The Life of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty

The seventh emperor and politician of the Tang Dynasty. The great-grandson of Emperor Taizong, the grandson of Wu Zetian, the third son of Tang Ruizong, Li Dan, and the mother of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, Zhao Chengdou (Dou Defei). Xuanzong's personal quality is excellent, he is good at riding and shooting, and his temperament is versatile. Nickname: Tibetan (like Cao Cao). Li Longji was born on September 8th, 685. In the first year of Shenlong (705), Li Xian ascended the throne and rebuilt the Tang Dynasty, but the political hand fell to Queen Webster. After the death of Zhongzong, Wei Hou made King Li Zhongmao emperor for the sake of the young emperor. On July 265438, July 7 1 year (June 20, Jinglong four years), Li Longji, king of Linzi, and Princess Taiping (daughter of Tang Gaozong and Wu Zetian) jointly staged a palace coup, killing Wei Ruyun and Princess Anle, bringing back his father Tang Ruizong Li Dan and being made a prince by his father. In August of July12 (the first year of Yanhe), Zong Rui was transferred to the crown prince and abdicated as the emperor's father. Li Longji acceded to the throne, gaiyuan congenital, is for Xuanzong. Soon, Princess Taiping wanted to launch a palace coup to abolish Xuanzong. And Guo, Wang Maozhong, Gao Lishi and others took the initiative to attack in the first two years (7 13), giving Princess Taiping the death penalty, killing each other and changing to Kaiyuan. During the kaiyuan period of Xuanzong, the society was stable, the politics was clear and the economy was unprecedentedly prosperous. The Tang Dynasty entered its heyday, which was later called the Kaiyuan Prosperity. In the later period of Tang Xuanzong's life, he was fond of pleasure and trusted Li and other treacherous officials, which eventually led to the Anshi Rebellion and the decline of the Tang Dynasty. He reigned for 44 years from 7 12 to 756.

Cultural achievements

calligraphy

The Book of the Old Tang Dynasty said that Xuanzong was "good at temperament and good at writing eight points". Calligraphy is neat, clear and beautiful. It occupies a certain position in the calligraphy of the Tang Dynasty. Tang Dou Yi's Shu Shu Fu says: "Kaiyuan should be dry, smart, vigorous and magnificent. His thoughts are like a spring, and his pen is swallowing whales. " "Ancient and Modern Law Library" says: "Tang Huang Ming has eight chapters of grass in cm, which is rich and lush." His works handed down from generation to generation include Shi Tai Xiao Jing and Ode to the Harrier. "Shitai Xiaojing" was founded in the fourth year of Tang Tianbao (AD 745). This monument consists of four pieces, each of which is 590cm high and120cm wide. Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, personally prefaced, annotated and merged, and sealed it with constant force. Existing in Xiaojing Pavilion, Beilin Museum, Xi City, Shaanxi Province. Inscriptions and official scripts follow the rules of Han Li, with slightly changed methods, which are plump, refreshing and full of the spirit of the Tang Dynasty. The stone tablet is strong and thin, and it is as bright as paint so far. The Book of Filial Piety is a question and answer between Confucius and Zeng Ji Shen, a student of Confucius. The main content is filial piety and filial piety. The stone tablet is rectangular and carved from fine stones, with dark and bright colors. Above the square forehead, there are relief animals on the left and right sides of the square forehead, carving clouds up and down, and covering a stone on it. The edge of the stone is carved with beautiful cirrus clouds, and the top looks like a mountain. There are three square step stones under the monument, which are called Shitaixiao. There are line carvings on the third floor and four sides of the stone platform, especially on the lowest floor, which is covered with lush creeping weeds and mighty lion-shaped monsters, which were used in the Tang Dynasty. It is difficult for these two uncoordinated animals and plants to organize together, but the author carves the creeping weed back and forth, surging like the wind, which not only makes the picture harmonious, but also highlights the power of the monster. The whole structure gives people a strong, lively and vigorous feeling. This is the essence of the art in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. After the inscription of the rubbings of the official script of Shitai Xiaojing, the original site was in imperial academy, Wubenfang, Chang 'an, Tang Dynasty. In the first year of Shenfu, it was moved to the west corner of Shangshu Province in Tang Dynasty (now Anshi Road), and in the fifth year, it was moved to the Northern Song Dynasty (1090), because Shangshu Province was "located in a depression and moved to official school". It has a history of more than 800 years and is the earliest exhibit in the forest of steles. Ode to a Crow is a suspicious double-hook book written by a court calligrapher. Paper books. Length 26 cm, width 192 cm. Running script, 40 lines, 337 words. There are collections and seals of Xuanhe, Neifu Book Seal, Bu Qujiang Seal, Jinfushu, Wu Ting, Shiqu Treasure, Jiaqing and Xuan Tong Yubao. It was collected by Song Xuanhe Neifu, Wang Fu and Heqing Neifu. Now it is collected by the National Palace Museum in Taipei. This calligraphy post is tall and unique. On the whole, calligraphy is vigorous and vigorous, with typical Tang style. This book was published between the "two kings" and gradually became fat, imitating traditional family studies. Learn from past generations. Yang Shoujing's Xue Ji in Qing Dynasty: "The monument of Ming Di has become a mature school. This post is soft and bony, and can be autobiographed. " This Fu is the only unique book handed down by Xuanzong's calligraphy ink in the Tang Dynasty. It is a rare treasure in the Tang Dynasty and can be called a treasure in the world. [ 1]

quyi

Liyuan, originally a place name in Chang 'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, is synonymous with the traditional opera art in China, because Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, taught artists here. The origin of "Liyuan" is recorded in the Records of Wuxian Temple by Sun Xingyan (1804), a scholar in Qing Dynasty: "I went to the capital and met the temple gods (referring to Xuanzong). According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Yashan, the son of Geng, was given the surname Li and was kind to his son in the palace. We are fond of pears, so there are pear trees everywhere, so it is called pear garden. Later generations regard it as the father of music ... "The origin of the pear garden is also verified in Li Youbai's" On the Pear Garden ". In Tang Zhongzong, the pear garden is just a fruit and wood garden that coexists with jujube garden, mulberry garden, Taoyuan and cherry orchard in the imperial forbidden garden. Guo Mu Garden has a farewell hall, a wine pavilion and a stadium, which is a place for emperors, their relatives and nobles to enjoy themselves. Later, under the vigorous advocacy of Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the nature of the pear garden changed, from a simple fruit orchard to a pear garden for singing, dancing and opera performances, and became the first comprehensive "art college" in Chinese history. Li Longji himself served as Cui Gong (or Ya Gong) of Liyuan, which is equivalent to the present principal (or dean). According to historians' research, the most famous work "Colorful Feather" in the pear garden was introduced by the "New Voice of Hu School" and polished by Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, which marked the highest achievement of the integration and development of Han music and Hu music. The Tang poetry said, "Emperor Kaiyuan had everything, but it was a pity that the times were so fast, and Wangxian Mountain in Sanxiang was given colorful feathers". It is said that Tang Xuanzong liked singing and dancing when he was very young. At the age of 6, grandmother Wu Zetian held a grand banquet in the palace. He improvised the song and dance program "The Immortal Daughter", which won the appreciation of the royal family and ministers. After becoming the "principal" of the pear garden, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty cherished artistic talents very much and often hired them to the royal troupe. Editors, musicians and performing artists gathered in the court. At that time, Li Bai, a bachelor of Hanlin, wrote three songs, namely "Qing Ping Diao", "Clothes make the clouds, flowers make them look good" and "Spring Breeze Blows the Threshold", revealing the wealth of China. If you don't meet Yushantou, see Yaotai under the moon. " The famous actresses are Li Guinian, Lei Haiqing, Huang Zanchu, Gong Sundaniang and Li Xianhe. Xuanzong often wrote plays for the pear garden, and sometimes he acted as a clown in the play himself. Where there is a clown, even if the role is humble, he will appear in black and pink. The unique and vivid sketch of the clown's face in China traditional opera is related to the inconvenience of Tang Xuanzong, the founder of Liyuan, in showing his true face. As the king of a country, it is disrespectful to make a fool of yourself on the stage, so when performing, a small piece of white jade is specially hung on his face to cover his face. Later, the white powder block became the clown face on the opera stage. Because the clown was initiated by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the clown has always had a special status and position in the pear garden. In the past, no matter how well you sang and acted, the troupe was the second, but the clown actor was the boss, because respecting "ugliness" meant respecting the emperor. With this complex, the old troupe derived a set of strange rules: in the troupe, no one can sit in the trunk, prop box and other places. Only clowns can sit. Before the performance, clowns don't draw faces, and other actors don't make up or hook their faces. In the temple fair, the troupe should worship "God" and everyone should kowtow and bow down. Only the actors who sing "Ugliness", regardless of age, gender or seniority, can not bow, bow or kowtow. In the past, many theaters, stages, theaters and performance venues had clay sculptures or wood carvings of Tang Xuanzong in the background. Before and after the performance, the actors should bow to the statue of their ancestors, and the clown actors should kowtow and bow down alone to thank their ancestors for their identity and status. Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty is a talented musician. Proficient in temperament, eight tones (namely, gold, stone, silk, bamboo, wood, earth, leather and wood) and various national musical instruments at that time. He pioneered the command of other musical instruments with Jie drum and hand board, making their rhythm harmonious and unified. Once upon a time, when the troupe performed, the place where the drummer sat was called "Jiulongkou". No one in the troupe can sit in this seat, only drummers are qualified to sit, because Xuanzong plays drums. When the string opera (imperial opera) assigns roles, it is called "Lao Lang" to play the son of heaven and "Lao Lang helmet" to play the crown. Xuanzong called the actor a "player", ranking behind the "son of heaven", "prince" and "master", which shows the high status of the player at the beginning. Later, the "disciples of Liyuan" in the Song Dynasty built a "Tang Wang Temple" in Zhuxian Town, Kaifeng, Henan Province, also known as the "Lao Lang Temple", and regarded Tang Xuanzong as a "god" to show respect and commemoration. Disciples live here and rehearse. All authentic "imperial operas" have fixed residences and rehearsal places. Other opera artists or performing groups often come here to worship. They all respected Xuanzong as the founder and called the "Imperial Opera" actors masters, and never overstepped the rules. In the1940s, the people of Zhuxian Town welcomed the Puyang Daxian Opera Troupe, which went there to perform, and told them everywhere: "Imperial Opera has entered the town, don't talk crazy." If there is a temple fair, the host will personally bow down to "Grandpa" (Tang Xuanzong) with incense sticks, and then invite the host of the string troupe to go. Other kinds of drama play against each other, and we have to wait for the string play to begin. String opera calls itself "Imperial Opera" and "Liyuan" authentic to show that it does not insult Xuanzong saints. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty founded the "Liyuan" troupe in the years of Kaiyuan and Tianbao, which was the first national opera school with the largest scale and the highest performance level in China history. The "Liyuan" clown performance art initiated by him, from coarse to fine, from simple to complete, from low to elegant, has formed a funny, humorous, funny, elegant and generous opera charm performance art, adding a glorious chapter to the history of clowns. "The maid-in-waiting has white hair, arguing Xuanzong's grand occasion". The story of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty has always been talked about by later generations. In the early stage of his life, he made great efforts, was wise and promising, and created a prosperous new century; In the later period, he indulged in famine policy, which made the Tang Dynasty decline. He is a controversial figure among the emperors of past dynasties, and it can be said that the final verdict has not yet been reached. [2]

[Edit this paragraph] The evaluation of future generations

In the early days of the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, great efforts were made to govern, the social economy continued to develop, and the feudal society was unprecedentedly prosperous. However, in the later period of his reign, he indulged in debauchery, extravagance, reuse of treacherous court officials and political corruption, which eventually led to the decline of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty is a historical figure with outstanding merits and demerits: (1) In the early days of his rule, Emperor Xuanzong paid attention to selecting local officials, personally assessing county orders and dismissing incompetent people. Yao Chong and Song Jing were appointed as prime ministers. They are talented, responsible and dare to give advice. As a result, the society was stable, the production developed and the economy prospered, and the Tang Dynasty entered its heyday, which was called "Kaiyuan Shi Sheng" in history. (2) Attaching great importance to the jurisdiction of the border areas, making Da Tuorong the "King of the Bohai Sea County", setting up the governors of the Bohai Sea and Heishui, making Piluoge of Nanzhao the king of Yunnan, and Gulipelo of Uighur as "Huairen Khan", thus consolidating the unity of multi-ethnic countries. (3) Reform the military system and change the officers and men system into the recruitment system. (4) In the last years of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Yang Guifei was spoiled, drinking and having fun all day long, ignoring political affairs, and the treacherous Li and Yang were highly corrupt politically, which led to the Anshi rebellion. The Anshi Rebellion, which lasted for eight years, caused great damage to agricultural production, and people were displaced, which made the Tang Dynasty turn from prosperity to decline, and the Tang Dynasty began to decline. (5) Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty played an important role in the high prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, but his later years also brought great disasters to the people of the Tang Dynasty. He is a historical figure with outstanding achievements.