This is a timeline of the Tang dynasty, which covers a period of roughly 289 years, from 618, when the dynasty was founded, to 907, when the last Tang emperor was deposed by the warlord Zhu Wen, who established the Later Liang dynasty, inaugurating the period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Information on areas and events relevant to the Tang dynasty such as the Wu interregnum, when Wu Zetian established her own Zhou dynasty, and other realms such as the Sui dynasty, Tibetan Empire, Three Kingdoms of Korea, Nanzhao, Japan and steppe nomads are also included where necessary.
Emperor Yang of Sui is killed by strangulation in a coup led by his general Yuwen Huaji in Jiangdu[2]
12 June
Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu of Tang - note that Tang emperor naming convention uses the posthumous Temple Name) deposes Yang You and founds the Tang dynasty; so ends the Sui dynasty[2]
Some of the most powerful independent forces include Wang Shichong in Luoyang, Liu Wuzhou in north Shanxi, Dou Jiande in Hebei, and Shen Faxing in the south[2]
Illig Qaghan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate and his nephew Tölis Qaghan (Ashina Shibobi) invade the Tang dynasty but Li Shimin contacts Tölis and persuades him not to attack, forcing the invasion to a halt[8][2]
Eastern Turkic Khaganate launches repeated raids in northern frontier areas; some raids reach as far south as Shanxi; largest one was directed by Illig Qaghan against Shuozhou (in north Shanxi) but is repulsed[2]
Tang campaign against the Eastern Turks: Illig Qaghan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate is defeated by Li Jing of the Tang dynasty and captured by Li Shiji but released; the Eastern Turkic Khaganate becomes a vassal of Tang; Emperor Taizong of Tang becomes heavenly qaghan[2][11]
Japanese missions to Tang China: Japan sends its first mission to the Tang dynasty[12]
631
Gao Biaoren (高表仁) accompanies Japanese embassy back to Japan[13]
Emperor Taizong of Tang starts preparations for a campaign against Goguryeo[12]
Tang campaigns against Karasahr: Tang general attacks Karasahr and achieves military victory but Karasahr remains a vassal of the Western Turkic Khaganate[25]
First campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War: Emperor Taizong of Tang leads an invasion of Goguryeo in person but withdraws after failure to conquer Anshi (northeast of Yingkou, Liaoning)[12]
Emperor Taizong of Tang succumbs to illness, possibly from the pills he took from his alchemists, and dies, his son Li Zhi succeeds him and becomes Emperor Gaozong of Tang[12]
Earliest known extant piece of printed text appears in Chang'an: a fragment of a Buddhistdhāraṇī scroll written in Sanskrit, known as the Great spell of unsullied pure light (Wugou jingguang da tuoluoni jing 無垢淨光大陀羅尼經)[29]
653
A woman claims the title of emperor and rises in rebellion, causing widespread disruption for a few weeks before she is defeated and dies[30]
Cheng Yaojin defeats the Karluk and Turgesh forces of the Western Turkic Khaganate[12]
657
Battle of Irtysh River: Ashina Helu of the Western Turkic Khaganate is defeated by Su Dingfang of the Tang dynasty[31]
658
Conquest of the Western Turks: Ashina Helu of the Western Turkic Khaganate is defeated by Su Dingfang of the Tang dynasty and lives out the rest of his days in Chang'an; the Western Turkic Khaganate is annexed by Tang[32]
Lý Tự Tiên and Đinh Kiến revolt at Đại La in response to a raise in harvest tax[53]
688
Wu Zetian carries out killing of Tang princes and princesses[37]
689
The ritual structure Mingtang (Hall of Brightness) is set up in Luoyang[37]
690s[]
Year
Date
Event
690
16 October
Wu Zetian starts the first official Palace Examination (dianshi 殿試)[37]
Wu Zetian declares herself emperor of the Zhou dynasty in Luoyang[37]
Tibetan Empire defeats a Tang army at Issyk-Kul[54]
692
Tang forces reconquer the Four Garrisons of Anxi from Tibetan Empire[25]
693
Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate conducts raids against the Tang dynasty[55]
Commoners and gentry from non-elite backgrounds are permitted to take the imperial examinations.
694
Tibetan Empire attacks the Stone City (Charklik).[56]
Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate conducts raids against Tang[57]
696
Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate defeats the Khitans to the east and raids Tang[55]
Li Jinzhong (Mushang Khan) of the Khitans along with his brother-in-law Sun Wanrong revolt against Tang hegemony and attack Hebei; Li dies soon after and Sun succeeds him[58]
Tibetan Empire defeats a Tang army at Tao Prefecture and attacks Liang Prefecture[56]
697
The Zhang brothers Yizhi and Changzong are admitted into the palace to attend on Wu Zetian[37]
Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate defeats the Khitans and conducts raids against Tang[57]
Military examinations are introduced to recruit new officers as a response to the breakdown of the fubing system.[62]
705
23 February
Zhang Jianzhi kills the Zhang brothers in a coup and restores the Tang with Emperor Zhongzong of Tang as emperor; Wu Zetian dies from illness not long after[37]
The earliest known printed text created specifically for reading, the Lotus Sutra, is dated to this year[29]
706
Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate conducts raids against the Tang dynasty[55]
707
Crown Prince Li Chongjun starts a coup in which he kills Wu Sansi and assaults the palace; the coup fails and he is killed by his own soldiers while fleeing[63]
Qapaghan Qaghan of the Second Turkic Khaganate conducts raids against Tang[64]
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang is poisoned to death by Empress Wei (his second wife), and Princess Anle, their daughter; Emperor Zhongzong of Tang's youngest son Emperor Shang of Tang succeeds the throne[63]
25 July
Emperor Gaozong of Tang's daughter Princess Taiping instigates a coup and grandson Li Longji kills Empress Wei; Emperor Shang of Tang is replaced by Emperor Ruizong of Tang[63]
Princess Jincheng, a great granddaughter of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, is sent to Tibet as a bride; the Tibetans are granted Jiuqu (九曲), the land north of the Yellow River in Gansu by Emperor Ruizong of Tang[66]
of the Tang dynasty invades northeastern Tibet[67]
711
The post of jiedushi is created
712
8 September
Emperor Ruizong of Tang abdicates in favor of his son Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang)[63]
Piluoge (皮羅閣) unites the six zhaos (kingdoms) with Tang support[88]
Hexijiedushi Cui Xiyi makes a covenant with the Tibetan general in Koko-nor, Yilishu, to relax border defenses so their soldiers can engage in agriculture and animal husbandry. A white dog is sacrificed to seal the covenant.[89]
738
Tang captures and loses Anrong to the Tibetan Empire[90]
739
Tang scores a major victory against the Tibetan Empire at Shan Prefecture[90]
The Tang Institutions of Six Administrative Divisions (Tang Liudian 唐六典) is completed[63]
740s[]
Year
Date
Event
740
Tang captures Anrong from the Tibetan Empire[91][92]
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang flees Chang'an. On his way to Sichuan, he is forced to order the death of his favorite consort Yang Guifei and abdicates in favor of Emperor Suzong of Tang[95]
The Taoist Mao Kua reports in his Pinglongren (Recognition of the Recumbent Dragon) that by heating saltpeter, the yin of the air can be obtained, which combines with sulphur, carbon, and metals other than gold.[100]
Tibetan Empire invades the Tang dynasty with a 70 000 strong army and takes Liang Prefecture[115] but is repulsed by Yan Wu in Jiannan[116]
765
Tibetan Empire invades the Tang dynasty with 30 000 troops and Uyghur allies, advancing as far as Fengtian twice but are repulsed by Guo Ziyi, who convinced the Uyghurs to switch sides[95]
766
Tibetan Empire conquers Gan and Su prefectures.[115]
Emperor Dezong of Tang dies; his son Li Song succeeds him and becomes Emperor Shunzong of Tang, who abdicates in favor of his son Li Chun, who becomes Emperor Xianzong of Tang[118]
Wang Shuwen makes a failed attempt to take back military power from the eunuchs[118]
806
Emperor Xianzong of Tang pacifies military commanders in Jiannan and the lower Yangzi region[134]
The Chuy branch of ShatuoTurks are defeated by the Tibetan Empire and move to Inner China[135]
First confirmed reference to gunpowder appears in the Taishang Shengzu Jindan Mijue[136]
809
Emperor Xianzong of Tang attacks Chengde but fails[137]
810s[]
Year
Date
Event
812
The Tang government takes over the merchant institution of using flying cash for the purpose of forwarding local taxes and revenues to the capital[138]
Tang and the Tibetan Empire sign a treaty of non-aggression with the Tang recognizing Tibet's ownership of the Western Regions as well as the Longyou and Hexi regions in what is now Gansu Province[140]
Tibetan Empire attacks Tang but are driven off by the governor of Yan Prefecture[141]
Princess Taihe, 17th daughter of Emperor Xianzong of Tang, marries of the Uyghur Khaganate[142][105]
822
The Uyghurs send troops to help the Tang fight against rebels, but their aid is refused; the Tang pay them 70,000 pieces of silk to go home.[117]
823
The Tang-Bo huimeng bei (Stele of the Tang-Tibetan alliance) is set up in Lhasa[118]
Emperor Wenzong of Tang dies; his brother Li Chan is placed on the throne by eunuchs and becomes Emperor Wuzong of Tang[118]
Uyghur Khaganate enters decline in the aftermath of civil war[146]
842
Tibetan Empire enters decline after the death of Dharma[146]
843
A Tang army led by Shi Xiong attacks the Uyghurs displaced by the fall of their khaganate and slaughters 10,000 Uyghurs at "Kill the Foreigners" Mountain (Shahu)[147]
Proscription against foreign religions begins, starting with Manichaeism[146]
844
Zhaoyi defense command (mainly in south Shanxi) is brought under control[146]
845
Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution: Emperor Wuzong of Tang instigates the third and largest proscription campaign against Buddhism in Chinese history; Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism are also targeted[146]
846
22 April
Emperor Wuzong of Tang dies, probably from taking pills made by alchemists; his uncle Li Chen is placed on the throne by eunuchs and becomes Emperor Xuānzong of Tang[146]
Zhang Yichao, a resident of Sha Prefecture, rebels and captures Sha and Gua prefectures from the Tibetans
849
Tibetan commanders and soldiers in east Gansu defect to the Tang[148]
850s[]
Year
Date
Event
850
Zhang Yichao captures Gan, Su, and Yi prefectures[149] and submits a petition to Emperor Xuānzong of Tang, offering his loyalty and submission[146]
851
Zhang Yichao captures Xi Prefecture and the Tang emperor makes him Guiyi Jiedushi (歸義節度使, Governor of the Guiyi Circuit) and Cao Yijin his secretary general
An Arab traveler records the use of toilet paper in China.
853
Duan Chengshi publishes the Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang, a text on Chinese and foreign folklore and legends; it contains the Ye Xian, an early version of the story of Cinderella[citation needed]
858
Rebellion breaks out in Annam and is put down[150]
A flood along the Grand Canal and on the North China Plain kills tens of thousands[citation needed]
Taoist text Zhenyuan miaodao yaolüe mentions the dangers of "fire medicine" (gunpowder)[136]
Nanzhao attacks Bo Prefecture and Annam but is repulsed.[151]
Zhang Yichao retakes Liang Prefecture,[146] extending the Guiyi Circuit's authority to Xi, Gua, Gan, Su, Yi, Lan, Shan, He, Min, Liang, and Kuo prefectures
Zhang Yichao defeats bLon Khrom brZhe and seizes Ting Prefecture and Luntai but immediately loses them as well as Xi Prefecture to the Kingdom of Qocho[146]
^Xiong 2008, p. cix. sfn error: no target: CITEREFXiong2008 (help)
^Xiong 2008, p. 434. sfn error: no target: CITEREFXiong2008 (help)
^Czarnetzki, A.; Ehrhardt S. (1990). "Re-dating the Chinese amalgam-filling of teeth in Europe". International Journal of Anthropology. 5 (4): 325–332.
^Regina Krahl, "Green Wares of Southern China" in Shipwreck: Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds, ed. by Regina Krahl, John Guy, J. Keith Wilson, and Julian Raby. Singapore: National Heritage Board, 2010, p. 186
^Inner Mongolian Numismatic Research Institute (1992). A Compilation of Pictures of Chinese Ancient Paper Money (Bilingual ed.). Beijing: The China Finance Publishing House. p. 3. ISBN7-5049-0861-4.
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