Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Tang · 9th ruler
唐玄宗 Táng Xuánzōng李隆基 Lǐ Lóngjī
Wade–Giles: T'ang Hsüan-tsung · Li Lung-chi
Reigned 712–756 (43 years)
Reigned 43 years (712–756). Died at 78 (East Asian reckoning) of natural causes. 9th ruler of Tang.
Facts
- Reign
- 8 September 712 – 12 August 756 (9th ruler of Tang)
- Length of reign
- 43 years
- Born
- 8 September 685
- Died
- 762
- Age at accession
- 28
- Age at death
- 78
- Cause of death
- Natural causesNatural death or illness (including old age)
- 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 Ruizong of Tang
- Successor
- Emperor Suzong of Tang
- Era names
- 先天 Xiāntiān (proclaimed 712)
- 開元 Kāiyuán (proclaimed 713)
- 天寶 Tiānbǎo (proclaimed 742)
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
After governing for many years in the Kaiyuan era, he fled to Shu during the An-Shi Rebellion, and at Mawei on the way he ordered Yang Guifei to die. The assessment in the New Book of Tang says that in the Kaiyuan years the realm came close to great peace, but his heart was moved by luxury, and drowning in what he loved, he lost the state.
Road to the throne
He was the third son of Emperor Ruizong of Tang, and his mother was Empress Zhaocheng of the Dou clan. In 710, when Emperor Zhongzong of Tang died suddenly and Empress Wei took over the government, he plotted with Princess Taiping and raised troops, and Empress Wei was killed by the rioting soldiers. On Zhongzong's death, the Old Book of Tang says only that he died suddenly in the annals of Xuanzong, but in the annals of Zhongzong says that Princess Anle plotted with Empress Wei to give him poison, and the annals of the New Book of Tang write that Empress Wei killed him. In 712, on a report that a sign of disaster for the emperor's seat had appeared in the heavens, Ruizong abdicated and he took the throne. The next year, learning that Dou Huaizhen and others allied with Princess Taiping were plotting a rising, he struck first and executed them.
Reign and death
In 755 An Lushan marched south from Youzhou, claiming to be moving against Yang Guozhong. When Tong Pass fell the next year he set out for Shu, and at the Mawei post station the soldiers would go no farther. Even after Yang Guozhong and others had been killed the soldiers would not settle down, and Xuanzong had Gao Lishi order Yang Guifei to take her own life. The Zizhi Tongjian and the biographies of consorts in the Old Book of Tang write that Chen Xuanli had informed the crown prince beforehand, but the annals of the two Books of Tang do not. As they left Mawei, the people blocked the road and begged that the crown prince be left behind, and the crown prince stayed. After reaching Shu commandery he learned only from envoys from Lingwu that the crown prince had taken the throne, and he became Retired Emperor. He returned to Chang'an and lived in the Xingqing Palace, but in 760 Li Fuguo moved him to the Western Palace, and Gao Lishi and others were sent away from him. According to the Zizhi Tongjian, the retired emperor fell into gloom, gave up meat, and gradually sickened. He died in the Shenlong Hall in 762, but the annals of the Old Book of Tang record this as the second year of Shangyuan, the previous year.
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
- 3
- General amnesties
- 17
- Empresses installed
- 1
- Crown princes deposed
- 1
- Personal campaigns
- 0
- Rebellions suppressed
- 12
- Rebellions faced
- 12
- 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