Tang Wuzong

Tang Wuzong

Tang Wuzong ( Chinese  唐武宗 , Pinyin Táng Wǔzōng ; * approx. 810; † 846 ) was the 15th emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty , he ruled from 840 to 846. Posterity will remember him primarily as a fanatical Daoist who Persecuted people of different faiths.

Before the beginning of his rule, the influence of the eunuchs was so strong that they often made the practical political decisions. Several of Wuzong's predecessors had been murdered by them. However, with the help of his uncle Xuānzong and the chancellor Li Deyu , Wuzong succeeded in asserting himself against the eunuchs and limiting their influence.

Wuzong, who was himself a fanatical Daoist, took a military success over the Uyghurs in the west of the empire as an opportunity to forbid their religion, Manichaeism . This was followed by further repression against other religions ( Nestorian Christians , Mazdaism ) and finally against Buddhism, which was already widespread and popular in China at that time . Many temples that had amassed great fortunes were destroyed and their property confiscated by the state, which was in serious financial difficulties. However, the practice of the Buddhist religion was still permitted to a very limited extent.

Wuzong died in 846 at the age of 36. His uncle Xuānzong succeeded him, and at the beginning of his term in office he ended the persecution of the Buddhists.

See also

• Buddhist persecution

literature

• Gisela Gottschalk : China's great emperor. Their history, their culture, their achievements. The Chinese ruling dynasties in pictures, reports and documents . License issue. Pawlak, Herrsching 1985, ISBN 3-88199-229-4 .

Film documents

• Adventure Arte - The Emperors of the Tang Dynasty (Saturday, November 25, 2006 at 8.40 p.m.)

Web links

• Buddhism from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty ( Memento from April 2, 2008 in the Internet Archive )

predecessor	Office	successor
Wenzong	Emperor of China 840–846	Xuānzong