Tang Dynasty

[YingZheng]

>From its establishment in 618 to its downfall in 907, the Tang Dynasty
is the most prosperous dynasty in Chinese history.
The Tang can be divided into two periods: the early period and the late
period, with the eight-year An Lushan-Shi Siming Rebellion as its
turning point. The early period was a golden age, while the latter was
a period of decline. After Emperor Gaozu established the Tang Dynasty,
Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, finally unified the whole of China in 10
years time. During his reign, Emperor Taizong invested all of his
efforts in consolidating his regime, making the Tang the most
prosperous in the history of feudal China. The period was known as Zhen
Guan Zhi Zhi (the reigning years of Zhen Guan) and was the world leader
in politics, economy and culture. The golden age -- a peaceful period
called Kai Yuan Sheng Shi (the flourishing age of Kaiyuan) -- continued
until the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. In the late years of Emperor
Xuanzong's reign, the An Lushan-Shi Simin Rebellion seriously hurt the
Tang Empire, marking its decline.
During the early period, economic growth and political stability
provided a favorable environment for the development of culture, art
and foreign relations. Tang poetry was also the most remarkable in
Chinese history. Achievements in other fields were also exceptional.

The late-Tang period fell into a political turmoil, with strife between
the Niu Faction and Li Faction and eunuch monopoly. Continuous peasant
uprisings culminated in Huang Chao's uprising where Commander Zhu Wen
turned his back on Huang and joined the Tang side. Later, Zhu deposed
the Tang emperor and proclaimed himself emperor of the later Liang
Dynasty, which ushered in the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten
States.