Description

The Xuanwu Gate Incident was a palace coup for the throne of the Tang dynasty on 2 July of 626, when Prince Li Shimin and his followers assassinated his brothers Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Li Yuanji. Li Shimin, the second son of Emperor Gaozu, was in an intense rivalry with his brothers. He took control and set up an ambush at Xuanwu Gate, the northern gate leading to the Palace City, within the imperial capital Chang'an. The Palace City (宮城) was located in the northernmost central part of Chang'an. In later years, it was known as the West Inner Palace (西内) and the Taiji Palace (太極宮), but these designations were not used at the time of the coup, according to Bingham 1950b, 261 There, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji were murdered by Li Shimin and his men. Within three days after the coup, Li Shimin was installed as the crown prince. About two months later, Emperor Gaozu abdicated and passed the throne to Li Shimin, who would become known as Emperor Taizong.