Li Chengqi

Li Chengqi
Prince of Ning 寧王
Reign716–742
Prince of Song 宋王
Reign710–716
Prince of Shouchun 壽春郡王
Reign693–710
Crown Prince of the Tang dynasty
Reign684–690
PredecessorPrince Yide
SuccessorWu Dan
Prince of Yongping 永平郡王
Born679
Died5 January 742(742-01-05) (aged 63)
SpouseLady Yuan
Lady Wei
IssueLi Jin, Prince of Ruyang
Names
Li Chengqi (李成器) for most of his life, formerly Wu Chengqi (武成器), later Li Xian (李憲)
Posthumous name
Emperor Rang (讓皇帝)
"the emperor who yielded"
HouseTang (唐)
FatherEmperor Ruizong of Tang
MotherEmpress Liu
Li Chengqi
Grand Commandant
In office
733–741
Preceded byLi Dan
Succeeded byLi Chu
Minister over the Masses
In office
713–713
Preceded byWu Youji
Succeeded byLi Chengyi
Minister of Work
In office
712–713
Preceded byWu Sansi
Succeeded byLi Shouli

Li Chengqi (Chinese: 李成器) (679 – January 5, 742[1]), known as Wu Chengqi (Chinese: 武成器) during the reign of his grandmother Wu Zetian and as Li Xian (Chinese: 李憲) after 716, formally Emperor Rang (Chinese: 讓皇帝, literally, "the emperor who yielded"), was an imperial prince of the Tang dynasty who served as crown prince during the first reign of his father Emperor Ruizong, who yielded that position to his younger half-brother Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong) during Emperor Ruizong's second reign. Li Chengqi had a number of children, including his oldest son, Li Jin, the Prince of Ruyang, who was called one of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup by famous poet Du Fu.

According to historical records, Li Chengqi was close to his younger brother, Li Longji (later Emperor Xuanzong), and was never ambitious. Despite his never having been emperor, he was posthumously honored as an emperor by Emperor Xuanzong.

  1. ^ Tang Xuanzong's biographies in both Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang indicated that Li Chengqi died on the xinwei day of the 11th month of the 29th year of the Kai'yuan era. This corresponds to 05 Jan 742 in the Julian calendar. ([开元二十九年十一月]辛未,太尉、宁王宪薨,...) Jiu Tang Shu, vol.09. Li Chengqi's biographies in both Books of Tang indicate that he was 63 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died.