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Li Hu
One of the Eight Pillars of State of Western Wei and grandfather of Li Yuan, honoured by him as Taizu of Tang
Mural of the event “Establishment of Fubing System”, which this person took part in.
Facing existential military pressure from the economically superior Eastern Wei, Western Wei regent Yuwen Tai needed an elite, low-cost, self-sustaining army.
Also known as Zi Wenbin · Emperor Taizu of Tang · Duke of Longxi
- Roles
- Commanders
Li Hu, courtesy name Wenbin, was one of the Eight Pillars of State of the Western Wei and the grandfather of Li Yuan, Gaozu of Tang. He is said to have served under Heba Yue and Yuwen Tai; he was made Duke of Longxi, died in 551 and was later named Duke of Tang under the Northern Zhou. After founding the Tang, Li Yuan honoured him as Taizu, Emperor Jing. The Book of Zhou, the History of the Northern Dynasties and the Book of Wei have no biography of him, and a Sui epitaph of a Li Hu records a different life; scholars dispute whether it is the same man.
Life and times
Dates 500 CE–551 CE
- 550Establishment of Fubing SystemTook part