Tuoba Dao

Also known as Foli · Taiwu Di

Tuoba Dao, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, courtesy name Foli, was the eldest son of Emperor Mingyuan and came to the throne in 423, reigning under the eras Shiguang, Shenjia, Yanhe, Taiyan, Taiping Zhenjun and Zhengping. He took Tongwan, capital of the Xia, in 427, destroyed Northern Yan in 436 and Northern Liang in 439, completing the conquest of the north, and campaigned in person against the Rouran many times. In 446, after weapons were found in a monastery at Chang'an, he ordered Buddhism suppressed, with scriptures and images burned and monks killed, and in 450 he executed his long-trusted adviser Cui Hao over the state history affair. That year he invaded the Liu Song and reached Guabu on the Yangzi. In 452 he was murdered by the eunuch Zong Ai; his temple name is Shizu. His camp on Guabu hill later became a shrine to 'Foli', which Xin Qiji recalled in a lyric written at Jingkou.