An Lushan Rebellion

Follow the story · Four stages

1. 01

   Background

   Long-service frontier armies placed growing military and administrative power in the hands of regional commissioners. An Lushan commanded several northeastern circuits, while factional conflict and uncertainty at Emperor Xuanzong's late court sharpened his confrontation with the central government.

   • Long-service frontier armies placed growing military and administrative power in the hands of regional commissioners.
   • An Lushan commanded several northeastern circuits, while factional conflict and uncertainty at Emperor Xuanzong's late court sharpened his confrontation with the central government.
   • Core event: A major rebellion against the Tang dynasty from 755 to 763, begun by the frontier military governor An Lushan and continued by successive leaders of the rebel Yan regime.

   
2. 02

   Course

   The rebels captured Luoyang, founded a Yan dynasty, and took Chang'an in 756. Tang forces recovered both capitals with major Uyghur assistance, but assassinations and leadership changes on the rebel side allowed the war to continue under Shi Siming and his successors.

   • The rebels captured Luoyang, founded a Yan dynasty, and took Chang'an in 756.
   • Tang forces recovered both capitals with major Uyghur assistance, but assassinations and leadership changes on the rebel side allowed the war to continue under Shi Siming and his successors.
   • Conditions behind the action: Long-service frontier armies placed growing military and administrative power in the hands of regional commissioners. An Lushan commanded several northeastern circuits, while factional conflict and uncertainty at Emperor Xuanzong's late court sharpened his confrontation with the central government.

   
3. 03

   Outcome

   The rebellion was suppressed by 763, leaving displacement, damaged cities and farmland, and severe fiscal strain. To survive, the Tang had expanded provincial military commands and compromised with regional commanders, making direct central control harder to restore.

   • The rebellion was suppressed by 763, leaving displacement, damaged cities and farmland, and severe fiscal strain.
   • To survive, the Tang had expanded provincial military commands and compromised with regional commanders, making direct central control harder to restore.
   • Process producing the result: The rebels captured Luoyang, founded a Yan dynasty, and took Chang'an in 756. Tang forces recovered both capitals with major Uyghur assistance, but assassinations and leadership changes on the rebel side allowed the war to continue under Shi Siming and his successors.

   
4. 04

   Historical significance

   The rebellion did not cause every feature of Tang decline at once, but it accelerated military decentralization, fiscal and army reform, and shifts in East Asian power. It remains a key dividing point for comparing the institutions of the early and late Tang.

   • The rebellion did not cause every feature of Tang decline at once, but it accelerated military decentralization, fiscal and army reform, and shifts in East Asian power.
   • It remains a key dividing point for comparing the institutions of the early and late Tang.
   • Immediate consequence: The rebellion was suppressed by 763, leaving displacement, damaged cities and farmland, and severe fiscal strain. To survive, the Tang had expanded provincial military commands and compromised with regional commanders, making direct central control harder to restore.