Background
Huang Ch'ao was born in about 835 to a family of merchants living in northeast China on the Shantung peninsula.
Huang Ch'ao was born in about 835 to a family of merchants living in northeast China on the Shantung peninsula.
His family was wealthy enough to provide him with some education, and he tried to pass the civil service examination.
His failure to pass the civil service examination embittered him against the ruling T'ang dynasty. Although the T'ang had nearly been overthrown by the An Lu-shan rebellion in the middle of the 8th century, there had been a period of imperial recovery lasting until about 820. The following half century was one of steady decline for the ruling house. In 878 Huang Ch'ao became commander of the rebel troops. In 879 they occupied Canton and its outlying areas. Success began to follow success for the rebels.
Huang Ch'ao led a major campaign toward the north and by the winter of 880 occupied the eastern capital, Loyang, which had put up no resistance. Early in 881, just weeks after taking Loyang, Huang Ch'ao took Ch'ang-an, the western capital. Huang's first act was to proclaim himself emperor. In an effort to create a government, he preserved the bureaucratic structure, putting his own followers in the top posts. This effort was short-lived, however, as imperial troops recovered the capital in the spring of 881. The military situation fluctuated for the next 2 years, although the rebels were able to regain and hold Ch'angan. They could not obtain provisions, however, and their situation became desperate.
The real turning point came when the T'ang enlisted the aid of non-Chinese armies, which drove Huang Ch'ao and his troops out of the capital. The rebels struggled to the east, but within a year their army was dispersed and their leader dead.
Huang Chao was a military genius and won many victories over superior and well-armed soldiers. He was the leader of a major rebellion that severely weakened the Tang dynasty. Huang Chao was one of the hundreds who joined Wang Xianzhi’s ragtag army. Due to differences in strategy, the rebel forces split into two and one half was led by Huang Chao.
