Tang dynasty
Imperial dynasty ruling China from 618 to 907.
The Tang dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point of Chinese civilisation, and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Tang territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, surpassed that of the Han dynasty.
- born
- 618
- died
- 907
- field
- Imperial dynasty
- nationality
- Chinese
- known_for
- Golden age of Chinese civilisation, cosmopolitan culture, poetry, woodblock printing
Lore & Background
The Li family founded the dynasty after taking advantage of a period of Sui decline and precipitating their final collapse. Emperor Gaozu (born Li Yuan) was the founder, previously Duke of Tang and governor of Taiyuan. Taizong proved a capable leader, destroying the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and being accepted as their khagan.
Reader's Guide
The Tang dynasty is significant for its political hegemony, cultural influence, and innovations. It maintained a civil-service system through standardised examinations and recommendations. The capital Chang'an was the world's most populous city for much of the dynasty. The Tang exerted powerful cultural influence over neighbouring East Asian nations such as Japan and Korea. Chinese culture flourished, with poetry reaching its greatest age—poets like Li Bai and Du Fu belonged to this era. Notable innovations included woodblock printing. Buddhism became a major influence, though Emperor Wuzong suppressed it in the 840s. Agrarian rebellions and government dysfunction ended the dynasty in 907.
Did You Know?
- The Tang dynasty was formally interrupted from 690 to 705 when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, becoming the only legitimate Chinese female emperor.
- Two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries estimated the empire's population at about 50 million, growing to an estimated 80 million by the dynasty's end.
- The Tang capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) was the world's most populous city for much of the dynasty's existence.
- The Tang imperial family was partially of Xianbei ancestry, as Emperor Gaozu's mother Duchess Dugu was part-Xianbei.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tang dynasty?
The Tang dynasty was a Chinese imperial dynasty that held power from 618 to 907, with a brief interruption in authority between 690 and 705. It is broadly considered one of the greatest periods in Chinese history.
What is the Tang dynasty known for?
Fans and scholars most often point to its golden age of poetry, the invention of woodblock printing, and a remarkably cosmopolitan cultural atmosphere. Its early emperors also pushed Chinese borders farther than even the Han dynasty had managed.
How does the Tang dynasty's story end?
The dynasty fell in 907, and China subsequently fractured into the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Before that final collapse, there was also a short interregnum from 690 to 705 when imperial rule was temporarily broken.
Why is the Tang dynasty considered so important?
Historians consistently rank the Tang era as a high-water mark of Chinese civilisation, celebrating its artistic, literary, and cultural achievements. Its territory at peak expansion exceeded that of the earlier Han dynasty, underscoring its political and military reach.
What came before and after the Tang dynasty?
The Tang succeeded the Sui dynasty in 618 and was followed by the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period after 907. It lasted roughly three centuries as a unified Chinese imperial state.
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