Li Yuan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Yuan (李渊)
Alias(es)	Duke of Tang; Prince of Tang; Emperor of Great Tang
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Longxi Li Clan; Great Sui; Great Tang
Occupation/Role	Governor of Qizhou; Prefect of Loufan; Prefect of Jinyang; founding Emperor of Great Tang
Status	Alive; abdicated in favor of Li Shimin and resides in Taiji Palace 327 328
First Appearance	Chapter 215: Li Yuan

Background / History

Li Yuan was the Duke of Tang and governor of Qizhou when Qing Niao, Verdant Green Maiden's Daoist disguise, stopped him outside his villa in Wugong County. He initially dismissed her claim to be a Zhenren, but immediately reconsidered after she caught up to his horse on foot and startled it into throwing him. When she foretold that his heavily pregnant wife, Dou Shi, would bear a son destined for greatness, Li Yuan invited her into his home to await the birth. 215

The child was Li Shimin. Li Yuan and Dou Shi later asked Verdant Green Maiden to name him; she gave him the name Shimin, while Li Yuan chose Jia Lan as his childhood name. 219 He subsequently allowed Li Shimin, Li Jiancheng, and Li Xiu Ning to become Verdant Green Maiden's disciples. 225 226 When his youngest son, Li Yuanji, was born, Li Yuan agreed to send him to Shu with Chen Shan Yi after Dou Shi rejected the child. 226

During the late Sui period, Yang Jian summoned Li Yuan to Chang'an to consult him on deposing Crown Prince Yang Yong. Li Yuan cautiously recommended Yang Guang, earning Yang Jian's approval. 221 Following Yang Guang's accession, Li Yuan was appointed Prefect of Loufan with military and political authority over the Turkic frontier. Forced to leave his family in Chang'an, he entrusted their safety to Verdant Green Maiden, who gave him a jade token blessed by a Bodhisattva. 228

After returning to the capital, Li Yuan was appointed Prefect of Jinyang. Guanzhong aristocrats pressed him to oppose Yang Guang's costly Goguryeo expedition, but Li Yuan recognized that they chiefly sought to protect their own interests. On Verdant Green Maiden's advice, he declared open loyalty to Yang Guang and relocated his family to Taiyuan. 242 243

When Yang Guang died, Verdant Green Maiden wrote Li Yuan urging him to support the installation of Yang Jian, the Prince of Qi. Soon afterward, the Sui court summoned Li Yuan to Luoyang. 254 The Li family ultimately seized power: Yang You abdicated, presented Li Yuan with the Imperial Seal, and Li Yuan became Emperor of Great Tang. He named Li Jiancheng Crown Prince, Li Shimin King of Qin, and Li Xiu Ning Princess Pingyang. 262 263 At the abdication, his children discovered that Verdant Green Maiden was alive despite Li Yuan having led them to believe she had died. 261

As emperor, Li Yuan demonstrated both political calculation and a growing attachment to absolute authority. He spared Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong after their surrender, placing the former under house arrest and arranging the latter's exile to Shu. 310 However, he resisted Verdant Green Maiden's demand that he make Li Shimin Crown Prince, insisting that Li Jiancheng would remain heir and that Great Tang belonged to him and his sons. 284 285

His conflict with Verdant Green Maiden sharpened after Li Yuanji's rebellion and death. Li Yuan believed the decision over his son's fate should have belonged to the emperor alone, even though Li Yuanji had been sent away in childhood and raised by Chen Shan Yi. 275 286 He sought Yuan Tiangang's help to expel Verdant Green Maiden from Chang'an, but Yuan Tiangang refused to contend with an Immortal. 285 Li Yuan later summoned Daoists from across the realm and held a ceremony to send the goddess back to Mount Tai. When the ceremony provoked public discontent, he accepted Dou Shi's warning not to punish the people of Wan Nian County. 288 295

After Li Jiancheng pacified Jiangnan, Li Yuan handed him most political affairs while indulging in palace pleasures. Reports that the people of Hebei remained devoted to the captive Dou Jiande alarmed him. When Dou Jiande disappeared from house arrest, Li Yuan furiously ordered the guards responsible beaten to death, until Hong Luan arrived with a message from Verdant Green Maiden. 314 316 317

When Li Jiancheng was believed killed during the war against the Turks, Li Yuan accused Li Shimin of intentionally delaying relief and blamed Verdant Green Maiden for the death. In grief, he ordered Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple destroyed despite public outrage. 321 He subsequently refused to appoint another Crown Prince, even as the war and uncertainty over the succession troubled the court. 323 Li Jiancheng was later revealed to be alive, having been saved by Verdant Green Maiden; his return left Li Yuan shaken and forced him to confront the consequences of his hostility toward her. 328

Li Yuan eventually relinquished the throne to Li Shimin, who became Emperor under the Zhenguan era name. With the succession settled, Li Yuan withdrew from state affairs and remained in Taiji Palace. 327 There, Verdant Green Maiden brought Li Jiancheng to see him. After Li Yuan questioned her right to interfere in mortal affairs, she defended her long-standing responsibility toward the people of the world; Li Jiancheng then told his father that he had returned because he still owed a duty to Great Tang's people. 328 329

Personality

Li Yuan is cautious and politically observant when his position is insecure. He recognized the self-interest behind the Guanzhong aristocrats' calls to challenge Yang Guang, survived Yang Guang's loyalty test through emphatic submission, and accepted Verdant Green Maiden's counsel when it served his family's survival. 242 243

After taking the throne, his desire to preserve imperial authority increasingly overrides his earlier caution. He resents Verdant Green Maiden's influence over his family, rejects her intervention in succession, and treats Li Yuanji's death as an affront to his right to determine the fate of his own son. 275 285 286

He can still act pragmatically when necessary. Li Yuan spares surrendered rivals to preserve public confidence and restrains himself from punishing Wan Nian County's populace when Dou Shi warns that doing so could destabilize Great Tang. 295 310 Yet grief over Li Jiancheng drives him into irrationality, leading to his accusation against Li Shimin and the destruction of Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple. 321

Li Yuan also enjoys the privileges of rule. After delegating most political affairs to Li Jiancheng, he spends his time in Taiji Palace with former Sui officials; following his abdication, he continues to hold lavish gatherings with veteran ministers. 316 328

Relationships

• Dou Shi — Wife and mother of his children. She advises him to control his anger during the god-seeing-off ceremony, warning that further alienating the people could endanger Great Tang. 215 295
• Verdant Green Maiden / Qing Niao — Initially a revered guest, adviser, and protector of the Li household. Their relationship deteriorates when she interferes in Li Yuanji's fate and presses Li Yuan to yield the throne to Li Shimin. 215 228 284 285 Li Yuan's misleading account of her fate causes his children to believe she has died. Later, after she returns Li Jiancheng to him alive, he challenges her right to intervene in the world's affairs. 261 328
• Li Jiancheng — Eldest son and first Crown Prince of Great Tang. Li Yuan initially favors his succession, mourns his apparent death intensely, and is stunned when Verdant Green Maiden returns him alive. 263 321 328 Li Jiancheng explains that he returned to fulfill his duty to Great Tang's people. 329
• Li Shimin — Second son, Verdant Green Maiden's disciple, King of Qin, and eventual successor. Li Yuan rewards him heavily while attempting to preserve Li Jiancheng's position, later accuses him over Li Jiancheng's presumed death, then ultimately abdicates in his favor. 285 309 321 327
• Li Xiu Ning — Daughter, named Princess Pingyang upon Li Yuan's accession. Li Yuan credits Verdant Green Maiden with having taught the family a capable daughter. 263 258
• Li Yuanji — Youngest son, sent to Shu with Chen Shan Yi after Dou Shi rejected him. His rebellion and death become the decisive source of Li Yuan's break with Verdant Green Maiden. 226 275 286
• Yang Jian — Sui emperor and relative who sought Li Yuan's opinion on replacing Crown Prince Yang Yong; Li Yuan's endorsement of Yang Guang won Yang Jian's approval. 221
• Yang Guang — Sui emperor whom Li Yuan publicly supported after being tested over his ties to Guanzhong officials. 243
• Yang You — Final Sui emperor, who abdicated and personally transferred the Imperial Seal to Li Yuan. 262 263
• Yuan Tiangang — Daoist Li Yuan asks to remove Verdant Green Maiden from Chang'an. Yuan Tiangang refuses, explaining that a mortal cultivator cannot oppose an Immortal. 285 He later treats Li Yuan's injuries after Verdant Green Maiden and Hong Luan beat him. 286 292
• Dou Jiande — Surrendered rival whom Li Yuan confines in Chang'an. Dou Jiande's enduring support in Hebei alarms Li Yuan, who becomes furious when the prisoner disappears. 310 316 317

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise of the Li Family

• Meets Qing Niao and accepts her prophecy concerning Li Shimin's birth. 215
• Allows Verdant Green Maiden to become mentor to Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, and Li Xiu Ning. 225 226
• Navigates Sui court politics, serving in Loufan and Jinyang while protecting the Li family's position. 228 241 243
• Receives the Sui imperial transfer of power and establishes Great Tang. 262 263

Rule of Great Tang

• Enfeoffs Li Jiancheng as Crown Prince and Li Shimin as King of Qin. 263
• Balances clemency and control by sparing Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong while limiting their freedom. 310
• Grants Li Shimin the title of Celestial Strategy Supreme General and three coin-minting furnaces, deepening court concern over the balance of power between his sons. 309 314
• Praises Li Jiancheng for pacifying Jiangnan and delegates most political affairs to him. 314 316
• Becomes alarmed by Dou Jiande's continuing influence in Hebei and his subsequent disappearance from confinement. 316 317

Conflict over Imperial Authority

• Rejects Verdant Green Maiden's demand to name Li Shimin Crown Prince, insisting on Li Jiancheng's succession. 284 285
• Attempts unsuccessfully to use Yuan Tiangang against Verdant Green Maiden. 285
• Holds a god-seeing-off ceremony amid opposition from the people of Wan Nian County but heeds Dou Shi's warning not to punish them. 295
• Orders Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple destroyed after Li Jiancheng's apparent death, then refuses for a time to appoint a new Crown Prince. 321 323
• Accepts Li Shimin as Crown Prince and abdicates after Li Jiancheng's survival and the succession crisis are resolved. 327 328
• Reunites with Li Jiancheng and questions Verdant Green Maiden's authority to intervene in mortal affairs. 328 329

Notable Quotes

“This is Zhen's Great Tang!” 285

“Da Lang is the Crown Prince! Second Young Master will forever be nothing more than the King of Qin!” 285