China China History

Tang Dynasty Wikipedia

Tang Dynasty (唐朝 618-907) followed Sui Dynasty and preceded the Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms Period in China. The dynasty was interrupted by the Second Zhou Dynasty (690 AD - 705 AD) when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne. The Tang dynasty, with its capital at Chang'an, the most populous city in the world at the time, is regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization-- equal, or even superior, to the Han period. Its territory, acquired through the military exploits of its early rulers, was greater than that of the Han. Stimulated by contact with India and the Middle East, the empire saw a flowering of creativity in many fields. Buddhism, originating in India around the time of Confucius, flourished during the Tang period and was adopted by the imperial family, becoming thoroughly sinicized and a permanent part of Chinese traditional culture. Block printing was invented, making the written word available to vastly greater audiences. The Tang period was the golden age of literature and art. A government system supported by a large class of Confucian literati selected through civil service examinations was perfected under Tang rule. This competitive procedure was designed to draw the best talents into government. But perhaps an even greater consideration for the Tang rulers, aware that imperial dependence on powerful aristocratic families and warlords would have destabilizing consequences, was to create a body of career officials having no autonomous territorial or functional power base. As it turned out, these scholar-officials acquired status in their local communities, family ties, and shared values that connected them to the imperial court. From Tang times until the closing days of the Qing empire in 1911, scholar officials functioned often as intermediaries between the grassroots level and the government. By the middle of the 8th century A.D., Tang power had ebbed. Military defeat in 751 by Arabs at the Battle of Talas marked end of Tang authority in Central Asia. Domestic economic instability and subsequent rebellions of An Lushan and warlordism marked the beginning of five centuries of steady military decline for the Tang empire. Misrule, court intrigues, economic exploitation, and popular rebellions weakened the empire, making it possible for northern invaders to terminate the dynasty in 907. The next half-century saw the fragmentation of China into five northern dynasties and ten southern kingdoms.

Temple names	Chinese family names and first names	Reigns	Era names and their according durations
Convention: "Tang" + temple name
Note: Wu Hou (武后 wu3 hou4) (posthumous name.
Gao Zu (高祖 gao1 zu3)	Li Yuan (李淵 li3 yuan1)	618-626	Wude (武德 wu3 de2) 618-626
Tai Zong (太宗 tai4 zong1)	Li Shi Min (李世民 li3 shi4 min2)	626-649	Zhenguan (貞觀 zhen1 guan1) 627-649
(高宗 gao1 zong1)	Li Zhi (李治 li3 zhi4)	650-683	Yonghui (永徽 yong3 hui1) 650-655 Xianqing (顯慶 xian3 qing4) 656-661 Longshuo (龍朔 long2 shuo4) 661-663 Linde (麟德 lin2 de2) 664-665 Qianfeng (乾封 qian2 feng1) 666-668 Zongzhang (總章 zong3 zhang1) 668-670 Xianheng (咸亨 xian2 heng1) 670-674 Shangyuan (上元 shang4 yuan2) 674-676 Yifeng (儀鳳 yi2 feng4) 676-679 Tiaolu (調露 tiao2 lu4) 679-680 Yonglong (永隆 yong3 long2) 680-681 Kaiyao (開耀 kai1 yao4) 681-682 Yongchun (永淳 yong3 chun2) 682-683 Hongdao (弘道 hong2 dao4) 683
Zhong Zong (中宗 zhong1 zong1), dismissed by Wu Hou	Li Xian (李顯 li3 xian3) or Li Zhe (李哲 li3 zhe2)	684, (also 705-710)	Sisheng (嗣聖 si4 sheng4) 684
Rui Zong (睿宗 rui4 zong1), dismissed by Wu Hou	Li Dan (李旦 li3 dan4)	684, (also 710-712)	Wenming (文明 wen2 ming2) 684
Wu Hou (武后 wu3 hou4)	Wu Zetian (武則天 wu3 ze2 tian1)	684-705	Guangzhai (光宅 guang1 zhai2) 684 Chuigong (垂拱 chui2 gong3) 685-688 Yongchang (永昌 yong3 chang1) 689 Zaichu (載初 zai4 chu1) 690
Zhou Dynasty (690 AD - 705 AD)
Continuation of Tang Dynasty
Zhong Zong (中宗 zhong1 zong1), retake the throne	Li Xian (李顯 li3 xian3) or Li Zhe (李哲 li3 zhe2)	(also 684,) 705-710	Shenlong (神龍 shen2 long2) 705-707 Jinglong (景龍 jing3 long2) 707-710<be>
Shao Di (少帝 shao4 di4) see note below the table	Li Chong Mao (李重茂 li3 chong2 mao4)	710	Tanglong (唐隆 tang2 long2) 710
(睿宗 rui4 zong1), retake the throne	Li Dan (李旦 li3 dan4)	(also 684,) 710-712	Jingyun (景雲 jing3 yun2) 710-711 Taiji (太極 tai4 ji2) 712 Yanhe (延和 yan2 he2) 712
(玄宗 xuan2 zong1)	Li Long Ji (李隆基 li3 long2 ji1)	712-756	Xiantian (先天 xian1 tian1) 712-713 Kaiyuan (開元 kai1 yuan2) 713-741 Tianbao (天寶 tian1 bao3) 742-756
(肅宗 su4 zong1)	Li Heng (李亨 li3 heng1)	756-762	Jide (至德 zhi4 de2) 756-758 Qianyuan (乾元 qian2 yuan2) 758-760 Shangyuan (上元 shang4 yuan2) 760-761
(代宗 dai4 zong1)	Li Yu (李豫 li3 yu4)	762-779	Baoying (寶應 bao3 ying4) 762-763 Guangde (廣德 guang3 de2) 763-764 Yongtai (永泰 yong3 tai4) 765-766 Dali (大曆 da4 li4) 766-779
(德宗 de2 zong1)	Li Gua (李适 li3 gua1)	780-805	Jianzhong (建中 1jian4 zhong1) 780-783 Xingyuan (興元 xing1 yuan2) 784 Zhenyuan (貞元 zhen1 yuan2) 785-805
Shun Zong (順宗 shun4 zong1)	Li Song (李誦 li3 song4)	805	Yongzhen (永貞 yong3 zhen1) 805
(憲宗 xian4 zong1)	Li Chun (李純 li3 chun2)	806-820	Yuanhe (元和 yuan2 he2) 806-820
Mu Zong (穆宗 mu4 zong1)	Li Heng (李恆 li3 heng2)	821-824	Changqing (長慶 chang2 qing4) 821-824
Jing Zong (敬宗 jing4 zong1)	Li Zhan (李湛 li3 zhan4)	824-826	Baoli (寶曆 bao3 li4) 824-826
Wen Zong (文宗 wen2 zong1)	Li Ang (李昂 li3 ang2)	826-840	Baoli (寶曆 bao3 li4) 826 Dahe (大和 da4 he2) or Taihe (tai4 he2 太和) 827-835 Kaicheng (開成 kai1 cheng2) 836-840
(武宗 wu3 zong1)	Li Ya (李炎 li3 yan2)	840-846	Huichang (會昌 hui4 chang1) 841-846
(宣宗 xuan1 zong1)	Li Chen (李忱 li3 chen2)	846-859	Dachong (大中 da4 chong1) 847-859
Yi Zong (懿宗 yi4 zong1)	Li Cui (李漼 li3 cui3)	859-873	Dachong (大中 da4 chong1) 859 Xiantong (咸通 xian2 tong1) 860-873
Xi Zong (僖宗 xi1 zong1)	Li Xuan (李儇 li3 xuan1)	873-888	Xiantong (咸通 xian2 tong1) 873-874 Qianfu (乾符 qian2 fu2) 874-879 Guangming (廣明 guang3 ming2) 880-881 Zhonghe (中和 zhong1 he2) 881-885 Guangqi (光啟 guang1 qi3) 885-888 Wende (文德 wen2 de2) 888
Zhao Zong (昭宗 zhao1 zong1)	Li Ye (李曄 li3 ye4)	888-904	Longji (龍紀 long2 ji4) 889 Dashun (大順 da4 shun4) 890-891 Jingfu (景福 jing3 fu2) 892-893 Qianning (乾寧 qian2 ning2) 894-898 Guanghua (光化 guang1 hua4) 898-901 Tianfu (天復 tian1 fu4) 901-904 Tianyou (天佑 tian1 you4) 904
Ai di (哀帝 ai1 di4) or Zhaoxuan di昭宣帝 zhao1 xuan1 di4 see note below	Li Zhu (李柷 li3 zhu4)	904-907	Tianyou (天佑 tian1 you4) 904-907

Last Modified:   2004-02-11