-
Yan Shigu
Yan Shigu (581–645 CE) was a prominent Confucian classicist and philologist of the Sui and Tang dynasties. His given name was Zhou, but he was universally known by his courtesy name, Shigu.
-
The Tragedy at Mawei and the Fracture of the Tang [Sui & Tang]
This article narrates the tragic Mawei Incident during the An-Shi Rebellion. After the Tang defeat at Tong Pass, Emperor Xuanzong fled Chang’an with Yang Guifei. Enraged imperial guards mutinied, killing Yang Guozhong and forcing the emperor to order Yang Guifei’s death. The imperial family split; the crown prince declared himself Emperor Suzong. Though the…
-
The Cataclysm of An and Shi: The Fall of the Golden Age [Sui & Tang]
This article explores the outbreak of the An-Shi Rebellion, which ended the Tang Dynasty’s golden age. It traces the rise of the corrupt Yang clan under Yang Guifei, the ambition of the powerful general An Lushan, and his bitter conflict with Yang Guozhong. The rebellion erupted in 755, and a fatal order at Tong…
-
The Rise and Fall of the Kaiyuan-Tianbao Era [Sui & Tang]
This article traces the rise and fall of the Kaiyuan‑Tianbao era under Emperor Xuanzong. Backed by virtuous chancellors Yao Chong and Song Jing, the Tang achieved unprecedented prosperity. Later, Xuanzong neglected governance, allowing the treacherous Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong to seize power. This decline paved the way for chaos and the end of…
-
The Rise of the Empress: Wu Zetian’s Path to the Dragon Throne [Sui & Tang]
This article traces Wu Zetian’s rise from a former concubine to China’s only female emperor. It covers her political struggle against loyal ministers, her joint rule with Emperor Gaozong, the suppression of rebellions, and her founding of the Zhou Dynasty. It also notes her use of secret police and favorites, as well as her…