Linghu Tao

Linghu Tao (traditional Chinese: 令狐綯; simplified Chinese: 令狐绹; pinyin: Línghú Táo), courtesy name Zizhi (子直), formally the Duke of Zhao (趙公), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the leading chancellor during the last nine years of the reign of Emperor Xuānzong, but was removed from his chancellor position after Emperor Xuānzong's death, subsequently serving several terms as military governor (Jiedushi) in the circuits.

It is not known when Linghu Tao was born. He was probably the second son of Linghu Chu, who was a prominent official under several emperors, including serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong, and Linghu Tao had an older brother named Linghu Xu (令狐緒).

Linghu Tao passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 830, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wenzong. He was thereafter made a copyeditor at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). Early in Emperor Wenzong's Kaifeng era (836-840), he served as Zuo Shiyi (左拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). When Linghu Chu died in 837, he left governmental service to observe a period of mourning. After the period was over, he was given his old office back, and then promoted to Zuo Bujue (左補闕) and also made an editor of imperial histories. He later was made Kubu Yuanwailang (庫部員外郎) and then Hubu Yuanwailang (戶部員外郎), both low-level offices at the ministry of census (戶部, Hubu). In 845, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong, he was sent out of the capital Chang'an to serve as the prefect of Hu Prefecture (湖州, in modern Huzhou, Jiangsu).

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