On The Central Political Structure In The Tang Dynasty(A.D.712-763)

In this article, what I selected as the breakthrough point is the dethronement of the crown prince and the changes of Zhongshuling抯( ~ :~4. the prime minister) position when Emperor Xuanzong()~ .?~) was on the throne. The political situation during the period of Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong抯( )~ ~ dominating is my studying object. By approaching the changes of Zhongshuling and the crown prince抯 positions in the Tang Dynasty抯 central system of government, as well as the political disposition relations and its alternation of them in the monarchic politics, I expounded the conflicts occurred between them when Emperor Xuanzong was in power, along with Emperor Suzong抯 position and the relations between he and his father. The article consists of six parts. Emperor Xuanzong altered the system of the prince抯 living in the Donggong(~~), which caused the prince抯 power and political space to be restrained and weakened henceforth. Until the period of Tianbao()~), because the structure and competence of the Donggong抯 personnel have been different from that of the earlier stage, an unsubstantial Donggong political system took shape. After Zhongshumenxia(4i拁HTi replaced Zhengshitang(i~~~), the head of the former was given more powers and a more advantageous position, so as to adapt himself to the imperial authority. Zhongshuling was no longer doubling as an official of Donggong. From then on, he had no any relations of political subordination to the prince. It declared the end of Zhongshuling抯 assisting 揟wo Courts?~ ~) simultaneously. I don抰 share the view that conflicts existing between Zhongshuling and the prince resulted from individuals?pursuing for power. The growth and decline of the relative power of them, along with the forming of the new relations of political disposition, formed the systematical factors that caused the conflicts. In the early days of Emperor Suzong抯 being in power, there was a dualistic structure of the central political power, which was caused by the congenital limitations of the central system of government and the empire抯 status. This structure can be explained by the unsubstantial Donggong political system that we mentioned above. They can be traced to the same origin. Moreover, in the article, I give some supplements and amendments to certain issues that put forward by some senior experts. When writing the article, I laid particular emphasis on the method of microcosmic research. I attempt to study the political situation and its changes in the respect of the political system. The objective of the article is: by making an exposition of the evolution prOcess of the central political situation that occurred from Emperor Xuanzong to Emperor Suzong, I try to explain why 搕he times of Emperor Xuanzong was the watershed of this historical period?...