Chang He (588–653), a native of Junyi in Bianzhou, was an early Tang general and regional official. He first served with the Wagang forces and later joined the Tang, campaigning alongside Li Shimin and other commanders during the wars of unification. In 624 he was assigned to guard Xuanwu Gate and served there during the 626 palace coup. He subsequently held provincial, military, and metropolitan command posts.
588 CE–653 CETang Dynasty
PROFILE
Chang He (588–653), a native of Junyi in Bianzhou, was an early Tang general and regional official. He first served with the Wagang forces and later joined the Tang, campaigning alongside Li Shimin and other commanders during the wars of unification. In 624 he was assigned to guard Xuanwu Gate and served there during the 626 palace coup. He subsequently held provincial, military, and metropolitan command posts.
Period
Early Tang dynasty
Dynasty / polity
Tang
Identity
General of the early Tang and local official
Native place
Junyi county, Bianzhou, present-day Kaifeng, Henan
Date of Birth
588
Date of Death
653
Highest office
Director of the secretariat
LIFE TIMELINE
Birth ｜ Born in Junyi county of Bianzhou.Open
Birth ｜ Born in Junyi county of Bianzhou.
Youth ｜ Joined the Wagang army and fought under Li Mi, being made pillOpen
Youth ｜ Joined the Wagang army and fought under Li Mi, being made pillar of state and duke of Leize.
Age thirty-one ｜ Urged Li Mi to submit to Tang and was made a cavalry Open
Age thirty-one ｜ Urged Li Mi to submit to Tang and was made a cavalry general of the Qingyi office; after Li Mi's revolt he was taken by Wang Shichong, escaped from the inner camp back to Tang and was made a chariot and cavalry general.
Age thirty-two ｜ Fought in concert with Liu Hongji and Yuwen Ying, theOpen
Age thirty-two ｜ Fought in concert with Liu Hongji and Yuwen Ying, the details of the campaign being unrecorded.
War of unification ｜ Took part in the early Tang wars of unification.Open
War of unification ｜ Took part in the early Tang wars of unification.
Age thirty-four to thirty-five ｜ Took part in the campaigns against LiOpen
Age thirty-four to thirty-five ｜ Took part in the campaigns against Liu Heita and Xu Yuanlang; in the fifth year he followed the crown prince Li Jiancheng against Liu Heita, the epitaph saying only that he followed the hidden crown prince.
Age thirty-seven ｜ Was brought by Li Shimin to the capital to guard thOpen
Age thirty-seven ｜ Was brought by Li Shimin to the capital to guard the Xuanwu gate and made a commandant.
The Xuanwu gate coup ｜ Guarded the northern gate during the Xuanwu gatOpen
The Xuanwu gate coup ｜ Guarded the northern gate during the Xuanwu gate coup.
Recommendation of Ma Zhou ｜ His retainer Ma Zhou drafted a memorial foOpen
Recommendation of Ma Zhou ｜ His retainer Ma Zhou drafted a memorial for him, and the Taizong emperor summoned and employed Ma Zhou.
Age forty-five ｜ Was given the title of grand master of the great middOpen
Age forty-five ｜ Was given the title of grand master of the great middle and made prefect of Yanzhou, enfeoffed founding earl of Wushui with five hundred households.
Age fifty ｜ Was made grand master of righteousness and acting prefect Open
Age fifty ｜ Was made grand master of righteousness and acting prefect of Jingzhou.
Age fifty-one ｜ Entered the capital as general of the right garrison gOpen
Age fifty-one ｜ Entered the capital as general of the right garrison guard.
Age fifty-five ｜ Was ordered to build the Jiucheng palace and made genOpen
Age fifty-five ｜ Was ordered to build the Jiucheng palace and made general of the left leading guard.
Age fifty-seven ｜ Led troops to guard against the Xueyantuo in the preOpen
Age fifty-seven ｜ Led troops to guard against the Xueyantuo in the prefectures of Feng and Ling, concurrently general of the right martial guard.
Age fifty-eight ｜ Was made deputy commander of the Pyongyang route, seOpen
Age fifty-eight ｜ Was made deputy commander of the Pyongyang route, serving under Zhang Liang, and attacked Goguryeo by sea.
Age sixty ｜ Was made prefect of Zizhou.Open
Age sixty ｜ Was made prefect of Zizhou.
Age sixty-five ｜ Was transferred to be commander of Qianzhou, commandiOpen
Age sixty-five ｜ Was transferred to be commander of Qianzhou, commanding the military affairs of sixteen prefectures including Qian, Si and Fei.
Age sixty-six ｜ Died of illness and was posthumously made general of tOpen
Age sixty-six ｜ Died of illness and was posthumously made general of the left martial guard.
BIOGRAPHY
Biography
Chang joined the Wagang army and entered Tang service after Li Mi's defeat. After the Tang was founded, he held military and regional offices. During the Xuanwu Gate Incident in 626, Chang was responsible for guarding a palace gate, and some of his subordinates took part in the event. Traditional accounts differ on the role he played before and during the coup; later narratives alone cannot establish that he directed its planning.
During the Zhenguan era, Chang served as a regional prefect and held other posts. Near the end of Taizong's reign, he joined a campaign against Goguryeo. He died in 653.
Major Activities
Chang's career shows the role of mid-level Tang commanders in military unification, palace security, and regional administration. Later political narratives about the Xuanwu Gate Incident often cite his command of the gate to explain how the operation was possible; his personal motives and prior knowledge require careful assessment.
Personal Relations
Li Mi: Leader of the Wagang army in which Chang served early in his career.
Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong: The ruler Chang served after the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Palace gate guards: The military unit associated with Chang's role in the incident.
Historical Assessment
Traditional Records
Tang histories record Chang's military service, palace office, and regional appointments and connect him with the Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Later Assessments
Modern Scholarship
Modern studies examine Chang through the military arrangements of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, palace guard institutions, and early Tang narratives of merit. They distinguish confirmed offices from later inferences about his motives and contribution.