Ep. 268 | Eunuchs in Chinese History (Part 2)

This time we look at eunuchs in the Tang from Xuanzong to hapless Emperor Ai. We’ll see how it was a long hard downhill slide once Xuanzong let Gao Lishi amass so much power. Subsequent emperors were either too weak or too young to push back against eunuchs who, once given an inch of authority, took a mile more and never let go. They grew in power and venality at the expense of the dynasty’s fortunes, before eventually driving it into the ground.

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Terms in Episode

Pinyin/Term	Chinese	English/Meaning
Ān Lùshān / Ān Shǐ Rebellion	安禄山 / 安史之乱	A rebellion against the Tang Dynasty that lasted from 755-763
Chéng Yuánzhèn	程元振	Died 764, powerful eunuch official during the reign of Daizong
Dàizōng	唐代宗	Tang emperor from 762 to 779
Dézōng	唐德宗	Tang Emperor from 779-805
Dòu Wénchǎng	窦文场	Eunuch during Dezong's time who, along with Huo Xianming, had control of the Shence Army
Dù Fǔ	杜甫	Great Tang poet, lived 712-770
Emperor Āi	唐哀帝	Last Tang Emperor, 904-907
Empress Zhang	张皇后	Died 762, second wife of Emperor Suzong, close ally of Li Fuguo
“Gānlù” Incident	甘露事变	“Gānlù” Incident of December 14, 835, saw the eunuchs turn the tables on the emperor and his officials who were trying to wipe them out.
Gāo Lìshì	高力士	The chief Eunuch during the period of Xuánzōng. Lived 684-762
Huáng Cháo Rebellion	黄巢	Rebellion that lasted 874 to 884, led by Huang Chao
Huò Xiānmíng	霍仙鸣	Eunuch during Dezong's time who, along with Dou Wenchang, had control of the Shence Army
Hàn	汉朝	Chinese dynasty founded by Liu Bang that ran from 202 BCE to 220 CE with a brief interval when Wang Mang's Xin Dynasty ruled
Hàn Emperor Huán	汉桓帝	Emperor Huán of Han 146 to 168 CE
Jiédùshǐ	节度使	A regional military governor (and sometimes incubator for future warlords)
Jìngzōng	敬宗	Tang emperor from 824-827
Kāiyuán Era	开元	The high point of Xuánzōng's reign that lasted 713-756
Later Liáng Dynasty	后梁	Dynasty the first of five Northern dynasties sandwiched in between the Táng and Sòng
Lǐ Bái	李白	Great Tang poet, lived 701-762
Lǐ Fǔguó	李辅国	Most powerful and influential eunuch during the reign of Emperor Suzong. Lived 704-762
Lǐ Lōngjī	李隆基	Personal name of the Xuánzōng Emperor
Lǐ Màozhēn	李茂貞	856-924 another powerful Tang warlord who, after assisting Zhu Wen to destroy the dynasty, went on to found the Qi Kingdom
Míng	明朝	Chinese dynasty that ran from 1368 to 1644
Mùzōng	穆宗	Tang emperor from 820-824
Qiú Shìliáng	仇士良	Died 843, powerful eunuch under Wenzong and one of the stars of the Ganlu Incident
Qí	岐	State of Qí, located around the region that was his power base….parts of Shǎnxī, Gānsù and Sìchuān. One of the Ten Kingdoms that were sandwiched in between the Tang and Song
Qín	秦朝	First imperial dynasty of China, founded by Qin Shihuang, a.k.a. King Ying Zheng. Dynasty ran from 221 to 206 BCE
Qū Yuán	屈原	Literary great who lived 340-278 BCE in the State of Chu. Spoke up against corruption and it didn't end well for him
Ruìzōng	唐睿宗	Father of Xuánzōng, and emperor two times, from 684-690 and from 710-712. It's a long story.
Shéncè Jūn	神策军	The Imperial Guard, the emperor’s personal army
Shí Chángshì	十常侍	The Ten Attendants, the most powerful eunuchs at the court of Han Emperor Ling
Shùnzōng	唐顺宗	Tang emperor from February to August 805
Suí	隋朝	Chinese dynasty that preceded the Tang and ran from 581-618
Sùzōng	唐肃宗	Tang Emperor from 756-762
Sānménxiá	三门峡	Ancient city in Henan Province on the Yellow River
Tàizōng	唐太宗	The most famous Taizong of them all. Reigned 626-649. Along with his father Li Yuan (Tang Gaozu), helped found the dynasty
Táng	唐朝	Chinese dynasty from 618 to 907 with a brief interval for Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty
Tǔtū Chéngcuǐ	吐突承璀	Died in 820, one of the Xianzong Emperor's main eunuchs
Wáng Shǒuchéng	王守澄	Died in 835, a long lasting eunuch who served during the reigns of emperors Xianzong, Muzong, Jingzong and Wenzong
Wáng Wéi	王维	Great Tang poet and all around literatus extaordinaire. Lived 699-759
Wèi Zhōngxián	魏忠贤	1568-1627, Chief Eunuch during the Ming Tianqi Emperor
Wénzōng	唐文宗	Tang emperor from 827-840
Wǔ Zétiān	武则天	China's one and only female emperor. Lived 690-705. Grandmother of Xuánzōng
Wǔdài Shíguó	五代十国	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Wǔzōng	唐武宗	Tang Emperor 840-846
Xiànzōng	唐宪宗	Tang Emperor from 805-814
Xiānbēi	鲜卑	Nomadic steppe people from the lands around Inner Mongolia and Mongolia
Xuánzōng	玄宗	Also known as Emperor Míng of Táng. He reigned during one of the two peaks of the Tang but also helped bring the dynasty down. Reigned 712-756. His personal name was Li Longji (see below)
Xuānzōng	唐宣宗	Tang Emperor who reigned 846-859. Don't get hium mixed up with Xuánzōng
Xī Wèi	西魏	Western Wèi - ruled northern China 535-557 during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period
Xīzōng	唐僖宗	Tang Emperor 873-888
Yuán Shào	袁绍	Warlord during the final years of the 2nd century. Elder half-brother of Yuan Shu. Tried to take on Dong Zhuo and later Cao Cao, going down in defeat both times. Died in 202
Yáng Guìfēi	杨贵妃	Alaos known as Yang Yuhan 杨玉环. Lived 719-756. One of the "Four Beauties of Ancient China". Consort to Emperor Xuánzōng
Yìzōng	唐懿宗	Tang Emperor 859-873
Yú Cháo’ēn	鱼朝恩	722-770 another Tang Eunuch official during the Daizong emperor's reign
Yú Hóngzhì	鱼弘志	Another powerful eunuch under Wenzong and, along with Qiu Shiliang, one of the stars of the Ganlu Incident
yāozhǎn	腰斩	Punishment of death by getting sliced in half at the waist
Zhào Gāo	赵高	Died 207 BCE, a life shrouded in myth and legend, served all three Qin emperors
Zhào Kuāngyìn	赵匡胤	Song Dynasty founding Emperor Taizu, ruled the Song 960-976
Zhāozōng	唐昭宗	Tang Emperor 888-900
Zhōu Gōng	周公	The Duke of Zhou, brother of Zhou King Wu and son of King Wen
Zhū Wēn	朱文	Also known as Zhū Quánzhōng 朱全忠, and Emperor Taizu of Later Liang. He helped finally destroy the eunuch's power but killed the Tang Dynasty along with the eunuchs

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