Li Chen the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang — Double-Faced Monarch of the Tang Dynasty

Li Chen (810 — 859), respected as Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, was a legendary monarch with two completely different faces.

The first half of his life was the face of a timid and stupid prince who could be fooled and manipulated by everyone.

After he wore the crown, he immediately became a decisive and remarkable emperor who brought to his people the last flourishing era of the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907).

Golden Dragons (Zou Long) that used as Ritual Implements of Taoism Religion Ceremony in the Tang Dynasty — Shaanxi History Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Unappreciated Prince Pretending to Be A Fool

Li Chen was the 13th son of Emperor Li Chun, but his mother was only a maid of an imperial concubine in the royal palace.

Due to his mother's low status, Li Chen, even as a prince, remained quiet and inconspicuous, leading many to believe that he was indifferent and perhaps not very bright.

After Li Chen's father passed away, his oldest brother and this brother's three sons became emperors in succession.

During that period, many royals were assassinated because of the intense competition over the throne.

Hence, Li Chen talked less unless the emperors forced him to talk to entertain others.

Bronze Mirror of the Tang Dynasty Decorated by Mother-of-Pearl (Luo Dian) — National Museum of China (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Assassinations Orchestrated by a Cunning Emperor

Nearly everyone in the royal palace believed Li Chen was somewhat brain-damaged and a fool, except for Li Yan, Emperor Wuzong of Tang (814 — 846).

Emperor Wuzong was an excellent monarch and a brilliant person who found that his uncle Li Chen was pretending to be a fool.

Afterward, Li Chen encountered many "accidents", such as falling off the horse while playing polo or falling asleep on the snowfield, and then was left behind.

Pottery Figurines Play Polo of the Tang Dynasty

Pottery Figurines of the Tang Dynasty Play Polo — Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Photo by Dongmaiying)

But Li Chen always survived and came back to his palace later.

In some gossip, Emperor Wuzong later commanded a close eunuch to murder Li Chen secretly, but this eunuch helped Li Chen escape to another city and then lied to the emperor.

The eunuch thought that a fool prince might be a good puppet.

This escape might not be real, but the idea was quite correct.

Sudden Enthronement Supported by the Eunuch Group

Soon, Emperor Wuzong of Tang passed away, and some powerful eunuchs supported Li Chen as the next emperor.

They believed that the foolish prince Li Chen, lacking political resources, would be easier to control than Emperor Wuzong’s sons, who had a powerful empress dowager and a strong clan.

At the age of 36, Li Chen ascended to the throne due to the absence of a noble mother from a powerful clan and his perceived qualities of being weak-willed, timid, quiet, and not very bright.

Everyone in the palace and government was still contemplating how to manipulate the new foolish emperor to gain benefits and power.

However, the new emperor Li Chen changed immediately into a decisive, intelligent, and strong emperor and made moves first.

Stone Lion of the Tang Dynasty — Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Retrieving Authority and Defeating Political Enemies

He showed gratitude to the eunuchs who supported him in obtaining the throne, but he also smartly constricted their power and occupations; as for other eunuchs, he removed their authority gradually and kindly.

Meanwhile, he resolved the intense internal conflict by swiftly removing the most influential minister immediately after ascending to the throne, catching everyone by surprise.

Until now, Emperor Li Chen quickly grasped centralized power in his hands without violence but was highly efficient.

Afterward, people realized that Li Chen’s innocence fooled them for a long time.

Then the powerful empress dowager and her clan, eunuch groups, and powerful officials complied with this new emperor before they got a chance to fight back.

Remarkable Emperor Li Chen and His Excellent Reign

Emperor Li Chen was a true believer in the Imperial Examination and vastly increased the number of officials selected by his government's exams.

The emperor would interview every province governor before they took office, and all unqualified ones would be demoted or abolished immediately.

Besides, he extremely respected his intelligent ministers and always treated them like honorable guests as long as they were well-behaved and contributive.

Still, for people who broke the law, Li Chen would punish them with no mercy, no matter how much he liked them before.

Additionally, Li Chen reclaimed much of the territory lost by the Tang Empire during his reign, successfully restoring peace and prosperity to the civilian population.

Mural of Tang Dynasty About General Zhang Yichao (799 — 872) and His Army — 156th Cave of Mogao Grottoes

Mural of Tang Dynasty About General Zhang Yichao (799 — 872) and His Army that Recovered Many Lost Cities Along the Silk Road — 156th Cave of Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang

Admiring the sincere and trusting relationship between the famous Emperor Taizong of Tang and the imperial censor Wei Zheng, Li Chen sought out Wei Zheng's descendant and appointed him as his imperial censor.

He then followed the sage advice as long as it remained reasonable.

When Li Chen wanted to take a short vacation from the royal thermal palace to relax, the imperial censors said he shouldn't since he may delay the administration's work, so Li Chen canceled his plan.

Emperor Li Chen also had undone many destructive policies against Buddhism that his nephew, Emperor Wuzong of Tang, had implemented, which recovered Buddhism and ensured a religious free policy under his rule.

Gilding and Painted Clay Sculpture Buddha of the Mogao Grottoes — Harvard Art Museums (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Kind and Self-Disciplined Emperor Xuanzong of Tang

Since his mother was a maid before, Li Chen was always kind to all the servants in his palace; he could remember their names and occupations and ensured they were well paid and taken care of.

Moreover, he was highly self-disciplined and rigorous to his descendants and concubines, sometimes even quite harsh.

Once, he received a stunning singer as a tribute gift and took her as a concubine.

However, after Li Chen realized that he was too attracted to her stunning beauty and talents, he commanded to execute her.

He believed that he and his empire didn't want to repeat the sad story of Emperor Li Longji and his favorite concubine Yang Yuhuan.

Afterward, no one could hold him back.

Besides, Li Chen was a good poet and calligrapher and left many masterpieces behind.

Silver Hairpin (Zan) of the Tang Dynasty Decorated with Gilding Phoenixes — Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Incompetent Heirs and the Decline of the Tang Empire

As a worshiper of the great Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Chen did quite a good job, and people respected him as Emperor Taizong Junior, which was quite a high honor for a monarch.

Li Chen always liked his fourth son and wanted to nominate him as the heir; however, his first son, the first boy that Li Chen and his queen had, should be the crown prince according to the rules.

Hence, Li Chen never made up his mind, which gave many people time and chances to choose sides.

Unearthed Golden Decoration of A Deer Running

Golden Decoration of Running Deer of the Tang Dynasty — Qinghai Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

After Li Chen passed away, his first son's supporters defeated the fourth.

Unfortunately, his first son and grandson, the two emperors after Li Chen, were irresponsible and incapable monarchs who only spent time enjoying life and had no political talents.

These two emperors' reigns (859 — 888) dramatically declined the Tang Empire.

They increased severe problems, including powerful eunuch groups that could manipulate the central government and strong warlords that kept occupying more lands in the border areas.

When the penultimate emperor Li Ye ascended to the throne, despite his efforts and ambition, he was unable to effect any significant changes.

Crystal Cup of the Tang Dynasty — Tang West Market Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Next Story: Ambitious Emperor with Bad Luck — Li Ye