Emperor Ruizong of Tang
A Tang Dynasty emperor twice placed on the throne by powerful women, his reigns were brief bookends to his mother's unprecedented rule.
Born 662 (age 1364)·Emperor of Tang China (684–690, 710–712)·Birthday: June 22
Biography
Li Dan, known as Emperor Ruizong, lived his life in the shadow of the most formidable woman in Chinese history: his mother, Empress Wu Zetian. Thrust onto the throne as a young man after his brother's deposition, his first reign was a mere formality; Wu held all power and soon founded her own Zhou Dynasty, pushing him aside. For years, he lived under house arrest, a potential threat to be managed. After his mother's death and a palace coup, he was restored to the Tang throne, but real authority was contested between his ambitious sister, Princess Taiping, and his son, the future Emperor Xuanzong. Ruizong, a scholarly man more inclined to Daoist philosophy than political bloodsport, ultimately chose to abdicate in favor of his son to avoid further conflict. His legacy is not one of personal rule, but of a pivotal figure whose presence enabled the transition from his mother's extraordinary interruption back to stable Tang succession.
#1 When Emperor Was Born
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Emperor's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
662Born
667Started school
675Became a teenager
678Could drive
680Could vote
683Turned 21
692Turned 30
702Turned 40
712Turned 50
722Turned 60
732Turned 70
742Turned 80
2026Age 1364 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as emperor during two separate reigns (684-690 and 710-712), bridging the gap between his mother's Zhou Dynasty and the restored Tang.
- Presided over the formal restoration of the Tang Dynasty in 710 after the collapse of his mother's Zhou regime.
- His abdication in 712 in favor of his son Li Longji (Emperor Xuanzong) helped usher in the prosperous Kaiyuan era.
- Oversaw the compilation of significant cultural works, including the 'Chuxue Ji' encyclopedia, during his second reign.
Did You Know?
He was the son of Emperor Gaozong and the only brother of Emperor Zhongzong, both of whom were also controlled by Empress Wu.
During his mother's Zhou Dynasty, he was demoted to the position of Crown Prince and given the Wu surname.
His second reign began after a coup that overthrew his nephew, Emperor Shang, who was a child.
He was a patron of Daoism and was particularly devoted to the deity Laozi, whom he claimed as an ancestor.
“A son's duty is to obey, even when the throne is a cage.”
