Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei (408–452), personal name Tuoba Tao, nickname Foli, is an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei.

He is generally regarded as a capable ruler, and during his reign, Northern Wei roughly doubles in size and unites all of northern China, thus ending the Sixteen Kingdoms period and, together with the southern dynasty Liu Song, starts the Southern and Northern Dynasties period of Chinese history.

He is a devout Taoist, under the influence of his prime minister Cui Hao, and in 444, at Cui Hao's suggestion and believing that Buddhists had supported the rebellion of Gai Wu, he orders the abolition of Buddhism, at the penalty of death.

This is the first of the Three Disasters of Wu for Chinese Buddhism.

Late in his reign, his reign begins to be cruel, and his people are also worn out by his incessant wars against Liu Song.

In 452, he is assassinated by his eunuch Zong Ai, who puts his son Tuoba Yu on the throne but then assassinates Tuoba Yu as well.

The other officials overthrow Zong and put Emperor Taiwu's grandson Tuoba Jun (son of Tuoba Huang the Crown Prince, who had predeceased him) on the throne as Emperor Wencheng.