The Making of a Rebel: An Lushan’s Early Life
An Lushan, born in 703 CE in Yingzhou (modern-day Chaoyang, Liaoning), was no ordinary figure in Tang Dynasty history. His origins were as unconventional as his later exploits. His father, a Sogdian merchant surnamed Kang, and his mother, a Turkic shamaness named Ashide, gave him a multicultural heritage that would later serve his ambitions. Legend claims his mother conceived him after praying at Zhaluo Mountain, a sacred site for Turkic warriors, leading to his birth name, “Zhaluoshan.”
After his father’s death, his mother remarried into the An clan, a Turkic military family, and young An Lushan adopted their surname. Fluent in six languages and cunning by nature, he began as a lowly market interpreter before his military talents caught the eye of Zhang Shougui, a regional governor. Despite early brushes with the law—including a near-execution for theft—An Lushan’s charisma and battlefield prowess propelled him through the ranks.
The Path to Power: Deception and Favors
By the 730s, An Lushan had mastered the art of political survival. His rise was fueled by a combination of military victories and shrewd manipulation of Tang court politics. Key to his ascent was his ability to exploit Emperor Xuanzong’s weaknesses—superstition, vanity, and a love for flattery.
– Fabricated Omens: An Lushan fed the emperor tales of divine intervention, claiming birds miraculously saved crops after his prayers.
– Strategic Bribes: He lavished gifts on imperial envoys, ensuring glowing reports back to the capital.
– The “Loyal Barbarian” Act: Playing the role of a simple, devoted outsider, he famously declared, “I know only the Emperor, not the Crown Prince,” endearing himself to Xuanzong.
His appointment as military governor of Pinglu in 742 marked the beginning of his unchecked authority. By 751, he commanded nearly 200,000 troops, controlling critical northern frontiers.
The Ultimate Betrayal: The An Shi Rebellion
In 755, An Lushan launched his rebellion under the pretext of ousting the unpopular chancellor Yang Guozhong. His forces swept through Luoyang, and by 756, he declared himself emperor of the short-lived “Great Yan Dynasty.” The Tang court, caught off guard, fled westward in disarray.
The rebellion’s turning points included:
– The Fall of Tong Pass: A strategic blunder by the Tang allowed An’s troops to advance on Chang’an.
– The Mawei Incident: En route to Sichuan, imperial guards mutinied, forcing Xuanzong to execute Yang Guozhong and his own beloved consort, Yang Guifei.
– A Divided Empire: For eight years, the war ravaged China, leaving millions dead and the Tang’s golden age in ruins.
The Cultural Earthquake: How a Rebellion Reshaped China
The An Shi Rebellion (755–763) was more than a military conflict—it shattered the Tang’s cultural and political fabric.
– Economic Collapse: The tax system disintegrated, forcing the dynasty to rely on regional warlords.
– Demographic Disaster: Census records show a 60% population drop in some regions.
– Artistic Legacy: The tragedy inspired masterpieces like Bai Juyi’s Song of Everlasting Sorrow, immortalizing Yang Guifei’s fate.
An Lushan’s manipulation of court rituals also left a bizarre cultural imprint. His infamous “adoption” by Yang Guifei—despite being older—spawned rumors of an affair and inspired the term “Lushan’s Claws,” a euphemism for groping.
Why the Emperor Was Fooled: A Perfect Storm of Errors
Xuanzong’s blindness to An Lushan’s treachery stemmed from multiple factors:
1. The Frontier Myth: Success against nomadic tribes made An seem indispensable.
2. Court Corruption: Chancellor Li Linfu promoted An precisely because his illiteracy posed no threat to bureaucrats.
3. The Yang Guifei Factor: An’s calculated “mother-son” relationship with the emperor’s favorite gave him unique access.
Even as warnings piled up—like Minister Zhang Jiuling’s 736 prophecy, “This barbarian will destroy Youzhou!”—Xuanzong dismissed them, echoing the Jin Dynasty’s fatal underestimation of warlord Shi Le.
Legacy: The Rebellion’s Shadow on Chinese History
The An Shi Rebellion marked the beginning of the Tang’s decline, with lasting consequences:
– Militarized Provinces: Post-rebellion, regional governors gained unprecedented autonomy, foreshadowing the Five Dynasties period.
– Cultural Distrust: Later dynasties grew wary of empowering non-Han generals.
– Historical Lessons: An Lushan’s rise became a textbook case of how charisma, deception, and systemic flaws can destabilize an empire.
Modern historians see parallels in how authoritarian systems—whether ancient or contemporary—can be undone by overcentralized power and unchecked personal loyalties. The tale of An Lushan remains a stark reminder: no empire, no matter how glorious, is immune to the ambitions of a clever outsider.