Li Cong
Encyclopedia
Li Cong (died 752), né Li Sizhi (李嗣直), known as Li Tan (李潭) from 725 to 736, posthumously honored Crown Prince Jingde (靖德太子) and then Emperor Fengtian (奉天皇帝, literally, "the emperor who submitted to Heaven"), was an imperial prince of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
. He was the oldest son of Emperor Xuanzong
but, despite that status, was never made crown prince
, bypassed in favor of his younger brothers Li Ying
and Li Heng
(the later Emperor Suzong). After Li Heng became emperor, he posthumously honored Li Cong as an emperor.
, then the Prince of Linzi under Li Longji's uncle Emperor Zhongzong
. His mother Consort Liu, who would eventually receive the imperial consort rank of Huafei (華妃), the third highest rank for imperial consorts, later bore two more sons for Emperor Xuanzong, Li Wan (李琬) the Prince of Rong (né Li Sixuan (李嗣玄)) and Li Sui (李璲) the Prince of Yi (né Li Wei (李濰)). In 710, after Li Longji's father Li Dan
became emperor (as Emperor Ruizong), Li Longji was created crown prince
, and his sons were created princes. Li Sizhi was created the Prince of Xuchang.
the Prince of Ying was selected, as Li Siqian's mother Consort Zhao was then Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine, and Li Siqian was raised personally by Emperor Xuanzong's wife Empress Wang
, who had no sons of her own. In 716, Li Sizhi was made the Protectorate General to Pacify the West
and received the title of "Comforter of the Non-Han of the Hedong [(modern Shanxi
)], Guannei [(i.e., Guanzhong
)], and Longyou [(modern eastern Gansu
)] Regions" (安撫河東關內隴右諸蕃大使, Anfu Hedong Guannei Longyou Zhufan Dashi), although there was no evidence that he actually left the capital Chang'an
.
In 725, Li Sizhi's name was changed to Li Tan, and his title was changed to Prince of Qing.
In 727, Li Tan became the military governor (jiedushi
) of Hexi Circuit (河西, modern central and western Gansu) as well as the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu), but, as was the case with 10 other brothers of his who received similar titles, did not actually take up the command.
In 736, Li Tan's name was changed to Li Cong.
In 737, LI Siqian (the heir), whose name had been changed to Li Ying, was forced to commit suicide after false accusations of treason by Emperor Xuanzong's then-favorite concubine Consort Wu
, who wanted her son Li Mao (李瑁) the Prince of Shou to be crown prince. However, Emperor Xuanzong subsequently selected another son, Li Yu
the Prince of Zhong, crown prince, bypassing Li Cong again in the process.
In 742, Li Cong became military governor of Hedong Circuit.
In 756, after Li Yu, whose name was by then changed to Li Heng, became emperor (as Emperor Suzong), Li Cong was further posthumously honored as Emperor Fengtian. His wife Princess Dou was posthumously honored Empress Gongying, and they were reburied with honors due emperor and empress.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. He was the oldest son of Emperor Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
but, despite that status, was never made crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, bypassed in favor of his younger brothers Li Ying
Li Ying
Li Ying is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 11th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Striking Hawk".-Background:...
and Li Heng
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
(the later Emperor Suzong). After Li Heng became emperor, he posthumously honored Li Cong as an emperor.
Background
It is not known when Li Sizhi was born, but it is known that he was the oldest son of Li LongjiEmperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
, then the Prince of Linzi under Li Longji's uncle Emperor Zhongzong
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Xiǎn , at times during his life Li Zhe and Wu Xian , was the fourth Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710.Emperor Zhongzong was the son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu...
. His mother Consort Liu, who would eventually receive the imperial consort rank of Huafei (華妃), the third highest rank for imperial consorts, later bore two more sons for Emperor Xuanzong, Li Wan (李琬) the Prince of Rong (né Li Sixuan (李嗣玄)) and Li Sui (李璲) the Prince of Yi (né Li Wei (李濰)). In 710, after Li Longji's father Li Dan
Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor Ruizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Dàn , known at times during his life as Li Xulun , Li Lun , Wu Lun , and Wu Dan , was the fifth and ninth emperor of Tang Dynasty...
became emperor (as Emperor Ruizong), Li Longji was created crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, and his sons were created princes. Li Sizhi was created the Prince of Xuchang.
During Emperor Xuanzong's reign
In 712, Emperor Ruizong yielded the throne to Li Longji, who took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. Li Sizhi's title was upgraded to Prince of Tan. In 715, however, he was bypassed for the crown prince position when his younger brother Li SiqianLi Ying
Li Ying is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 11th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Striking Hawk".-Background:...
the Prince of Ying was selected, as Li Siqian's mother Consort Zhao was then Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine, and Li Siqian was raised personally by Emperor Xuanzong's wife Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Xuanzong)
Empress Wang was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Xuanzong. She was initially made empress after he became emperor in 712, but eventually lost favor to Consort Wu, partly because she never had a son...
, who had no sons of her own. In 716, Li Sizhi was made the Protectorate General to Pacify the West
Protectorate General to Pacify the West
The Protectorate General to Pacify the West, Grand Protectorate General to Pacify the West, or Anxi Protectorate was a Chinese outpost established by Tang Dynasty in 640 to control the regions of Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains...
and received the title of "Comforter of the Non-Han of the Hedong [(modern Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
)], Guannei [(i.e., Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
)], and Longyou [(modern eastern Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
)] Regions" (安撫河東關內隴右諸蕃大使, Anfu Hedong Guannei Longyou Zhufan Dashi), although there was no evidence that he actually left the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
.
In 725, Li Sizhi's name was changed to Li Tan, and his title was changed to Prince of Qing.
In 727, Li Tan became the military governor (jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Hexi Circuit (河西, modern central and western Gansu) as well as the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu), but, as was the case with 10 other brothers of his who received similar titles, did not actually take up the command.
In 736, Li Tan's name was changed to Li Cong.
In 737, LI Siqian (the heir), whose name had been changed to Li Ying, was forced to commit suicide after false accusations of treason by Emperor Xuanzong's then-favorite concubine Consort Wu
Consort Wu (Xuanzong)
Consort Wu, imperial consort rank Huifei , posthumously Empress Zhenshun , was an imperial consort of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong...
, who wanted her son Li Mao (李瑁) the Prince of Shou to be crown prince. However, Emperor Xuanzong subsequently selected another son, Li Yu
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
the Prince of Zhong, crown prince, bypassing Li Cong again in the process.
In 742, Li Cong became military governor of Hedong Circuit.
Posthumous honors
Li Cong died in 752. Emperor Xuanzong, still emperor at that time, posthumously honored him as Crown Prince Jingde, even though he was never crown prince. As he was sonless, he adopted Li Ying's son Li Qiu (李俅), and Li Qiu inherited his title of Prince of Qing.In 756, after Li Yu, whose name was by then changed to Li Heng, became emperor (as Emperor Suzong), Li Cong was further posthumously honored as Emperor Fengtian. His wife Princess Dou was posthumously honored Empress Gongying, and they were reburied with honors due emperor and empress.