Xuanzong & Yang
It has been said that the relationship that Xuanzong established with Yang Gifei & An Lushan is the thread of history that ties together the Tang Dynasty during its years. Xuanzong ruled over the Tang Dynasty for the first seven years of its golden era. During Xuanzong’s reign, Wu Zetian was elevated to the status of the most popular religion within Tang China. Xuanzong felt, later on, that Buddhism abandoned Taoism. Xuanzong made it a rule that every family should keep a book of Taoism teachings. In 741 CE Xuanzong became infatuated with Yang Guefei. Yang Guefei (Pu 113) moved to the palace of the emperor. Yang succeeded in luring Xuanzong, who was unwilling to hire her family because some members were incapable of performing their jobs. An Lushan led soldiers in overthrowing Xuanzong because Yang’s family was abusing their position. He overthrew Xuanzong. Later, the Tang forces defeated his attempt to establish a rule.
The relationship between Xuanzong, Yang and the Tang Dynasty revealed how prosperous the Tang Dynasty was during the Golden Age and how it began to fall apart when they came together. Historians rely heavily on the marriage of Yang with Xuanzong in order to explain how almost the Tang Dynasty fell following the Golden age. The dynasty flourished before the marriage. Xuanzong’s people were convinced by him that Taoism can bring them all together. The Tang Dynasty’s economy flourished under Xuanzong due to the maritime trade and sound financial reforms. Xuanzong improved the road network in the empire. However, the engagement of Xuanzong with Yang caused the economy to collapse. Xuanzong’s Yang’s relatives mismanaged Tang Dynasty’s economy, to the detriment for many.
Lushan’s revolt against Xuanzong is a contribution to historical studies of rebellions that occurred against empires within the Chinese dynasties. Lushan was convinced that Xuanzong didn’t rule according to God, so he must be thrown out (Pu 137). He wanted to demonstrate the strength of the Chinese Army he had led. Lushan’s Revolution contributed to Tang China’s history by allowing us to learn how empires and monarchs fell. Xuanzong was defeated because he complied with all of Yang’s demands. The tree’s relationship with each other also indicates that God would be the one to decide the leader of Tang China. Lushan, as an example, said that Xuanzong’s actions were against God’s anointment. He was therefore unfit to lead Tang Dynasty.
Xuanzong & Yang’s romance was ‘romantized” by different poets around 800 CE. Bai Juyi reveals, for example, that Yang may have offered to die to save Xuanxzong to show her love. Xuanzong’s life was spent in mourning for Yang (Juyi 80). The relationship between them has contributed to China’s literature.
Lushan was the one who overthrew Xuanzong. Historians claim that Yang misled Xuanzong and led him to Lushan’s attempt to take over Tang Dynasty. The literary works of poets, authors, and others have reflected on the Tang Dynasty events by using the relationship the three had.
