Victor Cunrui Xiong holds a Ph.D. in Asian History from the Australian National University. He taught history at the University of Iowa and is now a professor of history at Western Michigan University. He is the author of Heavenly Empress, Heavenly Khan, From Peasant to Emperor, and Sui-Tang Chang’an, and appears in Man Made Marvels: China’s Forgotten City, a documentary by NHNZ and Discovery Channel, which is in part based on his book on Chang’an.

Du You

Foreword

Part I Ascent (710–713)

1. Taiping

  Meeting in Pingkang Ward

  Li Chengqi

  Yao and Song

  Zhang Yue

  Double Moon

2. Longji and Taiping

  The Regent

  Gao Lishi

  The Comet

  Coronation

  External Affairs

  The Taiping Gang

  The Palace City

  Taiping

3. Empress Wang

  Father and Brother

  Concerns in the Rear Palace

4. Chief Ministers

  Hunting

  Yao Chong

  Yao Chong vs. Zhang Yue

Part II Kaiyuan: Early Period (713–728)

1. Yao Chong

  Kaiyuan

  Yao Chong’s Sons

  The Stone Terrace

  Buddhism

  Golden Age

  Locust Disaster

  Exotic Items

  Mochuo

  Lu Huaishen

2. Brotherly Love

  Li Chengqi

  Xingqing Palace

  Li Ye

3. Song Jing

  Appointed to the Center

  A Trip to Luoyang

  Briefing Longji

  The Monument

  Counterfeit Money

  State of Affairs

4. Chang’an

  The Tumulus

  The Rice Dumper

  Drought Demon

  Yao Chong

5. Tujue

  Pijia

  Wang Jun

  Tunyugu

  A Letter to Pijia

6. Zhang Yue

  Restless Nomads

  Barbarian Prefectures

  Kang Yuanzi

  Disarmament

  Zhang Yue vs. Zhang Jiazhen

7. Empress Wang

  Li Ying

  Lady Wu

  Jiang Jiao

  The Magician-Monk

8. Feng-shan Sacrifices

  Zhang Yue’s Memorial

  The Basilica of Gathered Worthies

  Feng-shan Sacrifices

  Reflections

9. Yuwen Rong

  Runaways

  A Challenge to High Power

  An Impeachment Request

10. Mother and Son

  Li Mao

  Consort Zhao

  Consort Wu

11. The Northeast and the West

  Black River Malgal and Parhae

  Turgesh

  Wang Junchuo

  The Four Tribes

  Xiao Song

Part III Kaiyuan: Late Period (728–742)

1. Xingqing Palace

  The New Abode

  A Boat Ride

  The Birthday Party

2. Yuwen Rong

  Promotion

  Reform Ideas

  Prince Li Yi

3. Wang Maozhong

  Wang Maozhong

  The Five Tomb Parks

  Minister of War

  A Change of Attitude

4. Leaders and Frontier

  King Wuyi

  An Lushan

  Zhang Jiuling

  Li Linfu

  Pei Yaoqing

  Qidan

  An Lushan

  Niu Xianke

5. Prince and Consort

  Li Mao

  Consort Wu

  Li Ying

  Consort Wu

  Li Heng

6. Yang Yuhuan

  The Festival of Longevity

  The Pipa Player

  Jinxian Convent

7. Talisman and Ritual

  The Portrait

  Cosmodrama

Part IV Tianbao and Beyond (742–760)

1. Tianbao

  Heaven’s Treasure

  An Lushan

  Yang Yuhuan

  The Taiqing Rite

  The Nine Palaces

  Jade

  The Huaqing Hot Springs

2. Li Linfu

  Lu Xuan and Yan Tingzhi

  Li Shizhi

  Li Heng

  Li Shizhi

  Chen Xilie

  Yang Guozhong

  Wang Zhongsi

  Li Linfu’s Son

  Talented People

  Gao Xianzhi

  Fubing

3. An Lushan and Yang Yuhuan

  Cockatoo

  Li Heng

  Bright Pearl

  Desserts

  Yang Guozhong

  Yang Yuhuan

  An Lushan

  Ordination at Taiqing

4. Nanzhao

  Xianyu Zhongtong

  The Lantern Festival

  Qinren Ward

  Turbulence at the Borders

  Cowherd and Weaver Girl

  Wang Hong

  The Passing of an Age

  Yang Guozhong

  Disquieting Whispers

  The Huaqing Hot Springs

  An Lushan

  Nanzhao

  Yang Guozhong

5. An Lushan

  A Spark in the Northeast

  Feng Changqing

  Tong Pass

  On the Road

  The Mawei Stage Station

6. Exile and Return

  Li Heng

  Chengdu

  Chang’an

  Xingqing

  The Taiji Palace

  The Forbidden Park

Conclusion

Glossary