Emperor Jingzong of Tang

Li Zhan was born in 809, as the oldest son to then-Prince of Sui, Li You, a son of then-reigning Emperor Xianzong. His mother was Li You's concubine Consort Wang, who gave birth to Li Zhan at a side hall of the Eastern Palace (i.e., the palace of the Crown Prince, although Li You was not then Crown Prince).[3]

In 821, by which time Emperor Xianzong had died, and Li You (whose name had been changed to Li Heng by that point) was emperor (as Emperor Muzong), Emperor Muzong created a number of his younger brothers and sons imperial princes, and Li Zhan was created the Prince of Jing.[4]

Around new year 823, when Emperor Muzong was at a polo match, there was a mishap where a eunuch fell from his horse—causing much shock for Emperor Muzong and leading to a debilitating stroke, causing him to be unable to rise. Many officials, including the leading officials Pei Du and Li Fengji requested that he create a crown prince, and Emperor Muzong, after initially not responding, created Li Zhan crown prince.[5]

In spring 824, Emperor Muzong, who had initially recovered from his illness, grew ill again. He issued an order having Li Zhan serve as regent during his illness, and even though the eunuchs requested that Emperor Muzong's mother Empress Dowager Guo declare herself regent, she resisted the request—stating that she did not want to be like Wu Zetian. That night, Emperor Muzong died, and Li Zhan took the throne (as Emperor Jingzong).[2]

Emperor Jingzong honored his grandmother Empress Dowager Guo as Grand Empress Dowager, while honoring his mother Consort Wang as Empress Dowager.[2]

Right from the start of his reign, Emperor Jingzong became known for wastefulness and a lack of diligence. His immediate acts included:

• Between the third and fifth days of his enthronement Emperor Jingzong awarded a large number of eunuchs official uniforms, colored silks, and treasures, including multiple awards.[2]
• Spending a great amount of time on polo, feasting, games, and music (and giving lavish rewards to musicians).[2]
• Often being very late for imperial meetings, causing officials to wait him for hours. However, when the advisory officials Li Bo (李渤) and Liu Qichu (劉栖楚) petitioned him to stop this behavior, he rewarded them and later promoted Liu, although it was unclear whether he took their advice to heart.[2]
• When Yuchi Rui (尉遲銳), the prefect of Long Prefecture (龍州, in modern Mianyang, Sichuan) submitted a petition stating that Niuxin Mountain (牛心山) was mystically connected to the Tang Dynasty's divine protection, and that the mountain's structure should be repaired, Emperor Jingzong agreed, conscripting tens of thousands of men to work on the construction, which was difficult and dangerous. It was said that Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang and which included Long Prefecture) had its strengths drained as a result.[2]

Meanwhile, it was said that Emperor Jingzong endeared himself to eunuchs, polo players and strong men who would arm wrestle with him by rewarding them greatly, but being impulsive, if he ever became angry at them, he would often exile them, seize their households, or batter them. It was said that these attendants began to resent and fear him. On January 9, 827,[1] Emperor Jingzong was out hunting, and after finishing the hunt, he returned to the palace and was drinking with 28 people, including the eunuchs Liu Keming (劉克明), Tian Wucheng (田務澄), Xu Wenduan (許文端), and the polo players Su Zuoming (蘇佐明), Wang Jiaxian (王嘉憲), Shi Congkuan (石從寬), and Yan Weizhi (閻惟直). At one point, he got up from his seat to go to the latrine—and as he did, the candles suddenly went out, and Su and his colleagues took the opportunity to kill him. After that occurred, Liu summoned the imperial scholar Lu Sui to draft a will for Emperor Jingzong, putting Emperor Muzong's younger brother Li Wu the Prince of Jiàng in charge of the state.[2]

The next morning, the will was issued, and Li Wu, while not yet ascending the throne, received the chancellors and the other officials, acting as if he were emperor. Meanwhile, Liu intended to eliminate the most powerful eunuchs. In response, the directors of palace communications Wang Shoucheng and Yang Chenghe (楊承和), and the commanders of the Shence Armies Wei Congjian (魏從簡) and Liang Shouqian (梁守謙) reacted by gathering the Shence Armies, as well as the Flying Dragon Soldiers (飛龍兵), to attack Liu's group and to escort Emperor Jingzong's younger brother Li Han the Prince of Jiāng (note different tone) to the palace. The Shence Armies and the Flying Dragon Soldiers attacked Liu's party, killing most of them, including Li Wu. Liu tried to commit suicide by jumping into a well, but was dragged out and beheaded. Subsequently, under the advice of Wei Chuhou, Wang publicly declared what had occurred, and had Grand Empress Dowager Guo name Li Han the new emperor. Li Han subsequently took the throne (as Emperor Wenzong).[2]

• Li Fengji (824–826)
• Niu Sengru (824–825)
• Li Cheng (824–826)
• Dou Yizhi (824–827)
• Pei Du (826–827)

Consorts and Issue:

• Guifei, of the Guo clan (貴妃 郭氏)
  • Li Pu, Crown Prince Daohuai (悼懷皇太子 李普; 824–828), first son
  • Li Yanyang, Prince Ji (紀王 李言揚; 826–841), fourth son
• Unknown
  • Li Xiufu, Prince Liang (梁王 李休復), second son
  • Li Zhizhong, Prince Xiang (襄王 李執中), third son
  • Li Chengmei, Prince Chen (陳王 李成美; d. 840), sixth son
  • Princess Yongxing (永興公主)
  • Princess Tianchang (天長公主)
  • Princess Ning (寧公主; d. 881)

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 17, part 1.
• New Book of Tang, vol. 8.
• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 241, 242, 243.