Li Tan
Encyclopedia
Li Tan (died 757), known by his princely title of Prince of Jianning (建寧王), posthumously honored as the Prince of Qi (齊王) and then Emperor Chengtian (承天皇帝, literally "the emperor who bore the heaven"), was an imperial prince of the Chinese
Tang Dynasty
. He was a son of Emperor Suzong
who was credited with suggesting to his father the idea of fleeing to Lingwu during the Anshi Rebellion, allowing Emperor Suzong to eventually reestablish a power base and defeat the rebellion. He was also credited with protecting his father on the way to Lingwu. However, he offended Emperor Suzong's favorite concubine Consort Zhang
and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo
by accusing them of crimes; in turn, they accused him of having designs on the life of his older brother Li Chu
the Prince of Guangping, causing Emperor Suzong to order him to commit suicide. After Li Chu became emperor in 762 (as Emperor Daizong), he posthumously honored Li Tan, first as the Prince of Qi, and then as Emperor Chengtian, to recognize him for his contributions.
, then the Crown Prince
under Li Tan's grandfather Emperor Xuanzong
. His mother was a Consort Zhang, of whom nothing else was recorded in history, and who was not the same Consort Zhang
who Li Tan later offended. During Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742-756), Li Tan was created the Prince of Jianning, and was known for his decisiveness and abilities. He was also known for archery.
rebelled against Emperor Xuanzong's rule, and by 756 was approaching the Tang capital Chang'an
, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee with his family and close associates. Emperor Xuanzong intended to flee to Jiannan Circuit (劍南, roughly modern Sichuan
and Chongqing
), but as he reached Mawei (馬嵬, in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
), the imperial guards escorting him, blaming An's rebellion on Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine Consort Yang Yuhuan and her cousin, the chancellor, Yang Guozhong
, slaughtered the Yang household and forced Emperor Xuanzong to execute Consort Yang. After the incident, Emperor Xuanzong was intent on continuing to Chengdu
(the capital of Jiannan Circuit). Li Heng did not follow Emperor Xuanzong, and initially remained at Mawei in response to the people of the region's request that he remain to fight against An. Li Heng initially stated that he wished to follow Emperor Xuanzong to Chengdu, but Li Tan convinced him to stay, saying:
Li Tan's proposal was supported by his older brother Li Chu
the Prince of Guangping, and Li Heng finally agreed and sent messengers to report this to Emperor Xuanzong, who agreed and gave Li Heng part of the imperial guard troops before heading further toward Chengdu. Li Tan then suggested that they head to the important border outpost Lingwu and gather troops there, and Li Heng agreed. On the way to Lingwu, Li Heng's small group of guards had to repeatedly battle bandits and deserting soldiers, and Li Tan repeatedly had to personally lead troops to protect his father. Whenever Li Heng had nothing to eat, Li Tan would weep. His acts of bravery and filial piety impressed the soldiers.
Once Li Heng reached Lingwu and gathered the troops there, at the urging of the generals, he took imperial title (as Emperor Suzong). He considered making Li Tan the supreme commander of the armed forces, but at the urging of his officials, who pointed out that this would create an ambiguity as to whether Li Chu, who was his oldest son, or Li Tan, would be his heir, Emperor Xuanzong made Li Chu the supreme commander. (According to the Zizhi Tongjian
, it was Emperor Suzong's close advisor Li Mi
who suggested this, and Li Tan, who was faithful to his brother, thanked Li Mi for proposing this to reduce the ambiguity.) Li Tan was instead given the command of the imperial guards.
Li Tan soon ran into conflict with Consort Zhang and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo
, who were allies, and he often accused Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo of improprieties. On one occasion, when he praised Emperor Suzong for following Li Mi's recommendation to strip a jewel-studded saddle that Emperor Xuanzong gave to Consort Zhang as a gift of its jewels and give the jewels to the soldiers as rewards, Consort Zhang became angry and bore grudges against both him and Li Mi. Further, Li Tan plotted to kill Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo. Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo instead acted first, falsely accusing Li Tan of planning to kill Li Chu to that he could become Emperor Suzong's heir. Emperor Suzong, believing in Consort Zhang's and Li Fuguo's accusations, ordered Li Tan to commit suicide in early 757.
Lady Zhang, the daughter of his aunt Princess Xinxing, to Li Tan, honoring her as Empress Gongshun (恭順皇后). He had Li Tan worshiped at the same temple that Emperor Suzong had dedicated to his older brother Li Cong
, whom Emperor Suzong posthumously honored as an emperor as well.
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...
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 a son of Emperor Suzong
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...
who was credited with suggesting to his father the idea of fleeing to Lingwu during the Anshi Rebellion, allowing Emperor Suzong to eventually reestablish a power base and defeat the rebellion. He was also credited with protecting his father on the way to Lingwu. However, he offended Emperor Suzong's favorite concubine Consort Zhang
Empress Zhang (Suzong)
Empress Zhang was an empress of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. She was the second wife of Emperor Suzong and gained great power during his reign, in alliance with the eunuch Li Fuguo, but eventually she and Li Fuguo turned against each other late in Emperor Suzong's reign, as the emperor grew gravely...
and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo
Li Fuguo
Li Fuguo , né Li Jingzhong , known from 757 to 758 as Li Huguo , formally Prince Chou of Bolu , was a eunuch official during the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
by accusing them of crimes; in turn, they accused him of having designs on the life of his older brother Li Chu
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
the Prince of Guangping, causing Emperor Suzong to order him to commit suicide. After Li Chu became emperor in 762 (as Emperor Daizong), he posthumously honored Li Tan, first as the Prince of Qi, and then as Emperor Chengtian, to recognize him for his contributions.
Background
It is not known when Li Tan was born. He was the third son of Li HengEmperor 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...
, then the 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....
under Li Tan's grandfather 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...
. His mother was a Consort Zhang, of whom nothing else was recorded in history, and who was not the same Consort Zhang
Empress Zhang (Suzong)
Empress Zhang was an empress of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. She was the second wife of Emperor Suzong and gained great power during his reign, in alliance with the eunuch Li Fuguo, but eventually she and Li Fuguo turned against each other late in Emperor Suzong's reign, as the emperor grew gravely...
who Li Tan later offended. During Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao era (742-756), Li Tan was created the Prince of Jianning, and was known for his decisiveness and abilities. He was also known for archery.
During Anshi Rebellion
In 755, the general An LushanAn Lushan
An Lushan was a general who rebelled against the Tang Dynasty in China.His name was also transcribed into Chinese as Āluòshān or Gáluòshān ,...
rebelled against Emperor Xuanzong's rule, and by 756 was approaching the Tang 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...
, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee with his family and close associates. Emperor Xuanzong intended to flee to Jiannan Circuit (劍南, roughly modern Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
and Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
), but as he reached Mawei (馬嵬, in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), the imperial guards escorting him, blaming An's rebellion on Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine Consort Yang Yuhuan and her cousin, the chancellor, Yang Guozhong
Yang Guozhong
Yang Guozhong , né Yang Zhao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor late in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong...
, slaughtered the Yang household and forced Emperor Xuanzong to execute Consort Yang. After the incident, Emperor Xuanzong was intent on continuing to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
(the capital of Jiannan Circuit). Li Heng did not follow Emperor Xuanzong, and initially remained at Mawei in response to the people of the region's request that he remain to fight against An. Li Heng initially stated that he wished to follow Emperor Xuanzong to Chengdu, but Li Tan convinced him to stay, saying:
Li Tan's proposal was supported by his older brother Li Chu
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
the Prince of Guangping, and Li Heng finally agreed and sent messengers to report this to Emperor Xuanzong, who agreed and gave Li Heng part of the imperial guard troops before heading further toward Chengdu. Li Tan then suggested that they head to the important border outpost Lingwu and gather troops there, and Li Heng agreed. On the way to Lingwu, Li Heng's small group of guards had to repeatedly battle bandits and deserting soldiers, and Li Tan repeatedly had to personally lead troops to protect his father. Whenever Li Heng had nothing to eat, Li Tan would weep. His acts of bravery and filial piety impressed the soldiers.
Once Li Heng reached Lingwu and gathered the troops there, at the urging of the generals, he took imperial title (as Emperor Suzong). He considered making Li Tan the supreme commander of the armed forces, but at the urging of his officials, who pointed out that this would create an ambiguity as to whether Li Chu, who was his oldest son, or Li Tan, would be his heir, Emperor Xuanzong made Li Chu the supreme commander. (According to the Zizhi Tongjian
Zizhi Tongjian
The Zizhi Tongjian was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084, under the form of a chronicles. In 1065 CE, Emperor Yingzong of Song ordered the great historian Sima Guang to lead with other scholars such as his chief assistants Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, the...
, it was Emperor Suzong's close advisor Li Mi
Li Mi (chancellor)
Li Mi , courtesy name Changyuan , formally the Marquess of Ye County , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
who suggested this, and Li Tan, who was faithful to his brother, thanked Li Mi for proposing this to reduce the ambiguity.) Li Tan was instead given the command of the imperial guards.
Li Tan soon ran into conflict with Consort Zhang and the powerful eunuch Li Fuguo
Li Fuguo
Li Fuguo , né Li Jingzhong , known from 757 to 758 as Li Huguo , formally Prince Chou of Bolu , was a eunuch official during the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, who were allies, and he often accused Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo of improprieties. On one occasion, when he praised Emperor Suzong for following Li Mi's recommendation to strip a jewel-studded saddle that Emperor Xuanzong gave to Consort Zhang as a gift of its jewels and give the jewels to the soldiers as rewards, Consort Zhang became angry and bore grudges against both him and Li Mi. Further, Li Tan plotted to kill Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo. Consort Zhang and Li Fuguo instead acted first, falsely accusing Li Tan of planning to kill Li Chu to that he could become Emperor Suzong's heir. Emperor Suzong, believing in Consort Zhang's and Li Fuguo's accusations, ordered Li Tan to commit suicide in early 757.
Posthumous recognition
In 762, Li Chu (whose name had been changed to Li Yu by that point) succeeded Emperor Suzong as emperor (as Emperor Daizong). He posthumously honored Li Tan as the Prince of Qi. In 768, Emperor Daizong and Li Mi discussed further posthumously honoring Li Tan, and Li Mi initially suggested posthumously honoring Li Tan as a crown prince, citing the example of Emperor Xuanzong honoring his younger brothers in that manner. Emperor Daizong, believing that Li Tan's contributions far exceeded those princes, decided instead to posthumously honor Li Tan as emperor and rebury him with ceremony due an emperor. He also posthumously marriedChinese ghost marriage
In Chinese tradition, a ghost marriage is a marriage in which one or both parties are deceased. Other forms of ghost marriage are practiced worldwide, from Sudan, to India, to France since 1959...
Lady Zhang, the daughter of his aunt Princess Xinxing, to Li Tan, honoring her as Empress Gongshun (恭順皇后). He had Li Tan worshiped at the same temple that Emperor Suzong had dedicated to his older brother Li Cong
Li Cong
Li Cong , né Li Sizhi , known as Li Tan from 725 to 736, posthumously honored Crown Prince Jingde and then Emperor Fengtian , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, whom Emperor Suzong posthumously honored as an emperor as well.