人物生平

早期經歷

據《舊唐書》高祖以周天和元年生於長安，太宗在貞觀八年三月甲戌（初二）上壽，推其應為天和元年三月初二（566年4月7日）生。據《冊府元龜》記載，李淵以北周天和元年十一月丁酉（566年12月21日）生於長安，似有誤。父親李昞，北周安州總管、柱國大將軍，襲封唐國公。李淵七歲，父親去世，李淵世襲為唐國公。

581年，隋文帝逼迫北周靜帝禪讓，李淵任千牛備身（皇帝的禁衛武官），因李淵母親為隋文帝獨孤皇后姐姐，589年隨隋文帝滅陳，後累任譙、隴、岐三州刺史，滎陽郡太守。604年，隋文帝駕崩，遷樓煩太守，隋煬帝大業元年（605年）遷殿內少監；大業二年，除鄭州刺史；大業九年（613年），遷衛尉少卿。是年隋煬帝征高句麗，李淵在懷遠鎮（今遼寧朝陽附近）負責督運。楊玄感之亂，煬帝詔李淵為弘化留守，知關右諸軍事。可見李淵與隋朝宗室關係密切，參與了朝廷的衆多大事，他也趁此機會招納人才，引起煬帝猜忌，李淵懼而以酗酒、受賄等行為「自污」。

大業十一年（615年）李淵任山西河東郡慰撫大使。大業十二年（616年）升為右驍衛將軍。大業十三年（617年）正月遷太原郡留守，7月殺郡丞王威、武牙郎將高君雅，打著勤王定亂，迎回隋天子的旗號正式開始於晉陽縣起兵。晉陽起兵即得到李氏宗族及姻親的響應。他一邊招降叛軍、流寇，一邊派親族迅速進兵，並且藉助突厥始畢可汗的500騎兵進攻隋大興城，于12月攻克。

他擁代王楊侑做傀儡皇帝，遙尊隋煬帝為太上皇，受假黃鉞、使持節、大都督內外諸軍事、大丞相，進封唐王，不久進位相國，加九錫。

建立唐朝

義寧二年（公元618年6月18日），隋煬帝在四月被叛軍宇文化及所弒後，隋恭帝禪讓，李淵稱帝，建立唐朝，隋朝滅亡。李淵開始著手消滅其他諸侯、軍閥，展開唐朝統一戰爭，他的兒女李世民、李建成、李元吉、平陽昭公主、侄子李孝恭、名將李靖、李世勣等人的征討下，用了七年時間，先後消滅薛仁果、薛舉、李軌、宋金剛、劉武周、王世充、竇建德、蕭銑、杜伏威和梁師都等割劇勢力。

最後一個梁師都是在貞觀二年（628年）被平定的，此時他早已經將皇帝位讓給次子李世民了。同時他又利用東突厥和西突厥之間的分裂，維持了北方的邊界，這是他有力量能夠奪取中原的主要條件（參見唐與突厥的戰爭）。

在官制上李淵于武德七年（624年）頒布了唐的官僚制度，基本使用了隋的制度。在農業方面他於武德七年（624年）頒布均田制；對稅捐他也做了調節，減輕了受田農民的負擔。在法律上他廢棄了隋煬帝的許多苛政，頒布了武德律。李淵對唐朝的措施，為唐太宗「貞觀之治」打下了非常重要的基礎。

被迫退位

高祖在位期間，沒有能儘早確立及處理好繼承人問題，雖然他一早立長子李建成為太子，他眼見皇太子李建成與各兒子明爭暗鬥，他卻一再的縱容，圖讓眾子互相制衡並未加以控制，同時次子李世民擁護者眾多，導致太子李建成、李元吉和李世民之間的矛盾激化。

最終李世民先下手為強發動政變，史稱玄武門之變，李建成、李元吉被李世民所殺，李世民的軍隊控制了長安，聲稱是二人作亂伏誅，加上群臣的支持和擁戴，李淵被迫將軍國大事交由李世民處理，而李建成、李元吉不但被追廢為庶人從李氏族譜裡被除去，二人所出諸子也遭誅殺殆盡且皆被除宗籍。

三天後，高祖立已掌握實權的次子李世民為皇太子，三個月後便將帝位內禪給李世民，自己退位為太上皇，貞觀三年，移居弘義宮。

去世

貞觀九年五月初六日（635年），太上皇李淵逝世，享壽六十九歲。死後諡號太武皇帝，廟號高祖，葬在獻陵。唐高宗上元元年（674年）八月，改上諡號為神堯皇帝。唐玄宗天寶十三載（754年）二月，上尊號神堯大聖大光孝皇帝。

領導反隋的疑問

根據《舊唐書》和《新唐書》，兩者都聲稱李淵是受到次子李世民的唆擺才起兵反隋。根據這兩部史書的記載，李世民通過裴寂把李淵引進隋煬帝的晉陽行官，灌醉了李淵，使得李淵酒後與宮女發生了關係，迫使李淵起兵。

反隋應該是李淵本人的意思。孟憲實認為無論從政治影響、軍事經驗、經濟實力還是從社會地位來比較，李世民都無法與李淵相提並論。即便是有人願意結交李世民，也是因為看重了李世民背後的李淵。李世民要結交那些非法的豪傑大俠，沒有背後李淵的政治經濟資源幾乎是不可能的。晉陽起兵的歷史真相是，以李淵為首的軍事政治集團，看到隋朝大勢已去，於是開始謀劃奪取最高權力。這個集團的核心人物當然是李淵，作為李淵的次子，李世民不過是李淵手下的一員得力幹將而已。因為父子關係，李淵信任李世民，李世民很早就參與了晉陽起兵的謀劃，並且承擔某些具體的任務。但是，只有李淵才是主謀這個地位是任何人都無法取代的。」。

宰相

• 李世民（618年－626年尚書令；625年－626年中書令）

• 裴寂（618年－623年尚書右僕射；623年－626年尚書左僕射）

• 劉文靜（618年納言）

• 蕭瑀（618年－620年內史令；620年－623年中書令；623年－626年尚書右僕射）

• 竇威（618年內史令）

• 竇抗（618年納言）

• 陳叔達（618年－620年納言；620年－626年侍中）

• 楊恭仁（619年－620年納言；620年－623年侍中；623年－626年中書令）

• 封德彞（620年－626年中書令）

• 裴矩（624年－625年侍中）

• 李元吉（625年－626年侍中）

• 宇文士及（625年－626年侍中；626年－627年中書令）

• 高士廉（626年－627年侍中）

• 房玄齡（626年－629年中書令）

家庭

世系

李淵的祖父李虎曾為尚書左僕射，封隴西郡公，賜姓大野氏，與宇文泰等共八位柱國大將軍並稱八柱國。宇文泰的家族建立北周後，李虎已經去世，獲封隴西郡公。父親李昞，北周安州總管、柱國大將軍，襲封隴西郡公，于550年加封唐國公，是為唐仁公，追封李虎為唐襄公。李淵七歲喪父，襲封唐國公。

李淵是隋煬帝楊廣的姨表兄弟。北周明帝的明敬皇后、李淵生母元貞太后、隋文帝的文獻皇后分別是西魏八大柱國之一獨孤信的長女、四女、七女。

父系考據

據傳統史料所載，唐朝皇室出自隴西李氏，為李暠第二子李歆的後裔，多稱隴西狄道（隴西郡狄道縣）人，亦可稱隴西成紀（隴西郡成紀縣）人。

由于唐朝皇室以老子後裔自居，崇尚道教，唐初武德九年太史令傅奕上疏抬道抑佛，引發佛道論爭。和尚法琳作《破邪論》《辨証論》反對傅奕。法琳反對唐朝皇室為老子李耳後裔之說，亦與隴西李氏無關，而是拓跋氏後裔，法琳因而觸怒唐太宗，被流放益州而死。宋代朱熹與鄭思肖以李唐閨門失禮家法繆戾，有李唐源自夷狄的說法。

馮承鈞認為李虎的兄弟名為起頭與乞豆，懷疑李淵家族有可能出身胡人。日本學者金井之忠發表〈李唐源流出于夷狄考〉主張李淵家族出身胡人，並提出李淵家族可能源自叱李氏的假說，陳寅恪在〈三論李唐氏族問題〉反對他的說法，舉證李淵先祖李熙出身漢族。劉盼遂與王桐齡考據認為李淵家族應為拓跋氏後裔。劉盼遂之後取消了自己的觀點，但其學說仍引發學界如向達與陳登原等人的討論。因為唐朝先人曾被賜姓大野氏，台灣學者劉學銚認為唐朝皇室有源出高車的可能。中華人民共和國學者蘇日巴達拉哈也主張李淵家族出自高車。

陳寅恪依據唐祖陵在今河北省境，認為李唐出身趙郡李氏，因宇文泰關中本位政策「以關內諸州為其本望」，所以改趙郡郡望為隴西郡望。實際上不是趙郡李氏破落戶，就是廣阿庶姓李氏的假冒牌。姚薇元認同此觀點，並認為近人對于李唐氏族出于異族的舉証雖不無可疑，但終究缺乏實証。

朱希祖經考據認為李熙與李買得不是同一個人，李熙曾作為強宗子弟鎮戍武川，後卒于武川。其子李天錫為避六鎮兵亂，攜父遺骨南遷于趙郡廣阿，因以為家，不久亦卒。其子李虎將父祖合葬，即所謂唐祖陵。李氏並非出身趙郡李氏，而確係為隴西李氏。

之上觀點只是部分近現代學者自己發明之說詞，唐朝官方文獻和外交文書明確自稱本國為「漢」、「漢國」及「大唐」；唐朝民間詩歌亦常稱本民族為「漢人」，有明顯胡漢之別。唐朝政治制度也是以中原王朝式的三省六部制和儒道思想為主，並非遊牧部落制。

胡漢混血

陳寅恪認為李虎家族父系先世雖為漢人，但李淵家族長期與鮮卑貴族通婚，母系有外族血統。這個說法得到錢穆、薩孟武等人的支持，如《劍橋中國史》等著作皆採用這個說法。岑仲勉曾討論繆鳳林支持李唐家族為胡漢混血，他列舉李唐皇族與鮮卑聯婚事跡，但認為血統混合是自古甚多，不值得討論。

家世

唐高祖李淵的祖先

后妃

皇后

• 太穆皇后竇氏（569－613），北周神武郡公竇毅與襄陽公主之女。李淵正妻，生隱太子建成、唐太宗李世民、衛懷王李玄霸，唐朝衛懷王、巢剌王李元吉和平陽昭公主。李淵稱帝前去世，追贈太穆皇后，合葬獻陵。

妃

• 萬貴妃，李淵登基前妾，生楚哀王李智雲，高祖稱帝後代掌後宮。後尊封楚國太妃，陪葬獻陵。

• 尹德妃，父尹阿鼠，高祖晚年寵妃。勾結隱太子建成讒言攻擊李世民。生酆王李元亨。

嬪

• 宇文昭儀（591－634），祖宇文盛，父宇文述，兄宇文士及。生韓王李元嘉、魯王李靈夔。高祖曾欲立為後，固辭不受。於太安宮病逝，追封徐國太妃。

• 貴嬪莫麗芳（587－618），祖南陳三州刺史莫影龍，父高唐郡太守莫孝恭。高祖稱帝前妾，生荊王李元景，因產後病去世，追贈貴嬪。

• 嬪崔商珪（？－636)，武德元年進宮選為寶林。武德六年冊為嬪。生鄧康王李元裕。太宗尊封鄧國太妃，協理後宮，病逝於天霞宮。

• 孫嬪，生漢王李元昌。元昌謀反被誅，孫嬪得到寬恕。

• 楊嬪（602－657），父隋楚國公楊素，兄楊玄感。先入隋宮，後被高祖納為嬪。生江安王李元祥。隨子先封許國太妃，後遷江國太妃。病逝於鄧州。

• 小楊嬪，生舒王李元名。

• 楊貴嬪（？－634），父隋上明郡公楊文紀，高祖退位後隨遷入太安宮，稱太安宮嬪楊氏。

• 張嬪 （？－621），祖張據，父憲部郎中張銳。武德四年薨於別館。有詔贈嬪。葬芷陽縣見子原。與高祖晚年寵妃張婕妤並非同一人。與李元方母張氏是否為同一人，無法考証。

世婦

• 張婕妤，姿色妖媚，高祖晚年最受寵愛，勾結隱太子建成讒言攻擊李世民。與李元方母張氏是否為同一人，無法考証。

• 薛婕妤，隋臨河公薛道衡女，精通經史，唐高宗因受教於薛氏，封二品河東郡夫人，禮敬甚重。後出家為尼。唐高宗麟德元年（664年），薛氏和侄薛元超因與上官儀私下書信來往被削去封號，幽禁于高祖別廟靜安宮。

• 郭婕妤，生徐康王李元禮。

• 劉婕妤，生道王李元慶。尊封道國太妃。

• 張美人，生霍王李元軌。

• 楊美人（？－644），生虢莊王李鳳。尊封虢國太妃。

• 王才人，父隋朝散大夫王靜。生彭思王李元則。尊封彭國太妃。

• 魯才人，生密貞王李元曉。

御妻

• 寶林張寵則（589－645），父敦煌郡書佐張文成，生鄭惠王李元懿，尊封鄭國太妃，病逝於潞州。

• 柳寶林 ，生滕王李元嬰。

其他

• 張氏，生周王李元方。無法考證與張嬪或張婕妤是否為同一人。

• 辛處儉妻，高祖平長安，奪隋朝太子舍人辛處儉妻，寵愛有加，辛處儉改任萬年縣丞。

子女

高祖有二十二個兒子：

• 李建成：隴西郡公唐王世子皇太子除籍息隱王隱太子（母竇皇后）

• 李世民：敦煌郡公秦國公趙國公秦王皇太子唐太宗（母竇皇后）

• 衛懷王李玄霸（母竇皇后）

• 李元吉：姑臧郡公齊王除籍海陵郡王巢剌王（母竇皇后）

• 楚哀王李智雲（母萬貴妃）

• 李元景：趙王荊王（母莫嬪）

• 李元昌：魯王漢王（母孫嬪）

• 酆悼王李元亨（母尹德妃）

• 周王李元方（母張氏）

• 李元禮：鄭王徐康王（母郭婕妤）

• 李元嘉：宋王徐王韓王（母宇文昭儀）

• 李元則：荊王彭思王（母王才人）

• 李元懿：滕王鄭惠王（母張寶林）

• 李元軌：蜀王吳王霍王（母張美人）

• 李鳳豳王虢莊王（母楊美人）

• 李元慶：漢王陳王道孝王（母劉婕妤）

• 李元裕：鄶王鄧康王（母崔嬪）

• 李元名：譙王舒王（母小楊嬪）

• 李靈夔：魏王燕王魯王（母宇文昭儀）

• 李元祥：許王江安王（母楊嬪）

• 密貞王李元曉（母魯才人）

• 滕王李元嬰（母柳寶林）

高祖有十九個女兒，史書未記錄具體排行，見于個人記載：

• 長沙公主（下嫁馮少師）

• 襄陽公主（下嫁隋文帝外甥孫竇誕，為唐玄宗之外曾祖父母）

• 平陽公主（第三女，謚號「昭」，稱平陽昭公主，母竇皇后，下嫁柴紹）

• 高密公主（第四女，唐太宗姐，下嫁長孫孝政，又嫁段綸）

• 長廣公主（唐太宗姐，先封為桂陽公主，下嫁趙慈景，又嫁楊師道）

• 房陵公主（第六女，先封為永嘉公主，下嫁竇奉節，又嫁賀蘭僧伽）

• 常樂公主（第七女，下嫁趙瑰）

• 九江公主（下嫁執失思力）

• 廬陵公主（下嫁喬師望）

• 南昌公主（下嫁蘇勖）

• 安平公主（下嫁楊思敬）

• 淮南公主（李澄霞，第十二女，下嫁封道言）

• 真定公主（下嫁崔恭禮）

• 衡陽公主（下嫁阿史那社爾）

• 丹陽公主（下嫁薛萬徹）

• 臨海公主（下嫁裴律師）

• 館陶公主（下嫁崔宣慶）

• 萬春公主（先封為萬春公主，後來改封長沙公主，下嫁豆盧懷讓）

• 安定公主（先封為千金公主，下嫁溫挺，又嫁鄭敬玄），被武則天收為養女。

死後追贈的封號以粗體字表示。

軼事典故

李淵善於騎射，與其妻竇皇后的成親曾經為一時佳話，竇氏未嫁之時為貴族，樣貌豔麗，明艷照人，故其父北周大將竇毅不肯輕易許嫁女兒。故而舉辦射箭之賽，比武招親，要求來求親的公子們，在一「雀屏」（繪有孔雀的屏風）上射箭，以射中孔雀為標準，李淵憑藉準確的目力與勁道，於數步外射箭，竟然成功射中「孔雀的眼睛」，而娶得竇氏，這段佳話流傳後世成為成語「雀屏中選」。今陝西省西安市碑林區，一街道名為「竇府巷」，以竇姓府第在此而得名，亦有傳說此「竇府」即竇毅之府。

影視作品

• 《隋唐風雲》由鮑漢琳飾演。

• 《貞觀之治》由馬精武飾演。

• 《開創盛世》由劉文治飾演。

• 《大明宮》由李琦飾演。

• 《傻小李元霸》由姚櫓飾演。

• 《亂世桃花》由鮑國安飾演。

• 《隋唐英雄傳》由杜志國飾演。

• 《隋唐英雄》由杜志國飾演。

• 《隋唐演義》由王文友飾演。

• 《隋唐演義》由寇振海飾演。

• 《風塵三俠之紅拂女》由侯勇飾演。

• 《秦王李世民》由張名煜飾演。

• 《秦王李世民》由岳躍利飾演。

• 《俠骨風流》由丁笑宜飾演。

• 《新少林寺》由陳友旺飾演。

• 《千古風流一壇醋》由戈輝飾演。

• 《隋唐群英會》由黎漢持飾演。

• 《決戰玄武門》由張英才飾演。

• 《大運河》由劉兆銘飾演。

• 《大唐雙龍傳》由劉江飾演。

• 《天子尋龍》由李龍基飾演。

• 《唐太宗李世民》由周紹棟飾演。

• 《大唐風雲錄》由康銘惠飾演。

• 《天師鐘馗》由黃世南飾演。

• 《閻羅傳奇》由湯文濤飾演。

動畫

《隋唐英雄傳》(2003年)

備註

Early life and career

According to the official genealogy of the Tang ruling house, Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the Han Chinese founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. After Western Liang's destruction, Li Gao's grandson Li Zhong'Er (李重耳) served as a Northern Wei official, but for several generations after that, Li Yuan's ancestors had only minor military titles. Li Yuan's paternal grandfather Li Hu (李虎) served as a major general under Western Wei's paramount general Yuwen Tai, and was created the Duke of Longxi and given the Xianbei surname Daye (大野). Li Hu died before Yuwen Tai's son Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou founded Northern Zhou, but was posthumously created the Duke of Tang after Northern Zhou's founding. His son and Li Yuan's father Li Bing (李昞), of Han ethnicity, inherited the title of the Duke of Tang and married one of the Dugu sisters and daughter of the prominent Xianbei general Dugu Xin. Li Bing died in 572, and Li Yuan inherited the title of Duke of Tang, a title he continued to hold after the throne was seized by Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian) in 581, establishing Sui Dynasty, as Emperor Wen's wife, Empress Dugu, was an aunt of his. At some point, he married Lady Dou, a daughter of Dou Yi (竇毅) the Duke of Shenwu and Northern Zhou's Princess Xiangyang (Yuwen Tai's daughter) as his wife and duchess.

During Emperor Wen's reign (581–604), Li Yuan served three terms as a provincial governor. Early in the reign of Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang, Li Yuan served as commandery governor (as Emperor Yang converted provinces into commanderies), but was later recalled to serve as a junior minister within Emperor Yang's administration. When Emperor Yang carried out his second campaign against Goguryeo in 613, Li Yuan was in charge of part of the logistics operation. When the general Yang Xuangan rebelled near the eastern capital Luoyang, Emperor Yang commissioned Li Yuan as a general and made him be in charge of the operations west of the Tong Pass, although Yang Xuangan's rebellion eventually did not involve that region. Li Yuan took the opportunity to recruit talented people to his staff. Later that year, when Emperor Yang summoned him to his presence, he declined, citing ill health—an excuse that Emperor Yang did not believe, as he questioned Li Yuan's niece, Consort Wang (Emperor Yang's concubine), "Will he die?". In fear, Li Yuan took up drinking and receiving bribes to try to show Emperor Yang that he did not have great ambitions. In 615, Emperor Yang placed him in charge of the operations against agrarian rebels in the Hedong (河東) region (roughly modern Shanxi), but recalled him in 616. Later that year, Emperor Yang put him in charge of the key city of Taiyuan (太原, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi).

Rebellion against Emperor Yang of Sui

Emperor Yang grew dissatisfied with Li Yuan and Wang Rengong (王仁恭), the governor of Mayi Commandery (馬邑, roughly modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), over their inability to stop incursions by the Eastern Turks (Tujue) and the growing strength of agrarian rebels—particularly the Turk-supported Liu Wuzhou, the Dingyang Khan, who soon rose against Wang and killed him and captured Emperor Yang's secondary palace near Taiyuan. Li Yuan also became fearful due to prophecies circulating throughout the empire that the next emperor would be named Li—and because Emperor Yang had killed another official, Li Hun (李渾) and his clan over his fears that Li Hun's nephew Li Min (李敏, the son-in-law of Emperor Yang's sister Yang Lihua, the Princess Leping) had imperial ambitions.

Traditional accounts, compiled during the reign of Li Yuan's second son by the Duchess Dou, Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong), emphasize the latter's initiative and major role in instigating his father's rebellion. According to these, Li Shimin was secretly planning rebellion against Sui rule with Pei Ji, the majordomo of Emperor Yang's secondary palace, and with Liu Wenjing, the magistrate of Jinyang County (晉陽, i.e., Taiyuan), but at first did not reveal their plans to Li Yuan. At Li Shimin's urging, Pei Ji, who had also earlier, against regulations, allowed Li Yuan to have sexual relations with some of late Emperor Wen's imperial concubines, persuaded Li Yuan that it was necessary for him to rebel. Modern researchers, however, have concluded that the initiative for the revolt came from Li Yuan himself.

Li Yuan began to gather forces from the region, claiming that they were necessary to defend against the Turks, which drew suspicions from his deputies Wang Wei (王威) and Gao Junya (高君雅). Li Yuan, afraid that Wang and Gao would act against him first, then used a Turkish attack as an excuse to falsely claim that Wang and Gao were working in concert with the Turkish khagan, Shibi Khan (Ashina Duojishi), and had them executed. He sent secret messengers to Hedong to recall his sons Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji (both by Duchess Dou) and Li Zhiyun (李智雲, by his concubine Lady Wan), whom he had left there to watch over his household, and the capital Chang'an (modern Xi'an) to recall his daughter (the future Princess Pingyang) and her husband Chai Shao (柴紹). Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, leaving Li Zhiyun at Hedong, soon met with Chai, and they arrived together at Taiyuan. Li Yuan's daughter, believing it would be difficult for her to flee with Chai, chose to hide instead.

Once Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and Chai arrived at Taiyuan, Li Yuan formally declared his rebellion, but maintained the guise of a Sui loyalist and declared that his intention was simply to install on the throne Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You, the Prince of Dai, who was then at Chang'an, and honor Emperor Yang as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). Li Yuan first secured his northern flank by contacting Shibi Khan, offering tribute, and received men and horses in exchange. He put Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin in charge of his army and, leaving Li Yuanji in charge at Taiyuan, advanced south. Meanwhile, the Sui officials at Hedong arrested Li Zhiyun and delivered him to Chang'an, where he was executed.

His daughter Pingyang sold her possessions to raise an army for him. She persuaded several other leaders to fight under her banner. They took several towns and her army swelled until she had 70,000 troops under her command.

Meanwhile, Li Yuan wrote another rebel leader, Li Mi the Duke of Wei, who was near Luoyang, trying to see if Li Mi would be willing to follow him, but Li Mi, believing in his own strength, had his secretary Zu Junyan (祖君彥) write Li Yuan for him in this way:

Li Yuan was dismayed but, not wanting to make another enemy, wrote back humbly:

Li Mi was pleased with Li Yuan's response, believing that Li Yuan was willing to support him, and from that point on, Li Mi and Li Yuan often exchanged messengers. Li Yuan's campaign against Chang'an thus went without opposition from Li Mi. Meanwhile, however, when Li Yuan arrived near Hedong, his army was bogged down by the weather, and with food running out, there were rumors that Eastern Tujue and Liu Wuzhou would attack Taiyuan. Li Yuan initially ordered retreat, but at the earnest opposition by Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, continued to advance. After defeating Sui forces at Huoyi (霍邑, also in modern Yuncheng), he decided to leave a small contingent to watch over Hedong while advancing across the Yellow River into Guanzhong (i.e., the Chang'an region). Once he did, he headed for Chang'an himself, while sending Li Jiancheng to capture the territory around the Tong Pass region to prevent Sui forces at Luoyang from reinforcing Chang'an and Li Shimin north of the Wei River to capture territory there. Meanwhile, his daughter had also risen in rebellion in support of him, and she was able to gather a sizable army and capture some cities. She joined forces with Li Shimin and her husband Chai Shao. Soon, Li Yuan reconsolidated his forces and put Chang'an under siege. In winter 617, he captured Chang'an and declared Yang You emperor (as Emperor Gong). He had himself made regent (with the title of grand chancellor) and created the Prince of Tang. (Meanwhile, most of Sui territory did not recognize Yang You as emperor and continued to recognize Emperor Yang as emperor and not as retired emperor.) He sent his nephew Li Xiaogong south, and Li Xiaogong was able to persuade the Sui cities in modern southern Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Chongqing to submit.

Establishment of Tang and gradual unification

In spring 618, Emperor Yang was killed at Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) in a coup led by the general Yuwen Huaji. When the news reached Chang'an, Li Yuan had Yang You yield the throne to him, becoming Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty . He restored much of the institutions of Sui's first ruler, Emperor Wen, reversing a number of changes that Emperor Yang made. He created Yang You the Duke of Xi, Li Jiancheng, his oldest son, was named crown prince, while Li Shimin was made the Prince of Qin and Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi. Meanwhile, the Sui officials at Luoyang declared another grandson of Emperor Yang, Yang You's brother Yang Tong, the Prince of Yue, as emperor, and refused to recognize the regime change in Chang'an.

Emperor Gaozu's rule immediately faced a major challenge from Xue Ju, an agrarian leader who had declared himself the Emperor of Qin. During the fall of 618, Xue took advantage of Li Shimin's illness to defeat an army commanded by Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing at Qianshui Plain (in modern Xianyang, Shanxi) and approach Chang'an. In response, Gaozu tried to enter an alliance with Li Gui, the Prince of Liang, between whose domain and the Tang Xue's Qin state was located, writing Li Gui and referring to him as cousin. Li Gui briefly submitted to Gaozu. Meanwhile, before he could attack Chang'an, Xue Ju died of illness and was succeeded by his son Xue Rengao, who was a capable commander but who had alienated his generals because of his cruelty. Li Shimin was soon able to attack Xue Rengao at Gaozhi (高墌, in modern Xianyang as well), and force Xue Rengao to surrender.

Meanwhile, Li Mi, having been defeated earlier in the year in a surprise attack (at the Battle of Yanshi) by the Sui general Wang Shichong, fled to Tang territory and submitted to Gaozu. Li Mi's general Xu Shiji, who controlled a major part of Li Mi's former territory, also submitted, and Emperor Gaozu, impressed with Xu's faithfulness to Li Mi, bestowed the imperial surname of Li on Xu. Gaozu created Li Mi the Duke of Xing, but only made him the Minister of Feasts, a post that Li Mi viewed as below his stature. Around New Year 619, Li Mi requested Emperor Gaozu's permission to head east to persuade some of his former subordinates to submit to Tang, but once he left Chang'an, planned to restore his independence. He was ambushed and killed by the Tang general Sheng Yanshi (盛彥師).

In spring 619, Wang Shichong at Luoyang had Yang Tong yield the throne to him, ending the Sui dynasty and establishing a new state of Zheng.

Around the same time, Li Gui, while stating that he wished to be a Tang subject, refused the Tang creation of Prince of Liang, instead declaring himself the Emperor of Tang. In summer 619, Li Gui's official An Xinggui (安興貴), formerly a Tang official, rebelled against Li Gui and captured him, submitting to Tang. Gaozu executed Li Gui and incorporated his domain into Tang. Also around the same time, the rebel leader Du Fuwei, who controlled the modern southern Anhui, submitted to Tang, and Gaozu also bestowed the imperial surname of Li on him, creating him the Prince of Wu. Similarly, Luo Yi, who controlled the modern Beijing region, submitted, was bestowed the imperial surname of Li, and was created the Prince of Yan.

Meanwhile, Tang was facing another serious threat—Liu Wuzhou, now determined to march south against Tang. Emperor Gaozu sent Pei Ji against Liu's advancing army, but Pei was defeated by Liu, who then put Taiyuan under siege. Li Yuanji fled back to Chang'an, and much of modern Shanxi was seized by Liu. Emperor Gaozu then sent Li Shimin against Liu, and by summer 620, Li Shimin had defeated Liu, forcing him to flee to the Eastern Turks. Liu's territory was incorporated into Tang. Around the same time, however, Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia made a major offensive against the cities that had submitted to Tang in modern Hebei and Henan, north of the Yellow River, seizing nearly all of them and taking Emperor Gaozu's cousin Li Shentong (李神通) the Prince of Huai'an, Emperor Gaozu's sister the Princess Tong'an, and Li Shiji's father Li Gai (李蓋) captive. With Li Gai in Dou's custody, Li Shiji surrendered to Dou as well. In 620, Li Shiji, in association with another Tang general who surrendered to Dou, Li Shanghu (李商胡), plotted to ambush Dou, but the plot was discovered; Li Shanghu was killed, and Li Shiji fled back to Tang.

In 620, Li Fuwei captured much of the territory of another agrarian ruler, Li Zitong, the Emperor of Wu, in the lower Yangtze River region, in the name of Tang Dynasty. Li Zitong, in turn, defeated and took over the territory of Shen Faxing the Prince of Liang, roughly modern Zhejiang.

After Li Shimin defeated Liu, he started a campaign against Wang's Zheng state in fall 620. He initially could not decisively defeat Zheng, but by spring 621 had put the Zheng capital Luoyang under a tight siege, although he was not able to capture it. Wang sought aid from Dou. The latter agreed, concerned that a Tang victory over Zheng would also mean his own demise, but at the same time was eager to exploit the weakness of the Zheng and claim its domains for himself. Emperor Gaozu was initially fearful that Dou and Wang would be able to sandwich Li Shimin's forces between them and ordered Li Shimin to retreat, but upon Li Shimin's petition changed his mind and permitted Li Shimin to remain in the Luoyang region. Li Shimin, leaving Li Yuanji in charge of the siege of Luoyang, advanced and took up position at Hulao Pass. In summer 621, the Tang and Xia forces engaged at Hulao, and Li Shimin defeated Dou, capturing him. Despairing, Wang also surrendered, and most of the Zheng territory was seized by the Tang. Xia territory was also seized by Tang, but after Emperor Gaozu executed Dou, Dou's general Liu Heita rose against the Tang and seized most of the former Xia territory, while Xu Yuanlang, a rebel leader who had previously submitted to Zheng, also rose in revolt, occupying the modern Shandong region.

Also in 621, Li Xiaogong defeated Xiao Xian the Emperor of Liang, who had controlled the modern Hubei, Hunan, and Guangxi region, forcing Xiao Xian to surrender. On another front, Li Fuwei's lieutenant Fu Gongshi defeated Li Zitong, forcing him to surrender as well. Liang and Wu territory were seized by Tang.

Meanwhile, while not as noted as Emperor Gao of Han's killing of Han Xin and Peng Yue, historians have nevertheless noted that some contributors to Emperor Gaozu's establishment of Tang were wrongly killed by him or killed based on fairly little evidence of wrongdoing:

• Liu Wenjing, in 619, on accusation that he engaged sorcerers.

• Emperor Gaozu's cousin Dugu Huai'en (獨孤懷恩), in 620, on accusation of treason.

• Li Zhongwen (李仲文) the Duke of Zhenxiang, in 620, on accusation of collaboration with Eastern Tujue.

• Liu Shirang (劉世讓) the Duke of Yingyang, in 623, on accusation of collaboration with Eastern Tujue.

Struggle between sons and the Xuanwu Gate Incident

In spring 622, Li Shimin defeated Liu Heita, forcing him to flee to the Eastern Turks, but Liu Heita soon returned with Turkish reinforcements and killed Emperor Gaozu's nephew Li Daoxuan (李道玄) the Prince of Huaiyang in battle, again seizing former Xia territory, although by this point Li Shimin and Li Yuanji had also defeated Xu Yuanlang and reduced his territory to a few cities.

Meanwhile, an intense rivalry had developed between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, as while Li Jiancheng had some contributions toward Tang's reunification of China, Li Shimin had been the one defeating and capturing the major rivals Xue Rengao, Liu Wuzhou, Dou Jiande, and Wang Shichong, causing him to possess the greater reputation among the army. Li Yuanji, who was also often relied on by Emperor Gaozu as a general, supported Li Jiancheng in this rivalry, and often pushed Li Jiancheng toward a more hardline position against Li Shimin, wanting to be crown prince when Li Jiancheng would become emperor. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji had better relations with Emperor Gaozu's favored young concubines than Li Shimin did (as their mother Duchess Dou had died before Tang's establishment), and those concubines helped rehabilitate Li Jiancheng's standing before Emperor Gaozu, causing him to no longer consider making Li Shimin crown prince instead, as he considered at one point.

By winter 622, Liu Heita posed the only remaining major threat against Tang rule. At the suggestion of his staff members Wang Gui and Wei Zheng, who argued that Li Jiancheng needed some victories himself to establish his reputation, Li Jiancheng volunteered to command the army against Liu Heita. Emperor Gaozu thus sent Li Jiancheng, assisted by Li Yuanji. Around the new year 623, with Liu's forced bogged down while attacking Tang's Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan, Hebei), Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji engaged him at Guantao (館陶, in modern Handan as well), crushing him. Liu fled north toward the Eastern Turks, but was ambushed and captured by his own official Zhuge Dewei (諸葛德威), who delivered him to Li Jiancheng. Li Jiancheng executed Liu. Around the same time, Xu was killed in flight. Meanwhile, Lin Shihong the Emperor of Chu, who had one point controlled modern Jiangxi and Guangdong, had died, and his followers scattered. China was by this point completely unified by Tang except for the domain of Liang Shidu the Emperor of Liang, who controlled modern northern Shaanxi and western Inner Mongolia, although, with Li Fuwei at Chang'an, Fu Gongshi rebelled in 623 and declared himself the Emperor of Song. Fu's rebellion, however, was quelled by Li Xiaogong in 624.

Meanwhile, the rivalry between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin intensified. In 624, Li Jiancheng requisitioned a number of soldiers from the general Li Yi the Prince of Yan, to supplement his guard corps, against Emperor Gaozu's regulations. When this was revealed to Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Gaozu rebuked Li Jiancheng and exiled his guard commander Keda Zhi (可達志). When, subsequently, Li Jiancheng nevertheless requested the commandant at Qing Prefecture (慶州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu), Yang Wen'gan (楊文幹), to conscript troops, presumably to guard against Li Shimin, the officers Erzhu Huan (爾朱煥) and Qiao Gongshan (橋公山) informed Emperor Gaozu that Li Jiancheng was encouraging Yang to start a rebellion so that they could seize power together. Emperor Gaozu, then at Renzhi Palace (仁智宮, in modern Tongchuan, Shaanxi), was incensed, and summoned Li Jiancheng, then at Chang'an, to Renzhi Palace. Li Jiancheng briefly flirted the idea of occupying Chang'an and not accepting the order, but eventually reported to Renzhi Palace to request forgiveness. Emperor Gaozu put him under arrest. When Yang heard this, Yang rebelled, and Emperor Gaozu, after promising Li Shimin that he would be made crown prince, sent Li Shimin to attack Yang. (Under Emperor Gaozu's promise, Li Jiancheng would be removed as crown prince and created the Prince of Shu instead. He would then send Li Jiancheng to the modern Sichuan region.) Once Li Shimin left, however, Li Yuanji, Emperor Gaozu's concubines, and the chancellor Feng Deyi, all spoke on Li Jiancheng's behalf, and Emperor Gaozu changed his mind, released Li Jiancheng, and allowed him to return to Chang'an and remain as crown prince. Instead, Emperor Gaozu only blamed the discord between his sons on Li Jiancheng's staff members Wang Gui and Wei Ting (韋挺), and Li Shimin's staff member Du Yan, exiling them. Yang was subsequently assassinated by his own subordinates.

Another problem that Emperor Gaozu faced was constant Eastern Turkish incursions. Emperor Gaozu seriously considered burning Chang'an to the ground and moving the capital to Fancheng (樊城, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei), a suggestion that Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, and the chancellor Pei Ji agreed with. Li Shimin opposed, however, and the plan was not carried out. Meanwhile, Li Shimin himself was sending his confidants to Luoyang to build up personal control of the army there. After an incident in which Li Shimin suffered a severe case of food poisoning after feasting at Li Jiancheng's palace—an event that both Emperor Gaozu and Li Shimin apparently interpreted as an assassination attempt—Emperor Gaozu considered sending Li Shimin to guard Luoyang to prevent further conflict, but Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, after consulting each other, believed that this would only give Li Shimin an opportunity to build up his personal power there, and therefore opposed it. Emperor Gaozu therefore did not carry out the plan.

By 626, Li Shimin was fearful that he would be killed by Li Jiancheng, and his staff members Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Zhangsun Wuji were repeatedly encouraging Li Shimin to attack Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji first—while Wei Zheng was encouraging Li Jiancheng to attack Li Shimin first. Li Jiancheng persuaded Emperor Gaozu to remove Fang and Du, as well as Li Shimin's trusted guard officers Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie (程知節), from Li Shimin's staff. Zhangsun, who remained on Li Shimin's staff, continued to try to persuade Li Shimin to attack first.

In summer 626, the Eastern Turkish khaganate was making another attack, and under Li Jiancheng's suggestion, Emperor Gaozu, instead of sending Li Shimin to resist the Turks as he first was inclined, decided to send Li Yuanji instead. Li Yuanji was given command of much of the army previously under Li Shimin's control, further troubling Li Shimin, who believed that with the army in Li Yuanji's hands, he would be unable to resist an attack. Li Shimin had Yuchi summon Fang and Du back to his mansion secretly, and then on one night submitted an accusation to Emperor Gaozu that Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were committing adultery with Emperor Gaozu's concubines. Emperor Gaozu, in response, issued summonses to Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji for the next morning, convening the senior officials Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and Chen Shuda to examine Li Shimin's accusations. As Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji approached the central gate leading to Emperor Gaozu's palace, Xuanwu Gate (玄武門), Li Shimin carried out the ambush he had set. He personally fired an arrow that killed Li Jiancheng. Subsequently, Yuchi killed Li Yuanji. Li Shimin's forces entered the palace and, under the intimidation of Li Shimin's forces, Emperor Gaozu agreed to create Li Shimin crown prince. Meanwhile, Li Shimin accused the late Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji of plotting treason, posthumously demoted them to commoners and had their sons all executed as well, with Emperor Gaozu unable to oppose the action. Two months later, Emperor Gaozu passed the throne to Li Shimin (as Emperor Taizong).

As retired emperor

Emperor Gaozu, as retired emperor, did not appear to try to exert much influence in the reign of his son Emperor Taizong, and not much was recorded about his activities. Indeed, Emperor Taizong, almost immediately, began reversing some of his policies, including his policies of creating many relatives to be imperial princes (which Emperor Taizong reversed later in 626, reducing the ranks of most of those princes to dukes) and Emperor Gaozu's gathering of many ladies in waiting (which Emperor Taizong reversed in 628, releasing about 3,000 ladies in waiting from service, although Emperor Taizong himself, later in his reign, appeared to have gathered as many if not more).

In 629, Emperor Gaozu moved from the main palace, Taiji Palace (太極殿) to the subsidiary Hongyi Palace (弘義宮), which was then renamed Da'an Palace (大安宮). Only then was Emperor Taizong able to move from the crown prince's palace to Taiji Palace.

In 630, when Emperor Gaozu, who had been submitting tribute to the Eastern Turks throughout his reign, heard that Emperor Taizong had sent the general Li Jing to defeat and capture the Turkish khagan Jiali Khan (Ashina Duobi), commented, "Gaozu of Han was trapped Baideng (白登, in modern Datong, Shanxi) in 200 BCE by Xiongnu forces and could not avenge himself. Now my son can destroy Tujue. I have entrusted the empire to the right person, and what do I have to worry about?" He subsequently summoned a number of princes and princesses, along with high level officials, to celebrate the victory, playing the pipa himself at the celebration and having the guests dance to it.

As Chang'an was often hot during the summer, Emperor Taizong often invited Emperor Gaozu to go with him to Jiucheng Palace (九成宮, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), to avoid the heat during the summer. However, as Sui's Emperor Wen had died there (which was named Renshou Palace (仁壽宮) during Sui Dynasty), Emperor Gaozu did not want to visit Jiucheng Palace. Rather, in 634, Emperor Taizong began to construct another summer palace, Daming Palace (大明宮), to serve as Emperor Gaozu's summer palace, but Emperor Gaozu fell ill before it was completed, and he never visited Daming Palace. He died in spring 635.

Era name

• Wude (武德 wǔ dé) 618–626

Chancellors during reign

• Li Shimin (618–626)

• Pei Ji (618–626)

• Liu Wenjing (618)

• Xiao Yu (618–626)

• Dou Wei (618)

• Dou Kang (618)

• Chen Shuda (618–626)

• Yang Gongren (619–626)

• Feng Deyi (620–626)

• Pei Ju (624–625)

• Yuwen Shiji (625–626)

• Gao Shilian (626)

• Fang Xuanling (626)

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Taimu, of the Dou clan of Henan (太穆皇后 河南竇氏; 569–613)

　• Li Jiancheng, Crown Prince Yin (隱皇太子 李建成; 589–626), first son

　• Princess Pingyangzhao (平陽昭公主; d. 623), third daughter

　　• Married Chai Shao, Duke Huo (d. 638), and had issue (two sons)

　• Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong (太宗 李世民; 598–649), second son

　• Li Xuanba, Prince Weihuai (衛懷王 李玄霸; 599–614), third son

　• Li Yuanji, Prince Chaola (巢剌王 李元吉; 603–626), fourth son

• Noble Consort, of the Wan clan (貴妃 萬氏)

　• Li Zhiyun, Prince Chu'ai (楚哀王 李智雲; 605–617), fifth son

　• Princess Changsha (長沙公主)

　　• Married Feng Shaoshi of Changle (長樂 馮少師)

• Virtuous Consort, of the Yin clan (德妃 尹氏)

　• Li Yuanheng, Prince Fengdao (酆悼王 李元亨; 619–632), eighth son

• First Imperial Concubine of the Yuwen clan (昭儀 宇文氏)

　• Li Yuanjia, Prince Han (韓王 李元嘉; 620–688), 11th son

　• Li Lingkui, Prince Lu (魯王 李靈夔; 625–688), 19th son

• Noble Imperial Concubine of the Mo clan (貴嬪 莫氏; 597–618), personal name Lifang (麗芳)

　• Li Yuanjing, Prince Jing (荊王 李元景; 618–653), sixth son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Sun clan (嬪 孫氏)

　• Li Yuanchang, Prince Han (漢王 李元昌; 619–643), seventh son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Cui clan of Boling (嬪 博陵崔氏; d. 636), personal name Shanggui (商珪)

　• Li Yuanyu, Prince Dengkang (鄧康王 李元裕; 624–665), 17th son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Yang clan of Hongnong (嬪 弘農楊氏; 602–658)

　• Li Yuanxiang, Prince Jiang'an (江安王 李元祥; 626–680), 20th son

• Imperial Concubine, of the Yang clan (嬪 楊氏)

　• Li Yuanming, Prince Shu (舒王 李元名; 624–689), 18th son

• Fairness Lady, of the Zhang clan (婕妤 張氏)

　• Li Yuanfang, Prince Zhou (周王 李元方; 619–629), ninth son

• Fairness Lady, of the Guo clan (婕妤 郭氏)

　• Li Yuanli, Prince Xukang (徐康王 李元禮; 619–672), tenth son

• Fairness Lady, of the Liu clan (婕妤 劉氏)

　• Li Yuanqing, Prince Daoxiao (道孝王 李元慶; 623–664), 16th son

• Beauty, of the Zhang clan (美人 張氏)

　• Li Yuangui, Prince Huo (霍王 李元軌; 622–688), 14th son

• Beauty, the Yang clan (美人 楊氏; d. 644)

　• Li Feng, Prince Guozhuang (虢莊王 李鳳; 622–675), 15th son

• Talented Lady, of the Wang clan (才人 王氏; 596–662)

　• Li Yuanze, Prince Pengsi (彭思王 李元則; 620–651), 12th son

• Talented Lady, of the Lu clan (才人 魯氏)

　• Li Yuanxiao, Prince Mizhen (密貞王 李元曉; 628–676), 21st son

• Treasured Lady, of the Zhang clan (寶林 張氏; 589–645), personal name Chongze (寵則)

　• Li Yuanyi, Prince Zhenghui (鄭惠王 李元懿; 621–673), 13th son

• Treasured Lady, of the Liu clan (寶林 柳氏)

　• Li Yuanying, Prince Teng (滕王 李元嬰; 630–684), 22nd son

• Unknown

　• Princess Xiangyang (襄陽公主)

　　• Married Dou Dan of Henan, Duke Shen (河南 竇誕; 580–648), the third son of Dou Kang, in 617, and had issue (two sons, one daughter)

　• Princess Gaomi (高密公主; d. 655), fourth daughter

　　• Married Zhangsun Xiaozheng of Henan (河南 長孫孝政), and had issue (one daughter)

　　• Married Duan Lun, Prince Jinchang (段綸; d. 642), and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　• Princess Changguang (長廣公主; d. 648)

　　• Married Zhao Cijing of Tianshui, Duke Kaihua (天水 趙慈景; d. 618)

　　• Married Yang Shidao of Hongnong, Duke Ande (弘農 楊師道; d. 647) in 622, and had issue (one daughter)

　• Princess Fangling (房陵公主; 619–673), sixth daughter

　　• Married Dou Fengjie of Henan, Duke Zan (河南 竇奉節) in 630, and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　　• Married Helan Sengjia, Baron Tonghua (賀蘭僧伽), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Changle (常樂公主; d. 688), seventh daughter

　　• Married Zhao Gui (趙瑰; d. 688)

　• Princess Jiujiang (九江公主), eighth daughter

　　• Married Zhishi Sili, Duke An (執失思力)

　• Princess Luling (廬陵公主), ninth daughter

　　• Married Qiao Shiwang, Viscount Xiangyi (喬師望)

　• Princess Nanchang (南昌公主)

　　• Married Su Xu (蘇勗)

　• Princess Anping (安平公主), 11th daughter

　　• Married Yang Sijing of Hongnong (弘農 楊思敬)

　• Princess Huainan (淮南公主; 622–690), personal name Chengxia (澄霞), 12th daughter

　　• Married Feng Daoyan of Bohai, Duke Mi (渤海 封道言; 616–699), a son of Feng Lun, in 638

　• Princess Zhending (真定公主), 13th daughter

　　• Married Cui Gongli of Boling (博陵 崔恭禮)

　• Princess Hengyang (衡陽公主), 14th daughter

　　• Married Ashina She'er, Duke Bi (阿史那社爾; 609–655), a son of Ashina Xichun, in 636

　• Princess Danyang (丹陽公主), 15th daughter

　　• Married Xue Wanche of Hedong, Duke Wu'an (河東 薛萬徹; d. 653) in 644

　• Princess Linhai (臨海公主), 16th daughter

　　• Married Pei Lüshi of Hedong, Duke Hedong (河東 裴律師), the second son of Pei Ji

　• Princess Guantao (館陶公主), 17th daughter

　　• Married Cui Xuanqing (崔宣慶)

　• Princess Changsha (長沙公主; d. 724)

　　• Married Doulu Huairang of Changli, Duke Rui (昌黎 豆盧懷讓), and had issue (one son, one daughter)

　• Princess Anding (安定公主)

　　• Married Wen Ting (溫挺), the second son of Wen Yanbo

　　• Married Zheng Jingxuan of Xingyang (滎陽 鄭敬玄), and had issue (one son)

Ancestry