Tang Gaozu

See also: Gaozu

Gaozu (566 - 635), of its personal name Li Yuan (李淵), was the founder of the Dynastie Tang and reigned of 618 with 626.

The sources are shared on are real role, some allotting an important merit to him, of fine diplomat and at the same time experienced and ambitious governor. Other sources describes it as wait and see advocator and honest, following finally the instructions of wire Li Shimin are dynamic.

In the version of imperial historiography, it is his/her son Li Shimin, the future emperor Taizong, who carried out the armies Li on his behalf, and thus forged the bases of the Empire of Tang. In 618, Li Yuan détrone the small Sui applicant whom it protected and is established Empereur of Tang. The unit of the kingdom remains with completed, and a new era of prosperity started. The Bouddhisme, which had slowly been introduced in China at the first century, became the prevalent religion and was largely adopted by the royal family. It is estimated that Chang' year (current the Xi' year), the capital of the time, was then more the big city of the world.

On the administrative level, an important innovation consisted in entrusting the provinces to military governors (it will be, in the long term, the loss of the dynasty). The central government, copied from that of the Han, was improved by the creation of technical sections entrusted to experts rather than with well-read men. The good performance of the system allowed an increase without precedent of the budget of the State: the population reached the figure of fifty million inhabitants (of which a million for Chang' year).

In 626, Li Shimin forced his/her father to abdicate and became the emperor Taizong.

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