Tang Dynasty

By JenniferRGant
  • Period: Jan 1, 618 to Jan 1, 907

    Tang Dynasty

  • Period: Jan 1, 618 to Jan 1, 626

    First Emperor of Tang Dynasty

    Gaozu uses a child Emperor as a puppet then eventually removes Emperor Gong and begins the Tang Dynasty.
  • Jan 1, 626

    Word block printing is developed

    Likely inspired by the metal and stone seals that were used to make impressions on clay and silk previously this new woodblock printing allows for books to be printed faster and easier.
  • Period: Jan 1, 626 to Jan 1, 649

    The reign of Emperor Taizong

    Taizong took over rule of the empire after his father. He is seen as the co-founder of the Tang Dynasty because of his encouragement of his father to rebel against the Sui Dynasty.
  • Period: Jan 1, 649 to Jan 1, 683

    Reign of Gaozong

    Son of emperor Taizong and his empress he was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He is often viewed as a weak emperor by historians with little attention to the business of the state, leaving it to his wife to manage.
  • Period: Jan 1, 683 to Jan 1, 704

    Reign of Wu Zetian

    The only female monarch of China. She fought to elevate women to the level of men so that she could rule the empire which according to Confucian doctrine was as unnatural as a "hen crow like a rooster at daybreak,".
  • Period: Jan 1, 712 to Jan 1, 770

    Reign of Xuanzong

    Was the longest reigning emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
  • Period: Jan 1, 712 to Jan 1, 756

    Taoism becomes official religion

  • Jan 1, 751

    Battle of Talas

    Tang army led by Korean general defeated in Samarkand, POW's share how to make paper with the people of Samarkand and leads to the technique being spread.
  • Jan 1, 755

    General rebels the Tang

    An Lushan angered by the abuse of the Tang.
  • Period: Jan 24, 756 to Jan 1, 762

    Reign of Emperor Suzong

    Most of his reign was spent trying to quell the uprising of 755 CE.
  • Period: Jan 1, 762 to Jan 1, 779

    Reign of Emperor Daizong

    Daizong was finally able to stop the rebellion that his father had spent his entire reign trying to stop.
  • Period: Jan 1, 780 to Jan 1, 805

    Reign of Dezong

    Dezong began as a diligent emperor but came up against many warlords that almost led to the undoing of the Tang dynasty.
  • Jan 1, 805

    Reign of Shunzong

  • Period: Jan 1, 806 to Jan 1, 820

    Reign of Xianzong

    Xianzong spent his time as emperor trying to take away some of the power of the military governors and was quite successful at first and was close to reuniting the empire.
  • Period: Jan 1, 820 to Jan 1, 824

    The reign of Muzong

    Muzong spent most of his short reign feasting and drinking heavily.
  • Period: Jan 1, 824 to Jan 1, 826

    Reign of Jingzong

    Jingzong became emperor at age 15 and his very short reign was overshadowed by corrupt eunuchs.
  • Period: Jan 1, 826 to Jan 1, 840

    The reign of Emperor Wenzong

    Wenzong saw the negatives of his father and older brother's reign and tried to better the empire but his indecisiveness drove some of his chancellors to resigning but he would not accept their resignations.
  • Period: Jan 1, 840 to Jan 1, 846

    Reign of emperor Wuzong

    The third of three brothers to secede to the throne he is best known for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign.
  • Period: Jan 1, 846 to Jan 1, 859

    Xuanzong ll

    Considered to be the last capable emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
  • Period: Jan 1, 859 to Jan 1, 873

    Reign of Yizong

    A severe drought and famine ravaged the empire and Yizong spent his time living in opulence becoming an alcoholic who surrounded himself with women.
  • Period: Jan 1, 873 to Jan 1, 888

    Reign of Xizong

    Xizong saw most of his reign fraught with agrarian rebellions.
  • Period: Jan 1, 874 to Jan 1, 884

    Hung Chao rebellion

    It began because people under the rule of the Tang were tired of the opulent lifestyle of the emperor and his governors. This long stretch of rebellion left the Tang dynasty almost in pieces.
  • Period: Jan 1, 888 to Jan 1, 904

    Zhaozong reigns

    His many attempts to restore power of the dynasty mostly backfired and the rebellions continued.
  • Period: Jan 1, 904 to Jan 1, 907

    Reign of Ai

    Ai ascended to the throne at the age of 11. appointed by the warlord Zhu Quanzhong. Ai remained under his thumb through officials that Zhu put in charge. 907 Zhu had Ai abdicate the throne to him. Zhu had Ai poisoned later that year.