Emperor Li Longji: The Rise and Waning of a Golden Age

Du You
Foreword

Part I Ascent (710–713)
1. Taiping
Meeting in Pingkang Ward
Li Chengqi
Yao and Song
Zhang Yue
Double Moon

2. Longji and Taiping
The Regent
Gao Lishi
The Comet
Coronation
External Affairs
The Taiping Gang
The Palace City
Taiping

3. Empress Wang
Father and Brother
Concerns in the Rear Palace

4. Chief Ministers
Hunting
Yao Chong
Yao Chong vs. Zhang Yue

Part II Kaiyuan: Early Period (713–728)
1. Yao Chong
Kaiyuan
Yao Chong’s Sons
The Stone Terrace
Buddhism
Golden Age
Locust Disaster
Exotic Items
Mochuo
Lu Huaishen

2. Brotherly Love
Li Chengqi
Xingqing Palace
Li Ye

3. Song Jing
Appointed to the Center
A Trip to Luoyang
Briefing Longji
The Monument
Counterfeit Money
State of Affairs

4. Chang’an
The Tumulus
The Rice Dumper
Drought Demon
Yao Chong

5. Tujue
Pijia
Wang Jun
Tunyugu
A Letter to Pijia

6. Zhang Yue
Restless Nomads
Barbarian Prefectures
Kang Yuanzi
Disarmament
Zhang Yue vs. Zhang Jiazhen

7. Empress Wang
Li Ying
Lady Wu
Jiang Jiao
The Magician-Monk

8. Feng-shan Sacrifices
Zhang Yue’s Memorial
The Basilica of Gathered Worthies
Feng-shan Sacrifices
Reflections

9. Yuwen Rong
Runaways
A Challenge to High Power
An Impeachment Request

10. Mother and Son
Li Mao
Consort Zhao
Consort Wu

11. The Northeast and the West
Black River Malgal and Parhae
Turgesh
Wang Junchuo
The Four Tribes
Xiao Song

Part III Kaiyuan: Later Period (728–742)
1. Xingqing Palace
The New Abode
A Boat Ride
The Birthday Party

2. Yuwen Rong
Promotion
Reform Ideas
Prince Li Yi

3. Wang Maozhong
Wang Maozhong
The Five Tomb Parks
Minister of War
A Change of Attitude

4. Leaders and Frontier
King Wuyi
An Lushan
Zhang Jiuling
Li Linfu
Pei Yaoqing
Qidan
An Lushan
Niu Xianke

5. Prince and Consort
Li Mao
Consort Wu
Li Ying
Consort Wu
Li Heng

6. Yang Yuhuan
The Festival of Longevity
The Pipa Player
Jinxian Convent

7. Talisman and Ritual
The Portrait
Cosmodrama

Part IV Tianbao and Beyond (742–760)
1. Tianbao
Heaven’s Treasure
An Lushan
Yang Yuhuan
The Taiqing Rite
The Nine Palaces
Jade
The Huaqing Hot Springs

2. Li Linfu
Lu Xuan and Yan Tingzhi
Li Shizhi
Li Heng
Li Shizhi
Chen Xilie
Yang Guozhong
Wang Zhongsi
Li Linfu’s Son
Talented People
Gao Xianzhi
Fubing

3. An Lushan and Yang Yuhuan
Cockatoo
Li Heng
Bright Pearl
Desserts
Yang Guozhong
Yang Yuhuan
An Lushan
Ordination at Taiqing

4. Nanzhao
Xianyu Zhongtong
The Lantern Festival
Qinren Ward
Turbulence at the Borders
Cowherd and Weaver Girl
Wang Hong
The Passing of an Age
Yang Guozhong
Disquieting Whispers
The Huaqing Hot Springs
An Lushan
Nanzhao
Yang Guozhong

5. An Lushan
A Spark in the Northeast
Feng Changqing
Tong Pass
On the Road
The Mawei Stage Station

6. Exile and Return
Li Heng
Chengdu
Chang’an
Xingqing
The Taiji Palace
The Forbidden Park

Conclusion
Glossary

Victor Cunrui Xiong 熊存瑞
Victor Cunrui Xiong holds a Ph.D. in Asian History from the Australian National University. He taught history at the University of Iowa and is now a professor of history at Western Michigan University. He is the author of Heavenly Empress, Heavenly Khan, From Peasant to Emperor, and Sui-Tang Chang’an, and appears in Man Made Marvels: China’s Forgotten City, a documentary by NHNZ and Discovery Channel, which is in part based on his book on Chang’an.