Taishang Huang - Definition and Overview

Taishang Huang (Chinese: 太上皇; pinyin: tàishàng huáng) was a Chinese title used all across Eastern Asia for a retired emperor. In Japan the title was Joko (kanji: 上皇; Hepburn: Jōkō) (see: cloistered rule). In Vietnam the title was Thai thuong hoang (quoc ngu: Thái thượng hoàng; chu nom: 太上皇), or just Thuong hoang (quoc ngu: Thượng hoàng; chu nom: 上皇), and it was used even for a retired king (there were no emperors in Vietnam before 1802). In Korea there were no emperors before 1897, but when applied to Chinese or Japanese context, the title in Korean is Sang-hwang (hangul: 상황; hanja: 上皇), or sometimes even Taesang Hwang (hangul: 태상황; hanja: 太上皇). After 1897, when Korea became an empire, there was only one instance of retired emperor: Emperor Gojong, who was forced to abdicate by the Japanese in 1907. However, he was given the title Tae Hwangje (hangul: 태황제; hanja: 太皇帝).

Instances of Chinese rulers who were granted the title Taishang Huang:

• Emperor Gaozu of the Tang, who abdicated in 626 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 635
• Emperor Zhengtong of the Ming from his capture by the Mongols in 1449 until his return to the throne in 1457
• Emperor Qianlong of the Qing who abdicated in 1796 and was made Taishang Huang until his death in 1799