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Emperor Gaozong of Tang唐高宗

TangHistory × Fiction

Emperor of the Tang dynasty, son of Emperor Taizong. Ascended the throne, favored Wu Meiniang, made her empress, was the husband of Wu Zetian, and died of illness.

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DIRECT FIGURES
44
RELATION RECORDS
58
SOURCE WORKS
4

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Emperor Gaozong of Tang, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

9 figures · 10 records
4 more in the complete record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

22 figures · 27 records
18 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

2 figures · 2 records
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

1 figure · 1 record
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

Emperor of the Tang dynasty, Li Zhi. ; Emperor of the Tang dynasty, assisted by Zhang Xingcheng, whom he trusted deeply. ; Emperor of the Tang dynasty, angered Liu Nayin, and bestowed official position on Xiao Deyan.

In fiction · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Son of Emperor Taizong, ascended the throne. ; Emperor of the Tang dynasty, favored Wu Meiniang, made her empress. ; Emperor of the Tang dynasty, husband of Wu Zetian, died of illness.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    31 profile notes
    31 relations49 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ father-son →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ father-son →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ grant grand preceptor →Confucius
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ spouse →Wu Zetian
    Verified original text · 49
    1. 太宗文皇帝神主祔于太庙

      father-son · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志五

    2. 自高宗不喜乘辂

      father-son · Old Book of Tang, 舆服志

    47 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    3 profile notes
    5 relations6 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ father-son →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ make empress →Wu Zetian
    • Wu Zetian→ spouse →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Xu Shiji→ support →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    Verified original text · 6
    1. 太子躬行仁俭

      father-son · Romance of Sui and Tang, 070

    2. 高宗宠幸益甚

      favor · Romance of Sui and Tang, 071

    4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. 14 profile notes
    1 relations2 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ father-son →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 临崩，谓高宗曰：“吾欲从汝求一物，汝诚孝也

      father-son · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 书三

    2. 附耳语高宗曰

      father-son · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 书四

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  4. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    46 profile notes
    26 relations42 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ father-son →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ grant grand preceptor →Confucius
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ spouse →Wu Zetian
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ make empress →Wu Zetian
    Verified original text · 42
    1. 高宗永徽二年

      father-son · New Book of Tang, 选举志上

    2. 谓太子曰：“无忌、遂良在，而毋忧。”

      father-son · New Book of Tang, 长孙无忌从父 敞从父弟 操子 诠族叔 顺德褚遂良曾 孙璆韩瑗来济异母兄 恒李义琰等传

    40 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Emperor Gaozong was determined to depose the empress and banish the remonstrating minister, and the novel vividly reproduces the historical scene of court debate.

  • attestedEmperor Gaozong deposed Empress Wang and established Consort Wu, with Chu Suiliang protesting

    The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Empresses and Consorts, Part 1, records that when Emperor Gaozong wanted to depose the empress, 'Zhangsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang and others firmly remonstrated, so he stopped,' but later he was determined to depose and establish. In Chapter 71 of Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Suiliang remonstrated in the court, saying, 'Your words are still in my ears, the empress has not been found guilty, how can she be lightly deposed?' Gaozong was determined, and then 'deposed Empress Wang and Consort Xiao as commoners,' and banished Suiliang out of the capital. The plot completely matches the official history.

Relationship network

36 figures · 195 links
Emperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangLi ShiminLi ShiminConfuciusConfuciusWu ZetianWu ZetianLi YuanLi YuanEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangTang Sanzang (Tripitaka)Tang Sanzang (Tripitaka)Xu ShijiXu ShijiZhangsun WujiZhangsun WujiWu HouWu HouPrincess TaipingTaishang LaojunChu SuiliangEmperor Yuan of HanCheng ZhijieXu JingzongWei YuanzhongWu ChengsiLi YifuPei XingjianLiu RenguiWang ShiXue RenguiGao ShilianDu HuangchangLi JingxuanYu ZhiningWang FangqingPei YanDu ZhenglunLinghu DefenSu DingfangXue WancheLi ChunfengXue Yuanchao
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 书三; New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 于志宁高季辅张行成传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 070; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 书四; New Book of Tang, 东夷传; Old Book of Tang, 儒学传上; Romance of Sui and Tang, 071

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.