Linghu Dequn (583-666), styled Jixin, was born in Huayuan County, Yizhou, Tang Dynasty. He was a historian and bibliophile.

Linghu Dequn initially resided in Dunhuang. His family belonged to the Right Clan of Hexi and was renowned for its extensive involvement in literature and history. He was proficient in literature, art, and history, and had already gained literary fame in his early years. During the last years of the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as the official of Yaocheng (today's Bozhou City, Anhui Province). However, due to the volatile situation at that time, he did not take up the position.

In the 13th year of Daye (617), Li Shentong, the younger brother of Li Yuan, raised an army in Taiping Palace to respond to Li Yuan's rebellion in Taiyuan and established a general office, appointing Linghu Dequn as the recorder of the general office. After Li Yuan captured Chang'an, he recommended Linghu Dequn to serve as the recorder of the Grand Chancellor's Office. In the early years of Tang Gaozu's reign, he served as an official in charge of the court's daily affairs and was promoted to the position of Secretary of the Secretariat.

After Li Yuan ascended the throne, Linghu Dequn was appointed as an official in charge of the court's daily affairs and had close ties with Li Yuan. In the fifth year of Wude (622), he was promoted to Secretary of the Secretariat and, along with Chen Shuda and other attendants, was commissioned to compile the "Yiwen Leiju". At that time, many books had been lost due to war, so he petitioned Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan to purchase lost books from around the country at high prices, and set up officials to restore and supplement the records. Over the course of several years, a large number of documents were collected.

During the Zhenguan period, Linghu Dequn successively held the positions of Deputy Director of the Ministry of Rites, revising official history, and proposing the revision of the histories of the Liang, Chen, Zhou, Qi, and Sui dynasties. He was mainly responsible for revising the "Book of the Zhou". In addition, he also held positions such as the Right Assistant to the Crown Prince, Prefect of Yazhou, and Deputy Supervisor of the Secretariat.

In the sixth year of Zhenguan (632), he was ennobled as a baron of Pengcheng County and promoted to a viscount five years later.

During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, he was promoted to a duke. He held positions such as Deputy Director of the Ministry of Rites, Scholar of the Hongwen Hall, Supervisor of the Revision of Official History, Director of the Tai Chang Temple, and Dean of the National Academy. He also concurrently served as a Scholar of the Chongxian Hall. He participated in various historical revision work in the country and was particularly diligent in writing in his later years. He compiled the "Five Dynasties Historiography", "Rituals of the Tang Dynasty", "Record of the Reign of Emperor Taizong", "Record of the Reign of Emperor Gaozong", and wrote works such as "Stories of the Heroes of Lingyan Tower" and "Rituals for the Emperor's Ascension to the Throne".

In the second year of Longshuo (662), Linghu Dequn was awarded the title of Jin Ziguanglu Dafu as a recognition for his outstanding contributions and retired at the age of eighty. In the first year of Qianfeng (666), Linghu Dequn died of illness at the age of eighty-four. He was posthumously awarded the position of Supervisor of the Secretariat and given the posthumous title of Xian.

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