Emperor Taizong of Tang (T醤g T鄆zong; Wade-Giles: T'ai-Tsung; January 23; 599 - July 10; 649); personal name Li Sh靘韓; was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China; ruling from 626 to 649. As he encouraged his father; Li Yuan (later Emperor Gaozu) to rise against Sui Dynasty rule at Taiyuan in 617 and subsequently defeated several of his most important rivals; he was ceremonially regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty along with Emperor Gaozu.