Observations on Tang-Uighur Relations in the Early Reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang from the Tudu Incident
Abstract
This paper takes the assassination of Tudu in the first year of the Jianzhong reign under Emperor Dezong of Tang as a point of entry to examine the structural transformation of Tang-Uighur relations after the An Lushan Rebellion. By analyzing historical records from The Old Book of Tang and Zizhi Tongjian, the study investigates the circumstances surrounding Zhang Guangsheng’s ambush and killing of the Uighur diplomatic mission, revealing the underlying logic of political power struggles: the Tang court’s three military appeals for Uighur aid led to institutional dependency, which allowed the Uighurs to negotiate as equals through marriage alliances during the Qianyuan era. In the first year of the Baoying reign, Prince Yong’s refusal to perform ritual obeisance disrupted the established hierarchy between ruler and vassal. The essence of the Tudu Incident lies in the collision between Emperor Dezong’s pro-Tibetan policy and Uighur expansionism, rooted in the imbalance of power and economic friction that had developed under the military dependency between Tang and the Uighurs.
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