High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 唐朝; pinyin: Táng Cháo; IPA: Middle Chinese: dhɑng) (June 18, 618 - June 1, 907) was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li (李) family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire. The dynasty was interrupted briefly by the Second Zhou Dynasty (October 8, 690 - March 3, 705) when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, becoming the first and only Chinese empress regnant, ruling in her own right.