Li Gao or Li Hao (Chinese: 李暠; 351–417), courtesy name Xuansheng (玄盛), nickname Changsheng (長生), also known by his posthumous name as the Prince Wuzhao of Western Liang (西涼武昭王), was the founding duke of the Chinese Western Liang dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. While he claimed only the title of duke during his reign, he was posthumously honored with the princely title. He was initially a Northern Liang official, but in 400, he seceded from Northern Liang's prince Duan Ye's rule and established his own independent dynasty. While his state only lasted for 21 years, his descendants would remain key officials and nobles throughout the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, and Sui dynasties, and one of them, Li Yuan, would found the Tang dynasty in 618. He was posthumously honored by the Tang dynasty as Emperor Xingsheng (興聖皇帝).
Contents
Prior to Western Liang's establishment
Li Gao was born in 351, and was a posthumous child of his father Li Chang (李昶), who traced his ancestry to the Han dynasty general Li Guang. After Li Chang's death, Li Gao's mother married a man named Song, and they had at least one son, Song Yao (宋繇). In Li Gao's youth, he was known to be studious, rational, and open-minded. When he grew older, he also studied the military strategies of Sunzi and Wu Qi. He had, for a time, lived in the same house with his half-brother Song Yao and Guo Nen (郭黁), a minister of Later Liang's founding emperor Lü Guang known for his magical and prophetic abilities. Guo once told Song, "Your place will be among the most honored of all subjects, but Mr. Li will one day found an independent state. This will happen when a mare bears a pony with a white forehead."