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Gao Xianzhi Wikipedia

chinesename koreanname|
tradchi=高仙芝|
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py=Gao Xianzhi|
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hangul=고선지|
hanja=高仙芝|
rr=Go Seonji|
mr=Ko Sŏnji|

Gao Xianzhi (died 756) was a general of the China|Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was ethnic Goguryeo|Gaogouli, having been born in Gaogouli (also known as Goguryeo, ancient kingdom in north-eastern China and northern Korea). His father was among the many forced into exile in China after the Goguryeo kingdom was conquered by Tang, and later became a general in the Tang army, serving in Central Asia. At a young age, Gao left his grandmother's home in Goguryeo to follow in his father's footsteps. At the age of 20, he too became a general in Tang's Central Asian campaigns, defending the territory around Kashgar in the Taklamakan Desert.

Defeating a combined attack from Tibetan and Saracen forces in 748, he led his army on a massive counterattack, pursuing the foes across the Hindu Kush and Pamir Mountains. For a few years he was the Tang viceroy of Central Asia, controlling Tokmak, Kucha, Kashmir, and even having an outpost at Kabul, Afghanistan. But this glory collapsed almost overnight.

Gao was defeated by the Abbasid Caliphate at the Battle of Talas in 751, after which time he and Tang lost much of their influence in Central Asia. Central Asia became Muslim in culture, not Chinese because of this battle. Harried by Tibetan bands and the great rebellion of An Lu Shan, Chinese rule was extinguished in Central Asia for a thousand years.

Category:Chinese people in history
Category:Chinese generals
Category:Military history of China
Category:Tang Dynasty

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Last Modified:   2005-11-04