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| Emperor Zhongzong of Tang | |
|---|---|
| Name | Li Xian (Emperor Zhongzong of Tang) |
| Reign1 | 684 |
| Reign2 | 705–710 |
| Predecessor1 | Emperor Gaozong of Tang |
| Successor1 | Wu Zetian |
| Predecessor2 | Wu Zetian |
| Successor2 | Emperor Ruizong of Tang |
| Birth date | 656 |
| Death date | 710 |
| House | Li family |
| Temple name | Zhongzong |
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang was a sixth son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu (Wu Zetian), who twice held the imperial title during the Tang dynasty. His brief first reign in 684 ended with deposition by Empress Dowager Wu; after years of exile and political sidelining he was restored in the coup of 705 and ruled until his death in 710. Historians debate whether his second reign marked a period of stabilization under the return of the Li family or a moment when court factions and Wu family influence continued to shape imperial outcomes.
Born as Li Xian in 656, he was a son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian, raised within the Tang imperial court at Chang'an alongside princes such as Li Zhe and Li Dan. His upbringing involved instruction from Confucian scholars tied to the Hanlin Academy and interactions with ministers like Zhangsun Wuji and Yao Chong. As crown prince contenders shifted after the death of Empress Wang and the rise of Consort Wu, Li Xian's station reflected the factional rivalries among aristocratic clans like the Li family and the Wu family. He held princely titles and administrative posts that connected him to regional administrations in Luoyang and ceremonies at the Temple of Heaven.
In 684 Li Xian acceded as emperor following the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, with his enthronement overseen by Empress Dowager Wu who maintained real authority. During this initial period, court appointments involved figures such as Zhangsun Wuji and Zheng Xun, while rituals at Daming Palace and edicts issued from the Shanglin system reflected continuity with Tang institutions. However, tensions with Empress Dowager Wu and rival courtiers including Li Ji and Zhangsun quickly led to his removal after only months, as Wu Zetian accused him of improper behaviors and deposed him in favor of a new arrangement centered on her regency.
Following his deposition, Li Xian was demoted to princely status and exiled to locales such as Hua Prefecture and Jing Prefecture, where surveillance by officials like Zhang Guangfu and Cui Riyong limited his contact with powerbrokers. This period saw the consolidation of Empress Wu's control, including the promotion of allies from the Wang clan and elevation of officials like Luo Binwang and Di Renjie in various capacities. Li Xian's marginalization intersected with larger shifts in court patronage networks involving the Zhangsun and Pei clans and with ongoing tensions between northern frontier commanderies and central authorities.
A coup in 705 orchestrated by officials including Zhang Jianzhi, Xue Juzheng, Pei Huaigu, and military figures like Li Duozuo toppled Wu Zetian and restored the Li family to the throne, elevating Li Xian as emperor in a ceremony at Chang'an. His second reign saw the return of exiled chancellors such as Wei Anshi and the reappointment of aristocrats from the Gaozong era. The restoration involved complex bargaining among palace factions, military leaders including Yuwen Jie and bureaucrats from the Six Ministries, reshaping appointments at the Censorate and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
Zhongzong's court featured powerful insiders: his wife Empress Wei and daughter Princess Anle (Li Guo'er) exercised substantial influence, aligning with officials like Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong. Other central figures included chancellors Zhang Jianzhi and Wei Anshi, palace eunuchs tied to figures such as Liu Youqiu, and members of aristocratic lineages including the Cui clan of Boling and the Li clan of Longxi. The interplay among these actors shaped personnel decisions at the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel and affected legal cases brought before the Supreme Court and the Censorate.
Administrative initiatives during Zhongzong's reign addressed fiscal matters involving the Salt and Iron Monopoly and land allocations tied to the Equal-field system, while taxation reforms engaged officials from the Ministry of Revenue and advisers with experience under Emperor Gaozong of Tang. Patronage of temples and ceremonies at sites such as the Mingde Hall reflected court ritual politics; appointments to provincial governorships in regions like Jiangnan and Hebei attempted to stabilize local administration. However, critics point to corruption allegations involving the Zhang brothers and favoritism toward Empress Wei's network, which affected revenue collection at customs offices in Guangzhou and agricultural administration in Henan.
Zhongzong navigated relations with neighboring polities including the Tibetan Empire, the Khitan tribes, and the Khotan and Tufan border authorities, relying on frontier generals such as Li Shiji and administrators overseeing Anxi Protectorate outposts. Diplomatic exchanges with Japan and envoys to the Goguryeo-successor states continued patterns of tribute and cultural transmission mediated by Buddhist clergy and the Grand Secretariat. Military appointments to circuits like Fanyang and campaigns against rebellious prefectures involved coordination with commanders from the Gaoju and Khazar intermediaries along the Silk Road.
Zhongzong died in 710 amid suspicions of palace intrigue; traditional accounts implicate Empress Wei and Princess Anle and associate their actions with figures like Zhang Yizhi. His death precipitated another coup restoring Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong) under leaders including Li Longji and Princess Taiping and reshaped factional balances that culminated in the Kaiyuan era transformations. Historians assess Zhongzong's legacy through tensions between restoration of the Li family and persistent influence of Wu-aligned networks, weighing his administrative decisions against court corruption narratives preserved in chronicles assembled by compilers such as Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang compilers. Category:Emperors of the Tang dynasty