An Lushan Rebellion (A.D. 755-763)

The An Lushan Rebellion occurred during the height of the Tang Dynasty and effectively led to the decentralization of the government. It lasted from 755 to 763—eight years in all. In the beginning, Emperor Xuanzong allowed a non-Han Chinese military governor, An Lushan, to gain military power, in part because he fell in love with an imperial consort named Yang Guifei, who enjoyed An Lushan’s company. The emperor’s favor led a group of officials to plot against An Lushan, driving the general to rebel in 755. An Lushan’s troops stormed into Luoyang and Chang’an, the capital, which forced Xuanzong to flee westward and take refuge in present-day Sichuan. Xuanzong’s son had to take over the throne, and though the rebels were put down and the Tang was restored, the dynasty never again enjoyed the same power. Warlords soon controlled different sections of the country, refusing to pay homage to the new, weakened Tang government. The Tang never recovered from the rebellion because both the government and society were weaker in terms of military strength, national unity, and social hierarchy. (Michelle Louie)

Patricia Buckley Ebrey, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996).

Last Modified: November 30, 2004