Reason for Decline of Tang Dynasty
Reasons for Decline of Tang Dynasty
There were four reasons leading to Tang's decline, among which the dominance of the eunuchs, the separatist regions of Fanzhen and clique conflicts were internal factors while peasants' uprising was the external factor. First, the dominance of eunuchs during this dynasty was unparalleled in Chinese history, much more rampant than that of Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220) and the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). From the late period of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, the old convention that eunuchs could not be appointed as high officials was broken. At that time, eunuchs' power began to expand. Especially, the celebrated eunuch Gao Lishi reached a position superior to some princes and ministers. In the reign of Emperor Daizong, the notorious eunuch Li Fuguo grasped the military power and controlled the royal power.
Gradually, the power of eunuchs became stronger and stronger. They were able to formulate the national policy, to appoint and remove court officials and to enthrone and depose emperors. As the dominance of eunuchs became serious, the military power of central regime was weakened. Additionally, some wise-minded chancellors were hard to express their ideas. What is more, power struggles between eunuchs and chancellors greatly weakened the ruling of the central regime. Second, the separatist regions of Fanzhen were another major problem in the late period of the Tang Dynasty. Actually, the separatist regions of Fanzhen originated from the set-up of Jiedushi (regional military governors). In order to safeguard the border areas, the emperors used to set up many institutions called Jiedushi at the frontier. After the An Shi Rebellion broke out, the Tang court set up more regional Jiedushi to defend the central regime. With much administrative rights and military power, those Jiedushi gradually turned into many separatist regimes called Fanzhen. In competing for the farmland and labor, battles between Fanzhen and the central court
There were four reasons leading to Tang's decline, among which the dominance of the eunuchs, the separatist regions of Fanzhen and clique conflicts were internal factors while peasants' uprising was the external factor. First, the dominance of eunuchs during this dynasty was unparalleled in Chinese history, much more rampant than that of Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220) and the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). From the late period of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, the old convention that eunuchs could not be appointed as high officials was broken. At that time, eunuchs' power began to expand. Especially, the celebrated eunuch Gao Lishi reached a position superior to some princes and ministers. In the reign of Emperor Daizong, the notorious eunuch Li Fuguo grasped the military power and controlled the royal power.
Gradually, the power of eunuchs became stronger and stronger. They were able to formulate the national policy, to appoint and remove court officials and to enthrone and depose emperors. As the dominance of eunuchs became serious, the military power of central regime was weakened. Additionally, some wise-minded chancellors were hard to express their ideas. What is more, power struggles between eunuchs and chancellors greatly weakened the ruling of the central regime. Second, the separatist regions of Fanzhen were another major problem in the late period of the Tang Dynasty. Actually, the separatist regions of Fanzhen originated from the set-up of Jiedushi (regional military governors). In order to safeguard the border areas, the emperors used to set up many institutions called Jiedushi at the frontier. After the An Shi Rebellion broke out, the Tang court set up more regional Jiedushi to defend the central regime. With much administrative rights and military power, those Jiedushi gradually turned into many separatist regimes called Fanzhen. In competing for the farmland and labor, battles between Fanzhen and the central court