Tang Xuanzong was the thirteenth son of Tang Xianzong. His mother was Empress Zheng of Xiaoming. He was born in the Daming Palace in the fifth year of Yuanhe (810). In terms of seniority, he was the uncle of Jing, Wen and Wuzong. However, he is one year younger than Tang Jingzong and Tang Wenzong. In March of the first year of Mu Zong's reign (821), he was named King of Light. In March of the sixth year of Huichang (846), Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty was critically ill. He made Li Chen the emperor's uncle and changed his name to Li Chen, becoming the new heir to the throne.
He was the only emperor in the history of the Tang Dynasty who ascended the throne as the emperor's uncle. He was also the longest-lived among the 11 emperors after Zhongshunzong in the late Tang Dynasty. He died in Dazhong in the 13th year of his reign. (859) August, died at the age of 50.
Tang Xuanzong was born as a commoner. According to the "primogeniture inheritance system", it is not his turn to be the successor at all. What's more, after Xianzong, there have been four emperors. Mu Zong Li Heng was the legitimate son of Xian Zong; Jing Zong Li Zhan was Mu Zong's eldest son. This is called "the father dies and the son succeeds". Wenzong Li Ang was Jingzong's younger brother; Wu Zong Li Yan was Wenzong's younger brother. This is called "brothers end up with younger brothers". But Xuanzong was the uncle of the next three emperors, and he was also recognized as having intellectual problems. "New Tang Book" says: "The palace may think it is unwise." "Zizhi Tongjian" actually says: "Everyone in the palace thinks it is unwise." In fact, "unwise" is a polite word. The pronunciation is that he is dementia, mentally retarded, or at least retarded.
However, it was this impression that helped Xuanzong a lot. Because in the Tang Dynasty, after Emperor Xianzong was murdered, the eunuchs actually had the final say on who would be emperor. So the "mentally retarded" King of Light became the most suitable candidate. Let such a fool sit on the throne, at least you don't have to worry anymore. As for the courtiers, although they were surprised and stunned, they were helpless.
After Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty came to the throne, he devoted himself to political affairs and diligently pursued governance. He likes to read Zhenguan Politicians very much. He reorganized the civil service and restricted the royal family and eunuchs. He exonerated all the officials who died in the Manlu Incident except Zheng and Li. He also wanted to eradicate the eunuchs, but in view of the lessons learned from the Manlu Incident, he failed to take any action.
In terms of external relations, he defeated Tubo and regained Hehuang. This was one of Tang's military victories against Tubo after the An-Shi Rebellion.
Tang Xuanzong also gained a higher reputation among the emperors of the late Tang Dynasty. "Zi Zhi Tong Jian" records: He was respectful, frugal, and caring for the people and things. Therefore, the administration of Dazhong ended with the fall of the Tang Dynasty. People think of him and call him Xiao Taizong.
Her biological mother was originally Zheng, a concubine of Zhenhai Jiedushi Li Qi. Li Qi failed in his rebellion. After Zheng entered the palace, she became the servant of the Empress Dowager Guo. Later, Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty was lucky enough to give birth to Li Chen, that is, Later Tang Xuanzong. He is Mu Zong's younger brother. Jing, Wen, Wu Zong's uncle. He was the last emperor worth mentioning in the late Tang Dynasty.
Wuzong never established a prince, so when he was critically ill. The eunuch Ma Yuanzhi supported Li Chen as emperor. As soon as Xuanzong came to the throne, he demoted Li Deyu, the prime minister of Wu Zong Dynasty and an important minister of the late Tang Dynasty, from the court. Until his death, Li Deyu failed to return the throne. Bai Minzhong, a Niu Party member, was also appointed as prime minister. The Niu-Li party struggle that lasted for decades finally ended with the complete defeat of the Li party.
Starting in May of the thirteenth year of Dazhong (859), Xuanzong was in bad health due to poisoning from elixir and could not go to court for more than a month. In August, Xuanzong, who was seriously ill, died of illness. Afterwards, things happened frequently in the palace, but Xuanzong was unaware of it. The prime minister he had always trusted, Linghu Guishe Zhongzai, was responsible for the funeral and did the last thing for him. The posthumous title of the ministers is Emperor Shengwu Xianwenxiao, and the temple name is Xuanzong. In February of the next year, he was buried in Zhenling.
Historical evaluation said that during Xuanzong's reign, he burned three fires. One fire made "powerful men and women disappear", two fires made "treacherous ministers fear the law", and three fires made "monasteries in ruins". "蟟 (sound zhé, meaning fearful, taboo)", and praised him as "a wise king" and "a British master". Looking at Xuanzong's 50 years of life, he has made unremitting efforts for the foundation of his ancestors, which undoubtedly delayed the decline of the Tang Empire, but he was unable to completely reverse this trend. When the building is about to collapse, who has the talent and strategy to make a comeback?
Xuanzong had a clear and decisive nature, was selfless in his methods, followed his advice fluently, cherished official rewards, was respectful and frugal, and loved the people. Therefore, the great government of Dazhong ended with the fall of the Tang Dynasty, and people thought about it, saying that The little Taizong. In 847 AD, after Li Chen, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, came to the throne, he decided to choose the prime minister. The first thing he thought of was Bai Juyi. However, when the edict was issued, Bai Juyi had already died eight months ago. Therefore, Tang Xuanzong wrote "Diao Bai Juyi" to express his deep nostalgia. After sixty years of adorning jade beads, who taught Ming Lu to become a poet? The floating clouds are not named Juyi, but the inaction of creation is named Lotte. The boy can sing the song of Everlasting Sorrow, and the Hu'er can sing the pipa piece. The article has been widely read, making me miss you and feel sad. This poem has clever metaphors, clear language, longing for old friends, and deep emotions. It provides a highly vivid summary of Bai Juyi's great literary and artistic achievements and expresses the author's deep regret. Decorated with jade, every word in an article is like emblazoned with jade; connected with pearls, poetry is like a string of pearls. Decorated with jade beads, it is a metaphor that Bai Juyi left a large number of beautiful and moving poems in his life.
Bai Juyi was born in 772 AD and died of illness in 846 AD. It is said that his sixty-year creative career was a realistic depiction. To say that he is a "poetic immortal" is a compliment. People call Li Bai the "Poetic Immortal". If you think about it carefully, Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi in the Tang Dynasty are all remarkable poets. It is understandable and acceptable to call Bai Juyi the "Poetic Immortal". The two sentences "Floating Clouds" express the feeling of regret, and talents are rare.
Bai Juyi served as governor in Hangzhou and Suzhou successively, where he built lake embankments to store water for irrigation and dredged wells for drinking. His political achievements are well known to the world. When he left Suzhou, "the sergeants and people in the county bid farewell to each other in tears." Later he became secretary-prison, and the following year he was transferred to the Ministry of Punishments as minister. But he failed in his later years. Settled in Luoyang at the age of 58. Just when he was about to reuse him, he learned that he had passed away. This was unexpected sadness for Xuanzong. The two sentences "Boy" focus on Bai Juyi's two masterpieces "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" and "Pipa Play" to express his infinite respect and memory for Bai Juyi; we know that "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" is a well-known masterpiece, with concise language and beautiful images. , combining narrative and lyricism, narrates the love tragedy of Tang Xuanzong and Yang Guifei during the Anshi Rebellion. "Eternal Regret" is its theme. Narrative, scene description, and lyricism are harmoniously combined, looping back and forth, tactful, touching, and sentimental. "Pipa Xing" and "Song of Everlasting Sorrow" each have their own characteristics. They have been recited at home and abroad, "a boy interprets the song of Everlasting Sorrow, and a boy can sing the pipa piece"; they show strong artistic vitality. "Pipa Xing" shows the ups and downs of the pipa girl's heart, expresses the "hatred of the end of the world" that "Chang'an Gu advocated", and also expresses the author's "hatred of the end of the world" (see Hong Mai's "Rong Zhai Essays" Volume 7 ). The two sentences "article" further express the author's high regard for Bai Juyi, his inability to let go, and his extremely sad inner world. Bai Juyi's "Collected Works of the Bai Family" contains 3,800 poems and essays in 75 volumes. The famous poems handed down from generation to generation include 50 poems of "New Yuefu" and 10 poems of "Qin Zhongyin". For example, "The Charcoal Seller", "Guan Mao Mao" and "Light Fat" are almost household names. His 75 articles in "Celin" discuss world affairs, with practical content and insightful insights; his "Nine Books of Yuan Dynasty" is eloquent and contains narratives and discussions, which is an important document of critical literature in the Tang Dynasty; his "Thatched Cottage", "Lengquan Pavilion" and so on, describe the scenery, the purpose is meaningful, and have always been valued by people. Tang Xuanzong loved talents, and he loved outstanding talents like Bai Juyi. Bai Juyi not only had literary talents, but also had political talents. When he was in opposition, he wrote poems and essays, and was very talented; when he was in politics, he made great achievements and was dazzling. In contrast, Tang Xuanzong was merciless to those so-called "talents" who were lawless, bullying, and oppressed innocent people. For example, there was a musician named Luo Cheng who was good at playing the pipa. Xuanzong was familiar with music and liked him very much. However, Luo Cheng relied on his talents and was violent. He killed people for a small reason and was arrested and imprisoned. Some musicians, Luo Bai, cried to Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in court: "Luo Cheng will die for your Majesty's fault. However, I cherish his unique skills in the world and will not be allowed to entertain him again!" Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty replied decisively: "This is what you cherish. Luo Cheng; I pity Gao Zu and Taizong Fa." So Luo Cheng was sentenced to death. Not only that, Tang Xuanzong did not tolerate relatives. His uncle Zheng Guang was the governor, and Tang Xuanzong discussed with Zheng Guang the way to govern. Zheng Guang responded with contempt, Xuanzong was displeased, and Zheng Guang eventually stopped serving as a civil official. Because Xuanzong was clear-minded and decisive, selfless in his methods, obedient to advice, respectful and thrifty, later generations called him "Little Taizong". Tang Xuanzong was an emperor who advocated frugality, and his requirements for his children were even stricter, almost to the point of being unkind.
His eldest daughter, Princess Wanshou, married Zheng Hao, a living man. As a rule, the car was decorated with silver foil. Starting from Xuanzong, it was changed to copper decoration. When the princess got married, Xuanzong personally warned her that she should strictly abide by women's conduct when visiting her husband's family and not look down on her husband's family as a royal noble. Once, the prince-in-law's younger brother Zheng Xi was seriously ill, and Xuanzong sent an envoy to visit him. When the envoy returned to the court, Xuanzong asked if the princess was there. The envoy replied that the princess was watching a play at Ci'en Temple. Xuanzong was furious and said: "I sometimes blame the scholar-bureaucrat's family for not wanting to marry the princess, and I don't know about it until now." So he ordered someone to call the princess and reprimanded her face to face: "The young man is sick, why don't you go and see him?" What's wrong with going to the theater instead?" When the princess saw her father's anger, she was so frightened that she quickly apologized, saying that she would change her mind and never dare to do it again.
What is surprising is that Xuanzong's second daughter, Princess Yongfu, has chosen Yu Zong as his consort and will marry soon. The princess is also very happy. But one time when Xuanzong and I were having dinner at the same table, he got upset over a trivial matter and broke his chopsticks. Xuanzong was furious and said angrily: "How can you marry into a scholar-bureaucrat's family with your temperament like this?" He immediately sent an order to order the fourth daughter, Princess Guangde, to marry Yu Zong. In this way, Princess Yongfu watched her fiancé taken away by her father and given to her sister. The sources of Tang Xuanzong's becoming a monk are mainly Wei Zhaodu's "Reading the Imperial Palace" and Ling Gucheng's "Zhenling Legacy". In these two articles, they said that Tang Wuzong wanted to kill Guang in order to fight for the throne. Wang (later Tang Xuanzong). So he sent four of his regular attendants to capture King Guang and immerse him in the palace toilet. A eunuch named Qiu Gongwu wanted to rescue him, so he sent him out of the royal family on the pretext that he had killed King Guang. Three years later, Wu Zong died, and the eunuch leader invited King Guang to become the emperor.
However, many historians, such as Sima Guang of the Northern Song Dynasty, believe that Tang Xuanzong was persecuted by Tang Wuzong and became a monk. One of the uncles posed no threat to Tang Wuzong's throne. Some historians believe that the story that Tang Xuanzong was persecuted by Tang Wuzong and became a monk was a story fabricated by later generations of Buddhists in order to vilify those who once promoted Huichang to exterminate Buddhism. Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty also sanctified Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty who supported Buddhism after ascending the throne.
After being exaggerated by Buddhists, there are also brief records of King Guang's escape to the south of the Yangtze River and his escape into Buddhism in the Five Dynasties' "Stories of China and North Korea", "Bei Meng Suoyan" and Song Luyou's "Summer Retreat". . At the end of the Five Dynasties, "The Biography of Eminent Monks of the Song Dynasty" written by Zan Ning in the early Song Dynasty also said that Xuanzong was a monk and traveled to Hangzhou. Zen Master Qi'an took good care of him.
When Xuanzong came to the throne, Qi'an had died. In order to repay his kindness, Xuanzong gave the temple the name, posthumously named Qi'an Master Wukong, and wrote a mourning poem in his memory. In addition, it is also recorded in "Huangbo Wanling Lu" by Xiyun, a famous Zen monk, that when Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was a novice monk, he once saw Master Huangbo worshiping the Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall, and asked, "Don't look at the Buddha's prayers, don't look at the Dharma's prayers, and don't look at the crowd's prayers. , what should the elders ask for in worship?" So the two of them started talking about public cases as they asked and answered. In Zen Buddhism, "publican" is used instead of preaching sutras. This conversation between the two people became a famous "publican" named after "Huangzhao worships Buddha". Xiyun passed by Huangbo Mountain in Zhu'an, Jiangxi. Legend has it that he and Tang Xuanzong, who was a novice monk in the mountain, watched the waterfalls and recited poems.
As time goes by, the legend about Xuanzong becoming a monk spreads more widely and becomes more and more magical. In the Ming Dynasty, Zen Master Yuanwu, a monk, recorded this in his "Biyan Collection": When Xuanzong was young, he climbed onto the dragon bed of his brother Mu Zong and made a gesture of receiving ministers. Mu Zong appreciated it very much. After Wu Zong came to the throne, he remembered this incident and became suspicious and wanted to kill Xuan Zong. Xuan Zong had to escape and became a monk under the monk Xiangyan Zhixian. Later, he followed the monk Zhixian to Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi Province. The two of them watched the waterfall together. Zhixian proposed to compose a poem. His motive was that he felt that this person was very popular and wanted to take the opportunity to test him to determine his real background, so he first recited two poems. A poem: "It takes no effort to penetrate the clouds and rocks, and the place is far away and the source is high." Xuanzong then chanted: "How can the stream be kept? It will eventually become the waves of the sea." Monk Zhixian saw that this man was knowledgeable and magnanimous, so he Treat each other with courtesy. Later, at a salt official meeting, Xiyun was the first master. During his worship, the two of them talked about "public cases". Here, what is different from what is recorded in "Huangbo Wanling Records" is that the monk Zhixian was Instead of Zen Master Huangbo, the location was changed from Huangbo Mountain to Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi. In addition, there is also a record of Tang Xuanzong being a monk in "Huangbo Wanfu Zen Poems". In this book, the location was moved to Huangbo Mountain in Fuqing, and the two lines of the poem chanted by Zen Master Huangbo while watching the waterfall were also changed to: "Thousands of people" The two poems recited by Tang Xuanzong have not been changed. It is also said that after Tang Xuanzong came to Huangbo Mountain in Fuqing, he traveled south to Hui'an to visit Luoyang. Jiang, and then traveling south to Tong'an, there was also the so-called idol coming out at night to welcome Xuanzong's arrival.