Tang dynasty
People's Republic of China, 618 CE–907 CE. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Tang dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. The Li family founded the dynasty after taking advantage of a period of Sui decline. The An Lushan rebellion (755-763) led to devastation and the decline of central authority during the latter half of the dynasty. Agrarian rebellions led to mass population loss and displacement and ultimately ended the dynasty in 907.
Seat of power: Chang'an, Tang Empire
Rulers
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor of China, 618 CE–626 CE
Emperor Gaozu was the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 618 to 626. Emperor Gaozu's reign was concentrated on uniting the empire under the Tang. He abandoned the harsh system of law established by Emperor Yang of Sui as well as reforming the judicial system.
Portrait of Emperor Gaozu of Tang: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor of China, 626 CE–649 CE
Emperor Taizong was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. His era, the Reign of Zhenguan, is considered a golden age in ancient Chinese history. He asked his officials to be loyal to policies, not people, in order to eliminate corruption.
Portrait of Emperor Taizong of Tang: Probably a chinese guy idk he's likely been dead since Ali was Caliph., Public domain, file
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor of China, 649 CE–683 CE
Emperor Gaozong was the third emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty, ruling from 649 to 683. After January 665, he handed power over the empire to his second wife Empress Wu. Empress Wu aided Emperor Gaozong in his rule during the later years of his reign after a series of strokes left him incapacitated.
Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor of China, 684 CE–690 CE
In February 684, Li Dan's mother Empress Wu demoted his older brother Emperor Zhongzong (Li Xian) who had attempted to rule free of his mother and named him emperor (as Emperor Ruizong). He was wholly a figurehead during his first reign, when he was controlled by his mother.
Portrait of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: Because the artists have died over 100 years, so unknown., Public domain, file
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor of China, 712 CE–756 CE
Emperor Xuanzong was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 44 years was the longest during the Tang dynasty. The Tang golden age ended in the An Lushan rebellion.
Portrait of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor of China, 756 CE–762 CE
Emperor Suzong ascended the throne after his father fled to Sichuan during the An Lushan Rebellion in 756. During Emperor Suzong's reign, the tradition of eunuchs becoming top-ranked officials began.
Portrait of Emperor Suzong of Tang: Unknown Chinese Painter., Public domain, file
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor of China, 762 CE–779 CE
Emperor Daizong was the eldest son of Emperor Suzong. The Anshi Rebellion was finally put down early in his own reign, in 763. However, thereafter, the Tang state was plagued by warlords such as Tian Chengsi, Li Baochen, and Liang Chongyi who essentially governed their realms as independent states while only pledging nominal loyalty to the emperor.
Portrait of Emperor Daizong of Tang: Because the artists have died over 100 years, so unknown., Public domain, file
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor of China, 779 CE–805 CE
Emperor Dezong started out as a diligent and frugal emperor and he tried to reform the governmental finances by introducing new tax laws. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty. His trust of eunuchs caused the eunuchs' power to rise greatly.
Portrait of Emperor Dezong of Tang: AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, file
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor of China, 805 CE–820 CE
Once emperor, Emperor Xianzong set out to curb the power of the military governors (Jiedushi), and, when they would not heed his orders, he waged wars against them. In 813, after the submission of one of the key holdouts, Weibo Circuit under Tian Xing, Emperor Xianzong appeared poised to reunite the empire.
Portrait of Emperor Xianzong of Tang: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor of China, 827 CE–840 CE
Emperor Wenzong was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China who reigned from 827 to 840. A rare occurrence in Chinese history, Emperor Wenzong, along with his elder brother Emperor Jingzong and younger brother Emperor Wuzong, reigned in succession.
Portrait of Emperor Wenzong of Tang: Ancient Chinese Artist, Public domain, file
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor of China, 840 CE–846 CE
Emperor Wuzong was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign. In the 840s, Emperor Wuzong enacted policies to suppress Buddhism, which subsequently declined in influence.
Portrait of Emperor Wuzong of Tang: Wang Qi, Public domain, file
Emperor Xuánzong of Tang
Emperor of China, 846 CE–859 CE
Emperor Xuanzong was an emperor of China's Tang dynasty, reigning from 25 April 846 until his death. He was considered the last capable emperor of Tang China. Succeeding emperors after Xuanzong would either be too young or be dominated by eunuchs or warlords.
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor of China, 859 CE–873 CE
Emperor Yizong was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China who reigned from 859 to 873. According to traditional historians, Emperor Yizong did not pay much attention to governmental affairs but instead chose to live in opulence. A deeply devout Buddhist, even more so than his father, he would hold grand Buddhist ceremonies throughout the year as well as ordering frequent musical performances in the palace.
Portrait of Emperor Yizong of Tang: Ancient Chinese Artist, Public domain, file
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor of China, 873 CE–888 CE
Emperor Xizong was an emperor of China's Tang dynasty who reigned from 873 to 888. His reign saw his realm overrun by the great agrarian rebellions led by Wang Xianzhi and Huang Chao. By the end of Emperor Xizong's reign, the Tang state had virtually disintegrated into pieces ruled by individual warlords, rather than the imperial government.
Portrait of Emperor Xizong of Tang: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor of China, 888 CE–904 CE
Emperor Zhaozong was the penultimate emperor of China's Tang dynasty. He reigned from 888 to 904, although he was briefly deposed by the eunuch Liu Jishu in 900 and restored in 901. Later, Li Jie was murdered by Zhu Wen, who would later become the founding emperor of the Later Liang dynasty.
Portrait of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang: Ancient Chinese Artist., Public domain, file
Culture
- It is traditionally considered the greatest age for Chinese poetry. Two of China's most famous poets, Li Bai and Du Fu, belonged to this age.
- The Tang capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) was the world's most populous city for much of the dynasty's existence.
- Notable innovations included the development of woodblock printing. Buddhism became a major influence in Chinese culture, with native Chinese sects gaining prominence.
Picture
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an was built in 652 to store Buddhist scriptures and images from India.
Image: Alex Kwok, CC BY-SA 3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.