Tang Dynasty Emperors

The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty that reigned over Ancient China from 618 to 907. Under this empire, China experienced a time of peace and prosperity, making it one of the world’s strongest nations.

The Tang Dynasty is also known as one of Ancient China’s Golden Age.

Establishment of the Tang Dynasty

When the Sui Dynasty declined in 618, the army of Shanxi’s governor, Li Yuan, marched towards Chang’an. He enthroned a child emperor as a puppet ruler while Li Yuan ruled as China’s Prime Minister.

When the old Sui ruler, Emperor Yang, was assassinated, Li Yuan declared himself as emperor. He then established the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Empire ruled over a vast area stretching from Korea to Northern Vietnam and reaching Afghanistan.

Arts and Culture of the Tang

The Tang Dynasty was a brilliant period for Chinese arts and culture. Along with that, major imperial ceremonies were revived.

Ancient orchestras became more prominent while more court dancers appeared. For musicians, they started playing bells, flutes, stone chimes, drums, and zithers.

Tang China also welcomed foreign ideas. With Arabian and Persian seamen roving China’s ports, western music and dance eventually influenced China and Central Asia.

Poetry was the greatest pride of the Tang. New verse forms were developed while those from the past were used as inspiration for new works. During this time, Lushi (regulated verse) and Jueju (abbreviated, truncated verse) were introduced and became highly popular.

Over 50,000 works by thousands of Tang poets have been preserved. Aside from poems, other forms of literature like short stories, histories, and encyclopedias were written.

In the areas of engineering and technology, a lot of advancements were made during the Tang Dynasty. The invention of woodblock printing was the most important among these since it allowed mass production of books. As a result, literature flourished throughout the empire.

Other major inventions in the Tang Dynasty included gunpowder and porcelain. Advancements in map-making and clock-making also happened during this period.

Emperor Gaozu of Tang

618–626 A.D

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Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty (other aliases: Xingming, Kao-tsu, Shude) ruled from 618-626 C.E after his son replaced him as the emperor. He founded the Tang Dynasty after leading a rebellion and overthrowing the Sui Dynasty.

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Emperor Taizong of Tang

626–649 A.D

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Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty is an epitome of a true politician and strategist who ruled in the 7th century. Li Shimin, most commonly known as Emperor Taizong (The Prince of Qin), was the Tang Dynasty’s second ruler.

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Emperor Gaozong of Tang

649–683 A.D

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Li Zhi, most commonly known as Emperor Gaozong (other aliases: Kao-Tsung, Xingming, Miaohao), was the third emperor of the Tang dynasty in China. He ruled from 649 to 683. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty was known for expanding the Tang Empire into Korea.

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Emperor Zhongzong of Tang 

684–684 A.D

705–710 A.D

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Emperor Zhongzong ruled the Tang Dynasty briefly in 684, then ruled again from 705 to 710. He was also called Wu Xian or Li Zhe at times.

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Emperor Ruizong of Tang

684–690 A.D

710–712 A.D

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Emperor Ruizong was born as Li Dan, though he was also known as Li Xulun during his lifetime. He was sometimes called Wu Lun, Li Lun, or Wu Dan and was the 5th and 9th Tang Dynasty emperor. Ruizong of Tang was Emperor Gaozong’s 8th son and 4th son of the emperor’s second wife, Empress Wu.

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Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

712–756 A.D

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Xuanzong of Tang, also known as Emperor Ming of Tang, was the 7th emperor of China. He ruled from 713 to 756, which was the longest reign in the Tang Dynasty.

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Emperor Suzong of Tang

756–762 A.D

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Suzong of Tang was the son of Emperor Xuanzong. He eventually became the Tang Dynasty emperor after his father escaped to Sichuan during the An Lushan Rebellion.

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Emperor Daizong of Tang

762–779 A.D

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Emperor Daizong, who was born as Li Chu, became the emperor of China’s Tang Dynasty. Daizong of Tang was Emperor Suzong’s eldest son.

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Emperor Dezong of Tang

779–805 A.D

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Emperor Dezong of Tang was born with the name Li Kuo. He was Emperor Daizong’s eldest son and one of the Tang Dynasty emperors. His rule lasted for 26 years, and was the longest reign in the Tang Dynasty.

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Emperor Xianzong of Tang

805–820 A.D

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Emperor Xianzong was one of the rulers of China’s Tang Empire. He was Emperor Shunzong’s oldest son, a ruler who only reigned for less than a year.

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Emperor Muzong of Tang

820–824 A.D

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Muzong of Tang was a ruler of China’s Tang Dynasty and reigned for four years. He was the son of Emperor Xianzong and was made the crown prince in 812 during his father’s rule.

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Emperor Jingzong of Tang

824–827 A.D

Emperor Jingzong was another ruler of China’s Tang Dynasty who reigned from 824 to 827. He was born with the name Li Zhan and was the eldest son of Emperor Muzong.

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Emperor Wenzong of Tang

827–840 A.D

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Emperor Wenzong was born as Li Ang in 809. He became the 15th Tang Dynasty emperor and ruled from 827 to 840 in China.
He was the second son of Emperor Muzong and the younger sibling of Jingzong, who also became Tang’s ruler. .

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Emperor Wuzong of Tang

840–846 A.D

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Emperor Xuanzong

846–859 A.D

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Xuanzong of Tang was an emperor who ruled during the latter part of China’s Tang Dynasty. His personal name was Li Yi, which was later changed to Li Chen. Before ruling as the Tang Dynasty emperor, he was known as the Prince of Guang.

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Emperor Yizong of Tang

859–873 A.D

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Emperor Yizong was born as Li Wen, yet his name was eventually changed to Li Cui. He became the Tang Dynasty emperor and his rule lasted from 859 until 873. Yizong of Tang was the eldest son of Emperor Xuanzong.

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Emperor Xizong of Tang

873–888 A.D

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Emperor Xizong, who was born with the personal name Li Yan, later had his name changed to Li Xuan. He became one of the Tang dynasty emperors who ruled from 873 to 888. He was the 5th son of Emperor Yizong and was also the older brother of the future Tang ruler, Emperor Zhaozong.

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Emperor Zhaozong of Tang

888–900 A.D

901–904 A.D

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Emperor Zhaozong was the second to the last ruler of the Tang Dynasty. He was born as Li Jie and was later given the name Li Min, then Li Ye. His rule started in 888 and ended in 904..

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Emperor Ai of Tang

904–907 A.D

Emperor Ai of the Tang Dynasty was also called Zhaoxuan of Tang. He was born as Li Zuo and was eventually known as Li Chu.

He was the last emperor of the dynasty and reigned as a puppet ruler from 904 to 907.

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