The Tang Dynasty, despite being over a millennium in the past, still holds a special place in Chinese culture. Terms like “Tang people” (唐人) and “Tang suit” (唐装) are testaments to its lasting influence. And when we talk about the most glorious period of this dynasty, nothing surpasses the High Tang (盛唐) era—a time of economic prosperity, cultural brilliance, and military strength.
But just as every peak has its descent, the Tang Dynasty’s golden age did not last forever. What brought this magnificent period to an end?
Beneath the Glorious Surface: The Hidden Cracks
During the Kaiyuan era (开元, 713–741) under Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗), the Tang Dynasty reached its zenith. The empire was politically stable, economically flourishing, and militarily dominant. Even the troublesome Tibetan Empire and northern nomadic tribes could not shake the might of Tang.
The poet Du Fu (杜甫) beautifully captured this prosperity in his poem:
“I recall the glorious days of Kaiyuan, even small villages housed ten thousand families.
Rice overflowed from granaries, roads were free from bandits, and people lived in peace.”
But behind this prosperity, dangers lurked. As Emperor Xuanzong aged, he became increasingly detached from governance, allowing corruption and poor decision-making to take root.
One of the biggest mistakes? Handing military power to non-Han generals.
A Tang official, Li Linfu (李林甫), convinced the emperor that civilian officials should no longer lead armies. His reasoning?
“Scholars are too weak for the battlefield; it’s better to rely on foreign warriors.”
This led to key military positions being handed to non-Chinese generals like An Lushan (安禄山) and Geshu Han (哥舒翰). Over time, these generals amassed private armies and grew increasingly independent from the central government.
Another problem? The military recruitment system collapsed.
The Tang originally relied on the “fubing” system (府兵制), where citizens trained as part-time soldiers. But as land distribution became uneven, fewer people qualified for military service. In response, Tang officials introduced a professional army, but these soldiers became more loyal to their local commanders than to the emperor.
By the 750s, an ambitious general named An Lushan saw his chance.
An Lushan’s Rebellion: The Beginning of the End
In 755 AD, An Lushan, who commanded over 150,000 soldiers, launched a rebellion from his base in Fanyang (modern-day Beijing). His justification? He claimed he was marching south to eliminate the corrupt Prime Minister Yang Guozhong (杨国忠).
But in reality, he had his sights set on the Tang capital, Chang’an (长安).
Within a month, his forces took the eastern capital, Luoyang (洛阳). The Tang army, hastily assembled and poorly trained, was no match. Worse still, Tang officials refused to believe An Lushan would rebel until it was too late.
As the rebels advanced, the Tang court descended into chaos. The emperor’s most capable generals, Feng Changqing (封常清) and Gao Xianzhi (高仙芝), were executed due to political infighting. Eventually, Tang forces made a last stand at Tongguan (潼关), a key pass protecting the capital.
But in 756 AD, the defense collapsed. The rebels stormed into Chang’an, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee south to Sichuan.
A New Emperor and the Fight to Reclaim the Empire
As Xuanzong retreated, his son, Li Heng (李亨), seized the opportunity. In Lingwu (灵武, modern Ningxia), he declared himself Emperor Suzong (唐肃宗). With this, the Tang counterattack began.
The turning point came in 757 AD when Tang forces, led by the legendary general Guo Ziyi (郭子仪), allied with the Uighur cavalry and recaptured both Chang’an and Luoyang. An Lushan himself never lived to see this—he was assassinated by his own son, An Qingxu (安庆绪).
But the war was far from over. The rebellion dragged on for nearly eight more years, as former rebel generals like Shi Siming (史思明) continued the fight. It wasn’t until 763 AD that the Tang Dynasty finally defeated the remnants of the rebel forces.
The victory, however, came at a heavy cost.
The Aftermath: A Dynasty Forever Weakened
Although the Tang Dynasty survived the An Lushan Rebellion (安史之乱), it was permanently crippled. The economy was devastated, and countless cities lay in ruins. Even more damaging, the rebellion gave rise to warlord-controlled regions (藩镇), where military governors ruled with little loyalty to the central government.
One of the greatest empires in history had peaked and begun its decline.
The lessons of the Tang’s downfall remain relevant even today:
- Over-reliance on military strongmen can backfire.
- Political corruption can rot even the most powerful regimes.
- Ignoring the warning signs of rebellion is a fatal mistake.
Though the Tang Dynasty continued for another 150 years, it would never reclaim the golden age of Emperor Xuanzong’s reign. The once-mighty empire, which had dazzled the world with its prosperity and culture, had set itself on the road to collapse.
Conclusion: A Glorious Rise, A Cautionary Fall
The Tang Dynasty’s golden age was one of the most brilliant in Chinese history. Its literature, economy, and military achievements shaped not only China but much of East Asia. But as history often reminds us, no empire is invincible.
From the Han Dynasty (汉朝) to the Roman Empire, and even modern superpowers, the same lessons echo through time: greatness breeds complacency, and unchecked power leads to disaster.
The story of the Tang Dynasty’s rise and fall is more than just a historical record. It’s a lesson—one that still holds relevance in the modern world.