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Li Chengqian

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Li Chengqian
Prince Min of Hengshan
恆山愍王
Crown Prince of the Tang dynasty
ReignSeptember 626-April 643
Born619
Died5 January 645(645-01-05) (aged 25–26)
SpouseLady Su (m.9 February 635; sister of Su Gui (苏瓌), eldest daughter[1] of Su Dan (苏亶) and great-granddaughter of Su Wei)[2][3][4].)
IssueLi Xiang (李象; father of Li Shizhi)
Li Jue
Posthumous name
Prince Min of Hengshan (恆山愍王)[5]
FatherEmperor Taizong of Tang
MotherEmpress Zhangsun

Li Chéngqián (李承乾) (619 – 5 January 645[6]), courtesy name Gaoming (高明), formally Prince Min of Hengshan (恆山愍王), was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was Emperor Taizong's oldest son and first crown prince, but was replaced later by his younger brother Li Zhi (the eventual Emperor Gaozong).

Li Chengqian was created crown prince in 626 at the age of eight (by East Asian reckoning), after his father became emperor on 4 September.[7] In his youth, he had a reputation for good judgment, but was also said to be suffering from a foot illness. Later on, he was said to be frivolous, favoring Tujue customs instead of studying about ways to rule an empire. He lost favor in Emperor Taizong's eyes to a younger brother, Li Tai the Prince of Wei. (Both had the same mother, Emperor Taizong's wife Empress Zhangsun.) In 643, in fear that Emperor Taizong was about to depose him in favor of Li Tai, he plotted with the general Hou Junji to overthrow Emperor Taizong. The plot was discovered, and he was deposed and reduced to commoner rank, but Emperor Taizong, believing that Li Tai to be responsible for Li Chengqian's downfall, appointed yet another son, Li Zhi (also by Empress Zhangsun), crown prince instead. Li Chengqian was exiled, and died in exile in January 645, as a commoner under house arrest. He was posthumously granted an imperial prince title during the reign of his grandnephew, Emperor Xuanzong after his grandson Li Shizhi became chancellor.

Family

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Parents

Consorts and their respective issue(s)[8]:

  • Crown Princess Su, of the Su clan of Wugong (太子妃 武功苏氏), eldest daughter of Su Dan (苏亶)[9][10]
    • Li Xiang (李象, 16 May 638[11] - in or after 694[12]), Duke Huan (郇国公), first son
      • Li Pin (李玭), Li Jing (李静) and Li Shizhi
  • Concubine Wang, of the Wang clan (妾王氏)
    • Li Jue (李厥), Inspector of Qingzhou Province (青州刺史), third son[13]
      • Li Chang (李昶) and Li Xu (李旭)
  • Lady of Excellence, of the Zhang clan (良娣张氏)
    • Li Yi (李医), second son
    • Princess Yong'an (永安郡主), first daughter

Early life

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Li Chengqian was born in 619, not long after his grandfather Emperor Gaozu established Tang dynasty in 618. He was the first son of Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin the Prince of Qin and Li Shimin's wife Princess Zhangsun, and was named Chengqian because he was born at Chengqian Hall (承乾殿). In 620, he was created the Prince of Hengshan, at the same time that his younger brothers Li Ke and Li Tai were also created princes.

Early years as crown prince

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In 626, Li Shimin seized power after ambushing and killing his older brother Li Jiancheng, the Crown Prince, and younger brother Li Yuanji, the Prince of Qi, at the Incident at Xuanwu Gate, and later that year, Emperor Gaozu yielded the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). Emperor Taizong created Li Chengqian's mother Princess Zhangsun empress, and created Li Chengqian crown prince. In 630, in order to show honor to the chancellor Du Ruhui in Du's illness, Emperor Taizong sent Li Chengqian to personally visit Du. Later that year, Emperor Taizong formally made Li Chengqian in charge of listening to legal appeals where the litigants were dissatisfied with the judgments made by the executive bureau of the government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), putting a layer of appeal between the executive bureau and the emperor himself. The senior officials Li Gang (李綱) and Xiao Yu were made his senior advisors, and whenever Li Chengqian were officially hearing governmental matters, he would be accompanied by Li Gang and the chancellor Fang Xuanling. In 631, he held his official rite of passage. In winter 632, after a feast Emperor Taizong held for Emperor Gaozu (then with the title Taishang Huang (retired emperor)) at Emperor Gaozu's Da'an Palace (大安宮), Emperor Taizong wanted to hold up Emperor Gaozu's litter personally; Emperor Gaozu disallowed it, but had Li Chengqian take Emperor Taizong's place in doing so. Meanwhile, by 633, Li Chengqian was said to be beginning to favor frivolous games, and his staff members Yu Zhining, Du Zhenglun, and Kong Yingda often advised him to not do so. Emperor Taizong approved of Yu, Du, and Kong, and rewarded them.

On 25 June 635, Emperor Gaozu died.[14] Emperor Taizong observed a period of mourning for him. During that time, Li Chengqian formally ruled on important matters of state for about 45 days, after which Emperor Taizong resumed his imperial authority, but still had Li Chengqian rule on more minor issues. It was around this time that Li Chengqian was said to have good judgment and logical abilities. From this point on, whenever Emperor Taizong was away from the capital Chang'an, Li Chengqian would be in charge of the imperial government.

In 636, Li Chengqian's mother Empress Zhangsun was seriously ill. Li Chengqian suggested to her that a general pardon be declared and that people be encouraged to become Buddhist or Taoist monks to try to gain divine favor. Empress Zhangsun disallowed it, disfavoring pardons herself and knowing that Emperor Taizong also disapproved of Buddhism and Taoism. Li Chengqian then discussed the matter with Fang, who relayed his request to Emperor Taizong. Emperor Taizong wanted to declare a general pardon, but was dissuaded by Empress Zhangsun. She died later that year, on 28 July.[15]

Struggles against Li Tai

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By this point, Li Tai, who was considered intelligent and talented in literature, had gained Emperor Taizong's favor over Li Chengqian—so much so that in 638, Emperor Taizong let it slip out that it was not impossible that an imperial prince would one day be his officials' overlord, when Wang Gui suggested that high level officials not be required to bow to imperial princes other than the crown prince. Li Chengqian, meanwhile, was allowing his games to interfere with his studies, despite urgings of his advisor Zhang Xuansu (張玄素). At one point, after Zhang expressed disapproval of his playing drums, Li Chengqian destroyed his drums, but was not otherwise listening to Zhang's advice.

In 641, When Emperor Taizong visited the eastern capital Luoyang, Li Chengqian was in charge of Chang'an, assisted by the chancellor Gao Shilian (his granduncle). Around that time, Li Chengqian had gathered a group of guards who served as his personal assassins, and when he grew angry at the earnest urgings by Yu Zhining, he sent his assassins Zhang Shizheng (張師政) and Gegan Chengji (紇干承基) to kill Yu, although Zhang and Gegan, when they saw that Yu was observing a mourning period for his mother, relented and did not kill Yu. Meanwhile, in 642, with Li Tai engaging many scholars on staff, Emperor Taizong had increased Li Tai's stipend so much that it exceeded Li Chengqian's. The official Chu Suiliang, whose advice Emperor Taizong usually listened to, advised against this, believing that this would bring conflict. Instead, Emperor Taizong removed all limits on Li Chengqian's spending, causing Li Chengqian to be wasteful. When Zhang advised against wastefulness, Li Chengqian became so displeased that he sent servants to attack Zhang with large whips, almost killing him. With Emperor Taizong's favors for Li Tai apparent, there began to be a faction that supported Li Chengqian and a faction that supported Li Tai at court. In order to quell the speculations about Li Tai's replacing Li Chengqian, Emperor Taizong made the honored chancellor Wei Zheng Li Chengqian's senior advisor, but this failed to end the rumors. The rumors also continued to persist even after Emperor Taizong publicly declared in spring 643 that even if Li Chengqian died (as Li Chengqian's foot illness—the historical accounts did not specify what kind of illness—was well known among the officials), Li Chengqian's son Li Xiang (李象) would inherit the throne, not another prince.

It was said that Li Chengqian favored music, women, and hunting, and was wasteful in pursuing these things, but at the same time maintained a veneer of virtue to the outside world. Among his guards, he often took on Turkic customs, wearing Turkic clothes and spoke Turkic, often engaging in Turkic-style camping.[16][17][18][excessive citations] Meanwhile, several other acts of Li Chengqian were also drawing Emperor Taizong's ire. Homosexuality.[19][20] Li Chengqian had favored a young man that he nicknamed Chengxin (稱心, meaning, "satisfying my heart"), probably in a sexual relationship. He had also favored Taoist monks Qin Ying (秦英) and Wei Lingfu (韋靈符), and he had them use magic—acts that were considered extremely disapproved among imperial subjects. When Emperor Taizong found out about these things, he put Chengxin and the Taoist monks all to death. Li Chengqian, believing that it was Li Tai who informed Emperor Taizong, became increasingly angry with Li Tai, and he, in sadness over Chengxin's death, also refused to attend imperial gatherings for months, while establishing a shrine for Chengxin within his palace.

Removal and death

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Meanwhile, Li Tai was having officials who were in his faction often spread news about Li Tai's abilities, trying to create an impression among the people that Li Tai should be crown prince. Li Chengqian was becoming increasingly insecure, and he began to discuss within his own faction what to do. His closest allies included his uncle Li Yuanchang (李元昌) the Prince of Han, the imperial guard commander Li Anyan (李安儼), his cousin Zhao Jie (趙節), and Du Ruhui's son and his brother-in-law Du He (杜荷). Eventually, he also invited the major general Hou Junji, whose son-in-law Helan Chushi (賀蘭楚石) was Li Chengqian's guard commander, into the plot, and considered overthrowing Emperor Taizong.

In spring 643, however, Li Chengqian's younger brother Li You (李祐) the Prince of Qi, resentful of the head of his household, Quan Wanji (權萬紀), killed Quan and then rebelled. Li You was soon defeated and captured, and when Emperor Taizong investigated Li You's co-conspirators, Gegan Chengji was arrested and sentenced to death. Gegan, in order to save himself, revealed the plot. Emperor Taizong, in shock, convened the senior officials Zhangsun Wuji (Empress Zhangsun's brother), Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, and Li Shiji, as well as officials from the supreme court, the legislative bureau, and the examination bureau, to investigate, and the extent of the plot was revealed. When Emperor Taizong requested opinions on what to do with Li Chengqian, Lai Ji suggested sparing him, and Emperor Taizong agreed. On 29 April,[21] he deposed Li Chengqian and reduced him to commoner rank, while ordering Li Yuanchang to commit suicide. Hou and the other conspirators were all executed.

Emperor Taizong initially told Li Tai that he would be created crown prince, but soon came to believe that Li Tai's machinations were responsible for Li Chengqian's downfall. When Emperor Taizong himself visited Li Chengqian, Li Chengqian told him:

I was already crown prince, and what else could I be looking for. It is because Li Tai often conspired against me, and I had to therefore discuss with my staff how to save myself. Those overly ambitious people thus suggested that I commit treason. If you create Li Tai crown prince, you are falling into his trap.

Emperor Taizong agreed, and as Zhangsun Wuji proposed creating another son by Empress Zhangsun, Li Zhi the Prince of Jin, crown prince,[22] Emperor Taizong did so, putting Li Tai under house arrest as well and reducing his title, although keeping the title a princely title. In fall 643, Emperor Taizong exiled both Li Chengqian and Li Tai—in the case of Li Chengqian, to Qian Prefecture (黔州, modern southeastern Chongqing).

Around the new year 645, Li Chengqian died at Cheng Prefecture. Emperor Taizong ordered that he be buried with the honors due a duke. After Li Chengqian's grandson Li Shizhi became chancellor during the reign of Li Chengqian's grandnephew Emperor Xuanzong, he often spoke to Emperor Xuanzong in defense of his grandfather. On 6 October 736[23], Emperor Xuanzong posthumously honored Li Chengqian the Prince of Hengshan—a title that he previously held—and gave him the posthumous name of Min (愍, meaning "suffering"). On 20 Jun 738[24], he was buried at his father's mausoleum, Zhao Mausoleum.

Ancestry

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Li Chengqian's tablet indicate that Lady Su was her father's third daughter (妃苏氏祔焉，礼也。妃即隋仆射邳国公威之曾孙、鸿胪卿夔之孙、皇朝沁州刺史亶之第三女也。)
  2. ^ (惟尔秘书丞苏亶长女，族茂冠冕，庆成礼训，贞顺自然，言容有则。作合春宫，实协三善，曰嫔守器，式昌万叶。备兹令典，抑惟国章。是用命尔为皇太子妃。往，钦哉！其光膺徽命，可不慎欤！) Quan Tang Wen, vol.09
  3. ^ ([贞观]九年正月甲申，皇太子承乾納妃蘇氏，宴羣臣賜帛各有差。) Cefu Yuangui, vol.80
  4. ^ (苏瓌，字昌容，京兆武功人，隋尚书右僕射威曾孙也。祖夔，隋鸿胪卿。父亶，贞观中台州刺史。) Jiu Tang Shu, vol.88.
  5. ^ Li Chengqian's biography in vol.80 of New Book of Tang lists his title as "Prince Min of Changshan" (常山湣王).
  6. ^ Volume 197 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Li Chengqian died on the renyin day of the 12th month of the 18th year of the Zhenguan era of Tang Taizong's reign. This date corresponds to 5 Jan 645 on the Julian calendar. [(贞观十八年)十二月，...壬寅，故太子承乾卒于黔州,...]. This date was also found in Taizong's biography in New Book of Tang. Taizong's biography in Old Book of Tang dated Chengqian's death to the xinchou day of the same month and year, which corresponds to 4 Jan 645 in the Julian calendar. However, his epitaph (唐故恒山愍王墓志铭) recorded a markedly different death date: the 1st day of the 10th month of the 17th year of the Zhenguan era, which corresponds to 17 Nov 643 in the Julian calendar.
  7. ^ Volume 191 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Taizong assumed the throne on the jiazi day of the 8th month of the 9th year of the Wude era of Tang Gaozu's reign. This date corresponds to 4 Sep 626 on the Gregorian calendar. [(武德九年八月)甲子，太宗即皇帝位于东宫显德殿...] Li's biographies in volume 76 of Old Book of Tang and volume 80 of New Book of Tang recorded that he was made crown prince when Taizong became emperor.
  8. ^ Li Chengqian's tablet listed the names and titles of his sons and grandsons, but not who his sons' mothers were. (长子怀州别驾、赠使持节都督越州诸军事、越州刺史、郇国公象，
    象子〇〇将军、赠使持节怀州诸军事、怀州刺史玭，
    次〇〇别驾、赠使持节齐州诸军事、齐州刺史静，
    次御史大夫适之，
    次子鄂州别驾、赠使持节青州诸军事、青州刺史厥，
    厥子〇〇中郎将、赠左千牛将军昶，
    次〇〇〇旭)
  9. ^ 《册府元龟·卷八十◎帝王部 庆赐第二》[贞观]九年正月甲申皇太子承乾纳妃苏氏宴群臣赐帛各有差
  10. ^ 《全唐文·卷九·册苏亶女为皇太子妃诏》：配德元良，必俟邦媛，作俪储贰，允归冠族，秘书丞苏亶长女，门袭轩冕，家传义方，柔顺表质，幽闲成性，训彰图史，誉流邦国，正位储闱，寔惟朝典。可皇太子妃，所司备礼册命，主者施行。
  11. ^ ([贞观十二年]三月，...丙子，以皇孙生，宴五品以上于东宫。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.195. Note that this account only indicate that a grandson of Taizong was born that day. The fact that the banquet was held at the Eastern Palace (residence of the crown prince) imply (but do not explicitly state) that this grandson was a son of Li Chengqian.
  12. ^ Li Shizhi was born in 694 and was not noted to be a posthumous child.
  13. ^ Li Chengqian's tablet listed Li Jue as the second son.
  14. ^ According to Gaozu's biography in Old Book of Tang, he died on the gengzi day of the 5th month of the 9th year of the Zhenguan era of Tang Taizong's reign. This date corresponds to 25 Jun 635 on the Gregorian calendar. ([贞观)九年五月庚子，高祖大渐，....是日，崩于太安宫之垂拱前殿，年七十。] Old Book of Tang, vol.1.
  15. ^ Volume 194 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Zhangsun died on the jimao day in the 6th month of the 10th year of the Zhenguan era of Tang Taizong's reign. This date corresponds to 28 Jul 636 in the Gregorian calendar. [(贞观十年六月)己卯，崩于立政殿。]
  16. ^ C. P. Fitzgerald (1933). Son of Heaven. Cambridge University Press. pp. 174–. ISBN 978-1-107-49508-1.
  17. ^ Carter Vaughn Findley (11 November 2004). The Turks in World History. Oxford University Press. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-0-19-803939-6.
  18. ^ Marc S. Abramson (31 December 2011). Ethnic Identity in Tang China. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-0-8122-0101-7.
  19. ^ John A.G. Roberts (13 July 2011). A History of China. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-0-230-34411-2.
  20. ^ Kang-i Sun Chang; Stephen Owen (2010). The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature. Cambridge University Press. pp. 273–. ISBN 978-0-521-85558-7.
  21. ^ Volume 197 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Chengqian was deposed on the yiyou day of the 4th month of the 17th year of the Zhenguan era of Taizong's reign. This date corresponds to 29 Apr 643 on the Gregorian calendar. [(贞观十七年四月)乙酉，诏废太子承乾为庶人]
  22. ^ Tan Koon San (15 August 2014). Dynastic China: An Elementary History. The Other Press. pp. 183–. ISBN 978-983-9541-88-5.
  23. ^ ([开元二十四年]秋，八月，...御史大夫李適之，承乾之孙也，以才幹得幸於上，数为承乾论辨；甲戌，追赠承乾恒山愍王。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.214
  24. ^ According to Li Chenqian's tablet (恒山愍王李承乾碑), he was buried at Zhao Mausoleum on the 29th day of the 5th month of the 26th year of the Kai'yuan era, which corresponds to 20 Jun 738 in the Julian calendar (祖以开元廿六年五月廿九日奉敕陪葬昭陵。); the tablet was erected on 17 Jan 739 (粤以开元廿六年岁次戊寅十二月甲子朔四日丁卯建). His epitaph (唐故恒山愍王墓志铭) was also dated 20 Jun 738, and added that he was first buried at a village 18 li northwest of the mausoleum on 2 Jan 738 (开元廿五年十二月八日奉敕官供，陪葬昭陵柏城内，京兆府醴泉县安乐乡普济里东赵村，西北去陵一十八里。).

Bibliography

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