Emperor Taizong of Tang
Tang · 2nd ruler
唐太宗 Táng Tàizōng李世民 Lǐ Shìmín
Wade–Giles: T'ang T'ai-tsung · Li Shih-min
Reigned 626–649 (22 years)
Reigned 22 years (626–649). Died at 52 (East Asian reckoning); cause of death disputed. 2nd ruler of Tang.
Facts
- Reign
- 3 September 626 – 10 July 649 (2nd ruler of Tang)
- Length of reign
- 22 years
- Born
- 23 January 599
- Died
- 10 July 649
- Age at accession
- 29
- Age at death
- 52
- Cause of death
- DisputedPrimary sources or accepted accounts conflict and cannot be narrowed to one
- Path to the throne
- Abdication within the dynastyThe previous emperor of the same regime handed over the throne while still alive (e.g. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Jiaqing Emperor, Emperor Aizong of Jin)
- Predecessor
- Emperor Gaozu of Tang
- Successor
- Emperor Gaozong of Tang
- Era names
- 貞觀 Zhēnguān (proclaimed 627)
Ages are given in East Asian reckoning (sui): a person is one year old at birth and gains a year at each New Year, so the figure is one or two years higher than the Western age.
Life
In brief
He took the throne after killing his elder and younger brothers in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, captured Illig Qaghan of the Turks, and was the second emperor of the Tang.
Road to the throne
He was the second son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, and the Old Book of Tang records that he was named Shimin because a scholar said he had the look of one who would save the world (jishi) and bring peace to the people (anmin). In the uprising at the end of the Sui he tearfully dissuaded Gaozu from turning back to Taiyuan during the attack on Huoyi, and later captured Dou Jiande at Hulao, after which Wang Shichong also surrendered. In 626, saying that his elder brother, the crown prince Jiancheng, and his younger brother Yuanji, Prince of Qi, had been plotting to kill him, he killed them both at the Xuanwu Gate and was made crown prince. Within the same year Gaozu abdicated in his favor and he took the throne.
Reign and death
Soon after his accession Illig Qaghan of the Turks advanced as far as the Bian Bridge over the Wei River. Taizong rode out to the riverbank with six horsemen and spoke with Illig, and when the Tang army arrived behind him in full strength, Illig took fright and asked for peace, so Taizong made a covenant with him and sent him away. In 630 Li Jing defeated the Turks, and Illig Qaghan was captured and sent to Chang'an. In 645 he led an expedition against Goguryeo in person and defeated a relief army at Zhubi Mountain, but he could not take the fortress of Ansi and turned back. In 648, the basic annals of the Old Book of Tang say in a single phrase, he had the fangshi Narayanasvamin make a drug for prolonging life. He died in the Hanfeng Hall in 649, and the basic annals of the Old Book of Tang record only that he died. The New Book of Tang writes that he had been ill for about two months before he died, and gives his age at death as one year more than the Old Book of Tang does. In the biography of Hao Chujun in the same Old Book of Tang, Hao Chujun says that the late emperor took a long-life drug from a Brahmin monk to no effect, and that at the end even famous physicians could do nothing for him. In the annals of Emperor Xianzong, the chief minister Li Fan says that Taizong took a long-life drug from a foreign monk, fell suddenly ill and could not be saved, and these two passages are why this site lists his cause of death as disputed. The Zizhi Tongjian describes his end as worsening diarrhea and says the fangshi's drug was never completed, which conflicts with the account of Tianzhu (India) in the Old Book of Tang, where the drug is made and he takes it.
Translated from the Japanese text of this site, which is written from the official histories. Years are given in the Western calendar; months are omitted because the histories use the Chinese lunar calendar.
During the reign
Number of times each event is recorded in the official histories. How each item is counted
- Era name changes
- 1
- General amnesties
- 6
- Empresses installed
- 1
- Crown princes deposed
- 1
- Personal campaigns
- 1
- Rebellions suppressed
- 7
- Rebellions faced
- 7
- Capital relocations
- 0
Emperors of Tang
- 1stEmperor Gaozu of Tang唐高祖 Táng Gāozǔ李淵 Lǐ Yuān618–626 · 8 years · Natural causes, age 70618–6268 yearsNatural causes, age 70
- 2ndEmperor Taizong of Tang唐太宗 Táng Tàizōng李世民 Lǐ Shìmín626–649 · 22 years · Disputed, age 52626–64922 yearsDisputed, age 52
- 3rdEmperor Gaozong of Tang唐高宗 Táng Gāozōng李治 Lǐ Zhì649–683 · 34 years · Natural causes, age 56649–68334 yearsNatural causes, age 56
- 4th, 6thEmperor Zhongzong of Tang唐中宗 Táng Zhōngzōng李顯 Lǐ Xiǎn684; restored 705–710 · 5 years · Assassinated, age 55684; restored 705–7105 yearsAssassinated, age 55
- 5th, 8thEmperor Ruizong of Tang唐睿宗 Táng Ruìzōng李旦 Lǐ Dàn684–690; restored 710–712 · 8 years · Natural causes, age 55684–690; restored 710–7128 yearsNatural causes, age 55
- 7thEmperor Shang of Tang唐殤帝 Táng Shāngdì李重茂 Lǐ Chóngmào710 · 17 days · Unknown, age 1771017 daysUnknown, age 17
- 9thEmperor Xuanzong of Tang唐玄宗 Táng Xuánzōng李隆基 Lǐ Lóngjī712–756 · 43 years · Natural causes, age 78712–75643 yearsNatural causes, age 78
- 10thEmperor Suzong of Tang唐肅宗 Táng Sùzōng李亨 Lǐ Hēng756–762 · 5 years · Natural causes, age 52756–7625 yearsNatural causes, age 52
- 11thEmperor Daizong of Tang唐代宗 Táng Dàizōng李豫 Lǐ Yù762–779 · 17 years · Natural causes, age 53762–77917 yearsNatural causes, age 53
- Li Chenghong李承宏 Lǐ Chénghóng763 · 12 days · Unknown76312 daysUnknown
- 12thEmperor Dezong of Tang唐德宗 Táng Dézōng李适 Lǐ Kuò779–805 · 25 years · Natural causes, age 64779–80525 yearsNatural causes, age 64
- 13thEmperor Shunzong of Tang唐順宗 Táng Shùnzōng李誦 Lǐ Sòng805 · 184 days · Natural causes, age 46805184 daysNatural causes, age 46
- 14thEmperor Xianzong of Tang唐憲宗 Táng Xiànzōng李純 Lǐ Chún805–820 · 14 years · Assassinated, age 43805–82014 yearsAssassinated, age 43
- 15thEmperor Muzong of Tang唐穆宗 Táng Mùzōng李恆 Lǐ Héng820–824 · 4 years · Natural causes, age 30820–8244 yearsNatural causes, age 30
- 16thEmperor Jingzong of Tang唐敬宗 Táng Jìngzōng李湛 Lǐ Zhàn824–827 · 2 years · Assassinated, age 18824–8272 yearsAssassinated, age 18
- 17thEmperor Wenzong of Tang唐文宗 Táng Wénzōng李昂 Lǐ Áng827–840 · 13 years · Natural causes, age 33827–84013 yearsNatural causes, age 33
- 18thEmperor Wuzong of Tang唐武宗 Táng Wǔzōng李炎 Lǐ Yán840–846 · 6 years · Natural causes, age 33840–8466 yearsNatural causes, age 33
- 19thEmperor Xuānzong of Tang唐宣宗 Táng Xuānzōng李忱 Lǐ Chén846–859 · 13 years · Natural causes, age 50846–85913 yearsNatural causes, age 50
- 20thEmperor Yizong of Tang唐懿宗 Táng Yìzōng李漼 Lǐ Cuǐ859–873 · 13 years · Natural causes, age 41859–87313 yearsNatural causes, age 41
- 21stEmperor Xizong of Tang唐僖宗 Táng Xīzōng李儇 Lǐ Xuān873–888 · 14 years · Natural causes, age 27873–88814 yearsNatural causes, age 27
- Li Yun李熅 Lǐ Yùn886–887 · 71 days · Executed886–88771 daysExecuted
- 22nd, 23rdEmperor Zhaozong of Tang唐昭宗 Táng Zhāozōng李曄 Lǐ Yè888–900; restored 901–904 · 16 years · Assassinated, age 38888–900; restored 901–90416 yearsAssassinated, age 38
- Li Yu李裕 Lǐ Yù900–901 · 50 days · Assassinated900–90150 daysAssassinated
- 24thEmperor Ai of Tang唐哀帝 Táng Āidì李柷 Lǐ Zhù904–907 · 2 years · Assassinated, age 17904–9072 yearsAssassinated, age 17