Wang Tuan

Wang Tuan (王團) was a Chinese eunuch official who served during the late Tang Dynasty and early Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Specific details about his early life and rise to prominence are scant, but he is primarily remembered for his influential role in the selection and support of Emperor Zhao Zong's sons, specifically Li Zhu (later Emperor Ai of Tang), amidst the political turmoil and power struggles that characterized the twilight years of the Tang.

Wang Tuan appears in historical records as a key figure advising Emperor Zhao Zong on succession matters. He wielded considerable power within the imperial court, and his influence extended to determining who had access to the emperor. His decisions played a significant part in shaping the political landscape of the time, including alliances and rivalries among powerful military governors and factions within the imperial court.

Following the assassination of Emperor Zhao Zong in 904, Wang Tuan was instrumental in ensuring the ascension of his son, Li Zhu, to the throne as Emperor Ai. He served as a powerful advisor and guardian to the young emperor, continuing to exert influence over court affairs.

The circumstances surrounding Wang Tuan's eventual downfall or death are not definitively documented in available historical texts. The period was marked by intense instability, and many figures of influence met untimely ends. His legacy, however, remains tied to his role in the final years of the Tang Dynasty and the ascension of its last emperor. He represents the pervasive and sometimes decisive role that eunuchs played in the politics of late imperial China.