Chapter 50

Question 1

Yang Guifei:

Answer 1

The Brilliant Emperor’s consort, sentenced to death after the An Lushan rebellion.

Question 2

An Lushan:

Answer 2

An army officer who rebelled against Tang Xuanzong and declared himself emperor.

Question 3

Piluoge:

Answer 3

Ruler of the six Bai tribes, known for burning rival chiefs alive, succeeded by Geluofeng after attacking Tang.

Question 4

Mun:

Answer 4

The king of Balhae who expanded his kingdom to be larger than Unified Silla.

Question 5

Tang Daizong:

Answer 5

King of Tang who ended the An Lushan rebellion in 763, but lost all of Tang’s holdings in Central Asia.

Question 6

Describe the Tang empire as it thrived under the leadership of Tang Xuanzong.

Answer 6

• The empire reached its most brilliant era.
• The arts flourished with brilliant painters and poets.
• The empire was at the height of its creativity, power, and size.

Question 7

In what way did the Tang conflict with Nanzhao allow An Lushan to declare his challenge to the emperor’s power?

Answer 7

The Tang defeat at the Battle of Xiaguan allowed An Lushan to declare himself a rival to Tang Xuanzong.

Question 8

Describe the beginning of An Lushan’s advances against The Brilliant Emperor.

Answer 8

In 755, An Lushan declared himself a rival to the Brilliant Emperor, made Fanyang his capital, and led a large army of soldiers and Khitan horsemen. He attacked Luoyang and then moved to Chang’an, taking the city

Question 9

What was Yang Guozhong’s plan to fight An Lushan? What was the result of his plan?

Answer 9

• The Tang royal army met the rebels, but they were decimated.
• One hundred thousand men were killed, leaving no one to defend Chang’an.
• An Lushan easily occupied the capital.

Question 10

How did the An Lushan rebellion end? Why was his reign short-lived?

Answer 10

• An Lushan contracted a disease with painful boils on his face.
• He became paranoid and was murdered by his servants in 757.
• Tang Daizong finally put down the last remnants of the rebellion.

Question 11

How was the Balhae formed? Why was the Balhae a threat to Unified Silla?

Answer 11

• Balhae was formed by survivors of the Goguryeo kingdom in the north.
• King Mun expanded Balhae by conquering surrounding territories, making it larger than Unified Silla and a threat to it.