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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