' ang Scholarly Community into closer communication and cooperation,"* Tang Studies quickly evolved into a full-fledged scholarly journal open to critical inquiry into all aspects of Tang China. Twenty-five years later, it remains the only academic journal in a Western language that is exclusively devoted to studies of the Tang period. This volume brings together contributions from nine scholars, representing a spectrum of disciplines and several generations of the T' ang Studies Society membership, including essays by the journal's first two editors: Professors William H. Nienhauser, Jr., and Paul W Kroll. The Society also takes this occasion to unveil the new cover design of the journal, thereby marking the turn of a new leaf in the history of Tang Studies. The seal that graces our new cover was designed and engraved exclusively for the Journal by Mr. Zhu Yunchun *~~,Vice President of the Nanjing Seal-engraving Art Society and formerly Deputy Director ofJiangsu Research Institute of Culture· and History. We extend our thanks to Mr. Zhu for his generous gift. I invite our readers to join us in celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of Tang Studies and in helping to promote its success in the next quarter century through continuing contributions of scholarship to the journal and membership in the Society. *William H. Nienhauser, Jr., "Editorial Note," Tang Studies 1 (1982): 2. ...