Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ([ɕwàn.tsʊ́ŋ]; 8 September 685 – 3 May 762), personal name Li Longji, was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, reigning from 712 to 756 CE. His reign of 44 years was the longest during the Tang dynasty. Through two palace coups, he seized the throne and inherited an empire still in its golden age. He was initially assisted by capable chancellors like Yao Chong, Song Jing and Zhang Yue who were already serving as government officials before Xuanzong ascended the throne. However, under Emperor Xuanzong, the empire reached its turning point and went into sharp decline and near collapse, due to numerous political missteps throughout his long reign, such as over-trusting Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong and An Lushan, with Tang's golden age ending in the An Lushan Rebellion.
| Emperor Xuanzong of Tang 唐玄宗 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Huangdi 皇帝 Khan of Heaven 天可汗 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Emperor of the Tang dynasty | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 8 September 712 – 12 August 756 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Emperor Ruizong (Under Princess Taiping shadow) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Suzong | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 September 685 Luoyang, Tang dynasty | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 3 May 762 (aged 76) Chang'an (now Xi'an), Tang dynasty | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Consorts | Empress Wang (m. 693; died 725) Empress Zhenshun (died 737) Empress Yuanxian (m. 710; died 729) Imperial Noble Consort Yang (m. 745; died 756) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issue | See § Family | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| House | Li | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dynasty | Tang | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Emperor Ruizong | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Zhaocheng | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Emperor Xuanzong of Tang | |||||||||||||||||||
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"Xuanzong of Tang" in Chinese characters | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 唐玄宗 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Mystical Ancestor of the Tang" | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Tang Minghuang | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 唐明皇 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Bright Emperor of the Tang" | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Li Longji | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 李隆基 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | (personal name) | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Illustrious August | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 明皇帝 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | The bright ruler | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Li Sanlang | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 李三郎 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | The third young brother of Li family | ||||||||||||||||||
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