Discussion On The Systematic Roots Which Caused The Cliquey Conflict In The Late-Tang Dynasty

In order to strengthen the monarchic ruling tangled in both internal and external difficulties, the Chinese emperors, since the Mid- Tang dynasty, began to invite eunuchs to help handle both political and military issues, and this gave rise to the expansion of eunuch influence as well as their ambition to make emperors to their own wishes. Gradually, things talked above became routines in the Late- Tang dynasty, thus the emperor's power was decentralized, the old emperor's decision on the making of the new emperor was replaced by the eunuchs' decisions, and as a result, the emperor's authority was greatly challenged. However, the eunuchs were such a special group that they had to lean on the emperor and make use of the monarchism, and consequently, this caused the long term contradiction between the power decentralization and the monarch's autocracy. The officials, who worked for the emperor while being supervised by the eunuchs, were necessarily divided into different cliques due to their respective values and interests, and systematically, this is the internal reason why there were cliquey fights in the Late-Tang dynasty. With the emperors being made by eunuchs, the eunuch warlords, the emperor's envoys as well as other scholars and officials were all seeking for power and influence, thus the central government had each department act on its own, and further made the existence of cliques widespread. On top of that, the rule that each department decided on the choice of its own officials made the cliquey fights white hot, and it finally dragged the Tang dynasty to its end. There are six chapters in this thesis.Chapter one is the introduction, with some basic concepts defined and the related studies introduced. The root reasons for the Late- Tang dynasty cliquey fights are still at controversy in the academic world, but this thesis approaches the question from a different perspective, and its theoretical framework is based on from the angle of system.Chapter two analyses that the emperors being made by the eunuchs is the internal reason for the Late-Tang dynasty cliquey fights. The first episode talks about the background and the three major traits related to the fact emperors being made by the eunuchs, aiming at making a clear statement on the relationship between cliquey fights and emperors being made by the eunuchs. Episode two studies the history of the Late- Tang dynasty cliquey fights, and concludes that emperors being made by the eunuchs gave rise to cliquey fights. Episode three dissects on a case study (a historical event about cliquey fights), and further confirms the idea that the thesis holds. Chapter three argues that the central government had each department act on its own in the Late-Tang dynasty was the platform on which cliquey fights appeared. Episode one talks about the historical backgrounds related to each department acts on its own. Episode two elaborates from historical events that under the system of emperors being made by eunuchs, interest contradictions resulted in the fact each department acted on its own and further led to cliquey fights. Chapter three combines history and discussion, pointing out that the systematical personnel and supervisory systems were spoiled, and thus the existence of cliques was . widespread.Chapter four proves that each department decided on the choice of its own officials reinforced cliquey fights. Episode one analyses its major traits and the bad consequences, and the eunuch families worsened the cliquey fights. Chapter two states that fight among different departments made the cliquey fights continue. What's more, it also answers the question if the upper class families had something to do with the cliquey fights and its continuance. Episode three studies a famous historical event and thus offers a new explanation on the relationship between the historical event and the cliquey fights.Chapter five says that systematically, the sacrifice of Li Deyu is a natural result of the cliquey fights. The first episode starts from the orientation of Li Deyu and the contradictions brought by the system of eunuchs deciding the making of new emperors. The second episode elaborates onthe historical facts of the earlier competitions between Li Deyu and the eunuch group, saying that Li was greatly burdened by the system. The third episode makes an anatomy of the competitions between the eunuch group and Emperor Wuzong who was supported by Li Deyu, which indeed was a competition of vital importance on the system of eunuchs deciding the making of new emperors. Consequently, many complicated historical events about cliquey fights in the Late- Tang dynasty were lightened up from the perspective of systematic roots. Chapter six brings the whole thesis to a natural conclusion, and makes a statement on the things that yet have to be further studied.