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Brief Introduction of the Tang Dynasty

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In the beginning decades of the Tang, especially under the leadership of Emperor Taizong, China subdued its nomadic neighbors from the north and northwest, securing peace and safety on overland trade routes reaching as far as Syria and Rome. The seventh century was a time of momentous social change; the official examination system enabled educated men without family connections to serve as government officials. This new social elite gradually replaced the old aristocracy, and the recruitment of gentlemen from the south contributed to the cultural amalgamation that had already begun in the sixth century.

The eighth century heralded the second important epoch in Tang history, achieved largely during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–56), called minghuang—the Brilliant Monarch. It is rightfully ranked as the classical period of Chinese art and literature, as it set the high standard to which later poets, painters, and sculptors aspired. The expressions and images contained in the poems of Li Bo (ca. 700–762) and Du Fu (722–770) reflect the flamboyant lives of the court and the conflicting sentiments generated by military campaigns. The vigorous brushwork of the court painter Wu Daozi (active ca. 710–760) and the naturalist idiom of the poet and painter Wang Wei (699–759) became artistic paradigms for later generations. Although the An Lushan rebellion in the middle of the century considerably weakened the power and authority of the court, the restored government ruled for another century and a half, providing stability for lasting cultural and artistic development.
  
♦ Table of Emperors in Tang Dyasnty
Temple names
Chinese family name and first name
Period of Reign
Era names and durations
Convention: "Tang" + temple name
Gao Zu (高祖 Gāo Zǔ)
Li Yuan (李淵 Lǐ Yuān)
618-626
Wude (武德 Wǔdé) 618-626
Tai Zong (太宗 Tài Zōng)
Li Shimin (李世民 Lǐ Shìmín)
626-649
Zhenguan (貞觀 Zhēnguān) 627-649
Gao Zong (高宗 Gāo Zōng)
Li Zhi (李治 Lǐ Zhì)
650-683
Yonghui (永徽 Yǒnghuī) 650-655
Xianqing (顯慶 Xiǎnqìng) 656-661
Longshuo (龍朔 Lóngshuò) 661-663
Linde (麟德 Líndé) 664-665
Qianfeng (乾封 Qíanfēng) 666-668
Zongzhang (總章 Zǒngzhāng) 668-670
Xianheng (咸亨 Xiánhēng) 670-674
Shangyuan (上元 Shàngyuán) 674-676
Yifeng (儀鳳 Yífèng) 676-679
Tiaolu (調露 Tiáolù) 679-680
Yonglong (永隆 Yǒnglóng) 680-681
Kaiyao (開耀 Kāiyào) 681-682
Yongchun (永淳 Yǒngchún) 682-683
Hongdao (弘道 Hóngdào) 683
Zhong Zong (中宗 Zhōng Zōng)
(dismissed by Empress Dowager Wu)
Li Xian (李顯 Lǐ Xiǎn) or
Li Zhe (李哲 Lǐ Zhé)
684
(also 705-710)
Sisheng (嗣聖 Sìshèng) 684
Rui Zong (睿宗 Ruì Zōng)
(dismissed by Empress Dowager Wu)
Li Dan (李旦 Lǐ Dàn)
684-690
(also 710-712)
Wenming (文明 Wénmíng) 684
Guangzhai (光宅 Guāngzhái) 684
Chuigong (垂拱 Chuígǒng) 685-688
Yongchang (永昌 Yǒngchāng) 689
Zaichu (載初 Zàichū) 690
Zhou Dynasty (690 AD - 705 AD)
Continuation of Tang Dynasty
Zhong Zong (中宗 Zhōng Zōng)
(second reign)
Li Xian (李顯 Lǐ Xiǎn) or
Li Zhe (李哲 Lǐ Zhé)
(also 684)
705-710
Shenlong (神龍 Shénlóng) 705-707
Jinglong (景龍 Jǐnglóng) 707-710
Shang Di (殤帝 Shāng Dì)
see note below table
Li ChongMao (李重茂 Lǐ ChóngMào)
710
Tanglong (唐隆 Tánglóng) 710
Rui Zong (睿宗 Ruì Zōng)
(second reign)
Li Dan (李旦 Lǐ Dàn)
(also 684-690)
710-712
Jingyun (景雲 Jǐngyún) 710-711
Taiji (太極 Tàijí) 712
Yanhe (延和 Yánhé) 712
Xuan Zong (玄宗 Xuán Zōng)
Li Longji (李隆基 Lǐ Lóngjī)
712-756
Xiantian (先天 Xiāntiān) 712-713
Kaiyuan (開元 Kāiyuán) 713-741
Tianbao (天寶 Tiānbǎo) 742-756
Su Zong (肅宗 Sù Zōng)
Li Heng (李亨 Lǐ Hēng)
756-762
Zhide (至德 Zhìdé) 756-758
Qianyuan (乾元 Qiányuán) 758-760
Shangyuan (上元 Shàngyuán) 760-761
Dai Zong (代宗 Dài Zōng)
Li Yu (李豫 Lǐ Yù)
762-779
Baoying (寶應 Bǎoyìng) 762-763
Guangde (廣德 Guǎngdé) 763-764
Yongtai (永泰 Yǒngtài) 765-766
Dali (大曆 Dàlì) 766-779
De Zong (德宗 Dé Zōng)
Li Kuo (李适 Lǐ Kuò)
780-805
Jianzhong (建中 Jiànzhōng) 780-783
Xingyuan (興元 Xīngyuán) 784
Zhenyuan (貞元 Zhēnyuán) 785-805
Shun Zong (順宗 Shùn Zōng)
Li Song (李誦 Lǐ Sòng)
805
Yongzhen (永貞 Yǒngzhēn) 805
Xian Zong (憲宗 Xiàn Zōng)
Li Chun (李純 Lǐ Chún)
806-820
Yuanhe (元和 Yuánhé) 806-820
Mu Zong (穆宗 Mù Zōng)
Li Heng (李恆 Lǐ Héng)
821-824
Changqing (長慶 Chángqìng) 821-824
Jing Zong (敬宗 Jìng Zōng)
Li Zhan (李湛 Lǐ Zhàn)
824-826
Baoli (寶曆 Bǎolì) 824-826
Wen Zong (文宗 Wén Zōng)
Li Ang (李昂 Lǐ Áng)
826-840
Baoli (寶曆 Bǎolì) 826
Dahe (大和 Dàhé) or Taihe (Tàihé 太和) 827-835
Kaicheng (開成 Kāichéng) 836-840
Wu Zong (武宗 Wǔ Zōng)
Li Yan (李炎 Lǐ Yán)
840-846
Huichang (會昌 Huìchāng) 841-846
Xuan Zong (宣宗 Xuān Zōng)
Li Chen (李忱 Lǐ Chén)
846-859
Dazhong (大中 Dàzhōng) 847-859
Yi Zong (懿宗 Yì Zōng)
Li Cui (李漼 Lǐ Cuǐ)
859-873
Dazhong (大中 Dàzhōng) 859
Xiantong (咸通 Xiántōng) 860-873
Xi Zong (僖宗 Xī Zōng)
Li Xuan (李儇 Lǐ Xuān)
873-888
Xiantong (咸通 Xiántōng) 873-874
Qianfu (乾符 Qiánfú) 874-879
Guangming (廣明 Guǎngmíng) 880-881
Zhonghe (中和 Zhōnghé) 881-885
Guangqi (光啟 Guāngqǐ) 885-888
Wende (文德 Wéndé) 888
Zhao Zong (昭宗 Zhāo zōng)
Li Ye (李曄 Lǐ Yè)
888-904
Longji (龍紀 Lóngjì) 889
Dashun (大順 Dàshùn) 890-891
Jingfu (景福 Jǐngfú) 892-893
Qianning (乾寧 Qiánníng) 894-898
Guanghua (光化 Guānghuà) 898-901
Tianfu (天復 Tiānfù) 901-904
Tianyou (天佑 Tiānyòu) 904
Ai Di (哀帝 Aī Dì) or
Zhaoxuan Di (昭宣帝 Zhāoxuān Dì)
Li Zhu (李柷 Lǐ Zhù)
904-907
Tianyou (天佑 Tiānyòu) 904-907

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