Tang Dynasty Begins: China Enters Golden Age
Li Yuan, Duke of Tang, forced the abdication of the last Sui emperor and established the Tang Dynasty on June 18, 618 AD. His son Li Shimin (later Emperor Taizong) had done most of the military heavy lifting and would seize the throne himself in 626 through the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing two brothers to secure succession. The Tang Dynasty that followed is widely considered the golden age of Chinese civilization, lasting 289 years. Its capital, Chang'an (modern Xi'an), was the world's largest city with over one million inhabitants. Tang China mastered gunpowder, porcelain, woodblock printing, and mechanical clockwork. Tang poetry, especially the works of Li Bai and Du Fu, is considered the pinnacle of Chinese literary achievement. The dynasty fell in 907 amid rebellion and warlordism.
June 18, 618
1408 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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