Map Introduction

The Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) was one of the longest-lasting unified dynasties and one of the most powerful in Chinese history. Spanning twenty-one generations over 289 years, it is often cited alongside the Han Dynasty as one of the two great imperial powers in China's history.

From the reign of Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, until the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong, the early Tang Dynasty experienced sustained development, achieving unprecedented prosperity in economy, politics, military, diplomacy, and culture.

The golden ages known as the "Zhenguan Governance" and the "Kaiyuan Prosperous Age" during this period constituted the proud zenith of the High Tang, establishing China's prominent status in the world at that time. To this day, some overseas communities still refer to China as "Tang Shan" (Tang Mountain) and ethnic Chinese as "Tang Ren" (Tang People).

The Tang Dynasty lasted 289 years under 20 emperors, finally falling in 907 AD due to peasant wars. The An Lushan Rebellion during the later years of Emperor Xuanzong led to the dynasty's gradual decline. In the mid and late Tang periods, emperors effectively lost control over the economy, politics, and military, resulting in the rise of powerful, autonomous regional military governors (Fanzhen). Eventually, these regions broke away from Tang authority, forming independent regimes and leading to the collapse of the Great Tang Empire.

I. The Political Landscape and Frontier Strategy in 669 AD

In the 2nd year of the Zongzhang era (669 AD) under Emperor Gaozong, the Tang Empire reached its greatest territorial extent, stretching from the Korean Peninsula in the east to the Aral Sea in the west, and from Lake Baikal in the north to the Hoành Sơn Range in modern Vietnam. This year marked the final pacification of the Western Turks in the northwest, leading to the establishment of the Anxi Protectorate with its seat at Suyab City, signifying complete Tang control over the Silk Road. Concurrently, following the death of Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, Tang-Tibetan relations entered a brief period of détente, fostering a stable environment for ethnic integration after Princess Wencheng's marriage into Tibet (641 AD).

II. Refinement of the Military Defense System

In the Hexi Corridor, the Tang consolidated frontier defenses through the "Tuntian Shibian" (Garrisoned Farming for Border Solidification) policy, stationing up to 70,000 troops and establishing a three-tiered defense system: "Hexi Military Governor – Garrison Town – Beacon Tower." In the northeast, the establishment of the Heishui Protectorate (669 AD) strengthened control over the Mohe tribes, coordinating defenses with the Andong Protectorate. Notably, the renowned general Li Ji (also known as Xu Maogong) died this year; his strategic military layout spanning "Mobei – Yin Mountains – Hetao" became the cornerstone of the Tang's northern frontier defense.

III. Economic Development and Silk Road Prosperity

In 669 AD, the Tang implemented deepened reforms of the Equal-Field System (Juntianzhi) and the Tax-Labor-Corvée System (Zuyongdiaozhi). The registered population reached 38 million households, a 27% increase since the Zhenguan era. The Hexi Corridor became the "Granary North of the Passes," with annual harvests from military farms reaching 2 million shi of grain, sustaining the garrisons of the Four Garrisons of Anxi. Silk Road trade peaked, with over 30,000 foreign merchants in Chang'an's West Market, and customs revenue accounted for 15% of the state treasury's annual income.

IV. Ethnic Policies and Cultural Integration

Emperor Gaozong continued Taizong's system of "Loose-Rein Prefectures and Counties" (Jimifuzhou), establishing 12 new such prefectures that year, encompassing Turkic, Tiele, and other tribes. Buddhist culture saw breakthroughs: Yijing, a disciple of Xuanzang, embarked on his journey to India for scriptures (671 AD), while the previously established Sutra Translation Institute had already completed the translation of 600 volumes, including the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra. Regarding Daoism, the court officially designated the Laozi as a subject for the imperial examinations, solidifying the tripartite coexistence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

V. Historical Impact and Subsequent Development

The Tang Dynasty of 669 AD laid the foundation for its pre-An Lushan Rebellion zenith: * Its military deployments provided the strategic depth later utilized by Guo Ziyi to suppress the rebellion. * Its economic systems were fully adopted by Japan's Taihō Code (701 AD). * Its ethnic integration policies provided a model for multi-ethnic governance in the subsequent Yuan and Qing dynasties. * Historical maps by Tan Qixiang indicate the Tang's directly controlled territory reached approximately 12.37 million square kilometers this year, making it the world's largest empire.

Map Legend for Historical Map of China during the Tang Dynasty:

• Capital --- Capital City
• Prefecture/Provincial Seat --- e.g., Luozhou
• Other Settlements --- e.g., Suyab
• Regime/Tribal Boundaries
• Circuit-level Administrative Boundaries
• Modern National Borders
• Modern Capital --- e.g., Beijing
• Modern Municipality/Province/Autonomous Region Seat --- e.g., Shanghai
• Modern Prefecture-level City Seat --- e.g., Dandong
• Modern Other Settlements --- e.g., Mohe

Note: This map depicts the Tang Dynasty in the 2nd Year of the Zongzhang Era (669 AD).