Li Shouli
Encyclopedia
Lĭ Shǒulĭ was the second son of Li Xián who also known as Crown Prince Zhanghuai of Tang
. Born Li Guangren (李光仁) during the Chuigong era of his youngest uncle Emperor Ruizong of Tang
's reign when his grandmother Wu Zetian
held the real power, he was renamed Shouli and given the title Crown Prince Xima (Taizi Xima 太子洗马).
, was once created Crown Prince but failed in a power struggle with his ambitious mother Wu Zetian
. He was deposed and exiled then later forced to commit suicide in 684. Li Shouli's two brothers Guangshun (李光顺) and Shouyi (李守义) both died afterwards as well. Shouli's only sister Lady Changxin (长信郡主) disappeared into history. From childhood, Li Shouli was put under house arrest with sons of Ruizong. It was not until Ruizong was recreated Prince of Xiang that Shouli and his cousins were allowed to live outside the palaces.
According to Western succession law, Shouli should have been the heir presumptive of Wu Zetian. But in the history of ancient China, heir presumptive did not mean heir to the throne. Shouli was the son of a deposed crown prince while his two younger uncles Xiǎn (note different tone from that of Shouli's father Xián) and Dan (i.e. Emperor Ruizong), both sons of Wu Zetian, were still alive. Xiǎn, who had briefly reigned as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
in 684 before deposed by Wu Zetian, would become her successor and start his second reign, while Shouli was effectively barred from the succession.
succeeded the throne for the second time, Shouli was created Prince of Si Yong (literally, heir of Prince of Yong, as Li Xián was posthumously honored Prince of Yong) and appointed Guangluqing. In 707, one of Shouli's daughters was created Princess of Jincheng and engaged to Kridê Zukzän the Lord of Tibet. They would marry in 710, in the same year that Ruizong would also start his second reign. According to the Will of Zhongzong, Ruizong created Li Shouli Prince of Bin and appointed him governor of Youzhou
or Sikong (司空) and so on. Unlike his cousin brothers, Shouli loved hunting, having parties, travelling and watching dancings. Sometime after 721, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
(son of late Ruizong) recalled Shouli to the capital Chang'an
.
As a royal prince, Shouli was so mediocre and lacking in ability that he could never be compared with neither Li Fan (李范) nor Li Ye (李业) (both younger brothers of Xuanzong). Most of his sons were also mediocre, while most of his daughters were adulterous. In summary, Shouli was unworthy of acclaim. He himself was always extravagant and would deny beneficial advice by relying on his special position as the eldest living cousin brother of Xuanzong.
would briefly be created emperor by the Tibetans in November 763, though he reigned for no more than half a month. Li Chengcai (李承寀) would be created Prince of Dunhuang.
According to the New Book of Tang, some other sons of Shouli also left names, but they mostly served as officials rather than royal princes: Li Chengqian (李承骞), Li Chengyou (李承宥), Li Chenghuan (李承寰), Li Chengshi (李承寔), Li Chengshi (李承实), Li Chengcong (李承賨), Li Chengrong (李承容), Li Chengtu (李承突), Li Chengwei (李承寪) and Li Chengjun (李承寯).
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...
. Born Li Guangren (李光仁) during the Chuigong era of his youngest uncle Emperor Ruizong of Tang
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...
's reign when his grandmother Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
held the real power, he was renamed Shouli and given the title Crown Prince Xima (Taizi Xima 太子洗马).
Childhood
Li Shouli's father, Li Xián, as the heir presumptive to his father Emperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
, was once created Crown Prince but failed in a power struggle with his ambitious mother Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
. He was deposed and exiled then later forced to commit suicide in 684. Li Shouli's two brothers Guangshun (李光顺) and Shouyi (李守义) both died afterwards as well. Shouli's only sister Lady Changxin (长信郡主) disappeared into history. From childhood, Li Shouli was put under house arrest with sons of Ruizong. It was not until Ruizong was recreated Prince of Xiang that Shouli and his cousins were allowed to live outside the palaces.
According to Western succession law, Shouli should have been the heir presumptive of Wu Zetian. But in the history of ancient China, heir presumptive did not mean heir to the throne. Shouli was the son of a deposed crown prince while his two younger uncles Xiǎn (note different tone from that of Shouli's father Xián) and Dan (i.e. Emperor Ruizong), both sons of Wu Zetian, were still alive. Xiǎn, who had briefly reigned as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
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...
in 684 before deposed by Wu Zetian, would become her successor and start his second reign, while Shouli was effectively barred from the succession.
As Royal Prince
When Emperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor 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...
succeeded the throne for the second time, Shouli was created Prince of Si Yong (literally, heir of Prince of Yong, as Li Xián was posthumously honored Prince of Yong) and appointed Guangluqing. In 707, one of Shouli's daughters was created Princess of Jincheng and engaged to Kridê Zukzän the Lord of Tibet. They would marry in 710, in the same year that Ruizong would also start his second reign. According to the Will of Zhongzong, Ruizong created Li Shouli Prince of Bin and appointed him governor of Youzhou
Youzhou
Youzhou is a historical place name in northern China. From the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty in 106 BC to the Five Dynasties period in the 10th century AD, Youzhou generally referred to the prefecture around modern-day Beijing and parts of Hebei Province...
or Sikong (司空) and so on. Unlike his cousin brothers, Shouli loved hunting, having parties, travelling and watching dancings. Sometime after 721, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
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...
(son of late Ruizong) recalled Shouli to 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...
.
As a royal prince, Shouli was so mediocre and lacking in ability that he could never be compared with neither Li Fan (李范) nor Li Ye (李业) (both younger brothers of Xuanzong). Most of his sons were also mediocre, while most of his daughters were adulterous. In summary, Shouli was unworthy of acclaim. He himself was always extravagant and would deny beneficial advice by relying on his special position as the eldest living cousin brother of Xuanzong.
Forecasting ability
Li Shouli was noted for his ability to forecast the weather. Sometimes it was dark, but Shouli managed to forecast that it would be sunny soon. Sometimes it was continuously hot for about ten days, Shouli also knew it would rain in advance. Li Fan reported this to Emperor Xuanzong, saying Shouli had a knowledge of the weather. When praised by the emperor, Li Shouli explained that it was actually a result of his unfortunate childhood rather than the result of any scholarly research into the weather. He had been always beaten while under house arrest and as a result a thick scar had formed on his back which would become heavy or light as the weather turned rainy or sunny. Li Shouli wept as he explained, gaining Emperor Xuanzong's sympathy.Ancestry
Legacy
Shouli died in 741 and was posthumously honored with the title Taiwei (太尉). He had many concubines who bore him over 60 offspring. Among his sons, Li Chengning (李承寧) would succeed him as the next Prince of Bin, while Li ChenghongLi Chenghong
Li Chenghong , commonly known as the Prince of Guangwu , was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who was briefly declared emperor in 763 by invading Tibetan forces after they had captured the Tang capital Chang'an.-Background:...
would briefly be created emperor by the Tibetans in November 763, though he reigned for no more than half a month. Li Chengcai (李承寀) would be created Prince of Dunhuang.
According to the New Book of Tang, some other sons of Shouli also left names, but they mostly served as officials rather than royal princes: Li Chengqian (李承骞), Li Chengyou (李承宥), Li Chenghuan (李承寰), Li Chengshi (李承寔), Li Chengshi (李承实), Li Chengcong (李承賨), Li Chengrong (李承容), Li Chengtu (李承突), Li Chengwei (李承寪) and Li Chengjun (李承寯).