Golden Age of China

The reign of Emperor Xuanzong is considered the most glorious period of the Tang dynasty. It began when he led a coup d'etat that overthrew Empress Wei, and would last for 44 years. When Xuanzong became emperor he found that the government had been looted by extensive corruption that had existed for decades. He immediately undertook cost cutting measures that included his own household staff. Xuanzong ordered his empress, consorts, and the women in his concubine not to wear or buy pearls, jade, embroidery, or brocades. He also stopped wealthy families from establishing Buddhist monasteries so that they could evade taxes. At the same time he ordered 30,000 monks to return to lay life(life outside of the church) and start paying taxes.