Emperor Ruizong of Tang

For other people named Li Dan, seeLi Dan (disambiguation).

Emperor Ruizong of Tang(22 June 662– 13 July 716), personal nameLi Dan,also known at times during his life asLi Xulun,Li Lun,Wu Lun,andWu Dan,was the fifth and ninthemperorof the ChineseTang dynasty.He was the eighth son ofEmperor Gaozongand the fourth son of Emperor Gaozong's second wifeEmpress Wu.He was wholly a figurehead during his first reign when he was controlled by his mother, and he was the titular and puppet ruler of the Tang Empire from 684 to 690. During his second reign after his mother's death, significant power and influence was exercised by his sisterPrincess Taiping.

Emperor Ruizong of Tang Đường Duệ Tông
Emperor of the Tang dynasty
Reign	27 February 684– 16 October 690
Predecessor	Emperor Zhongzong(underEmpress Zetian's regency)
Successor	Dynasty abolished (Wu Zetianas empress regnant of theWu Zhou dynasty
Regent	Empress Zetian
Reign	25 July 710– 8 September 712
Predecessor	Emperor Shang(UnderEmpress Weiregency)
Successor	Emperor Xuanzong
Power behind the emperor	Princess Taiping
Born	22 June 662 Chang'an
Died	13 July 716(716-07-13)(aged 54) Baifu Hall, Chang'an
Burial	Qiao Mausoleum ( kiều lăng )
Consorts	Empress Suming (died 693) Empress Zhaocheng (died 693)
Issue Detail	Li Xian Emperor Xuanzong
Names Family name:Lǐ( Lý ), laterWǔ( võ ) (changed 690) later changed back to Lǐ (changed 705) Given name:Originally Xùlún ( húc luân ), later Lún ( luân ) (changed 669), later Dàn ( đán ) (changed 678), later Lún again (changed 690) later Dàn again (changed 698) Era dates First reign: Wénmíng ( văn minh ) 684 Guāngzhái ( quang trạch ) 684 Chúigǒng ( không có gì làm ) 685–689 Yǒngchāng ( Vĩnh Xương ) 689 Zǎichū ( tái sơ ) 690 Second reign: Jǐngyún ( cảnh vân ) 710–712 Tàijí ( Thái Cực ) 712 Yánhé ( duyên cùng ) 712 Posthumous name Short:Emperor Shengzhen ( thánh thật hoàng đế ) Full:Emperor Xuanzhen Dasheng Da xing Xiao ( Huyền Chân đại thánh rầm rộ hiếu hoàng đế ) Temple name Rùizōng ( Duệ Tông )
House	Li
Dynasty	Tang
Father	Emperor Gaozong
Mother	Empress Zetian

Tang Ruizong
Chinese	Đường Duệ Tông
Literal meaning	"Farsighted Ancestor of the Tang"
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táng Ruìzōng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Tòhng Yeuihjūng
Li Dan
Chinese	Lý đán
Literal meaning	(personal name)
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lǐ Dàn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Léih Daan
Li Xulun
Chinese	Lý húc luân
Literal meaning	(personal name)
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lǐ Xùlún Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Léih Yūklèuhn
Li Lun
Chinese	Lý luân
Literal meaning	(personal name)
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lǐ Lún Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Léih Lèuhn
Wu Lun
Chinese	Võ luân
Literal meaning	(personal name)
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wǔ Lún Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Móuh Lèuhn
Wu Dan
Chinese	Vai đào võ
Literal meaning	(personal name)
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wǔ Dàn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Móuh Daan

In February 684, Li Dan's mother Empress Wu demoted his older brotherEmperor Zhongzong(Li Xian) who had attempted to rule free of his mother and named him emperor (as Emperor Ruizong). Emperor Ruizong, however, was a hollow figurehead under control of his mother and had no real power, even nominally, his name was not included in the issued documents or orders. He was not even able to move freely around his private residence, let alone attend to governmental affairs. From then onwards, the Tang dynasty existed only in name and Empress Dowager Wu ruled China for over six years as quasi-emperor. Empress Wu, was comfortable about the empire being entirely under her control, decided finally to seize the throne, so in October 690 Emperor Ruizong ceded the imperial throne to his mother, who installed herself as empress regnant – the only woman in Chinese history ever to rule with this title. She issued a decree that ended theTang dynastyand founded theZhou dynasty.Emperor Ruizong was reduced to the position ofcrown prince,with the unconventional title ofHuangsi( con vua, "imperial successor" ). In the following years, Empress Wu's nephewsWu ChengsiandWu Sansitried to have one of them named heir to the throne, but Wu Zetian resisted these calls. Eventually, in October 698, faced with foreign invasion and dissatisfaction at home, Empress Wu accepted the suggestion of thechancellorDi Renjieand recalled the exiled Li Xian to the capitalLuoyang.Soon, Li Dan offered to yield the position of crown prince to his elder brother, and Li Xian became crown prince instead.

In 705, acoupoverthrew Wu Zetian and restored Emperor Zhongzong to the throne. The five years of Emperor Zhongzong's reign were dominated by Zhongzong's empress consort,Empress Wei.In the beginning of July 710, Emperor Zhongzong died, allegedly poisoned by Empress Wei who then named Zhongzong's youngest sonLi Chongmaothe Prince of Wen emperor (as Emperor Shang). A mere two weeks later, Li Dan's sisterPrincess Taipingand Li Dan's sonLi Longjithe Prince of Linzi launched a coup which resulted in the death of Empress Wei. Princess Taiping, Li Longji, and Li Longji's brotherLi Chengqithe Prince of Song then persuaded Li Dan to take the throne himself, and he agreed, returning to the throne in Emperor Shang's stead. Li Longji, although not the oldest son, was made crown prince on account of his accomplishments.

Soon, however, tensions mounted between Princess Taiping, who had immense power, complete trust of the emperor and many supporters, and Li Longji (who was created crown prince).Li Longji constantly criticized his aunt for influencing his father's administration, which was in vain, instead Princess Taiping also responded to the proposal to remove him from the post of crown prince, which was in vain. Eventually, in September 712, Emperor Ruizong, believing that astrological signs called for a change of emperors, abdicated in favor of Li Longji (asEmperor Xuanzong). However, at Princess Taiping's suggestion, Emperor Ruizong, now carrying the title ofTaishang Huang(retired emperor), continued to wield actual and superior power. This allowed Princess Taiping to continue to participate and have influence in governmental affairs without change and still had the power to stubbornly resist and bitterly fight against Li Longji (now Emperor Xuanzong). Eventually, in 713, suspecting Princess Taiping of planning a coup, Emperor Xuanzong acted first, killing her associates and forcing her to commit suicide. After the death of Princess Taiping, Emperor Ruizong himself yielded imperial powers to Emperor Xuanzong and left the governmental scene. He died in 716.

Background

Li Xulun was born in 662, as the youngest son ofEmperor Gaozongand his second wifeEmpress Wu(later known as Wu Zetian). Later that year, he was created the Prince of Yin. In 664, he was nominally made the commandant at Ji Prefecture ( Ký Châu, roughly modernHengshui,Hebei) and the Chanyu Protectorate General (headquarters in modernHohhot,Inner Mongolia). It was said that, as he grew, he became known for humility, the love for his siblings, and talent incalligraphy.In 666, his title was changed to Prince of Yu. In 669, his title was changed to Prince of Ji, and his name was changed from Xulun to Lun. In 675, his title was changed to Prince of Xiang. In 678, his title was changed back to Prince of Yu, and his name was further changed to Li Dan. He was also made the prefect of Luo Prefecture (Lạc Châu), the prefecture containing the eastern capitalLuoyang.Sometime between 676 and 679, he married his wifePrincess Liu.

Emperor Gaozong died in 683 and was succeeded by Li Dan's older brotherLi ZhetheCrown Prince(as Emperor Zhongzong), but Empress Wu retained power asempress dowagerandregent.Emperor Zhongzong was afigurehead,and Empress Dowager Wu was the solely in charge of the empire's affairs. In 684, when Emperor Zhongzong displayed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with Li Dan (as Emperor Ruizong), but wielded power even more firmly. Indeed, she housed Emperor Ruizong in a different palace, She even forbade him to move around him personal residence and did not let him meet the imperial officials or give input on affairs of state, with Emperor Ruizong not even nominally approving official actions. Emperor Ruizong's wife Princess Liu was createdempress,while her sonLi Chengqiwas created crown prince.

First reign: under Empress Dowager Wu's regency and dethronement

Soon after Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Empress Dowager Wu carried out a major renaming of governmental offices and banners. She, who disliked the capitalChang'an,also elevated Luoyang's status, making it a co-equal capital with Chang'an. She further, at the suggestion of her nephewWu Chengsi,built an ancestral temple for five generations of her ancestors and had Emperor Ruizong posthumously create them princes.

In fall 684,Li Jingyethe Duke of Ying (the grandson of the deceased generalLi Ji), started a rebellion against Empress Dowager Wu at Yang Prefecture, seeking the restoration of Emperor Zhongzong. Empress Dowager Wu, in response, sent the general Li Xiaoyi (Lý hiếu dật), assisted by the generals Li Zhishi (Lý biết mười) and Ma Jingchen (Mã kính thần) to suppress Li Jianye's rebellion, and Li Xiaoyi quickly did so. Meanwhile, believing thechancellorPei Yanto be undermining her authority, she executed Pei under accusation of treason and demoted a large number of officials and generals who dared to speak in Pei's defense, later executing some of them.

In 686, Empress Dowager created a number of bronze boxes designed to encourage secret reports of crimes. She also began to retain a group of secret police officials to carry out torture and interrogation of people suspected of opposing her rule, includingSuo Yuanli,Zhou Xing,andLai Junchen.On one occasion, she offered to return imperial authorities to Emperor Ruizong, but Emperor Ruizong knew that she was not actually intending to do so, and therefore declined. She thereafter resumed exercising imperial powers.

Emperor Ruizong had completely stayed out of political matters during these years, but he made an exception in 687 when Empress Dowager Wu believed the chancellorLiu Yizhi,who had previously served on his staff when he was a prince, whom she had trusted and promoted, to have turned against her in favoring that she return imperial authorities to Emperor Ruizong. She had Liu accused of corruption and arrested, and Emperor Ruizong personally wrote a petition to request her to spare Liu—which, however, as Liu observed, had the opposite effect, and she ordered Liu to commit suicide.

In 688, fearing that Empress Dowager Wu was using a ceremony to worship the god of the Luo River ( Lạc thủy, flowing near Luoyang) as an excuse to summon them to Luoyang to slaughter them, the imperial princes considered rebellion, and one was launched by Emperor Ruizong's uncleLi Zhenthe Prince of Yue and Li Zhen's sonLi Chongthe Prince of Langye, claiming that Emperor Ruizong was under arrest and needed to be rescued. However, both Li Zhen and Li Chong were quickly defeated; Li Chong was killed in battle, while Li Zhen committed suicide. Empress Dowager Wu used this opportunity to carry out a major purge of senior imperial Li clan members, including Emperor Ruizong's granduncles Li Yuanjia (Lý nguyên gia) the Prince of Han and Li Lingkui (Lý linh Quỳ) the Prince of Lu.

In 690, Empress Dowager Wu received a number of petitions that she take the throne herself, and Emperor Ruizong also submitted such a petition. She accepted, and she took the throne as "empress regnant," establishing a newZhou dynastyand interrupting Tang dynasty. She demoted Emperor Ruizong to the position of crown prince (with the unusual titleHuangsi(Con vua)), and changed his name back to Lun. She further had him take her family name of Wu.

During Wu Zetian's reign

Despite the fact that Wu Zetian created Li Dan crown prince, she considered creating one of her nephews, Wu Chengsi the Prince of Wei orWu Sansithe Prince of Liang crown prince, and a petition drive for Wu Chengsi to be created crown prince reached its peak in 691. The chancellorsCen ChangqianandGe Fuyuanwere even executed for opposing it, but Wu Zetian never did carry out the change, and when the leader of the petition drive, Wang Qingzhi (Vương khánh chi) was caned to death by the officialLi Zhaode,the petition drive dissipated.

Meanwhile, in 693, Wu Zetian'slady in waitingWei Tuan'er (Vi đoàn nhi), who was resentful of Li Dan for reasons lost to history, falsely accused Li Dan's wife Crown Princess Liu andconcubineConsort Dou of witchcraft, and Wu Zetian killed Crown Princess Liu and Consort Dou. In fear of offending Wu Zetian, Li Dan did not dare to mourn either and continued to behave normally. When Wei Tuan'er tried to further falsely accuse Li Dan, someone, in turn, reported her activities to Wu Zetian, and Wu Zetian executed her. Still, thereafter, Li Dan's sons were demoted in rank and kept under secure watch. Later in 693, the officials Pei Feigong (Bùi phỉ cung) and Fan Yunxian (Phạm vân tiên) were executed on account of meeting Li Dan secretly, and there were accusations that Li Dan was planning to rebel against Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian ordered that the officials not be allowed to meet Li Dan, and further arrested his servants to interrogate them. The secret police officialLai Junchentortured Li Dan's servants, and many of them, unable to stand up to the torture, considered falsely implicating Li Dan. One of them,An Jinzang,however, cut his own belly open and proclaimed Li Dan's innocence. When Wu Zetian heard this, she sent imperial doctors to save An, and, impressed by An's willingness to die to show Li Dan's innocence, ended the investigation against Li Dan.

In 698, after Wu Zetian had, at the encouragement of the chancellorsDi Renjie,Wang Fangqing,andWang Jishan,as well as her close associateJi Xuand loversZhang YizhiandZhang Changzong,recalled Li Zhe from exile, Li Dan offered to yield the crown prince position to Li Zhe. Wu Zetian agreed and created Li Zhe crown prince (changing his name initially back to Li Xian and then Wu Xian) and Li Dan the Prince of Xiang.

In 699, Wu Zetian, in fear that after her death that Li Xian and the Wu clan princes would not be able to coexist peacefully, had Li Xian, Li Dan, their sisterPrincess Taiping,her husbandWu Youji(Wu Zetian's nephew), and the other Wu clan princes swear an oath to each other and read the oaths to the gods. The oaths were then carved on iron and kept in the imperial archives. Later that year, the restrictions on his and Li Xian's sons were lifted, and they were allowed to live outside the palace.

In 701, when there was an incursion by theEastern TujuekhanAshina Mochuo,Li Dan was put in command of an army to defend against the attack, but before the army could be launched, Ashina Mochuo withdrew. Subsequently, Li Dan was nominally put in charge of the imperial guards.

In 702, Wu Zetian put Li Dan in command of an army and made the prefect of Bing Prefecture ( Tịnh Châu, roughly modernTaiyuan,Shanxi), with Wu Sansi,Wu Youning,andWei Yuanzhongas his assistants, apparently preparing to attack Eastern Tujue, but the army was never launched. Later that year, she had Li Xian, Li Dan, and Princess Taiping submit formal petitions to have Zhang Changzong created a prince. She then formally rejected the petitions, but created Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi dukes.

In 703, Li Dan was made the prefect of Yong Prefecture ( Ung Châu, roughly modernXi'an,Shaanxi), the prefecture that included Chang'an.

During Emperor Zhongzong's second reign under Empress Wei's shadow

In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup led byZhang Jianzhi,Cui Xuanwei,Huan Yanfan,Jing Hui,andYuan Shuji.(Yuan was Li Dan's secretary general, and during the coup, Yuan's responsibility was to safeguard Li Dan, suggesting, but not proving, that Li Dan might have known about the coup plans.) Li Xian was restored to the throne, and he gave Li Dan the special title ofAnguo Xiangwang(An quốc tương vương), literally "the Prince of Xiang who pacified the state." Emperor Zhongzong also gave Li Dan the title ofTaiwei( thái úy, one of theThree Excellencies) and made him a chancellor with the designation ofTong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin(Cùng trung thư môn hạ tam phẩm). Li Dan declined both honors, and Emperor Zhongzong then offered to create him heir apparent, which Li Dan declined as well. Emperor Zhongzong subsequently created his sonLi Chongjuncrown prince.

In 707, Li Chongjun, who was not born of Emperor Zhongzong's powerful wifeEmpress Wei(her only sonLi Chongrunhaving been killed by Wu Zetian), was angry that Empress Wei's daughter Li Guo'er thePrincess Anleand her husband Wu Chongxun ( võ sùng huấn, Wu Sansi's son) repeatedly insulted him and were trying to persuade Emperor Zhongzong to create Li Guo'er crown princess to displace Li Chongjun, rose in rebellion and killed Wu Sansi and Wu Chongxun. His subsequent attack on the palace, however, was repelled, and he was killed in flight. Some of his followers implicated Li Dan and Princess Taiping after they were arrested and interrogated. Emperor Zhongzong initially had the imperial censorXiao Zhizhongput in charge of investigating Li Dan and Princess Taiping, but at Xiao's earnest urging stopped the investigation.

In 708, when Li Guo'er married again, to Wu Yanxiu (Võ duyên tú), Li Dan was the ceremonial protector of her litter.

During Emperor Shang's reign under Empress dowager Wei's regency

On 3 July 710,Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death that traditional historians believed to be a poisoning carried out by Empress Wei and Li Guo'er, so that Empress Wei could be Empress Regnant like Wu Zetian and Li Guo'er could be crown princess. Under a will drafted for Emperor Zhongzong by Princess Taiping and Emperor Zhongzong's concubineConsort Shangguan Wan'er,Emperor Zhongzong's son by another concubine,Li Chongmaowould be named emperor, with Empress Wei serving as empress dowager and regent, but with Li Dan as co-regent. This plan, however, was opposed by and ultimately altered at the suggestions of Empress Wei's cousinWei WenandZong Chuke.After Li Chongmao took the throne (as Emperor Shang), Empress Wei became empress dowager and regent, while Li Dan only received an entirely ceremonial title of senior advisor to the crown prince ( Thái tử thái sư,Taizi Taishi) – as there was no crown prince at the time.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Wei's party viewed Li Dan and Princess Taiping as threats and considered eliminating them. One of her partisans,Cui Riyong,was fearful of what would happen if the plan failed, and therefore informed the plan to Li Dan's son (by Consort Dou)Li Longjithe Prince of Linzi. Li Longji responded by conspiring with Princess Taiping, Princess Taiping's son Xue Chong gian (Tiết sùng giản), as well as several low-level officials close to him –Zhong Shaojing,Wang Chongye (Vương sùng diệp),Liu Youqiu,and Ma Sizong (Ma tự tông) – to act first. Meanwhile, Empress Wei's nephews Wei Bo (Vi bá) and Gao Song (Cao tung), who had recently been put in command of imperial guards and who had tried to establish their authority by dealing with the guards harshly, had alienated the guards, and the guard officers Ge Fushun (Cát phúc thuận), Chen Xuanli (Trần huyền lễ), and Li Xianfu (Lý tiên phù) thereafter also joined the plot.

Without first informing Li Dan, the conspirators rose on 21 July, first killing Wei Bo, Gao, and Empress Wei's cousin Wei Gui (Vi tuyền). They then attacked the palace. When Empress Dowager Wei panicked and fled to an imperial guard camp, a guard beheaded her. Li Guo'er, Wu Yanxiu, and the powerful lady in waiting Lady Helou were killed as well. Li Longji soon slaughtered a number of officials in Empress Dowager's faction as well as her clan, while displaying Empress Dowager Wei's body on the street. Li Dan took over as regent, but at the urging of Princess Taiping, Li Longji, and Li Chengqi, Li Dan soon took the throne from Emperor Shang and again became emperor. Emperor Shang was reduced in rank back to Prince of Wen.

Second reign under Princess Taiping's shadow

The Jingyun bell, cast in 711, weighing 6,500 kg, originally from the bell tower at theTang dynastycapitalChang'an

Emperor Ruizong was immediately faced with the issue of whom to make crown prince—as Li Chengqi, as the oldest son overall and the oldest son of his wife, was the appropriate heir underConfucianprinciples of succession, but Li Longji had been the one whose accomplishments had allowed him to retake the throne. He hesitated. Li Chengqi declined consideration to be crown prince—stating to his father:

If the state were secure, then consideration should be first given to the oldest son of the wife. If the state were in danger, then consideration should be first given for achievement. If you did not follow this principle, the people of the entire empire will be disappointed. I would rather die than to be placed above the Prince of Ping [(i.e., Li Longji, whose title had been changed to Prince of Ping by this point)].

Li Chengqi wept and begged to yield for several days, and after further persuasion by thechancellorLiu Youqiu– who had been part of Li Longji's coup plans—Emperor Ruizong agreed and created Li Longji crown prince. Li Longji submitted a petition offering to yield to Li Chengqi, but Emperor Ruizong rejected it.

Emperor Ruizong reversed many of Emperor Zhongzong's actions and posthumously honored many people who lost their lives during the reigns of Wu Zetian and Emperor Zhongzong. He further removed thousands of officials that Emperor Zhongzong had commissioned at the recommendations of powerful courtiers, without having been submitted for examination by the examination ( môn hạ tỉnh,Menxia Sheng) and legislative ( Trung Thư Tỉnh,Zhongshu Sheng) bureaus of government, as was proper. Meanwhile, though, with Emperor Ruizong considered meek, the court was dominated by two competing factions—of Princess Taiping and Li Longji. Indeed, it was said that whenever chancellors brought proposals to Emperor Ruizong, Emperor Ruizong would ask them whether they had consulted Princess Taiping and Li Longji, and only act if the chancellors had consulted them. Emperor Ruizong especially trusted Princess Taiping and relied on her advice to run the governmental matters, and he could not ignore her requests, even if the request was to harm her enemy. Thus, Princess Taiping has decision-making power on many serious events in the court and the country matters. She can often decide the promotion or demotion of officials with a single sentence, so of the officials would rush to her to please her. As a result, her position and influence went beyond the emperor, and she ruled his administration from her own house without any restrictions. Among the relatives of the Tang dynasty and the ministers of civil and military affairs, there was still one person who made her feel terrified, and that was Li Longji. Princess Taiping, finding Li Longji to be not receptive to her influences and has a strong will, began to spread news of offenses by Li Longji, hoping that he would eventually be removed. In 711, the chancellorsYao YuanzhiandSong Jingtried to defuse the situation by having Princess Taiping sent to Pu Prefecture ( Bồ Châu, roughly modernYuncheng,Shanxi) and the two princes with arguable better claims on the throne than Li Longji—Li Chengqi andLi Shoulithe Prince of Bin (whose fatherLi Xián(note different tone than Emperor Zhongzong) was an older brother to both Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong) – out of the capital to serve as prefectural prefects, but after their plan was discovered by Princess Taiping, she angrily complained, and was recalled to the capital along with Li Chengqi and Li Shouli. Yao and Song, credited with reforming the civil service system, were demoted, and it was said that thereafter, the civil service system became as confused as it was during Emperor Zhongzong's reign.

In 712, the general Sun Quan (Tôn thuyên), the commandant at You Prefecture ( U Châu, roughly modernBeijing), aggressively attacked theXichieftain Li Dabu (Lý đại bồ), and was defeated by Li Dabu, at the loss of nearly the entire army.

Later in 712, Princess Taiping had astrologers warn Emperor Ruizong that the constellation that symbolized the imperial throne,Dizuo(Đế tọa), showed that there would be a change in the emperor's position—believing that Emperor Ruizong would suspect Li Longji of plotting a coup and that she could remove Li Longji this way. Instead, Emperor Ruizong, reasoning that the change in the emperor's position could be accounted by an orderly transition, offered to pass the throne to Li Longji. Princess Taiping fervently opposed it, and Li Longji initially declined, but at Emperor Ruizong's insistence finally accepted and took the throne (as Emperor Xuanzong). However, at Princess Taiping's suggestion, Emperor Ruizong retained much of the imperial power asTaishang Huang(retired emperor): the appointment and removal of officials of the third rank and above (namely: chancellors) in the court, the reception of state guests, military control, the power of executions for the officials, the decision-making power of important military and political matters and power to official announcement, determine and reject the orders of the new emperor. As a result, his edicts continued to carry greater force than Emperor Xuanzong's; Even the new emperor had to obey his rulings.

As retired emperor under Princess Taiping's shadow

Qiaoling ( kiều lăng ), the tomb of Emperor Ruizong, inPucheng County, Shaanxi

Meanwhile, Princess Taiping continued to be highly extremely influential in governmental matters through Emperor Ruizong: she used his power without permission, and most chancellors, forbidden troops, officials and warlords were her associates. (Of the seven chancellors at the time, five –Dou Huaizhen,Xiao Zhizhong,Cen Xi,Cui Shi,andLu Xiangxian– were made chancellors at her recommendation, although Lu was not considered a member of her party.) As he continued to control, of course, he was still unable to control the rivalry scene dominated by two rival factions: the war between Princess Taiping and Emperor Xuanzong intensified: both sought to seize the full throne in their own right and sought to eliminate each other. Liu Youqiu and the general Zhang Wei (Trương vĩ), with Emperor Xuanzong's approval, planned to mobilize the imperial guards to kill several of those chancellors—Dou, Cui, and Cen. However, after Zhang told the plan to the imperial censor Deng Guangbin (Đặng quang tân), the news was leaked. Liu was arrested, and initially set to be executed. Emperor Xuanzong interceded on his behalf with Emperor Ruizong, and Liu, Zhang, and Deng were spared but exiled.

Later in 712, at the urging ofPrincess Taiping,Emperor Ruizong decreed that Emperor Xuanzong lead a group of soldiers to examine the northern border. She wanted to plot to replace him in his absence. However, the group of conscripted soldiers was disbanded in spring 713, and the plan was never carried out.

By summer 713, it was said that Princesses Taiping, Dou, Cen, Xiao, Cui; along with other officialsXue Ji,Li Jin (Lý tấn) the Prince of Xin xing (a grandson of Li Deliang (Lý Đức lương), a cousin of Tang's founderEmperor Gaozu), Li You (Lý du), Jia Yingfu (Giả ưng phúc), Tang Jun (Đường tuấn); the generals Chang Yuankai (Thường nguyên giai), Li Ci (Lý từ), and Li Qin (Lý khâm); and the monk Huifan, were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. It was further said that they discussed, with the lady in waiting Lady Yuan to poison thegastrodia elatathat Emperor Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When this alleged plot was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong, who had already received advice from Wang Ju (Vương cư), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Riyong to act first, did so. He convened a meeting with his brothers Li Fan (Lý phạm) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (Lý nghiệp) the Prince of Xue,Guo Yuanzhen,along with a number of his associates—the general Wang Maozhong (Vương mao trọng), the officials Jiang Jiao (Khương sáng trong) and Li Lingwen (Lý lệnh hỏi), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi (Vương thủ một), theeunuchGao Lishi,and the military officer Li Shoude (Lý thủ đức)—and decided to act first. On 29 July,Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. Dou fled into a canyon and committed suicide by hanging. Xue Ji was forced to commit suicide. When Emperor Ruizong heard about this, he quickly ascended the tower at Chengtian Gate (Thừa Thiên Môn) to ascertain what was happening. Guo reported to him Emperor Xuanzong's intentions, and Emperor Ruizong felt compelled to affirm Emperor Xuanzong's actions in an edict. The next day, Emperor Ruizong issued an edict transferring all authorities to Emperor Xuanzong and moved to a secondary palace, Baifu Hall (Trăm phúc điện). Meanwhile, Princess Taiping, hearing what happened to her associates and the transfer of all authorities by Emperor Ruizong to Emperor Xuanzong, she found herself powerless and defenseless in a power struggle without the authority of her brother and without her allies, and fled into a temple in the mountains, only appearing three days later. Emperor Xuanzong ordered her to commit suicide at home, and put to death her sons and associates, except for Xue Chong gian. It was said that when Emperor Ruizong was at Baifu Hall, the only person who attended to him regularly was Emperor Xuanzong's daughter Princess Shouchun. With the death of Princess Taiping, her property, which is said to surround all of the most fertile land and the best livestock around the capital and in each province of the empire, and there were so many treasures of her that surpassed the total annual income of the empire, was confiscated by the treasury.

In 716, Emperor Ruizong died at Baifu Hall. He was enshrined into the imperial temple, along with Emperor Xuanzong's mother Consort Dou, who was posthumously honored an empress. Emperor Xuanzong had his daughter Princess Wan'an become a Taoist nun to seek blessings for Emperor Ruizong.

Chancellors during reign

First reign

• Liu Rengui(684–685)
• Pei Yan(684)
• Guo Daiju(684)
• Cen Changqian(684–690)
• Wei Xuantong(684–689)
• Liu Jingxian(684)
• Wei Hongmin(684)
• Wang Dezhen(684–685)
• Liu Yizhi(684–687)
• Wu Chengsi(684, 685, 689–690)
• Li Jingchen(684)
• Qian Weidao(684–685, 688)
• Shen Junliang(684–685)
• Cui Cha(684–685)
• Wei Fangzhi(684–690)
• Wei Siqian(685–687)
• Pei Judao(685–690)
• Su Liangsi(685–690)
• Wei Daijia(685–689)
• Zhang Guangfu(687–689)
• Wang Benli(688–690)
• Fan Lübing(689–690)
• Xing Wenwei(689–690)
• Wu Youning(690)

Second reign

• Wei Anshi(710, 711)
• Tang Xiujing(710)
• Li Jiao(710)
• Su Gui(710)
• Zhang Renyuan(710)
• Zhang Xi(710)
• Pei Tan(710)
• Cen Xi(710, 712)
• Liu Youqiu(710–711, 711–712)
• Zhong Shaojing(710)
• Li Longji(710)
• Li Rizhi(710–711)
• Xue Ji(710)
• Yao Yuanzhi(710–711)
• Wei Sili(710)
• Xiao Zhizhong(710)
• Zhao Yanzhao(710)
• Cui Shi(710, 711–712)
• Cui Riyong(710)
• Song Jing(710–711)
• Li Chengqi(710)
• Guo Yuanzhen(711)
• Zhang Shuo(711)
• Dou Huaizhen(711, 712)
• Lu Xiangxian(711–712)
• Wei Zhigu(711–712)

Family

Consorts and issue

• Empress Suming,of the Liu clan of Pengcheng (Túc minh Hoàng hậu Bành thành Lưu thị / túc minh Hoàng hậu Bành thành Lưu thị;d. 693)
  • Li Xian,Emperor Rang (Làm hoàng đế Lý hiến ／ làm hoàng đế Lý hiến;679–742), first son
  • Princess Shouchang (Thọ Xương công chúa ／ Thọ Xương công chúa), first daughter
    • Married Cui Zhen of Boling (Bác lăng thôi trân)
  • Princess Dai (Đại quốc công chủ;689–734), personal name Hua (Hoa / hoa), courtesy name Huawan (Hoa uyển), fourth daughter
    • Married Zheng Wanjun of Xingyang, Duke Xingyang (Huỳnh Dương Trịnh vạn quân ／ Huỳnh Dương Huỳnh Dương công Trịnh vạn quân) in 705, and had issue (two sons, four daughters)
• Empress Zhaocheng,of the Dou clan of Henan (Chiêu thành Hoàng hậu Hà Nam Đậu thị ／ Hà Nam Đậu thị;d. 693), second cousin
  • Li Longji,Xuanzong (Huyền Tông Lý Long Cơ;685–762), third son
  • Princess Jinxian (Kim Tiên công chúa;689–732), eighth daughter
  • Princess Yuzhen (Ngọc thật công chúa;d. 762), personal name Chiying (Cầm doanh), ninth daughter
• Noble Consort, of theCui clan of Qinghe(Quý phi Thanh Hà Thôi Thị / Quý phi Thanh Hà Thôi Thị;d. 691),
  • Li Fan, Crown Prince Huiwen (Huệ văn Hoàng Thái Tử Lý phạm;686–726), fourth son
  • Princess Xi (Tức quốc công chủ;689–725), seventh daughter
    • Married Xue Jing of Hedong, Duke Fenyin (Hà Đông Tiết cảnh ／ Hà Đông phần âm công Tiết cảnh;689–720), and had issue (four sons, five daughters)
    • Married Zheng Xiaoyi of Xingyang (Huỳnh Dương Trịnh hiếu nghĩa / Huỳnh Dương Trịnh hiếu nghĩa) in 720
• Virtuous Consort, of theWang clan of Taiyuan(Đức phi Thái Nguyên Vương thị)
  • Li Ye, Crown Prince Huixuan (Huệ tuyên Hoàng Thái Tử Lý nghiệp / Lý nghiệp;686–734), fifth son
  • Princess Huaiyang (Hoài dương công chúa / hoài dương công chúa;686–704), personal name Huashan (Hoa sơn), third daughter
    • Married Wang Chengqing of Langya, Duke Linyi (Lang Gia vương thừa khánh ／ lâm nghi công vương thừa khánh;d. 717) in 702, and had issue (one daughter)
  • Princess Liang (Lương Quốc công chúa;687–724), personal name Nou (㝹), fifth daughter
    • Married Xue Boyang of Hedong, Duke Anyi (Hà Đông Tiết bá dương / Hà Đông Tiết bá dương;d. 713), a son ofXue Ji,and had issue (one son)
    • Married Wen Xi (Ôn hi / ôn hi) in 713, and had issue (one son)
• Noble Consort, of the Doulu clan ( Quý phi đậu Lư thị ／ Quý phi đậu Lư thị, 661 – 740)
• Able Consort, of theWang clan of Taiyuan( Hiền phi / Hiền phi; Thái Nguyên Vương thị ), personal name Fangmei ( phương mị )
• Lady, of the Liu clan of Hedong (Cung nhân Hà Đông Liễu thị ／ Hà Đông Liễu thị)
  • Li Hui, Crown Prince Huizhuang (Huệ trang Hoàng Thái Tử Lý anh ／ huệ trang Hoàng Thái Tử Lý anh;d. 724), second son
• Unknown
  • Li Longti, Prince Sui(Tùy vương Lý Long Đễ;692–702), sixth son
  • Princess An xing Zhaohuai(An hưng chiêu hoài công chúa ／ an hưng chiêu hoài công chúa;d. 692), second daughter
  • Princess Xue (Tiết quốc công chủ)
    • Married Wang Shouyi of Taiyuan, Duke Qi (Thái Nguyên vương thủ một;d. 723), and had issue (one daughter)
    • Married Pei Xun of Hedong, Duke Wei (Hà Đông Bùi tốn ／ Hà Đông Bùi tốn;672–726) in 723 and had issue (one daughter)
  • Princess Huo (Hoắc công chúa;d. 756)
    • Married Pei Xuji of Hedong (Hà Đông Bùi hư mình ／ Hà Đông Bùi hư mình)

Ancestry

Li Bing (d. 573)

Emperor Gaozu of Tang(566–635)

Empress Yuanzhen

Emperor Taizong of Tang(598–649)

Dou Yi (519–583)

Empress Taimu(569–613)

Princess Xiangyang

Emperor Gaozong of Tang(628–683)

Zhangsun Si (517–566)

Zhangsun Sheng (552–609)

Empress Wende(601–636)

Gao Mai (544–599)

Lady Gao of Bohai

Emperor Ruizong of Tang (662–716)

Wu Jian

Wu Hua

Lady Song

Wu Shiyue(577–635)

Lady Zhao

Empress Zetian(624–705)

Yang Shao

Yang Da (548–612)

Lady Yang of Hongnong (579–670)

In fiction and popular culture

• Portrayed by Lee Lung Kei inDeep in the Realm of Conscience(2018)
• Portrayed byWang TaoandYuan ShilonginPalace of Desire(2000)

See also

• Chinese emperors family tree (middle)

References

Sources

• Old Book of Tang,vol. 7.
• New Book of Tang,vol. 5.
• Zizhi Tong gian,vols.201,202,203,204,205,206,207,208,209,210,211.