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Han Yu
Han Yu (768–824 CE) was a towering literary figure, philosopher, and statesman of the Tang dynasty. His courtesy name was Tui Zhi, and though born in Heyang (modern Mengzhou, Henan), he traced his ancestral roots to Changli, for which he is commonly known as “Han of Changli”.
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The Pen and the Sword: Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, and the Ancient Prose Movement [Sui & Tang]
This article focuses on Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan, leaders of the Tang Dynasty’s Ancient Prose Movement. It covers their literary reform against flowery parallel prose, their close friendship, and their moral integrity. It also tells Han Yu’s bold protest against Buddhism that led to exile, Liu Zongyuan’s achievements in exile, and how their…
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The Snowy Night Assault on Caizhou [Sui & Tang]
This article tells the legendary Snowy Night Assault on Caizhou during the Tang Dynasty. To suppress the Huaixi rebellion, Emperor Xianzong appointed General Li Su, who used deception to win over defectors. With Chancellor Pei Du’s support, Li Su launched a surprise attack in a blizzard, capturing rebel leader Wu Yuanji and ending the long‑standing warlord…
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The Silent Emperor and the Fleeting Reform [Sui & Tang]
This article tells the short-lived Yongzhen Reform under the mute Emperor Shunzong of Tang. After Emperor Dezong empowered corrupt eunuchs, the paralyzed Shunzong and his ministers launched bold reforms to end exploitation. However, eunuchs and warlords staged a coup, forcing abdication. The reform collapsed, exiling its leaders, yet it paved the way for Emperor…
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Liu Yuxi
Liu Yuxi (772–842 CE) was a prominent literatus and poet of the Tang dynasty. His courtesy name was Mengde, and he was a native of Luoyang (in present-day Henan Province).