Taishang Huang

Taishang Huang
Chinese 太上皇
Taishang Huangdi
Chinese 太上皇帝

In Chinese history, a Taishang Huang or Taishang Huangdi, is a retired emperor who had, at least in name, abdicated in favor of someone else. Although technically no longer the reigning sovereign, there are instances where the retired emperor continued to exert considerable power, if not more than the reigning emperor.

History

Origin

The title was first used when the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty (Qin Shi Huangdi) bestowed it upon his deceased father, King Zhuangxiang.[1]

Development

Emperor Gaozu of Han had also bestowed this title on his then-living father Liu Taigong.[2] He bestowed it onto his father to express filial piety.[2] It was also intended to preserve the social hierarchy between father and son, as the former was a commoner and the latter was a dynastic founder.[2]

In 301, during the War of the Eight Princes, Sima Lun became the emperor by forcing his puppet Emperor Hui of Jin to become the Taishang Huang.[2] The title had strictly served as an honorific before, but it had become a tool of political infighting over the course of this incident.[1]

In 617, Li Yuan (later Emperor Gaozu of Tang) bestowed the title Taishang Huang upon Emperor Yang of Sui in absentia.[2] In 626 during the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Prince Li Shimin of Tang led his armed men in a coup for the throne.[2][3] During the course of the coup, he succeeded in killing his rival brothers, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji.[3] Within three days, Emperor Gaozu created Li Shimin as his heir.[3] On the ninth day of the eight month, Emperor Gaozu abdicated in favor for his son Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong).[3] He remained as Taishang Huang until his death in 635.[2][3] In 712, Emperor Ruizong of the Tang dynasty retired in favor for his son who became Emperor Xuanzong.[4] In 756, during the An Lushan Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong went into retirement while he was in Shu (present-day Sichuan).[4] His son, who was leading a military campaign in the northeast of Gansu at the time, would ascend the throne as Emperor Suzong.[4]

Another significant occurrence of development was in 399, when Lü Guang of Later Liang abdicated.[4] Lü Guang was old and had become mortally ill, but he wished to secure the transition of imperial power to his designated heir (the eldest son from his main consort) in the presence of another but older son who posed a threat to the legitimate succession.[4] Even though Lü Guang failed in his efforts, this incident was the earliest example where imperial retirement served as a method to secure succession.[4]

Modern usage

In modern Chinese history after 1949, Deng Xiaoping has been called Taishang Huang in a pejorative context because he wielded much of his power without assuming the titles normally taken on by China's paramount leader, and because he belonged to Mao Zedong's generation of leaders but wielded influence over leaders who were a generation below him.[5] The term has also been applied to other Communist Party senior officials without formal titles who were seen as meddling in the affairs of their successors, such as Chen Yun[6] and Jiang Zemin.[7]

List of Taishang Huangs

Instances of Chinese rulers who were granted the title Taishang Huang:

Early eras
Northern and Southern dynasties
Sui and Tang dynasty rulers
  • Emperor Yang (604-618) of the Sui dynasty, who was proclaimed Taishang Huang while his grandson, Yang You, was nominally the emperor. He never personally accepted the title. He was the only Taishang Huang who was the grandfather – not the father – of the reigning emperor.
  • Emperor Gaozu (618-626)[3] who was forced to abdicate in 626 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 635.
  • Wu Zetian (690-705). The only person in Chinese history to have been both Empress Dowager and Taishang Huang. She was buried in accordance to her wishes as an Empress Dowager and Empress Consort to Emperor Gaozong.
  • Emperor Ruizong (684-690, 710-712), who abdicated in 712 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 716.
  • Emperor Xuanzong (712-756), who was forced to abdicate in 756 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 762.
  • Emperor Shunzong (805), who abdicated in 805 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 806, said to be assassinated by eunuchs.
  • Emperor Zhaozong (888-904), who abdicated in 900 and was made Taishang Huang until his restoration in 901.
Yan ruler
  • An Lushan, who was assassinated in 757 by his son and successor An Qingxu, who claimed him to be severely ill and willing to abdicate, honored him Taishang Huang as if he was actually living.
Min ruler
  • Zhuo, who was honored Taishang Huang by his son Zhuo Yanming who was claimed emperor in April 945. In July both Zhuos were killed.
Song dynasty rulers
  • Emperor Huizong (1100-1126), who abdicated in 1126 and was taken into the Jin Dynasty in 1127, died in 1135.
  • Emperor Gaozong (1127-1162), who abdicated in 1162 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 1187.
  • Emperor Xiaozong (1162-1189), who abdicated in 1189 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 1194.
  • Emperor Guangzong (1189-1194), who was forced to abdicate in 1194 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 1200.
Northern barbarian rulers
Later rulers
  • Emperor Yingzong of Ming (1435-1449, 1457-1464) of the Ming dynasty was a Taishang Huang from his capture by the Mongols in 1449 until his return to the throne in 1457. He was the only Taishang Huang who was a brother of the reigning emperor.
  • Qianlong Emperor (1735-1796) of the Qing dynasty, who nominally abdicated and made himself Taishang Huang in 1796 but held on to power until his death in 1799.
  • Xuantong Emperor (1908-1912, 1917) Abdicated twice during and after the Revolution of 1911. Became puppet Emperor of "Manchukuo" from 1934 to 1945 and died in 1967.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Eisenberg, Andrew (2008). Kingship in Early Medieval China. Leiden: Brill. pp. 24–25. ISBN 9789004163812.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Eisenberg, Andrew (2008). Kingship in Early Medieval China. Leiden: Brill. p. 25. ISBN 9789004163812.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wenchsler, Howard J. (1979). "The founding of the T'ang dynasty: Kao-tsu (reign 618–26)". The Cambridge history of China, Volume 3: Sui and T'ang China, 589–906, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 186. ISBN 0-521-21446-7.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eisenberg, Andrew (2008). Kingship in Early Medieval China. Leiden: Brill. p. 26. ISBN 9789004163812.
  5. ↑ "叶剑英与邓小平的恩怨". Duowei History.
  6. ↑ "另一"太上皇"陈云赞军队六四镇压". Canyu.
  7. ↑ "太上皇纷纷亮相，足见中共内斗惨烈 （林保华）". Radio Free Asia. October 11, 2012.
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