Wang Shoucheng

  • The Sweet Dew Incident: Emperor Wenzong’s Failed Coup

    The Legacy of Indulgence and Assassination Emperor Muzong of Tang, neglecting state affairs for pleasure and alchemical elixirs, died young from poisoning, mirroring his father’s fate. His reign saw the resurgence of rebellions in Hebei. His son, Emperor Jingzong, ascended at fifteen, leaving governance to the eunuch Wang Shoucheng. Jingzong’s cruel amusement – watching…

  • The Pen and the Sword: Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, and the Ancient Prose Movement

    The Controversy of the Huaixi Stele Following the successful suppression of the Huaixi rebellion, Emperor Xianzong sought to commemorate the victory with a monumental stele. He commissioned Han Yu, a trusted official and participant in the campaign, to write the inscription. Han Yu, serving under the chief commander Pei Du, naturally emphasized Pei’s strategic…