Literary Debts in Tang China

This article describes three concepts of debt that were prominent in the literary world of Tang China – money, merit, and meter – and makes a case for their fungibility in certain contexts. The relationship between the three was more than just metaphoric – all were forms of currency with exchange value within their own spheres. In some cases, debts of money, merit, and meter could be repaid not just in kind, but also with one of the other forms of currency. An understanding of these interconnected systems leads to a deeper understanding of one aspect of Chinese literary history – namely, the importance of Buddhism in the Tang literary world – and prompts questions that shed new light on its dynamics.