Born Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty lived between 685 and 762 AD. He was the monarch credited with reviving the Tang Dynasty. Also known as Tang Minghuang ("the understanding emperor of the Tang"), Emperor Xuanzong was in power for 43 years, spanning two reign titles of “Kaiyuan” and “Tianbao”.

During his reigning years of Kaiyuan (713-741AD), Emperor Xuanzong knew very well how to make proper use of personnel and conducted reforms in various fields. During that period, the political situation was stable and the country had strong national power, enjoying booming economic and cultural development. Historically called “the Heyday of Kaiyuan”, this period was the most flourishing time of the Tang Dynasty.

During the reigning years of Tianbao (742-756AD), Emperor Xuanzong lavished his favor upon Concubine Yang Yuhuan, which led to a power vacuum. Everything was in the control of treacherous court officials. At the same time, Emperor Xuanzong was eager to expand the country’s territory, which resulted in deteriorated ethnic relations and financial difficulties. In addition, the large-scale expansion of frontier forces negatively affected the inland military defense, severely undermining the centralized state power. In the end, all these contributed to the breakout of “the An Shi Rebellion” by local separatists. The Tang Dynasty went from flourishing to decline.

After “the An Shi Rebellion”, Emperor Xuanzong had no choice but to flee out of the capital Chang’an. When he arrived Maweiyi (present-day west of Xingping County, Shaanxi Province), the garrison army launched a mutiny. Emperor Xuanzong was forced to order the death of his most beloved Concubine Yang, which brought depression and sadness to the emperor in his later years. He died in 762 AD and was given the posthumous title of “Xuanzong”.

Emperor Xuanzong was enthusiastically fond of music and well versed in the playing of multiple instruments like the pipa and flute etc. He was exceptionally superb in the performing techniques of the deerskin drum. He made great changes to the music system of the Tang Dynasty for several times, giving a boost to the development of the art of music. Meanwhile, Emperor Xuanzong trained many outstanding music artists, absorbed and borrowed foreign music as well as promoted popular music, creating an unprecedented boom in the Tang Dynasty music. In the first half of the 8th century, Emperor Xuanzong was arguably a great and rare composer in the world of music across the globe.