Emperor Gaozong of Tang

Emperor Gaozong of Tang
唐高宗
Huangdi 皇帝
Khan of Heaven 天可汗
Qing dynasty illustration of Gaozong
Emperor of the Tang dynasty
Reign15 July 649 – 27 December 683
Coronation15 July 649
PredecessorEmperor Taizong
SuccessorEmperor Zhongzong (Under regency of Empress Zetian)
RegentEmpress Wu
Prince of Jin
Reign631 – 30 April 643
Crown Prince of the Tang dynasty
Reign30 April 643 – 15 July 649
PredecessorLi Chengqian, Prince Min of Hengshan
SuccessorLi Hong, Emperor Xiaojing
Born21 July 628[1]
Lizheng Palace, Chang'an, Tang China
Died27 December 683(683-12-27) (aged 55)[2]
Zhenguan Palace, Luoyang, Tang China
Burial
ConsortsEmpress Wang
(dep. 655)
Empress Wu (m. 651–683)
IssueLi Zhong
Li Xiao
Li Shangjin
Li Sujie
Li Hong
Li Xian
Emperor Zhongzong
Emperor Ruizong
Princess Jincheng
Princess Gao'an
Princess Taiping
Names
Family name: Li (李)
Birth name (小名): Zhinu (雉奴)
Given name (大名): Zhi (治)
Courtesy name (字): Weishan (為善)
Posthumous name
Short: Great Emperor Tianhuang[3] (天皇大帝)
Full: Emperor Tianhuang Dasheng
Dahong Xiao[4] (天皇大聖大弘孝皇帝)
Temple name
Gaozong (高宗)
HouseLi
DynastyTang
FatherEmperor Taizong
MotherEmpress Wende
Tang Gaozong
Chinese唐高宗
Literal meaning"High Ancestor of the Tang"
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTáng Gāozōng
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationTòhng Gōujūng
Li Zhi
Chinese李治
Literal meaning(personal name)
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Zhì

Emperor Gaozong of Tang (21 July 628[1] – 27 December 683[2]), personal name Li Zhi, was the third emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty, ruling from 649 to 683; after January 665, he handed power over the empire to his second wife Empress Wu (the future Wu Zetian), and her decrees were carried out with greater force than the decrees of Emperor Gaozong's. Emperor Gaozong was the youngest son of Emperor Taizong and Empress Zhangsun; his elder brothers were Li Chengqian and Li Tai.

Emperor Gaozong's reign saw the primacy of Empress Wu, who became the effective power behind the Tang rule. Emperor Gaozong was aided in his rule by Empress Wu during the later years of his reign after a series of strokes left him incapacitated. Emperor Gaozong effectively after January 665 delegated all matters of state to his strong wife; after that Empress Wu acted as the power behind the emperor, "hanging the curtain and listening to politics" (Chuílián tīngzhèng 垂簾聼政). Gaozong's personal illness, over-affection and trust of Wu led to her wielding a great deal of power in affairs of state until the end of his reign while exerting her influence on him. Empress Wu was partially in control of power from November 660 and then totally from January 665 to December 683; there was an equality of power between Gaozong and Wu, which caused them to be called "two saints" (二聖, Er Sheng, literally two emperors) both inside and outside. After Emperor Gaozong died in December 683, power fell completely and solely into the hands of Empress Wu, acting as Empress Dowager-regent, "presiding over court and issuing edicts" (lin chao chengzhi 臨朝稱制); she subsequently became the only empress regnant in Chinese history. After his death, he was interred at the Qian Mausoleum along with Wu Zetian.

During the first part of his reign, Tang territorial gains, which started with his father Emperor Taizong, continued, including the conquest of Baekje, Goguryeo, and the Western Turkic Khaganate, but throughout the 670s, much of those gains were lost to the Tibetan Empire, Silla, Khitans, and Balhae. Further, territory previously conquered that belonged to both the Göktürks and the Western Turkic Khaganate were subjected to repeated rebellions.

  1. ^ a b According to Tang Taizong's biography in the Old Book of Tang, Li Zhi was born on the gengyin day in the 6th month of the 2nd year of the Zhen'guan era of Taizong's reign. This corresponds to 21 Jul 628 in the Gregorian calendar. [(貞觀二年)六月庚寅,皇子治生] Old Book of Tang, vol. 2
  2. ^ a b Volume 203 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Gaozong died in the night of the dingsi day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Hongdao era of his reign. This date corresponds to 27 Dec 683 in the Gregorian calendar. [(弘道元年)十二月,丁巳,...。是夜,....,上崩於貞觀殿。] Zizhi Tongjian, vol.203.
  3. ^ Given in 684.
  4. ^ Given in 754.