An Lushan: The Yingzhou Mixed Hu in Zizhi Tongjian and the Beginning and End of the An Lushan Rebellion

Brief Introduction

An Lushan (703–757), born of Yingzhou Mixed Hu descent, was a famous border general of the Tang Dynasty and the main instigator of the An Lushan Rebellion. His life trajectory is not only a history of personal power rise but also a watershed moment marking the Tang Dynasty's turn from prosperity to decline. In the chronological history book 《Zizhi Tongjian》 (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government), edited by Sima Guang, An Lushan's rise, rebellion, and downfall are recorded in detail, becoming important historical materials for later generations to study the collapse of the Tang political system and military separatism.

Core Knowledge Points

* Background: An Lushan's father was Hu, and his mother was of the Tujue Ashide clan. He grew up in Yingzhou (modern-day Chaoyang, Liaoning). He was proficient in nine ethnic languages, skilled at reading people's expressions, and gained favor early on with the Hu Xuan dance.
* Rise to Power: During the Tianbao era, he was appreciated by Prime Minister Li Linfu and concurrently held the positions of Pinglu, Fanyang, and Hedong Jiedushi (Military Commissioners). He controlled the elite border defense forces of northern Tang, with military strength far exceeding that of the central court.
* Outbreak of Rebellion: In the eleventh month of the fourteenth year of Tianbao (755 AD), An Lushan raised troops under the pretext of "punishing Yang Guozhong." He quickly captured Luoyang and Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee to Shu.
* Final Outcome: In the second year of Zhide (757 AD), due to suspicion and paranoia, An Lushan was killed by his son An Qingxu in collusion with eunuchs. The rebel army subsequently fell into internal strife.

Connection to the Content of Zizhi Tongjian

Volumes 214 to 218 of Zizhi Tongjian concentrate on recording deeds related to An Lushan. Through this case, Sima Guang profoundly revealed the roots of the High Tang crisis:

1. Revealing Institutional Flaws: The book details the process of the expansion of Jiedushi power. Sima Guang points out that Emperor Xuanzong became negligent in politics in his later years and favored border generals, leading to a military structure of heavy outside, light inside, which provided institutional soil for An Lushan's rebellion.
2. Depicting Ruler-Minister Relationships: Zizhi Tongjian records details such as An Lushan adopting Yang Guifei as his mother and acting foolishly to please Emperor Xuanzong. These descriptions are not for sensationalism but to illustrate Xuanzong's senility in his later years, being blinded by treacherous ministers, and losing his judgment of the situation.
3. Intensification of Political Conflicts: The book emphasizes that the conflict between Yang Guozhong and An Lushan was the direct trigger for the rebellion. Sima Guang believed that with treacherous ministers dominating the court, forcing border generals to rebel was an inevitable result of political corruption.
4. Historical Warning Significance: At the end of the relevant volumes, Sima Guang used the past to satirize the present, emphasizing the need to "think of danger while in safety." An Lushan's rebellion proved that ignoring border balance and official integrity would inevitably lead to national turmoil.

In summary, An Lushan in Zizhi Tongjian is not merely an image of a traitorous minister, but a key case used by Sima Guang to elaborate on the gains and losses of governing the country. He holds extremely high value for retrieval and research in understanding Tang Dynasty history.