Tang Dynasty (唐朝 618-907) followed Sui Dynasty and preceded the Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms Period in China. The dynasty was interrupted by the Second Zhou Dynasty (690 AD - 705 AD) when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne.
The Tang dynasty, with its capital at Chang'an, the most populous city in the world at the time, is regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization-- equal, or even superior, to the Han period. Its territory, acquired through the military exploits of its early rulers, was greater than that of the Han. Stimulated by contact with India and the Middle East, the empire saw a flowering of creativity in many fields. Buddhism, originating in India around the time of Confucius, flourished during the Tang period and was adopted by the imperial family, becoming thoroughly sinicized and a permanent part of Chinese traditional culture. Block printing was invented, making the written word available to vastly greater audiences. The Tang period was the golden age of literature and art. A government system supported by a large class of Confucian literati selected through civil service examinations was perfected under Tang rule. This competitive procedure was designed to draw the best talents into government. But perhaps an even greater consideration for the Tang rulers, aware that imperial dependence on powerful aristocratic families and warlords would have destabilizing consequences, was to create a body of career officials having no autonomous territorial or functional power base. As it turned out, these scholar-officials acquired status in their local communities, family ties, and shared values that connected them to the imperial court. From Tang times until the closing days of the Qing empire in 1911, scholar officials functioned often as intermediaries between the grassroots level and the government.
By the middle of the 8th century A.D., Tang power had ebbed. Domestic economic instability and military defeat in 751 by Arabs at Talas, in Central Asia, marked the beginning of five centuries of steady military decline for the Tang empire. Misrule, court intrigues, economic exploitation, and popular rebellions weakened the empire, making it possible for northern invaders to terminate the dynasty in 907. The next half-century saw the fragmentation of China into five northern dynasties and ten southern kingdoms.
| Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 ) | Born Names | Period of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convention: "Tang" + temple name | |||
| ''Note: Wu Hou (武后 wu3 hou4) (Empress Wu) was posthumous name. | |||
| Gao Zu (高祖 gao1 zu3) | Li Yuan (李淵 li3 yuan1) | 618-626 | Wude (武德 wu3 de2) 618-626 |
| Tai Zong (太宗 tai4 zong1) | Li Shi Min (李世民 li3 shi4 min2) | 626-649 | Zhenguan (貞觀 zhen1 guan1) 627-649 |
| Gao Zong (高宗 gao1 zong1) | Li Zhi (李治 li3 zhi4) | 650-683 | Yonghui (永徽 yong3 hui1) 650-655Xianqing (顯慶 xian3 qing4) 656-661 |
| Zhong Zong (中宗 zhong1 zong1), dismissed by Wu Hou | Li Xian (李顯 li3 xian3) or Li Zhe (李哲 li3 zhe2) | 684, (also 705-710) | Sisheng (嗣聖 si4 sheng4) 684 |
| Rui Zong (睿宗 rui4 zong1), dismissed by Wu Hou | Li Dan (李旦 li3 dan4) | 684, (also 710-712) | Wenming (文明 wen2 ming2) 684 |
| Wu Hou (武后 wu3 hou4) | Wu Ze Tian (武則天 wu3 ze2 tian1) | 684-705 | Guangzhai (光宅 guang1 zhai2) 684Chuigong (垂拱 chui2 gong3) 685-688 |
| Zhou Dynasty (690 AD - 705 AD) | |||
| Continuation of Tang Dynasty | |||
| Zhong Zong (中宗 zhong1 zong1), retake the throne | Li Xian (李顯 li3 xian3) or Li Zhe (李哲 li3 zhe2) | (also 684,) 705-710 | Shenlong (神龍 shen2 long2) 705-707Jinglong (景龍 jing3 long2) 707-710 |
| Shao Di (少帝 shao4 di4) see note below the table | Li Chong Mao (李重茂 li3 chong2 mao4) | 710 | Tanglong (唐隆 tang2 long2) 710 |
| Rui Zong (睿宗 rui4 zong1), retake the throne | Li Dan (李旦 li3 dan4) | (also 684,) 710-712 | Jingyun (景雲 jing3 yun2) 710-711Taiji (太極 tai4 ji2) 712 |
| Xuan Zong (玄宗 xuan2 zong1) | Li Long Ji (李隆基 li3 long2 ji1) | 712-756 | Xiantian (先天 xian1 tian1) 712-713Kaiyuan (開元 kai1 yuan2) 713-741 |
| Su Zong (肅宗 su4 zong1) | Li Heng (李亨 li3 heng1) | 756-762 | Jide (至德 zhi4 de2) 756-758Qianyuan (乾元 qian2 yuan2) 758-760 |
| Dai Zong (代宗 dai4 zong1) | Li Yu (李豫 li3 yu4) | 762-779 | Baoying (寶應 bao3 ying4) 762-763Guangde (廣德 guang3 de2) 763-764 |
| De Zong (德宗 de2 zong1) | Li Gua (李适 li3 gua1) | 780-805 | Jianzhong (建中 1jian4 zhong1) 780-783Xingyuan (興元 xing1 yuan2) 784 |
| Shun Zong (順宗 shun4 zong1) | Li Song (李誦 li3 song4) | 805 | Yongzhen (永貞 yong3 zhen1) 805 |
| Xian Zong (憲宗 xian4 zong1) | Li Chun (李純 li3 chun2) | 806-820 | Yuanhe (元和 yuan2 he2) 806-820 |
| Mu Zong (穆宗 mu4 zong1) | Li Heng (李恆 li3 heng2) | 821-824 | Changqing (長慶 chang2 qing4) 821-824 |
| Jing Zong (敬宗 jing4 zong1) | Li Zhan (李湛 li3 zhan4) | 824-826 | Baoli (寶曆 bao3 li4) 824-826 |
| Wen Zong (文宗 wen2 zong1) | Li Ang (李昂 li3 ang2) | 826-840 | Baoli (寶曆 bao3 li4) 826Dahe (大和 da4 he2) or Taihe (tai4 he2 太和) 827-835 |
| Wu Zong (武宗 wu3 zong1) | Li Ya (李炎 li3 yan2) | 840-846 | Huichang (會昌 hui4 chang1) 841-846 |
| Xuan Zong (宣宗 xuan1 zong1) | Li Chen (李忱 li3 chen2) | 846-859 | Dachong (大中 da4 chong1) 847-859 |
| Yi Zong (懿宗 yi4 zong1) | Li Cui (李漼 li3 cui3) | 859-873 | Dachong (大中 da4 chong1) 859Xiantong (咸通 xian2 tong1) 860-873 |
| Xi Zong (僖宗 xi1 zong1) | Li Xuan (李儇 li3 xuan1) | 873-888 | Xiantong (咸通 xian2 tong1) 873-874Qianfu (乾符 qian2 fu2) 874-879 |
| Zhao Zong (昭宗 zhao1 zong1) | Li Ye (李曄 li3 ye4) | 888-904 | Longji (龍紀 long2 ji4) 889Dashun (大順 da4 shun4) 890-891 |
| Ai Di (哀帝 ai1 di4) or 昭宣帝 zhao1 xuan1 di4 see note below | Li Zhu (李柷 li3 zhu4) | 904-907 | Tianyou (天佑 tian1 you4) 904-907 |