Li Chengqian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Li Chéngqián (李承乾) (619 - October 1, 644) was the original crown prince of Emperor Taizong of Tang China, but was replaced later by his younger brother Li Tai. His courtesy name was Gaoming (高明).
He was named after his birthplace, Chengqian Hall (殿), and became the crown prince on October 8, 627 at the age of eight, after his father became the emperor on September 4, 626. After September 630, his grand teacher (太師) was Li Gang (李綱); on May 6, 632, Li Gang died and was replaced by Yu Shining (於志寧) and Li Baiyao (李百藥). Kong Yingda (孔穎達) and Zhang Xuansu (張玄素) were his live-in scholars (宿儒). Taizong described his son as "understanding of the rituals" (頗識大體).
In 632, with the excuse of the foot illness, he stopped attending court sessions and started to wander around the city engaging in amorous acts and imitated the practices of non-Han "barbarians". His brother Tai began to gain the favor of Taizong.
Li secretly housed a male musical performer called Chengxin (稱心樂伎), but Taizong ordered him killed later. After Chengxin's death, Li was overwhelmed with grief for months, never attending courts, and arranged the failed assassinations of Yu Shining and Zhang Xuansu, who advised him constantly to get over the pain.
On April 6, 643 (Zhenguan 17), after a failed rebellion, he lost his royalty status in Imperial Decree which Deposes Crown Prince Chengqian as a Commoner (廢皇太子承乾爲庶人詔). He died the next year in Qian Prefecture (黔州) at the age of 25. The cause is unknown.
