The Rise of Xuanzong and the Consolidation of Power

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, also known as Li Longji, ascended to the throne in 712 CE after a series of bloody court intrigues, including the overthrow of Empress Wei and the suppression of Princess Taiping’s faction. His early reign was marked by decisive actions to solidify his authority. Just three months after eliminating Princess Taiping’s supporters, Xuanzong staged a massive military exercise at the foot of Mount Li, involving 200,000 troops with banners stretching over fifty miles.

This display of military might was not merely ceremonial. As advised by his trusted eunuch Gao Lishi, Xuanzong sought to assert imperial dominance. However, the exercise revealed glaring weaknesses—poor discipline, chaotic formations, and ineffective command structures. The emperor’s response was swift and theatrical. He publicly condemned the Minister of War, Guo Yuanzhen, initially sentencing him to death before commuting the punishment to exile—a calculated move to instill discipline without alienating loyalists.

The Politics of Punishment and the Perils of Misinterpretation

Xuanzong’s handling of the military’s failures underscored his nuanced approach to governance. When he criticized the lax military etiquette and blamed Tang Shao, the officer in charge of ceremonial discipline, he expected a similar commutation. However, the overzealous general Li Kui executed Tang Shao without grasping the emperor’s implicit leniency. Enraged, Xuanzong dismissed Li Kui permanently, revealing his aversion to unnecessary bloodshed—a principle that shaped his judicial philosophy.

This incident highlights the delicate balance Xuanzong sought between authority and mercy. His reign began with ruthless purges, yet he later resisted knee-jerk executions, as seen in the case of Li Jiao, a former official who had conspired against his family. Despite calls for Li Jiao’s execution, Xuanzong heeded the counsel of Zhang Yue, a rising statesman, who argued that past loyalties to rival factions did not equate to treason. Instead, Li Jiao was exiled with his son—a measured resolution reflecting Xuanzong’s evolving pragmatism.

The Legacy of Empress Wu and the Shifting Elite

Xuanzong’s court was deeply influenced by the legacy of Empress Wu Zetian, China’s only female emperor. Her policy of promoting talent over nobility had elevated commoners like Zhang Yue and Yao Chong to power, challenging the aristocratic old guard. By Xuanzong’s mid-reign, however, the pendulum swung back. Aristocrats like Li Linfu, a cunning manipulator from the imperial clan, regained dominance through intrigue rather than merit.

This shift had profound consequences. The early Kaiyuan era (713–741) flourished under competent, reform-minded ministers, but the later Tianbao period (742–756) saw governance deteriorate under Li Linfu’s corrupt machinations. The emperor, once a vigorous reformer, grew disengaged, indulging in music and romance while the bureaucracy decayed.

The Cultural Zenith and International Allure

Despite political decline, Xuanzong’s reign epitomized Tang cosmopolitanism. The capital, Chang’an, thrived as a global hub where foreign envoys, merchants, and scholars mingled. The Japanese scholar Abe no Nakamaro (Chinese: Chao Heng) rose to become Director of the Imperial Library, exemplifying the dynasty’s openness. The arts flourished, with Xuanzong himself a patron of music and poetry—his love for the Rainbow Skirt Dance immortalized in later lore.

Yet this cultural brilliance masked systemic rot. The emperor’s infatuation with Yang Guifei, often scapegoated for the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), was symptomatic of deeper issues: a disengaged ruler, factional strife, and military overreach. Yang, unlike Wu Zetian, was no schemer but a tragic figure swept up by imperial whims.

The Fall: From Golden Age to Rebellion

The An Lushan Rebellion shattered the illusion of eternal prosperity. Xuanzong’s earlier military reforms—like appointing non-Han generals to frontier posts—backfired spectacularly. The emperor’s flight from Chang’an, the execution of Yang Guifei, and his abdication in 756 marked a humiliating end to his 44-year reign.

Conclusion: The Paradox of Xuanzong

Xuanzong’s reign encapsulates the Tang Dynasty’s paradox: unparalleled cultural achievement paired with political fragility. His early vigor laid the groundwork for prosperity, but his later complacency enabled decline. The Kaiyuan-Tianbao transition remains a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked power and the fleeting nature of golden ages. In modern discourse, Xuanzong’s legacy endures as a mirror for leadership—celebrating vision while warning against the seduction of absolute authority.