Xuanzong

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, personal name Li Longji, lived from 685 to 762 and ruled the Tang Dynasty from 712 to 756. He ascended the throne after his father, Ruizong, abdicated, and his reign is often viewed as a high point in Tang government and culture.

The early years of Xuanzong’s reign coincided with the Kaiyuan era (713–741), a period marked by administrative reforms, tax and land management improvements, and expanded agricultural production. The government promoted scholarly study, supported the arts, and fostered economic growth and commerce. Under his rule, the empire reached its greatest geographic extent, while centralized administration and the civil service examination system helped sustain governance and imperial legitimacy. Chang’an (modern Xi’an) and Luoyang again became major cosmopolitan centers.

However, the latter part of Xuanzong’s reign was troubled by political and military crises. In 755, the general An Lushan led a major rebellion that devastated northern China and severely weakened imperial authority. The court crisis intensified amid the influence of Xuanzong’s favorite concubine, Yang Guifei, and the relatives surrounding her, contributing to factional strife. In 756, Xuanzong abdicated in favor of his son, Li Heng (Emperor Suzong), though he remained as Retired Emperor until his death in 762. The An Lushan Rebellion ultimately precipitated a long period of instability and territorial loss for the Tang.

Xuanzong’s legacy is mixed: he presided over a flourishing of culture and a peak in Tang power, but his later years were dominated by rebellion and decline. He remains a central figure in discussions of the Tang dynasty’s golden age and its subsequent troubles.