Emperor Gaozong of Tang

Life

In 631 he was enfeoffed as Prince of Jin. From 633 to 643 he held a prefectural governorship at Taiyuan; in 643 he was installed as crown prince, and in June 649 he acceded to the throne. His reign lasted thirty-four years and largely continued Taizong's institutions. Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang, Wei Siqian, and Zhang Wenguan were among the ministers who assisted him in government.

He campaigned against the Western Turks and ordered Li Ji to lead six regional commands against Goryeo. In his early years he also destroyed Baekje and Goguryeo, bringing Tang territory to its greatest extent. He deposed Empress Wang and made Wu Zetian empress. Wu had originally been Taizong's stepmother, a consort known as Wucairen; the two became involved early on, and he eventually raised her to the empress's position.

In later life he suffered from eye disease, and political power came to be controlled by Empress Wu.

Family

Li Zhi was the son of Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong) and Changsun; his fathers-in-law were Wu Shiyue and Wang Renyou. His first wife was Wang, later the deposed empress. Xiao was his Liangdi, and Wu Zhao (Wu Zetian) was also his wife.

His sons included Li Xian (Emperor Zhongzong), Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong), Li Xian, Li Zhong, Li Shangjin, Li Sujie, and Li Hong; his daughters included Princess Taiping, Princess Yiyang, and Princess Anding. His son-in-law was Quan Yi, and his granddaughters included Princess Yongtai, Li Xianhui, and Princess Jinxian.

Literary work and posthumous titles

He was skilled in literary composition. His collected works are given as eighty-six juan, and a work titled *Collected Works of Li Zhi* (《文集（李治）》) is separately listed. In the fifth year of the Xianheng era he adopted the designation “Tianhuang”; after his death he received the posthumous title Tianhuang Dadi and the temple name Gaozong. The longer posthumous form appears in two variants, “天皇大聖大宏孝皇帝” and “天皇大聖大弘孝皇帝.” In 684, Wu Zetian buried Tianhuang Dadi at Qianling.