Li Gao
The Li family belonged to the northwest military aristocracy prevalent during the Sui dynasty, and claimed to be paternally descended from the Taoist founder, Lao Tzu (whose personal name was Li Dan or Li Er), the Han dynasty General Li Guang and Western Liang ruler Li Gao. This family was known as the Longxi Li lineage (; ), which includes the Tang poet Li Bai. The Tang Emperors also had Xianbei maternal ancestry, from Emperor Gaozu of Tang's Xianbei mother, Duchess Dugu.