Gao Xianzhi
| Gao Xianzhi | |||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 高仙芝 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 高仙芝 | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Korean name | |||||||||
| Hangul | 고선지 | ||||||||
| Hanja | 高仙芝 | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Standard Mandarin | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Gāo Xiānzhī |
| Wade–Giles | Kao Hsien-chih |
| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Go Seon-ji |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ko Sŏn-ji |
Gao Xianzhi, or Go Seonji, (died January 24, 756) was a Tang dynasty general of Goguryeo descent. He was known as a great commander during his lifetime. He is most well known for taking part in multiple military expeditions to conquer the Western Regions, over the Pamir Mountains, and reaching the Aral Sea and the Caspian Sea. In 751 he commanded the Tang forces during the Battle of Talas, fighting against the Abbasid Caliphate. The Tang defeat is considered to mark the end of both Tang western expansion and Abbasid eastern expansion.
Around the new year 756, Gao and fellow general Feng Changqing offended the powerful eunuch Bian Lingcheng (邊令誠) while defending the Tong Pass against the rebel An Lushan, who had rebelled in 755. Bian then accused Feng of cowardice and Gao of corruption, and both were executed.
Gao Xianzhi was the son of Go Sagye, a Goguryeo general. Goguryeo was defeated by a Tang-Silla alliance in 668 AD and Go Sagye was captured by the Tang army, which he then served under.
Gao Xianzhi was born in Tang's western regions. Historical records state that Gao Xianzhi was neither muscular nor particularly strong like other army officers and his father was constantly concerned about his son's poor health. However, he demonstrated great courage from an early age and possessed skills in horseriding and archery.
Gao Xianzhi's loyalty and bravery allowed him to net the position of general by his 20s and served with his father in Kashgar under the Protectorate General to Pacify the West. He successively served under the jiedushi Tian Renwan (田仁琬) and Gai Jiayun (蓋嘉運), but received no further promotions. However, Gai's successor Fumeng Lingcha (夫蒙靈詧) was impressed by him, and repeatedly recommended him to his superiors. By the end of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's Kaiyuan era (727-741), Gao was serving as Fumeng's deputy.
...
Wikipedia