Emperor Gaozong of Tang (唐高宗)

Overview

Emperor Gaozong of Tang was an emperor of Tang.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 650 即位之歲
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 51, passage 90
AD 649 to AD 683 唐高宗始制七輦
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 55, passage 76
AD 649 to AD 683 唐高宗時
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 127, passage 77
AD 682 to AD 683 永淳以後
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 51, passage 92
AD 668 總章初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 138, passage 78
AD 649 to AD 683 自高宗已後
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 53, passage 3

Show 2 more source-backed claims

AD 649 to AD 683 高宗
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passages 136, 152
AD 649 to AD 683 高宗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 113, passage 24

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Wu Zetian (武則天)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 22, passage 153

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Acceded
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 51, passage 90

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 127, passage 77; History of Liao 55, passage 76; New Book of Tang 22, passage 152
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Ruled
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 53, passage 3
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 51, passage 87

Works and attributed material

three great dances 三大舞
Relation Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passage 152
Action · Agent
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 51, passages 89-90
Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 113, passages 24, 27

Events and relationships

Banned tianzhu performers
Legal · Authority
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passage 136
Established seven palanquins
AD 649 to AD 683 唐高宗始制七輦 · Institutional · Founder
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 55, passage 76
Presided over the period when annual grain shipments began to grow
Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 53, passage 3
Summoned prefects
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 51, passage 89

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Liao 55, passage 76; New Book of Tang 51, passage 87

References in the histories

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History

9 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 127Volume 127 Book of Later Zhou 29: Biographies 7: Lu Wenji, Ma Yisun, He Ning, Su Yugui, Jing Fan · 1 passage

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九代祖逢堯，唐高宗時為監察御史，自逢堯之下，仕皆不顯。 His ninth-generation ancestor Fengyao had been a surveillance censor under Tang Gaozong; thereafter the line held no prominent office.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 138Volume 138: Foreign States Biographies 2: Tubo, Huihu, Goryeo, Bohai Tungusic Tribes, Heishui Tungusic Tribes, Silla, Tangut, Kunming Tribes, Yutian, Champa, Zangkeman · 1 passage

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至總章初，高宗命李勣率軍征之，遂拔其城，分其地爲郡縣。 Early in the Zongzhang era, Gaozong ordered Li Ji to lead an expedition, captured their capital, and carved their territory into commanderies and counties.

History of Liao, Chapter 55Volume 55 Treatises 25: Ceremonial Guards 1 · 1 passage

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唐高宗始制七輦。 Emperor Gaozong of Tang first established the seven palanquins.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 22Volume 22 Treatises 12: Rites and Music 12 · 2 passages

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蓋唐自太宗、高宗作三大舞，雜用於燕樂，其他諸曲出於一時之作，雖非純雅，尚不至於淫放。 Broadly speaking, Taizong and Gaozong gave Tang three great dances used in banquet music; other pieces were occasional works—not wholly refined, but not yet dissolute.

天竺伎能自斷手足，刺腸胃，高宗惡其驚俗，詔不令入中國。 Tianzhu acts mutilated limbs and pierced bellies; Gaozong banned them as offensive to custom.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 51Volume 51 Treatises 47: Finance and Economics 1 · 1 passage

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高宗承之，海內艾安。 Gaozong inherited this legacy, and the realm knew peace.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 53Volume 53 Treatises 43: Finance and Economics 3 · 1 passage

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自高宗已後，歲益增多，而功利繁興，民亦罹其弊矣。 After Gaozong's reign the annual haul kept growing, while schemes for profit multiplied, and the people bore the cost.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 113Volume 113 Biographies 38: Tang, Zhang, Xu · 2 passages

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高宗嘗錄囚，臨占對無不盡，帝喜曰：「為國之要在用法，刻則人殘，寬則失有罪，惟是折中，以稱朕意。」 Emperor Gaozong once held a prison review. Lin answered every case without omission, and the emperor was pleased: "Governing a state depends on how the law is applied. Harshness maims the people; excessive leniency lets the guilty go free. Only a balanced middle course can satisfy my intent."

時高宗造蓬萊、上陽、合璧等宮，復征討四夷，京師養廄馬萬匹，帑瓘浸虛。 Emperor Gaozong was building the Penglai, Shangyang, and Hebi palaces, campaigning again on all frontiers, and maintaining ten thousand horses in the capital stables. The treasury was steadily drained.