Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong (
Chinese 高宗 Gāo zōng) (
628–
683) was the third emperor of
Tang Dynasty in
China and he ruled from
649 to
683. He was born
Li Zhi (李治), and was the son of
Emperor Taizong (9th) and the
Empress Wende (3rd). Both his older brothers had been
Crown Prince before him.
Known by Islamic sources as
Yung Wei (
Chinese 永徽 Y'ng Huī), he is credited with building the first
mosque in
China, a mosque that still stands in
Canton.
Islam was introduced to
China and Gao Zong by the visit of
Sad ibn Abi Waqqas , a
companion of
Muhammad in the year
650. Gao Zong is said to have respected the teachings of
Islam greatly, feeling the teachings were compatible with
Confucianism, and offered the building of the mosque as a sign of admiration. The emperor himself did not convert as he felt Islam was too restrictive for his own preferences. This did not stop him from allowing
Sad ibn Abi Waqqas and his company to spread the teachings throughout the region.
He was aided in his rule by his empress consort
Wu Zetian during the later years of his reign after a series of strokes left him incapacitated. Gaozong delegated all matters of state to his wife and after he died in 683, power fell virtually into the hands of Wu Zetian.
