The Rise of An Lushan and the Seeds of Rebellion

In the mid-8th century, the Tang Dynasty stood as one of the most prosperous empires in the world. Under Emperor Xuanzong’s reign, China experienced the golden age of the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras, marked by cultural flourishing and military expansion. Yet beneath this veneer of stability, political intrigue and regional power struggles were brewing—culminating in the devastating An Lushan Rebellion (755–763).

An Lushan, a general of mixed Sogdian and Turkic heritage, rose rapidly through the ranks due to his military prowess and shrewd political maneuvering. By 755, he commanded three key frontier armies—Fanyang, Pinglu, and Hedong—making him one of the most powerful figures in the empire. However, his growing autonomy alarmed Chancellor Yang Guozhong, who saw him as a threat to the central government.

The Political Chess Game: Yang Guozhong’s Miscalculations

Yang Guozhong, a rival of An Lushan, attempted to undermine him by manipulating court politics. He proposed that Emperor Xuanzong appoint An Lushan as Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (a high-ranking chancellor position), hoping to lure him to the capital and strip him of his military command. The plan was simple: once An Lushan was deprived of his armies, he could be easily controlled or eliminated.

Yet Emperor Xuanzong, who trusted An Lushan deeply, hesitated. The emperor relied on An Lushan to guard the northeastern frontier against the Khitan and奚 (Xi) tribes. When Yang Guozhong pressed the issue, Xuanzong sent a eunuch, Fu Qiulin, to investigate An Lushan’s loyalty. An Lushan, well-informed of court intrigues, lavished Fu with gifts and feasts, ensuring a favorable report.

Undeterred, Yang Guozhong escalated tensions. He ordered surveillance on An Lushan’s mansion in Chang’an, arrested his informants, and pressured the emperor to summon An Lushan for his son’s wedding—a thinly veiled trap. An Lushan, feigning illness, refused. His subsequent offer to send 3,000 horses (with 6,000 handlers—effectively soldiers) raised suspicions, but Xuanzong, still in denial, dismissed warnings.

The Rebellion Erupts: From Fanyang to Chaos

In November 755, An Lushan mobilized 150,000 troops in Fanyang, declaring he had a “secret edict” to overthrow Yang Guozhong. The claim was a ruse, but his armies marched unchallenged. Local officials, unprepared for war, either surrendered or fled. The rebellion caught the Tang court off guard.

When news reached Chang’an, Emperor Xuanzong initially dismissed it as slander. Only after confirmations piled up did he act—ordering the execution of An Lushan’s son,安庆宗 (An Qingzong), and appointing General Feng Changqing to defend Luoyang. Meanwhile, the hastily assembled Tianwu Army, led by Prince Li Wan and General Gao Xianzhi, marched east.

Cultural Shock and the Fall of an Era

The rebellion shattered the illusion of Tang invincibility. The empire’s elite, accustomed to peacetime luxuries like Emperor Xuanzong’s famed Nishang Yuyi Qu (Song of Rainbow and Feather Garments), now faced existential terror. The poet Bai Juyi later immortalized the moment in The Song of Everlasting Sorrow:

> “The drums of war shook the earth, shattering the melodies of feasts.”

Luoyang fell swiftly, and by 756, An Lushan declared himself emperor of the short-lived Yan Dynasty. The Tang capital, Chang’an, followed, forcing Xuanzong and Yang Guifei (his beloved consort) to flee. The subsequent betrayal and execution of Yang Guifei marked a tragic end to an era of opulence.

Legacy: The Tang’s Decline and Historical Lessons

The rebellion, though eventually suppressed by 763, left the Tang Dynasty weakened. Key consequences included:
– Decentralization: Regional military governors (jiedushi) gained unprecedented power, foreshadowing future warlordism.
– Economic Ruin: The population plummeted, and the equal-field system collapsed, exacerbating inequality.
– Cultural Shift: The cosmopolitan confidence of early Tang gave way to introspection and distrust of “barbarian” influences.

Modern historians view the An Lushan Rebellion as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked military authority, court corruption, and imperial overreach. Its echoes resonate in discussions about centralized power and regional autonomy—an enduring lesson from China’s imperial past.

The Tang never fully recovered its former glory, but the rebellion’s aftermath laid groundwork for the Song Dynasty’s civilian-dominated governance. For all its devastation, the An Lushan Rebellion remains a pivotal chapter in understanding the cyclical rise and fall of empires.