Emperor Wuzong of Tang

Tang Wuzong唐武宗(* ca 810, † 846 ) was the 15th emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, who ruled from 840 to 846 for posterity, he remained primarily as fanatical Daoist in memory, the dissenters could pursue.

Before the start of his reign, the influence of the eunuchs was so strong that they often did the practical political decisions. Several predecessors of Wuzong had been murdered by them. However, it was Wuzong with the help of his uncle Xuanzong and the Chancellor Li Deyu to prevail against the eunuchs and limit their influence.

Wuzong, who was a fanatical Daoist himself, took a military success over the Uyghur Empire in the west of the occasion, their religion, to forbid the Manichaeism. This was followed by further repression of other religions ( Nestorian Christians, Zoroastrianism ), and finally against in China at that time already widespread and popular Buddhism has become. Many temples that had accumulated great wealth, were destroyed and their assets confiscated by the state, which was in serious financial difficulties. In very limited extent the exercise of the Buddhist religion, however, was still permitted.

Wuzong died in 846 at the age of 36 years. His uncle Xuanzong was his successor, at the beginning of his tenure, he ended the persecution of Buddhists.