Dynasties of ChinaTang dynastyTang dynasty lineage
Huichang · Reign 840—846
He appointed Li Deyu to defeat the Uighurs and Ping Zelu, and his politics revived for a time, and he launched the "Huichang Extermination of Buddhism" campaign.
Li Yan, formerly known as Li Yan, was the fifth son of Muzong and was granted the title of King Ying. Wenzong died of illness in 840, and the eunuch Chou Shiliang and others made an imperial edict to appoint him as the emperor's younger brother, and he immediately ascended the throne. He had a resolute and resolute character. After he came to the throne, he appointed Li Deyu as his prime minister. He was trusting and single-minded, and was known as the "Government of Huichang" in history. Chou Shiliang's power was suppressed, and he was forced to retire in 843 and died soon after.
Under the auspices of Li Deyu, the Tang army defeated the Uighur Wujie Khan who went south, welcomed back the promiscuous Princess Taihe, and put down Liu Zhen's rebellion in Zhaoyi Town, so that the three towns of Heshuo did not dare to act rashly. Wuzong believed in Taoism, and in 845 he ordered a large-scale abolition of Buddhism, confiscated temple properties, and ordered monks and nuns to return to secular life. He took the elixir prepared by Taoist priests and became irritable. He died of illness in March 846 at the age of thirty-three.
DiplomacyYuan Ren entered the Tang Dynasty to seek Dharma
The Japanese monk Yuan Ren entered the Tang Dynasty with the last envoy sent to the Tang Dynasty. He visited Mount Wutai, sought Dharma in Chang'an, witnessed the extermination of Buddhism in Huichang, and was ordered to return to secular life and return to his country. He wrote "Notes on a Pilgrimage to the Tang Dynasty to Seek Dharma" in a diary style.
Lasting legacy"Records of a Pilgrimage to the Tang Dynasty to Seek Dharma" has been handed down to this day and is a precious first-hand historical material for studying the society of the late Tang Dynasty, Buddhism and the extermination of Buddhism in Huichang.
PoliticsThe eunuchs supported him
In the first month of the first month, Wenzong died of illness, and Chou Shiliang issued an edict to depose Crown Prince Li Chengmei and establish Ying Wang Li Xian as the emperor's younger brother, who immediately ascended the throne. He then ordered the death of Wenzong's beloved concubine Yang Xianfei, King An Li Rong, and Chen Wang Li Chengmei.
PeopleLi Deyu enters the picture
In September, Li Deyu, the envoy of Huainan Festival, was summoned to the court as prime minister. Li Deyu advocated "returning political affairs to Zhongshu" and restricted eunuchs from intervening in politics. Wuzong obeyed his advice, and the relationship between emperor and ministers was rare in the late Tang Dynasty.
CultureLiu Gongquan's Mysterious Pagoda Stele
Liu Gongquan wrote "Mysterious Pagoda Stele" in regular script. It has a tight structure and strong bones. Together with Yan Zhenqing's powerful and broad face, it is also known as "Yan Jin Liu Gu".
Lasting legacyThe original stone of "Mysterious Pagoda Stele" is now in the Xi'an Stele Forest Museum, and it is still one of the most commonly used models for learning regular script.
MilitaryDefeat the Uighurs
The Uyghur Khanate was defeated by Qijiasi in 840, and the tribesmen went south. Wujie Khan kidnapped the promiscuous Princess Taihe and invaded the border. In the first month of 843, Tang general Shi Xiong attacked his camp at night. Wujie Khan was wounded and escaped, and Princess Taihe was welcomed back to Chang'an.
PeopleChou Shiliang's official career
After Chou Shiliang fell from power and retired to old age, before leaving, he taught the eunuchs the art of maintaining favors: the emperor should not be left idle, his ears and eyes should be entertained with extravagance, and he should not be allowed to study or get close to Confucian officials. He died in the same year, and the following year it was discovered that he had weapons hidden in his home, and he was deprived of his official title.
MilitaryPingding Zelu
After the death of Zhaoyi Jiedu envoy Liu Congjian, his nephew Liu Zhen secretly did not mourn and asked to succeed his father. Li Deyu advocated a crusade and ordered the towns in Heshuo to attack. In 844, Liu Zhen was killed by his general Guo Yi, and Zhaoyi Town was pacified.
CultureHuichang destroys Buddha
Wuzong worshiped Taoism and suppressed Buddhism. He ordered the demolition of more than 4,600 monasteries and more than 40,000 Zhaoti Lanruo. He ordered more than 260,000 monks and nuns to return to secular life. He confiscated tens of millions of hectares of temple land. Nestorianism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism and other foreign religions were also banned.
PoliticsEnded by taking elixir
Wuzong favored Taoist priest Zhao Guizhen and others. After taking the elixir, he became moody. In early 846, he became seriously ill and could not speak. He died in March. The eunuch Ma Yuanzhi and others supported his uncle Li Chen, King Guang, as the emperor's uncle to preside over military and state affairs.
Son of Li Jifu, leader of the Li Party. Wuzong presided over the government for six years, attacking the Uighurs externally and pacifying Zelu internally. He was known as the first prime minister in the late Tang Dynasty. After Xuanzong came to the throne, he was demoted to Yazhou and died.
He had meritorious service in supporting Wuzong, but was suppressed by Wuzong and Li Deyu. He was forced to retire in 843 and died soon after.
The Taoist priests whom Wuzong believed in repeatedly advised Wuzong to reject Buddhism. After Xuanzong came to the throne, he was killed with a stick.
A Japanese monk from the Tiantai Sect, who lived in the Tang Dynasty for nearly ten years, wrote "Notes on a Pilgrimage to the Tang Dynasty to Seek Dharma". After returning to China, he served as the Master of the Tiantai Sect and was given the posthumous title of Master Cijue.