Xuanzong of Tang

Xuanzong of Tang
Name	Xuanzong of Tang
Temple name	Xuanzong
Personal name	Li Longji
Birth date	685
Death date	762
Reign	712–756
Predecessor	Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Successor	Emperor Suzong of Tang
Dynasty	Tang dynasty

Xuanzong of Tang was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty, ruling from 712 to 756. His reign encompassed a long period of consolidation, administrative reform, cultural flourishing, and eventual political crisis culminating in the An Lushan Rebellion. Xuanzong's era combined patronage of poetry, music, and painting with efforts to stabilize frontier regions such as the Anxi Protectorate and confront rising military governors like the Jiedushi.

Background and Early Life

Born Li Longji in 685 during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, he was the son of Empress Liu (Tang) and a descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. His early life unfolded amid palace intrigue involving figures such as Wu Zetian, Princess Taiping, and Emperor Ruizong of Tang. During the coup of 705 and subsequent court struggles, Li Longji allied with Li Jingye supporters and later with princes including Li Longfan, positioning himself against factions led by Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong. After the 710 succession disputes and the rise of Emperor Shang (Tang), Li Longji gained military and administrative experience under chancellors like Yao Chong and Song Jing and generals such as Guo Ziyi.

Reign and Political Reforms

Ascending the throne in 712 after the abdication of Emperor Ruizong of Tang, the new emperor initiated reforms modeled on precedents set by Emperor Taizong of Tang and Emperor Gaozu of Tang. He appointed officials including Yao Chong, Song Jing, Zhang Jiuling, and Wei Anshi to implement policies addressing corruption and tax collection, drawing on legal sources like the Tang Code and administrative practices from the Six Ministries and the Censorate. Xuanzong reconstituted the examination system influenced by earlier scholars such as Zheng Qiao and Han Yu, while reorganizing fiscal measures tied to the Equal-field system and the Two-Tax System precursors. Court politics saw rivalries between the Zhang brothers (Zhangsun Pingyi), the eunuch faction including Wang Shoucheng, and regional authorities like Li Linfu, whose influence later reshaped central governance. The emperor's use of chancellors Liu Youqiu and later Yang Guozhong reflected shifts between reformist and court-aligned administrations.

Cultural and Artistic Patronage

Xuanzong's court became a locus for Tang cultural efflorescence, patronizing artists connected with Chang'an and institutions such as the Hanlin Academy, the Jixian College, and the Youyang Academy. He supported poets and literati including Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, Meng Haoran, and Bai Juyi, and encouraged musical innovation through the Pear Garden (Liyuan) and musicians like Gao Shangen and Li Shimei. Court painters from the Jinglüe tradition and calligraphers in the styles of Wang Xizhi and Ouyang Xun flourished under imperial patronage, as did theatrical and dance troupes associated with Sogdian and Bactrian influences along the Silk Road. The emperor sponsored compilations and libraries, commissioning works comparable to the Imperial Library of the Tang and fostering scholarship that connected to Zongmi and Liu Zongyuan circles.

Military Affairs and Frontier Policy

Xuanzong navigated complex frontier dynamics involving the Gokturks, Tibetan Empire, Uighur Khaganate, and Nanzhao. He reinforced Tang positions in the Anxi Protectorate, supported generals such as An Lushan and Gao Xianzhi in Central Asia campaigns, and managed the defense of strategic prefectures like Dunhuang, Khotan, and Kashgar. The emperor relied on frontier settlements and military commissioners (the Jiedushi) including An Lushan, Tufan-related negotiations with Songtsen Gampo's successors, and border diplomacy involving envoys to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Sogdia. Naval and riverine logistics along the Yangtze River and in the Yellow River basin were overseen by commanders such as Pei Xingjian and connected to provisioning systems rooted in the Fubing system's transformation.

Later Years, Decline, and the An Lushan Rebellion

From the 740s, court dynamics shifted as chancellors like Li Linfu and later Yang Guozhong rose to dominance, while eunuchs such as Li Fuguo gained power. The favoritism toward concubines, notably Yang Yuhuan (Yang Guifei), and the promotion of Yang family members sparked factionalism involving figures like Li Heng (later Emperor Suzong of Tang), Gao Lishi, and Chen Xianchi. Tensions between the central court and frontier commanders escalated, with An Lushan exploiting ethnic troops from Khitans, Sogdians, and Turkic elements to declare rebellion in 755. The ensuing An Lushan Rebellion devastated provinces including Hebei, Henan, and Shandong, leading to the capture of Chang'an and forcing Xuanzong to flee toward Sichuan and Chengdu before abdicating in favor of Emperor Suzong of Tang in 756.

Legacy and Historical Assessment

Historians evaluate Xuanzong's reign as a juxtaposition of the "Kaiyuan era" golden age—marked by prosperity, cosmopolitan culture, and strong administration—and the disastrous collapse precipitated by military decentralization and court corruption. Contemporary and later chroniclers such as Sima Guang and compilers of the Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang debate responsibility among the emperor, his ministers, and regional generals like Guo Ziyi and An Lushan. Xuanzong's patronage left enduring influences on Chinese poetry, Tang painting, Chinese music, and diplomatic ties across the Silk Road, shaping perceptions in later dynasties including the Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty, and Ming dynasty. Modern scholarship in sinology and studies of Central Eurasia continue to reassess his policies in works engaging with archival sources, epigraphy, and the archaeology of Tang sites.

Category:Tang dynasty emperors Category:8th-century Chinese monarchs