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TheImperial Guards of theTang dynasty, also known as theForbidden Troops (simplified Chinese:禁军;traditional Chinese:禁軍;pinyin:jìn jūn), were initiallyhonor guards andshock troops of theemperor and garrisons of the imperial capitals during the Tang's formation in the early 7th century. They were extremely skilled soldiers andelite units, almost comparable to that of thePraetorian Guards ofRome. After theAn Shi Rebellion, which lasted from AD 755 to 763, the Imperial Guards became the only military force that remained under direct control of the Tang court. These guards were equipped a variety of arms and armour, includingcrossbows anddao, and donned heavylamellar armour. Sometimes, some elite guard units were clad inmountain pattern armour.
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Thedynasty's founder was an aristocrat based in present-dayTaiyuan, and was an experienced soldier from his tenure as border commander. He launched his bid for power in AD 617 with only 30,000 troops, and by the time he defeated his rivals, he commanded more than 200,000 troops. About 30,000 volunteered to remain in service after general demobilisation; they became the pioneers of the Tang's hereditary Imperial Guards, and were assigned the fertile lands in the region of Bai irrigation canal, north of theWei River, which had been abandoned during the turmoils of theSui-Tang transition wars. This body became known as the Pioneer Forbidden Guards (元从禁军).
The first body of the Imperial Guards were designated as bodyguards of the emperor, and would garrison the capitals and palaces.[1]
The mainstay of the empire's defence would be thefubing system, which assigned lands to farmers in return for periods of military service.
In the beginning of the reign ofEmperor Taizong, the monarch stationed a hundred soldiers skilled in archery at the northern gate of the palace. They became known as theHundred Riders (百骑), and accompanied the emperor during his hunting excursions.
In addition, seven companies of soldiers selected after trials of strength and skills were installed under the Northern Bureau (北衙) as additional bodyguards.
Gradually, other new units were added and stationed around the palace, their members chosen from upper class of societies who met the selection criteria of physical appearance, skills and strengths.
In AD 662, Tang'sthird emperor transferred some outstanding horsemen, archers and footmen of thefubing army into the new Yü Lin (羽林, literallyFeathered Forest[2]) unit, and assigned them the duties of standing guard during Court sessions as well as imperial processions.
TheHundred Riders unit was expanded byEmpress Wu toThousand Riders (千骑), then further increased byEmperor Zhongzong toTen Thousand Riders (万骑). This unit was instrumental in the ousting ofEmpress Wei's faction by the Imperial PrinceLi LongJi in AD 710, and subsequently renamed as Long Wu (龙武, literallyDragon Martial). Only descendants of pioneers of the Tang Empire were selected into the Long Wu Guards.
In time, the appeal of serving in the Imperial Guard units waned, and many scions of influential clans resorted to hiring proxies to serve on their behalf. Thus, the quality of the "aristocratic" Long Wu guards levelled with that of the "commoner" Yü Lin guards.
By the timeAn Lushan revolted in AD 755, enrollment in the Imperial Guard units had declined to such an extent that there were only a thousand guardsmen escorting Emperor Xuanzong during his flight from the capital.
Emperor Xuanzong officially abdicated in favour of the Crown PrinceLi Heng, who had to raise his own army in AD 757, which became known as the Shen Wu (神武, literallyDivine Martial) Guards. Entry requirements had to be lowered when they could not recruit enough men from families of Court officials.
During the An Shi rebellion, the loyaljiedushiGeshu Han brought his garrison from the northwestern border with Tibet to thecentral plains to rally to the emperor. Due to politicking, control of this army came under the eunuchYu Chao'En, and was subsequently known as the Shen Ce Army (神策军), literallyDivine Stratagem Guards.
This unit was instrumental in assistingEmperor Daizong recover the Imperial capital Chang'an from Tibetan invaders in AD 763, and thus gained prominence and became the mainstay of the central authorities' military force.
The soldiers enjoyed better remuneration than those from other units. This led to other imperial military units to seek to come under its banner, expanding its numbers greatly. As a result, other Imperial Guard units declined.
Control of the Shen Ce Army fell into the hands of the palace eunuchs who used it to control the Tang emperors. Later on, the Shence Army deteriorated into little more than local bullies in the vicinity of the capital. Quality declined sharply as recruitment fell in numbers and they were unable to withstand the rebel forces ofHuang Chao in AD 880.
In AD 903, afterZhu Wen deposed the last Tang Emperor and massacred the eunuchs in Chang'an, the last of Tang Imperial Guard units came to an end.