Tang Dynasty Emperor
The Tang Dynasty emperors ruled the Chinese Empire from 618 to 907. The dynasty was interrupted in 690 by Wu Zetian , the first and only reigning empress of China, after she proclaimed the Zhou dynasty upon her accession to the throne. With their dismissal in 705, their successor Zhongzong restored the Tang dynasty, but kept their government motto Shénlóng ( 神龍 / 神龙 - "divine dragon ") until 707 . The dynasty experienced another brief interruption in 710 when Li Chongmao ascended the throne. He was discontinued after a few weeks.
The Tang Dynasty was ended in 907 by Zhu Wen who proclaimed the (Later) Liang Dynasty . This was followed by the epoch of the Five Dynasties and Ten Empires , which lasted until the foundation of the Song Dynasty (960).
Notes on the columns:
- The temple name is the name given to the emperor's ancestral temple. This is also the more common name. The emperors are therefore named according to the following convention: "Táng" (name of the dynasty) + temple name.
- For Empress Wu Zetian (ruled 684–705) and the emperors Shao (ruled 710) and Ai (ruled 904–907) the posthumous title is given instead of the temple name .
- According to Chinese customs, the emperor's maiden name is kept in the order family name - first name .
- The era of the Chinese imperial era followed the era announced by the emperor . The year "Yonghui 3" (Emperor Gaozong of Tang) corresponds to the year 652 according to the Christian calendar. An era usually represented a distinctive period in the government of an emperor, it can be seen as a government motto.
List of emperors
| Temple name | Birth Name | Government years | Era names (government currency ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The translations of the era names are rough interpretations that cannot do justice to the complexity of Chinese . They are used for the orientation of the uninitiated. | ||||
| Tang Dynasty 618-690 | ||||
| Gāozǔ (高祖) | Lǐ Yuān (李淵) | 618-626 | Wǔdé ( 武德 - "brave war") | 618-626 |
| Tàizōng (太宗) | Lǐ Shìmín (李世民) | 626-649 | Zhēnguān ( 貞觀 / 贞观 - "True Vision") | 627-649 |
| Gāozōng (高宗) | Lǐ Zhì (李 治) | 650-683 | Yǒnghuī ( 永徽 - "eternal insignia")
Xiǎnqìng ( 顯 慶 / 显 庆 - "excellent celebration") Lóngshuò ( 龍 朔 / 龙 朔 - "ascending dragon") Líndé ( 麟 德 - "gentle unicorn") Qiánfēng ( 乾封 - "strong advice") Zǒngzhāng ( 總 章 / 总 章 - "sealed entity") Xiánhēng ( 咸亨 - "fertile prosperity") Shàngyuán ( 上元 - "Lantern Festival") Yífèng ( 儀鳳 / 仪凤 - "appearance of the phoenix") Tiáolù ( 調 露 / 调 露 - "show harmony") Yǒnglóng ( 永隆 - "eternal prosperity") Kāiyào ( 開 耀 / 开 耀 - "brilliant beginning") Yǒngchún ( 永淳 - "eternal purity") Hóngdào ( 弘道 - "great way") |
650-655
656-661 661-663 664-665 666-668 668-670 670-674 674-676 676-679 679-680 680-681 681-682 682-683 683 |
| Zhōngzōng (中 宗) | Lǐ Xiǎn (李顯) or Lǐ Zhé (李哲) | 684 (continued 705-710) |
Sìshèng ( 嗣 聖 / 嗣 圣 - "sacred ancestry") | 684 |
| Ruìzōng (睿宗) | Li Dan (李 旦 Lǐ Dàn) |
684-690 (continued 710-712) |
Wénmíng ( 文明 - "civilization")
Guāngzhái ( 光 宅 - "light palace") Chuígǒng ( 垂拱 - "rule in peace") Yǒngchāng ( 永昌 - "eternal prosperity") Zàichū ( 載 初 / 载 初 - "first transport") |
684
684 685-688 689 690 |
| Zhou Dynasty 690-705 | ||||
| Wǔhòu (武后) | Wǔ Zétiān (武則天) | 690-705 | Tiānshòu ( 天授 - "to reach heaven") | October 16, 690 - April 21, 692 |
| Rúyì ( 如意 - "to balance the wishes") | April 22nd - October 22nd, 692 |
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| Chángshòu ( 長壽 / 长寿 - "longevity") | October 23, 692 - June 8, 694 |
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| Yánzài ( 延 載 / 延 载 - "extended transport") | June 9, 694 - January 21, 695 |
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| Zhèngshèng ( 證 聖 / 证 圣 - "proof of holiness") | January 22nd - October 21st, 695 |
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| Tiāncèwànsuì ( 天 冊 萬歲 / 天 册 万岁 - "the book of heaven promises long life") | October 22, 695 - January 19, 696 |
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| Wànsuìdēngfēng ( 萬歲 登封 / 万岁 登封 - "an edict proclaims long life") | January 20 - April 21, 696 |
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| Wànsuìtōngtiān ( 萬歲 通天 / 万岁 通天 - "the sky opens up long life") | April 22, 696 - September 28, 697 |
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| Shéngōng ( 神功 - "living soul") | September 29 - December 19, 697 |
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| Shènglì ( 聖 曆 / 圣 历 - "holy calendar") | December 20, 697 - May 26, 700 |
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| Jiǔshì ( 久 視 / 久 视 - "long observation") | May 27, 700 - February 14, 701 |
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| Dàzú ( 大 足 - "sufficient size") | February 15 - November 25, 701 |
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| Cháng'ān ( 長安 / 长安 - "eternal peace") | November 26, 701 - January 29, 705 |
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| Shénlóng ( 神龍 / 神龙 - "divine dragon ") | January 30th - March 3rd 705 |
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| Continuation of the Tang Dynasty 705–907 | ||||
| Zhōngzōng (中 宗) | Lǐ Xiǎn (李顯) or Lǐ Zhé (李哲) | (already 684) 705-710 |
Shénlóng ( 神龍 / 神龙 - "divine dragon")
Jǐnglóng ( 景 龍 / 景 龙 - "bright dragon") |
705-707
707-710 |
| Shàodì (少帝) | Lǐ Chóngmào (李 重 茂) | 710 | Tánglóng ( 唐隆 - " Tang dragon") | 710 |
| Ruìzōng (睿宗) | Lǐ Dàn (李 旦) | (already 684-690) 710-712 |
Jǐngyún ( 景雲 / 景云 - "bright clouds")
Tàijí ( 太極 / 太极 - "highest size") Yánhé ( 延 和 - "long harmony") |
710-711
712 712 |
| Xuánzōng (玄宗) | Lǐ Lóngjī (李隆基) | 712-756 | Xiāntiān ( 先天 - "birth")
Kāiyuán ( 開元 / 开元 - "begin dynasty") Tiānbǎo ( 天寶 / 天宝 - "precious heaven") |
712-713
713-741 742-756 |
| Sùzōng (肅宗) | Lǐ Hēng (李亨) | 756-762 | Zhìdé ( 至德 - "perfect virtue")
Qiányuán ( 乾元 - "heaven") Shàngyuán ( 上元 - "Lantern Festival") |
756-758
758-760 760-761 |
| Dàizōng (代宗) | Lǐ Yù (李 豫) | 762-779 | Bǎoyìng ( 寶應 / 宝应 - "precious answer")
Guǎngdé ( 廣 德 / 广 德 - "spread virtue") Yǒngtài ( 永泰 - "eternal peace") Dàlì ( 大 曆 / 大 历 - "highest calendar") |
762-763
763-764 765-766 766-779 |
| Dézōng (德宗) | Lǐ Kuò (李 适) | 779-805 | Jiànzhōng ( 建中 - "establish (empire) the middle")
Xīngyuán ( 興 元 / 兴 元 - "Flower of the Dynasty") Zhēnyuán ( 貞元 / 贞元 - "simple dynasty") |
780-783
784 785-805 |
| Shùnzōng (順 宗) | Lǐ Sòng (李 誦) | 805 | Yǒngzhēn ( 永貞 / 永贞 - "simple eternity") | 805 |
| Xiànzōng (憲宗) | Lǐ Chún (李純) | 805-820 | Yuánhé ( 元 和 - "peaceful dynasty") | 805-820 |
| Mùzōng (穆宗) | Lǐ Héng (李恆) | 821-824 | Chángqìng ( 長慶 / 长庆 - "eternal festival") | 821-824 |
| Jìngzōng (敬宗) | Lǐ Zhàn (李 湛) | 824-826 | Bǎolì ( 寶 曆 / 宝 历 - "expensive calendar") | 824-826 |
| Wénzōng (文宗) | Lǐ Áng (李昂) | 826-840 | Bǎolì ( 寶 曆 / 宝 历 - "expensive calendar")
Tàihé ( 太和 - "great harmony") Kāichéng ( 開 成 / 开 成 - "beginning of success") |
826
827-835 836-840 |
| Wǔzōng (武宗) | Lǐ Yán (李炎) | 840-846 | Huìchāng ( 會昌 / 会昌 - "blooming unity") | 841-846 |
| Xuānzōng (宣宗) | Lǐ Chén (李 忱) | 846-859 | Dàchōng ( 大中 - "big middle") | 847-859 |
| Yìzōng (懿宗) | Lǐ Cuǐ (李 漼) | 859-873 | Dàchōng ( 大中 - "big middle")
Xiántōng ( 咸通 - "fertile opening") |
859
860-873 |
| Xīzōng (僖 宗) | Lǐ Xuān (李 儇) | 873-888 | Xiántōng ( 咸通 - "fertile opening")
Qiánfú ( 乾 符 - "strong seal") Guǎngmíng ( 廣 明 / 广 明 - "wide clarity") Zhōnghé ( 中 和 - "peaceful center") Guāngqǐ ( 光啟 / 光启 - "bright beginning") Wéndé ( 文德 - "virtuous culture") |
873-874
874-879 880-881 881-885 885-888 888 |
| Zhāozōng (昭宗) | Lǐ Yè (李 曄) | 888-904 | Lóngjì ( 龍 紀 / 龙 纪 - "Age of the Dragon")
Dàshùn ( 大 順 / 大 顺 - "large following") Jǐngfú ( 景福 - "bright promise of happiness") Qiánníng ( 乾 寧 / 乾 宁 - "strong peace") Guānghuà ( 光化 - "enlightenment") Tiānfù ( 天 復 / 天 复 - "new day") Tiānyòu ( 天佑 - "heavenly protection") |
889
890-891 892-893 894-898 898-901 901-904 904 |
| Aīdì (哀帝) or Zhāoxuāndì (昭宣帝) | Lǐ Zhù (李 柷) | 904-907 | Tiānyòu ( 天佑 - "heavenly protection") | 904-907 |
See also
literature
- Charles Benn: China's Golden Age: Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty . Oxford University Press, 2002, ISBN 0-19-517665-0 .
- Wolfram Eberhard , Alide Eberhard: History of China. From the beginning to the present (= Kröner's pocket edition , volume 413). Kröner, Stuttgart 1971, DNB 456503854 .
- Jacques Gernet : The Chinese World . Frankfurt am Main 1977, ISBN 3-518-38005-2 .
- Gisela Gottschalk : China's great emperor . Herrsching 1985, ISBN 3-88199-229-4
