Dynasties of ChinaTang dynastyTang dynasty lineage
Yonghui and others · Reign 649—683
In the thirty-fourth year of his reign, he destroyed the Western Turks, Baekje, and Goguryeo, and the Tang Dynasty reached its peak. In his later years, he returned to the Empress Wu.
Li Zhi is the ninth son of Taizong, his mother is Zhangsunhuangzhou, and he was granted the title of King of Jin in 631. In 643, two elder brothers, Li Chengqian and Li Tai, failed to compete for the throne. With the support of his uncle Zhangsun Wuji, he was established as Crown Prince. He ascended the throne in 649 and changed the Yuan Dynasty to Yonghui the following year. He relied heavily on the old ministers of Zhenguan, and his politics were clear and bright. It was known as the "Government of Yonghui" in history. The "Tang Lv Shu Yi" was promulgated at this time.
In 655, despite the opposition of Zhangsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang and other elders, he deposed the king and queen and installed Wu Zhaoyi as his queen. After that, the elder groups were eliminated one by one. After Xianqing, he suffered from rheumatism and often asked Empress Wu to handle memorials. The two of them were known as the "Two Saints". Externally, Su Dingfang destroyed the Western Turks, and the Tang army successively destroyed Baekje and Goguryeo, and established Anxi, Andong and other protective prefectures. The Tang dynasty territory reached its peak.
In the later period of Gaozong, Tubo rose, the Tang army suffered a disastrous defeat in Dafeichuan, and the four towns of Anxi fell for a time. Crown Prince Li Hong died young, and the successor Li Xian was deposed. Empress Wu became increasingly powerful. In December 683, he died of illness in Luoyang. He ordered Crown Prince Li Xian to ascend the throne. Any major military and state affairs that could not be resolved would be decided by the Queen of Heaven. He was buried in Qianling Mausoleum the following year.
Gaozong is often regarded as a cowardly king, but during his thirty-four years in power, Tang Dynasty successively destroyed Western Turks, Baekje, and Goguryeo, and his territory reached its peak. The promulgation of "Tang Laws and Regulations" and the reform of imperial examinations also had far-reaching influence. He was generous and sick, and relied heavily on Empress Wu to assist in government affairs. Although he once tried to abolish the empress, he was ultimately unable to restrict his power, which paved the way for the future of Wu Zhou and Tang Dynasty.
PoliticsThe rule of Yonghui
He ascended the throne in June and changed to Yuan Yonghui the following year. He relied heavily on Zhangsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang and other Zhenguan veterans, followed the old Taizong system, and was diligent in listening to government affairs. His household registration continued to increase. It was known as the "Government of Yonghui" in history and was known as the "Legacy of Zhenguan".
CultureBuild the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
In order to preserve the sutras and images brought back from Tianzhu, Xuan Zang petitioned to build a pagoda in the west courtyard of Daci'en Temple. It was built with bricks imitating the shape of the Western Regions, which is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Xuan Zang presided over the translation of scriptures at Ci'en Temple and founded the Faxiang Sect, also known as Ci'en Sect.
Lasting legacyThe Big Wild Goose Pagoda was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2014 as the "Silk Road: Road Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" heritage site, and is now the city symbol of Xi'an.
PoliticsPromulgation of "Tang Lv Shu Yi"
Zhangsun Wuji and others were ordered to give an authoritative explanation of the "Yonghui Code" article by article, which was called "Lvshu". It was attached to the text and promulgated together, and had the same legal effect. The whole book consists of twelve chapters and 502 articles, which was later called "Tang Lv Shu Yi".
Lasting legacyThe complete text of "Tang Lv Shu Yi" has been handed down to this day and is the earliest existing complete legal code in China; the "Song Xing Tong" of the Song Dynasty was generally used, and the Japanese "Dabao Ryu Ling" was also modeled on Tang Lv.
CulturePromulgation of "Five Classics of Justice"
The "Five Classics of Justice" compiled by Kong Yingda and others on the order of Taizong was revised and officially promulgated, unifying the different annotations of Confucian classics since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and it was used as the standard for the subsequent Ming classics examinations.
Lasting legacyThe essays of "The Righteousness of the Five Classics" were later included in the "Commentary on the Thirteen Classics", which is still the basic annotation for studying Confucian classics.
PoliticsMake Wu Zhaoyi the queen
In October, the imperial edict was issued to depose Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu as common people, and establish Wu Zhaoyi as queen. Chu Suiliang kowtowed and remonstrated with blood, and was demoted from the capital; Li Ji said, "Why bother asking outsiders about your Majesty's family affairs?", which prompted Gaozong to make up his mind.
MilitaryDestroy the Western Turks
Su Dingfang led his army to defeat the Western Turk Shabolo Khan Ashinahelu in the Ili River Basin, and then captured him. Tang Dynasty set up the Duhufu in his hometown and moved the Anxi Duhufu to Qiuci to take charge of the four towns of Anxi.
PeopleDeath of Zhangsun Wuji
Xu Jingzong catered to Empress Wu and falsely accused Zhangsun Wuji of treason. Without confrontation, Gaozong demoted his uncle and exiled him to Qianzhou, forcing him to hang himself three months later. Chu Suiliang had died in the demoted office the previous year, and the influence of Zhenguan elders was completely wiped out.
Science & technology"Newly Revised Materia Medica" is promulgated
Su Jing and more than 20 people were ordered to compile the "New Materia Medica", which included more than 800 kinds of medicines, accompanied by medicinal diagrams, and was promulgated by the imperial court throughout the country. It is generally considered to be the earliest pharmacopoeia promulgated by the state in the world.
MilitaryDestroy Baekje
Baekje united with Goguryeo to attack Silla, and Silla asked Tang for help. Su Dingfang led an army of land and water across the sea, captured the capital of Baekje, Sichuan, and captured the king of Baekje, Yici. The Tang Dynasty established the Xiongjin Governor's Palace there.
PoliticsEmpress Wu participated in politics
In October, Gaozong suffered from wind-dizziness. He was dizzy and unable to see clearly, so he began to ask Wu's descendants to deal with memorials. Empress Wu acted smartly and gradually participated in the government affairs, becoming more and more powerful.
SocietyMoved to Daming Palace
Gaozong felt that the terrain of Taiji Palace was low and humid, so he massively expanded the Daming Palace on Longshou Plain in the northeast of the city. It was then called Penglai Palace and officially moved in in April. For more than two hundred years since then, Daming Palace has been the main place where Emperor Tang Dynasty lived and listened to politics.
Lasting legacyThe Daming Palace ruins were listed as a World Heritage Site in 2014, and the Hanyuan Hall, Linde Hall and other foundations are now preserved in the Daming Palace National Heritage Park in Xi'an.
MilitaryBattle of Baijiangkou
The remaining ministers of Baekje united with Japan to seek restoration of the country, and Japan sent a large number of warships to assist. Tang general Liu Rengui fought four battles with Japanese troops at the mouth of Baijiang River and had four victories, burning 400 Japanese ships, and the Baekje restoration movement collapsed.
Lasting legacyAfter the war, Japan was worried about the attack by the Tang army, so it built fortifications such as "Water Castle" in Kyushu. The ruins of Water Castle are now Japan's special historical sites.
PoliticsThe two saints come to court
Chief minister Shangguan Yi drafted the edict to abolish the empress in accordance with Gaozong's wishes. After hearing the news, Empress Wu complained to Gaozong, but Shangguan Yi was falsely accused and executed. After that, Gaozong looked over the court, Empress Wu hung the curtain behind her, and participated in the decision-making of all political affairs. The court and the public called her the "Two Saints".
PoliticsTaishan Fengchan
In the first month of the first month, Gaozong led hundreds of officials and envoys from various countries to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to the emperor. Empress Wu participated in the ceremony as Yaxian, setting a precedent for empresses to participate in the memorial ceremony.
MilitaryDestroy Goguryeo
After the death of Goguryeo's powerful official Quan Gaisuwen, there was internal strife among the princes. Li Ji led his army across the Liao River, captured Pyongyang in September, and captured Gaozang, the king of Goguryeo. The Tang Dynasty established the Andong Protectorate in Pyongyang, and its territory reached its peak.
MilitaryThe defeat of Dafeichuan
Tubo captured eighteen states in the Western Region, and the Tang Dynasty was forced to abandon the four towns of Anxi. Xue Rengui led an army of more than 100,000 in a crusade. He was defeated by the Tibetan general Lun Qinling in Dafeichuan, Qinghai. Almost the entire army was wiped out. Tang Dynasty switched from offensive to defensive in the northwest.
PoliticsEmperor and Queen
In August, Gaozong was renamed "Emperor" and Empress Wu was called "Queen of Heaven". In December, Empress Wu wrote the "Twelve Proposals", proposing suggestions such as persuading farming and mulberry farming, arranging corvee taxes, cessation of the army, spreading the word, and requiring the father to mourn for his mother for three years. Gaozong issued an edict for implementation.
CultureLongmen Lushena Buddha
The statue of Buddha Lu Shena, the master of Fengxian Temple in Longmen Grottoes, was completed, with a height of more than 17 meters. Empress Wu once donated 20,000 yuan of powder money. The Buddha has a plump and dignified face, representing the highest level of Buddhist sculpture in the Tang Dynasty.
Lasting legacyThe Longmen Grottoes were listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 2000, and the Lucena Buddha is now Luoyang's iconic landscape.
PeopleCrown Prince Li Hong passes away
Crown Prince Li Hongren is filial and modest. The two princesses who were once born to Concubine Xiao Shu requested marriage and disobeyed Empress Wu. In April, he died suddenly while accompanying the emperor and the empress to marry him in the palace. He was twenty-four years old. According to the "New Book of Tang Dynasty", he was poisoned by Empress Wu, and one theory is that he died of tuberculosis.
PoliticsWaste Crown PrinceLi Xian
Crown Prince Li Xian was at odds with Empress Wu. He was accused of hiding armor and intending to rebel. He was deposed as a commoner and changed the title of King Li Xian to Crown Prince. Li Xian once summoned scholars to write annotations for Fan Ye's "Book of the Later Han".
Lasting legacyThe "Book of the Later Han" annotated by Zhanghuai Crown Prince has been passed down to this day and is still a popular annotated version; the "Polo Picture" and other murals in his tomb are now in the Shaanxi History Museum.
PoliticsEssays on Jinshi Additional Examination
Adopting the suggestion of Liu Sili, a foreign official who examined meritorious services, the Jinshi Department added two test essays in addition to the test strategies, and the Ming Jing Department added test essays. After that, essays were gradually fixed as poems and poems, and the trend of Jinshi focusing on literature was thus formed, which promoted the prosperity of Tang poetry.
PoliticsDied of illness in Luoyang
In December, he died of illness in Zhenguan Hall, Luoyang. He ordered Crown Prince Li Xian to ascend the throne, and any major military and state affairs that could not be decided would be decided by the Queen of Heaven. He was buried in Qianling Mausoleum the following year, and Wu Zetian was buried here with him in 706.
Lasting legacyThe Qianling Mausoleum has not yet been excavated, but the monumental tablets, wordless tablets and 61 stone statues of Fanchen in front of the mausoleum are still standing today.
She was a talented person from Taizong at first, and became queen in 655. After Xianqing, he assisted Gaozong in handling government affairs and was called the "Two Saints" together with Gaozong. After Gaozong's death, he ruled as regent and became emperor in 690.
Uncle Gaozong, the minister who entrusted the heir to Taizong before his death, presided over the government during the Yonghui period and took the lead in writing "Tang Lu Shu Yi". Because he opposed the establishment of military force, he was falsely accused of rebellion and forced to death.
Together with Zhangsun Wuji, he was assisted by Taizong's imperial edict. He was demoted after opposing the establishment of military force and died in Aizhou. Proficient in calligraphy, he was one of the "Four Great Masters of the Early Tang Dynasty". His stele "Preface to the Holy Religion of the Wild Goose Pagoda" is still embedded in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
His real name is Xu Shiji. He was a famous general in the early Tang Dynasty and was given the surname Li. After supporting the establishment of military force during the Yonghui period, he led the army to attack Goguryeo at the age of more than seventy in 668.
The most important commander-in-chief of the Gaozong Dynasty, he successively defeated the Western Turks and Baekje, crossed the sea to conquer Goguryeo, and besieged Pyongyang, with outstanding military exploits.
Born in a peasant family, he made his mark by conquering Goguryeo at the end of Zhenguan. In 662, he defeated Tiele in the Tianshan Mountains, and the army sang "The General's three arrows fixed the Tianshan Mountains." In 670, he was defeated by Tubo in Dafeichuan.
After returning from the westward journey, he translated scriptures at Hongfu Temple, Daci'en Temple and Yuhua Palace in Chang'an for nearly 20 years. He passed away in Yuhua Palace in 664, and Gaozong resigned from the court.