Emperor Dezong of Tang (德宗)

Overview

The translated histories identify Emperor Dezong of Tang as a musician and ruler. This record brings together 10 passages from 2 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Emperor Dezong of Tang	德宗	Dezong
Temple name	Dezong	德宗	Dezong
Temple name	Dezong	德宗
Title	the emperor	帝

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · xintangshu:022:s0098, xintangshu:022:s0105, xintangshu:022:s0149
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · xintangshu:161:s0046

Roles

Musician
Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 十七年 · Western Year: AD 801
Explicit · xintangshu:022:s0150, xintangshu:022:s0149
Source Date: Text: 德宗 · Western Interval: Start: AD 779 · End: AD 805
Explicit · xintangshu:022:s0098, xintangshu:022:s0105, xintangshu:022:s0149
Source Date: Text: 德宗 · Western Interval: Start: AD 779 · End: AD 805
Explicit event contextual date · xintangshu:161:s0046
Source Date: Text: 貞元元年 · Western Year: AD 785
Explicit event contextual date · xintangshu:161:s0047

Works and attributed material

Work: Central Harmony Music Dance / 中和樂舞 · Relation: author
Explicit · xintangshu:022:s0105

Events and relationships

Kind: ritual · Role: reviewer · Action: reviewed-nanzhao-music-at-linde
Explicit · xintangshu:022:s0149

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 22Volume 22 Treatises 12: Rites and Music 12 · 3 passages

Open chapter

自肅宗以後，皆以生日為節，而德宗不立節，然止於群臣稱觴上壽而已。 After Suzong emperors marked birthdays as holidays; Dezong refused the practice, limiting celebration to ministers' toast for long life.

昭義軍節度使王虔休以德宗誕辰未有大樂，乃作《繼天誕聖樂》，以宮為調，帝因作《中和樂舞》。 Wang Qianxiu of Zhaoyi, finding no grand piece for Dezong's birthday, wrote Continuing Heaven Birthday Sage Music in palace mode; the emperor answered with Central Harmony Dance.

德宗閱於麟德殿，以授太常工人，自是殿庭宴則立奏，宮中則坐奏。 Dezong reviewed it at Linde Hall and passed it to court craftsmen; thereafter hall feasts used standing performance, palace feasts seated.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 161Volume 161 Biographies 86: Zhang, Zhao, Li, Zheng, Xu, Wang, Feng, Yu · 7 passages

Open chapter

詔復用杞為刺史，薦與陳京、趙需等論杞奸惡傾覆不當用，入對挺確，德宗納之。 An edict was issued to reinstate Qi as prefect; Jian, together with Chen Jing, Zhao Xu, and others, argued that Qi's wickedness and his overturning of the realm made him unfit for appointment; appearing before the throne he spoke firmly, and Dezong accepted their view.

德宗初，為衢州刺史。 At the beginning of Dezong's reign he served as prefect of Quzhou.

德宗居奉天，繇禮部侍郎選為同州刺史。 When Dezong was at Fengtian, he was selected from vice minister of rites to be prefect of Tongzhou.

德宗悅，擢諫議大夫。 Dezong was pleased and promoted him to remonstrating censor.

從德宗出奉天，以膳部員外郎兼博士。 He followed Dezong to Fengtian and served as vice director of the Ministry of Court Revenues while also holding the doctorate.

德宗欲相裴延齡，與陽城交章言不可。 When Dezong wished to make Pei Yanling chief minister, he and Yang Cheng submitted linked memorials opposing it.

於是醴泉令缺，宰相高選，德宗曰：「前使澤潞不受幣者，其人清，可用也。」 Then the magistracy of Liquan fell vacant; the chief ministers made a careful selection; Dezong said, "The man who on the former mission to Ze-Lu would not accept gifts—that man is upright and can be used."