Prince Zhanghuai

Li Xian
Crown Prince Zhanghuai
Figures in a cortege, from a mural of Li Xian's tomb at Qianling Mausoleum, dated 706 AD; each figure measures approximately 1.6 m (63 in) in height.
Crown Prince of the Tang dynasty
Reign675–680
PredecessorLi Hong
SuccessorEmperor Zhongzong of Tang
Prince of Yong 雍王
Reign673–675
Prince of Pei 沛王
Reign662–673
Prince of Lu 潞王
Reign655–662
Born(655-01-29)29 January 655
Died13 March 684(684-03-13) (aged 29)
SpouseLady Fang (Princess of Yong)
Lady Zhang (Liangdi)
IssueLi Guangshun, Prince of Lu
Li Shouli
Li Shouyi, Prince of Bi
Princess Changshun
FatherEmperor Gaozong of Tang
MotherWu Zetian

Li Xian (Chinese: 李賢; pinyin: Lǐ Xián; Wade–Giles: Li Hsien) (29 January 655 – 13 March 684), courtesy name Mingyun (Chinese: 明允; pinyin: Míngyǔn), formally Crown Prince Zhanghuai (Chinese: 章懷太子; pinyin: Zhānghuái Tàizǐ), named Li De (Chinese: 李德; pinyin: Lǐ Dé) from 675 to 680, was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong, and the second son of his second wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian). He was known for writing commentaries for the Book of Later Han, the official history of the Eastern Han dynasty. He became crown prince in 675 after his older brother Li Hong's death (which traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by Empress Wu), but soon fell out of favor and generosity with Empress Wu herself and that's what caused his downfall. In 680, Empress Wu had her associates accuse Li Xian of treason, and he was demoted to commoner rank and exiled. In 684, after Emperor Gaozong's death, Empress Wu, then empress dowager, had her associate Qiu Shenji (丘神勣) visit Li Xian to force him to commit suicide.

In 706, his younger brother Emperor Zhongzong provided Li Xian with an honorable burial by interring his remains at the Qianling Mausoleum.