The Tang Dynasty (6 18-907) is one of the most important dynasties in the history of China, and it is also recognized as one of the most powerful times in China. Li Yuan established the Tang Dynasty in 6 18, with Chang 'an (now Xi 'an, Shaanxi) as its capital, and Luoyang as its east capital. In its heyday, the desert of Central Asia was also ruled by it in the 7th century. In 690, Wu Zetian changed the title of Zhou, and moved the capital to Luoyang, which was called Wu Zhou in history, until the title of Datang was restored in 705. After the Anshi Rebellion in the 14th year of Tianbao (755), the Tang Dynasty gradually declined. In 907, Zhu Quanzhong, the king of Liang Dynasty, usurped the throne and perished, which lasted for 289 years and passed on 19 emperors. The Tang Dynasty made brilliant achievements in culture, politics, economy and diplomacy, and was one of the most powerful countries in the world at that time. At that time, the political system and culture of East Asian neighbors including Silla, Bohai Sea and Japan were also deeply influenced by it.
The title of "Tang" is the ancient name of Jin, which generally refers to the central area of Shanxi Province today. Legend has it that the monarch of Yao is called "Tang Tao". During the Zhou Dynasty, there was a small country called Tang State in today's Hubei Province. Li Yuan of Sui Dynasty inherited Tang Guogong; After Emperor Gong abdicated, he took Tang as his country name. After the demise of the Tang Dynasty, the later Tang Dynasty in Li Jianli in the Five Dynasties and the southern Tang Dynasty in the Ten Kingdoms both claimed to be the successors of the Tang Dynasty, and both took "Tang" as their country name. In fact, their emperor had nothing to do with the Tang Dynasty.
Li, a royal family in the Tang Dynasty, claimed to be from Zhao County of Han nationality, and the Li family was also a military aristocrat in Longxi. Li in Longxi was a famous family of military commanders in China during the Qin Dynasty. Li Guang, the flying general of the Western Han Dynasty, and other famous soldiers emerged in this family. However, some people doubt this statement and think that Li, the royal family of the Tang Dynasty, is a descendant of Xianbei. In Old Tang Book and New Tang Book, it is said that Li, the royal family of the Tang Dynasty, is a descendant of Lao Er, and Li Hao, the founding monarch of the Sixteen Countries, is also his distant ancestor. In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Xianbei policy was implemented, and Li was forced to change his "Xiao Ye surname", which was a newly created surname. After the demise of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it was restored as Lee.
Historian Huang Renyu thinks that the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty are the second imperial period of China after Qin and Han Dynasties, while Japanese historians generally think that the Tang Dynasty is the end of China's "Middle Ages". The national strength of the Tang Dynasty was one of the best in China's history, so China people were also called "Tangren", and today China people in the west are also called "Chinatown".
-History of the Tang Dynasty-
Early Tang dynasty
The establishment of Tang dynasty
In the later period of Emperor Yang Di's rule, there was no way to become a tyrant. A peasant uprising broke out at the end of Sui Dynasty. In May of 6 17, Tang Guogong and Li Yuan, who stayed in Taiyuan, set out in Jinyang. On 1 1 month, they occupied Chang 'an, made You Yang emperor, and changed the yuan to Yi Ning, that is, Emperor Sui Gong. Tang Gaozu was appointed Prime Minister and became the king of the Tang Dynasty. In March of 14th year of Great Cause, Emperor Yang Di was killed by Minister Yu Wenhua in Jiangdu, and the Sui Dynasty perished.
In May of the same year, Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor, making the country Tang and Li Yuan as emperor. Changed to Wude, the capital is still in Chang 'an. Then, the eldest son Li was made a prince, the second son was the king of Qin, the third son died young, and the fourth son Li Yuanji was the king of Qi. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan sent Li Shimin to conquer all sides and annihilate all sides. On the fourth day of June, Wude launched the Xuanwu Gate Revolution, which made great contributions in all aspects. Li and Li Yuanji were killed. Tang Gaozu abdicated for the emperor's father. Li Shimin acceded to the throne, and Li Shimin was Emperor Taizong, and changed to Zhenguan.
Controlled by Guan Zhen.
During the period of Emperor Taizong, the Mongolian Plateau dominated by Turks was the sphere of influence, and the ethnic groups in the northern part of the Tang Dynasty called Li Shimin Tiankhan. In the internal affairs, he inherited the prime minister system, developed, improved and established the imperial examination system used by three provinces and six departments and later generations, and also promoted the land equalization system and the rent system. No matter how he came from, he recruited a large number of competent ministers, whether they were ministers or ministers, and they were all reused one by one. For example, Wei Zhi is a curtain minister for the former prince. After Emperor Taizong acceded to the throne, he let bygones be bygones and followed Wei Zhi's advice. During this period, the social order was stable and the economy was prosperous, which was called "the rule of Zhenguan" in history. The summary of his achievements "Zhenguan Politician" became the textbook of Japanese and Korean emperors, and it was also the object of imitation and learning for later emperors.
The sun and the moon are in the sky.
In his later years, Emperor Taizong was troubled by the prince problem, and Prince Li Chenggan and Wang fought. As a result, Emperor Taizong also abolished them and made Li Zhi, the ninth son of Jin Wang Renxiao, a prince. After the death of Emperor Taizong, Li Zhi acceded to the throne, and Li Zhi was Tang Gaozong.
During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, he accepted the invitation of Silla, and finally destroyed Goguryeo and Baekje and defeated Japanese reinforcements. Let Silla unify the Korean peninsula.
In the later years of Emperor Taizong, Tang Gaozong met Wu Shi, a gifted scholar of Emperor Taizong. After the death of Emperor Taizong, Wu entered Ganye Temple as a nun. At that time, Emperor Gaozong's queen was at war with Xiao Shufei, and she allowed Emperor Gaozong to take Wu Shi back to the palace. After Wu entered the palace, he successively abolished the queen and. Under the opposition of the minister, Gao became the queen of Wu.
The emperor was in poor health, and many political affairs were handed over to Wu Hou. Shortly after the death of Emperor Gaozong, Wu Zetian made Li Xian Emperor of Tang Zhongzong. Soon, he abolished Zhongzong and made his other son Li Dan emperor. After the rebellion was put down, in the first year of God-given (690), Wu abandoned grass and proclaimed himself emperor, renamed Zhou and called the Holy Spirit Emperor. Wuhou became the only woman who claimed to be the emperor in the history of China, and she reigned for more than 50 years. Because of the word "Zetian" in posthumous title after the death of Wuhou, some scholars have called it "Wu Zetian" since modern times, but this is an imprecise title.
During the fifteen years of Wu Zhou's rule, in order to balance or even attack the influence of aristocratic families since Emperor Gaozong, Wu Hou vigorously promoted officials who entered the official career through the imperial examination. Di Renjie is one of them. She also arranged for her nephews and confidants, such as Wu Sansi and Wu Chengsi, to be important maintenance personnel. Traditional historians criticized Wu Hou, such as Suo Yuanli, Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing, and they encouraged her to spy on her ministers through informers and torture. Wuhou often bypassed the province under the door, and Zhongshu Province directly gave orders to officials, which set a precedent for destroying the official system.
Butler Zhang Changzong and Xue Huaiyi, etc. However, there are many traditional male emperors' harems. Wuhou also highly respected Buddhism. For example, Buddhist temples were frequently built during the Wu and Zhou Dynasties, and the year numbers were used to prove saints and Dazu. This is in sharp contrast to Li's worship of Taoism and the titles of Zhenguan, Yonghui, Jing Yun and Kaiyuan. In addition, Wuhou became an imitator of the women in the Tang Dynasty's harem fighting for power and profit.
Webster is in power.
In the first year of Shenlong (705), Jing Hui, Prime Minister Zhang Jianzhi and others staged a coup and restored the political power of the Tang Dynasty. Li Dan was made king of Xiang. However, Zhongzong was always influenced by Wei Ruyun, Princess Anle, his daughter and party member Wu Sansi, the elder of Wuhou. Both Zhang Jianzhi and Jing Hui were exiled or killed. Wei Ruyun intends to be the second marquis of Wu, and Princess Anle once asked to be the wife of the emperor. In the fourth year of Jinglong (7 10), Wei Ruyun and Princess Anle conspired to poison Zhongzong. Wei Ruyun made Li Zhongmao, king of Wen, emperor, in order to be a young emperor and to harm Li Dan, king of Xiang. Li Dan's son, Li Longji, then the king of Linzi, staged a coup with the help of his aunt Princess Taiping, killing Wei Ruyun, Princess Anle and the remnants of Wu Shi, and resetting Li Dan.
kaiyuan flourishing age
Later, Princess Rui Zongmei of Taiping waged a power struggle with Li Longji. In the first year of Yanhe River (7 12), it gave way to the Prince, also known as Tang Huangming. In July13, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty gave Princess Taiping the death penalty, and followers either killed or chased her, which ended the chaotic political situation known as the "Hou Wei Rebellion". In the same year, it was changed to Kaiyuan. Tang Xuanzong reigned for 44 years. In the early period (Kaiyuan years), the politics was relatively clear and the economy developed rapidly. The Tang Dynasty entered its heyday, which was called "the prosperous time of Kaiyuan" in history. This period is considered to be the second heyday in the history of China after the period of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty. The capital Chang 'an became the largest city in the world at that time.
An Shi Rebellion in 755-763 A.D.
Zhang Xuan, a painter in the Tang Dynasty, painted a picture of Tao Ren. After Tang Xuanzong changed to Tianbao in the Yuan Dynasty, he was ambitious and decided to indulge himself and never ask about state affairs again. After accepting Yang Yuhuan as the imperial concubine, she became more addicted to debauchery. Tang Xuanzong appointed Li, who was notorious for his "duplicity", as prime minister, and he was in office for eighteen years, which made the political affairs corrupt. After Li's death, he took Yang as his portrait. During this period, eunuchs began to intervene, and Gao Lishi's power was hot. Tang Xuanzong was overjoyed. Because of this, border generals often provoke wars against foreigners to win credit. At that time, because the military system was changed from the official military system to the recruitment system, our time was combined with soldiers in military towns, and there was a situation in which frontier fortress generals joined the army exclusively. Among them, An Lushan, the semi-final of the conference, is the most famous. An Lushan is our special envoy in Fanyang, Pinglu and Hedong. He is armed to the teeth. In the 14th year of Tianbao (755), he took advantage of the political corruption and military emptiness in the Tang Dynasty to launch a rebellion with Shi Siming, which was called "An Shi Rebellion" in history. Tang Xuanzong fled to Chengdu, and Prince Hengli proclaimed himself emperor in Lingwu, for the sake of Su Zong and Xuanzong. An Lushan claimed to be the Great Yan Emperor, with the title of Wu Sheng. It took eight years for the rebellion to be put down.
The decline of Datang
The Tang Dynasty was greatly weakened, and from then on it turned from prosperity to decline. At this time, the land equalization system has gradually disintegrated, and the phenomenon of land merger has become increasingly serious, so the rent adjustment system cannot be implemented. The separatist situation in the buffer zone has been formed.
In Tang Daizong, Ada reformed the salt law and improved the country's financial situation. Tang Dezong appointed Yang Yan as the prime minister, and in the first year of Jianzhong (780), two tax laws were implemented, and land tax was levied in summer and autumn. Tang Dezong also tried to pacify San Francisco, but it caused the rebellion of Zhu Tao, Li Xilie and Zhu Zhi. The result was a disaster. The war lasted for five years. In the end, although Zhu Qi and Li Xilie were defeated, the Tang Dynasty compromised with other provinces on the condition that the titles of kings were abolished and the imperial court recognized their local sovereignty. Since then, the separatist situation has further deepened.
Yuanhe zhongxing
Since then, there have been foreign invasions such as Tubo, Uighur and Nanzhao in the Tang Dynasty, and eunuchs took power, and the abolition of imperial military power and even the emperor was decided by eunuchs. Our local government has the right to manage independently of the central government. After Tang Dezong's death, Tang Shunzong, who succeeded to the throne, tried to carry out reforms, threatening the interests of eunuchs. Therefore, after Yongzhen Neichan, he was supported by eunuchs and ascended the throne, relying on the imperial power to make all the provinces in the country submit to the Tang Dynasty at least nominally, which was called Yuan and Zhongxing in history.
Huichang zhongxing
At the end of Xian Zong's reign, factional disputes among ministers, led by Niu Sengru and Li Deyu, intensified, and eunuchs were more powerful. Niu Party and Li Party came to power one after another.
In the ninth year of Taihe (835), Tang Wenzong, Li Xun and Zheng Zhu launched the Ganlu Rebellion, and their plot to kill eunuchs failed. After the change of manna, eunuchs joined forces; The vassal only used the forces of the buffer region to confront the forces of the eunuchs, and buried the direct conflict between the buffer region and the eunuchs in the Tang Dynasty.
After the death of Wenzong, Tang Wuzong succeeded to the throne and established Jianyuan Huichang. With the support of eunuch Chou Shiliang, Wu Zong succeeded to the throne after factional struggle. Shiliang Zhou, the eunuch who supported Wu Zong, had to personally handle the affairs of state affairs for Wu Zong in view of the numerous factions in the court. Wu Zong reused Li Deyu, the leader of the Li Party, and cut Shiliang Zhou's power. Wuzong has made a series of achievements in revitalizing the imperial court, which is known as Huichang Zhongxing in history. Wuzong attaches importance to Taoism and forbids religions other than Taoism, such as Buddhism and Nestorianism. Therefore, in the history of Buddhism, it is listed as one of the monarchs with the title of "Woods". Also known as Huichang to destroy Buddha.
Xuanzong rule
After Tang Wuzong's death, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty succeeded to the throne with the help of eunuchs. Before he ascended the throne, Xuanzong seemed to be a monarch who was easily used by eunuchs. But after he acceded to the throne, he worked hard to govern. Change Tang Wuzong's policy of forbidding Buddhism and respect Buddhism again.
Died in the Tang dynasty
After Xuanzong, Tang Yizong and Tang Xizong were famous bad emperors, which made the national situation in the Tang Dynasty go downhill all the time.
In the late Tang Dynasty, wars continued and the economy and politics declined. In the 13th year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (859), the peasant war broke out at the end of the Tang Dynasty. After Huang Chao's attack, the rule of the Tang Dynasty existed in name only.
After the Huang Chao Rebellion, the foundation of the Tang Dynasty was broken. The imperial army managed by eunuchs also suffered heavy losses, so the prime minister and eunuchs fought for power and profit constantly. After the Huang Chao Rebellion, Tang Xizong died in the turmoil of our time, and his younger brother Tang Zhaozong succeeded him.
Zhu Quanzhong and Li Keyong became the man of the hour in the late Tang Dynasty. With the support of Zhu Quanzhong, the Prime Minister sent someone to win, and Zhu Quanzhong entered the palace to punish the eunuchs. In the second year of God Blessing (905), Zhu Quanzhong wantonly demoted the officials exiled by the imperial court, all of whom were killed in Baima Post and dumped in the river, which was called the disaster of Baima Post in history. Tang Zhaozong was poisoned by Zhu Wen. God bless four years (907), forcing Li Zhuchan to change his country name to Liang (historical name), with Liang Taizu and Kaiping both in Kaifeng. The Tang Dynasty perished.
Territorial and political regions
The territory map of the heyday of the Tang Dynasty is from Anton in the east, Anxi in the Aral Sea in Central Asia in the west, northern Vietnam in the south and northern Mongolia Plateau in the north. There were many foreign nationalities in the Tang Dynasty. In order to effectively manage Turkic, Uighur, Mohong, Tiele, Shiwei and Qidan, etc. Six capitals, Anxi, Anbei, Anton, Annan, Khan and Beiting, were established.
However, in the decades after the Anshi Rebellion, a large number of border guards from Helong (mainly our troops from Longyou and Shuofang) participated in the rebellion, which led to the emptiness of border defense. Tubo took advantage of the situation and Uighur entered the Hetao grassland, greatly reducing the territory controlled by the Tang government, making it impossible to be sweet or cool west of the Yellow River. Finally, the control of the Tang Dynasty to the west of Dunhuang was completely lost. In the northeast, due to the rise of Silla, Anton Khufu has already retreated to the west of Liaohe River, and the tribes such as Qidan and Xi have become a great disaster. Tubo and Nanzhao in the southwest also caused great losses to the Tang government after the middle Tang Dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty initiated the Daofu system in the history of chinese administrative division. During the Zhenguan period in the early Tang Dynasty, the whole country was divided into 10 roads: Guannei, Henan, Hedong, Hebei, Shannan, Longyou, Huainan, Jiangnan, Jiannan and Lingnan. During the Kaiyuan period, Shannan and Jiangnan were divided into east and west, and Gyeonggi, Duji and Guizhou Middle Road were added to form a fifteen-way pattern. There are counties under the road, and there are counties under it. At the end of Kaiyuan, there were 328 counties in China, 1573 counties.