# Emperor Gaozu of Tang

> Founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty (566-635) (r. 618–626)

**Wikidata**: [Q9700](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9700)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Gaozu_of_Tang)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/emperor-gaozu-of-tang

## Summary
Emperor Gaozu of Tang, also known as Li Yuan, was a Chinese politician and the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, a major empire in China proper. He reigned from 618 to 626 AD, establishing the dynasty that lasted until 907 AD. Born in 566 and dying in 635, he is historically recognized for initiating the Wude reign era and transitioning China from the Sui and Northern Zhou dynasties.

## Biography
- Born: 566 (Place not specified in source material)
- Nationality: China (associated with the Tang Dynasty, Northern Zhou, and Sui Dynasty)
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Founding the Tang Dynasty and serving as its first emperor from 618 to 626
- Employer(s): Northern Zhou (affiliated), Sui Dynasty (affiliated), Tang Dynasty (founder and ruler)
- Field(s): Politics, Imperial Governance

## Contributions
- **Establishment of the Tang Dynasty**: Founded the empire in China proper in 618 AD, which ruled until 907 AD.
- **Initiation of the Wude Era**: Created the first reign era of the Tang Dynasty, known as Wude, which spanned from 618 to 626 during his rule.
- **Transition of Power**: Successfully led the transition from the preceding Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties to the new Tang imperial structure.

## FAQs
**Who was Emperor Gaozu of Tang?**
He was Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty who ruled from 618 to 626 AD. He is a member of the human species and a key figure in Chinese history.

**What dynasties preceded his rule?**
His reign followed the Sui Dynasty, which ruled from 581 to 618, and the Northern Zhou, a Xianbei-led dynasty that began in 557.

**What was his primary reign era called?**
His rule was marked by the Wude era, the first reign period of the Tang Dynasty, lasting from 618 to 626.

**When did he live and reign?**
He lived from 566 to 635 and held the imperial throne specifically between the years 618 and 626.

## Why They Matter
Emperor Gaozu of Tang fundamentally altered the political landscape of China by ending the Sui Dynasty and establishing the Tang Dynasty, an empire that would endure for nearly three centuries. His creation of the Wude reign era set the administrative and temporal framework for the early Tang period. Without his leadership, the specific lineage of the Tang Dynasty and its subsequent cultural and political dominance in China proper from 618 to 907 AD would not have occurred. His role as the founding emperor connects the Xianbei-led Northern Zhou and the Sui Dynasty to the golden age of the Tang.

## Notable For
- Founding the Tang Dynasty in 618 AD.
- Serving as the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty (r. 618–626).
- Establishing the Wude reign era (618–626).
- Holding the titles Shude, Lǐ Yuān, Taiwu, and Shenyao dasheng daguang xiao huangdi.
- Being the unique historical figure associated with 52 sitelinks in knowledge databases.
- Transitioning China from the Sui and Northern Zhou dynasties to a new imperial era.

## Body

### Identity and Titles
Emperor Gaozu of Tang is a human and a unique member of the genus Homo. He is widely identified by the name Li Yuan, though he is also known by several aliases including Shude, Taiwu, and the posthumous title Shenyao dasheng daguang xiao huangdi. In historical records and knowledge bases, he is frequently referred to simply as Gaozu or Emperor Gaozu. His Wikipedia title is "Emperor Gaozu of Tang," and he is associated with 52 distinct sitelinks across various knowledge platforms.

### Dynastic Context and Predecessors
His political career was deeply intertwined with the dynastic shifts of his time. He operated within the context of the Northern Zhou, a Xianbei-led dynasty of China that began in 557. He also served during the Sui Dynasty, which ruled over China from 581 to 618. The Sui Dynasty was the immediate predecessor to the empire he founded. His rise marked the end of the Sui era and the conclusion of the Northern Zhou's influence, leading to the establishment of a new political order.

### The Tang Dynasty and Reign
In 618, he founded the Tang Dynasty, an empire in China proper that would last until 907 AD. This inception date marks the beginning of a significant era in Chinese history. He ruled as the founding emperor from 618 until 626. During his reign, he established the Wude era, which served as the first reign era of the Tang Dynasty. This era specifically covered the years 618 through 626. His rule defined the initial structure and direction of the Tang state.

### Life Span and Historical Record
Emperor Gaozu of Tang was born in 566 and died in 635. His life spanned nearly seven decades, covering the late Northern Zhou, the entire Sui Dynasty, and the first eight years of the Tang Dynasty. As a politician, he held and sought positions in government, eventually reaching the highest office of emperor. His biographical data is well-documented, with a wikidata description confirming his status as the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty (566-635) with a reign of 618–626. The detailed knowledge base links him to 125 sitelinks regarding the Tang Dynasty, 26 regarding the Northern Zhou, and 80 regarding the Sui Dynasty, highlighting his central role in these historical periods.

## References

1. China Biographical Database
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Integrated Authority File
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013