Tuoba Huang facts for kids

Tuoba Huang (拓拔晃) (428 – July 29, 451) was a crown prince of the Northern Wei dynasty in ancient China. His family, the Xianbei, led this dynasty. He was also known by his Xianbei name, Tianzhen (天真). After he passed away, his son, Emperor Wencheng, gave him the special titles Emperor Jingmu and Gongzong.

Tuoba Huang was the oldest son of Emperor Taiwu. He became crown prince in 432 when he was just four years old. As he grew up, his father gave him more and more power to help rule the empire.

Sadly, in 451, he faced false accusations from a palace official named Zong Ai. Many people who worked with Tuoba Huang were punished. He became very ill from worry and passed away that same year. Tuoba Huang is also known for being one of the youngest fathers in history. He had his son, Tuoba Jun, when he was only 12 years old.

Early Life of Tuoba Huang

Tuoba Huang was born in 428. He was the first son of Emperor Taiwu. His mother was called Consort He. She passed away the same year he was born. This might mean she died during childbirth, but we don't know for sure.

On February 17, 432, Emperor Taiwu made Tuoba Huang the crown prince. At the same time, his father also made another consort, Empress Helian, the empress. Even though Tuoba Huang was only four, he was given a high position in his father's government. This was probably just a title at first.

In 433, Emperor Taiwu tried to arrange a marriage for Crown Prince Huang. He wanted him to marry a daughter of Emperor Wen of Liu Song. Emperor Wen did not say no right away, but he also did not agree to the marriage.

Crown Prince Huang and the Rouran Attack

In 439, Emperor Taiwu went on a military trip to conquer a region called Northern Liang. He left Crown Prince Huang in charge of the capital city, Pingcheng. The high-ranking official Qiumuling Shou helped him. Their job was to protect the city from an attack by the Rouran people.

However, Qiumuling Shou did not think the Rouran would attack. He did not prepare the city well. When the Rouran leader, Yujiulü Wuti, attacked, Pingcheng was almost defenseless. Qiumuling Shou wanted to take Crown Prince Huang to the hills for safety. But Emperor Taiwu's wet nurse, Empress Dowager Dou, disagreed. Crown Prince Huang stayed in Pingcheng. Later, the Northern Wei forces defeated the Rouran, and Yujiulü Wuti had to leave.

Even at 11 years old, Crown Prince Huang was already part of important decisions. He had disagreed with his father's plan to attack Northern Liang. But his father listened to Cui Hao's advice instead, who thought Northern Liang would be easy to defeat.

Crown Prince Huang's Role in Government

By 442, Crown Prince Huang was a strong believer in Buddhism. His father, Emperor Taiwu, wanted to build a very tall and difficult palace called Jinglun Palace. This was suggested by Cui Hao and a Taoist monk named Kou Qianzhi. Crown Prince Huang tried to stop the project because of how much it would cost. But Emperor Taiwu did not agree with him.

In 443, Crown Prince Huang went with his father on a trip to fight the Rouran. They suddenly met Yujiulü Wuti. Crown Prince Huang suggested they attack right away. But Emperor Taiwu hesitated, and Yujiulü Wuti escaped. After this, Emperor Taiwu started to listen more carefully to Crown Prince Huang's advice.

In the winter of 443, Emperor Taiwu gave Crown Prince Huang permission to handle almost all imperial duties. Only the most important tasks were kept by his father. Qiumuling Shou, Cui Hao, Zhang Li, and Tuxi Bi helped Crown Prince Huang. He soon started a new plan to help farming. People who had extra cattle had to lend them to those who did not. In return, the cattle owners would get help tilling their land. This made farming much more efficient.

Important Events as Crown Prince

In 446, Emperor Taiwu was fighting a rebel group. He found many weapons in Buddhist temples in a city called Chang'an. He thought the monks were helping the rebels. So, he ordered the monks in Chang'an to be killed.

Cui Hao used this chance to convince Emperor Taiwu to kill all monks in the empire. He also wanted to destroy all temples, statues, and Buddhist writings. Even though Kou Qianzhi disagreed, Emperor Taiwu went ahead. He killed the monks in Chang'an, destroyed statues, and burned writings. Then, he announced that Buddhism was forbidden throughout the empire.

Crown Prince Huang tried to slow down the order. This gave Buddhists time to escape or hide. It is said that almost no Buddhist temples were left standing in Northern Wei. This event is known as the first of the Three Disasters of Wu.

Conflicts and Changes

By 450, Crown Prince Huang seemed to be in disagreement with Cui Hao about how to run the government. Cui Hao suggested many men to become governors. Crown Prince Huang strongly objected, but Cui Hao insisted, and the men were appointed.

It seems Crown Prince Huang played a part when Cui Hao was later executed in 450. Cui Hao and his whole family were put to death for insulting imperial ancestors. Crown Prince Huang argued hard to save one of Cui Hao's assistants, Gao Yun. During this time, Gao Yun made statements about Cui Hao that could have helped or hurt his case.

In the fall of 450, Emperor Wen of Liu Song sent his general Wang Xuanmo to attack a city called Huatai. Emperor Taiwu personally led an army to help Huatai. After defeating Wang, he went deep into Liu Song territory, all the way to the Yangtze River. While Emperor Taiwu was fighting in the south, Crown Prince Huang stayed on the northern border. He was there to defend against any possible Rouran attack, following his father's orders.

The End of Tuoba Huang's Life

People said that Crown Prince Huang was very observant. But he trusted his friends a lot. He also spent much time managing his orchards and farms to earn money. Gao Yun tried to tell him not to get too involved in business or give too much power to others. But Tuoba Huang did not listen.

In 451, he got into a conflict with a palace official named Zong Ai. Tuoba Huang had found out about Zong Ai's dishonest actions and disliked him very much. Zong Ai was worried that Crown Prince Huang's trusted friends, Chouni Daosheng and Ren Pingcheng, would accuse him of crimes. So, Zong Ai acted first and accused Chouni and Ren of crimes.

Emperor Taiwu was very angry and had Chouni and Ren executed. Many other people who worked with Crown Prince Huang were also caught up in the case and executed. Crown Prince Huang became very ill from fear and passed away that year.

After Tuoba Huang's Death

Emperor Taiwu soon realized that Crown Prince Huang was not involved in any crimes. He felt great regret for his actions. Around the new year of 451, he made Crown Prince Huang's oldest son, Tuoba Jun, a prince. But he soon took away that title. This was a strong sign that he planned to make Tuoba Jun the next crown prince.

Zong Ai was afraid that Emperor Taiwu would punish him. So, in the spring of 452, he killed Emperor Taiwu. Zong Ai then took control of the government. He killed many officials and Tuoba Huang's younger brother, Tuoba Han. He made another of Tuoba Huang's younger brothers, Tuoba Yu, the emperor.

Zong Ai controlled everything. When Tuoba Yu tried to gain his own power in the fall of 452, Zong Ai killed him too. But then, officials led by Yuan He, Baba Kehou, Dugu Ni, and Buliugu Li rose up against Zong Ai and killed him. They made Tuoba Jun the new emperor. After becoming Emperor Wencheng, Tuoba Jun gave his father, Tuoba Huang, the special title of emperor after his death.

Family of Tuoba Huang

Tuoba Huang had many consorts and children:

• Empress Gong, from the Yujiulü family
  • Tuoba Jun, who became Emperor Wencheng (born 440, died 465). He was Tuoba Huang's first son.
• Jiaofang, from the Yuan family
  • Tuoba Xincheng, Prince Yangpingyou (died 470). He was the second son.
• Jiaofang, from the Wei family
  • Tuoba Zitui, Prince Jingzhaokang (died 477)
  • Tuoba Xiaoxincheng, Prince Jiyinxuan (died 467)
  • Tuoba Hu'er, Prince Lelingkang (died 468)
• Jiaofang, from the Yang family
  • Tuoba Tianci, Prince Ruyinling
• Jiaofang, from the Meng family
  • Tuoba Yun, Prince Renchengkang (born 446, died 481)
  • Tuoba Xiu, Prince Andingjing (died 494)
• Jiaofang, from the Liu family
  • Tuoba Zhen, Prince Nan'anhui (born 447, died 496). He was the 11th son.
  • Tuoba Changshou, Prince Chengyangkang (died 474)
• Jiaofang, from the Murong family
  • Tuoba Tailuo, Prince Zhangwujing (died 468)
• Unknown mothers
  • Tuoba Wanshou, Prince Leliangli (died 462)
  • Tuoba Luohou, Prince Guangpingshang (died 461)
  • Tuoba Shen, Prince Zhao (died 454)
  • Princess Zhangwu, his first daughter
    • She married Mu Tai (died 496) and had two sons.
    • She also married Fang Pusa.
  • Princess Anle, his second daughter
    • She married Yi Gangui of Henan, Prince Xiping (born 445, died 475).
  • Princess Boling, his third daughter
    • She married Feng Xi of Changle, Prince Changli (born 438, died 495), and had one son.
  • Princess Leping, his fourth daughter
    • She married Mr. Lü and had one son.