Abstract
The Shenlong Coup (神龍政變) is one of the important coups in the Early Tang. However, historians have different opinions on the initialization of the Coup. What Shenlong Coup resulting from remains unclear. This work begins with comprehending the analysis of the former studies on Shenlong Coup and the records about Shenlong Coup in Jiutangshu (舊唐書), Xintangshu (新唐書), and zizhitongjian (資治通鑑). Among these records and studies, Lu Simian (呂思勉) has an inspiring opinion. He regards Shenlong Coup as a factionalism, but he provides no further explanation or analysis. Inspired by Lu’s study, this work through studying the lives of nine officials, Yan Chaoyin (閻朝隱), Song Zhiwen (宋之問), Wei Yuandan (韋元旦), Du Shenyan (杜審言), Fang Rong (房融), Wei Chengqing (韋承慶), Cui Shenqing (崔神慶), Shen Quanqi (沈佺期), Wang Wujing (王無競), who were banished or demoted to Lingnan (嶺南) region right after the Shenlong Coup, sees the exile of Shenlong Coup as a mirror reflecting the factional appearance of Shenlong Coup.