At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Yang of Sui became more and more extravagant, indulging in debauchery and extravagance, with the government imposing excessive taxes and levies, and the people’s grievances boiling. In 611 AD, Emperor Yang of Sui set out on a solitary expedition to Goryeo, igniting the long suppressed anger in the hearts of the common people. Banners of peasant uprisings were everywhere, and voices of resistance against tyranny were everywhere. Li Yuan, the remaining governor of Taiyuan, was originally a vassal of the Sui Dynasty, but he did not gain the trust of Emperor Yang of Sui for a long time. With the repeated persuasion of his second son Li Shimin, Li Yuan finally rose up in arms. In just six months, the army led by Li Yuan and his son exceeded 200000. In March 618 AD, Emperor Yang of Sui was killed, and the Sui Dynasty was destroyed. In May of the same year, Li Yuan ascended to the throne in Chang’an and changed the country’s name to Tang. Li Yuan’s son, Li Shimin, had outstanding military achievements, but unfortunately, he was unable to become the crown prince, and the world would surely return to the lords.
On a morning in the early summer of the ninth year of Emperor Wude of Tang Dynasty, more than ten soldiers ambushed outside Xuanwu Gate. At this moment, there was only one person waiting for his command. Their leader was Li Shimin, the son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. For him, this day would be a life and death battle. He chose the most capable nine generals, including Yuchi Jingde, to join him in the battle, and his target was actually his own brother, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and younger brother Li Yuanji. At this moment, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, who had just walked out of Xuanwu Gate, felt that the situation was not good, but it was already too late. Li Shimin appeared in front of him and loudly called out to the two. In a hurry, Li Yuanji wanted to pull his bow and shoot Li Shimin, but in a panic, he couldn’t draw his bow and arrow three times. On the contrary, calm Li Shimin took out his bow and shot arrows, killing Crown Prince Li Jiancheng on the spot. Then, the two sides engaged in a fierce battle, and Li Yuanji was also shot and fell off his horse, which is the famous Xuanwu Gate Incident. Two months later, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, was forced to surrender his military power and issued an edict to abdicate. Li Shimin ascended the throne to change the reign name to Zhenguan for Emperor Taizong of Tang. At this time, Li Shimin faced the Tang Dynasty, which was in ruins due to the war at the end of the Sui Dynasty. How to establish the governance of Zhenguan, reorganize the fragmented mountains and rivers of the Tang Dynasty, and form a united and efficient core leadership group became an urgent task. Li Shimin has been good at recruiting talents for a long time. As early as the fourth year of the Wude reign, as the King of Qin, he founded a literary museum and extensively searched for talented individuals. Luo Zhi, a contemporary scholar, has 18 scholars in the museum, including renowned poets such as Yu Shinan, Chu Liang, and Xu Jingzong, as well as renowned scholars such as Sun Yingda, Lu Deming, and Yao Silian, as well as highly talented political and military figures such as Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Du Yan. These 18 scholars formed Li Shimin’s think tank, which not only helped him successfully seize the throne, but also became the core force of the future governance of Zhenguan. However, from the Qin Mansion to the imperial palace, Li Shimin was facing a more complex court environment at this time, and this dangerous situation came from three types of people in the court at that time.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: One is an old minister during the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty. These people all come from bureaucratic aristocrats or Shandong aristocrats, and their ideological characteristics are very conservative, especially with a sense of fear towards farmers. The second type is when Li Shimin became the King of Qin, the most famous figure among his subordinates was Fang Xuanling. So, these people were good at giving advice, but they were not very familiar with the situation of the entire society at that time. So, the third type of people, they come from the people or grassroots, especially since they participated in these armed forces in the Shandong region at the end of the Sui Dynasty. Therefore, they have a good understanding of the situation in Shandong, and their demands and dynamics after the end of the turmoil are as clear as their fingers. So they can analyze the situation correctly.
In the face of complex situations, how can Li Shimin make these three types of people from different backgrounds suitable for him. Shortly after Li Shimin ascended the throne, she ordered the summoning of a minister. This minister firmly sided with Crown Prince Li Jiancheng during the Xuanwu Gate Incident and provided advice to Wei Zheng. Li Shimin sternly asked Wei Zheng why he wanted to separate his three brothers. However, Wei Zheng remained calm and said, “If the Crown Prince had listened to me earlier, there would not have been today’s deadly disaster. The ministers were all sweating for Wei Zheng. However, Li Shimin greatly appreciated Wei Zheng’s honesty and understood his ultimate trivial matters. He not only stopped pursuing old grievances, but also immediately valued him. Wei Zheng was grateful for the kindness he had received from Li Shimin, and Wei Zheng knew everything from then on.”.
Professor Liu Houbin from Renmin University of China: The characteristics of Wei Zheng are his understanding of governance theory, his understanding of historical experiences and lessons, and his understanding of the current social situation. Such a person stands tall and sees far, so he played a very important role in the formulation of the Zhenguan governance policy and in helping Emperor Taizong of Tang become a wise ruler.
Li Shimin listened to the advice of Wei Zheng, and if he listened to it, it would be clear, but if he believed it, it would be dark. Therefore, during the Zhenguan period, a good atmosphere of listening and accepting advice was formed. In addition to Wei Zheng, there were also ministers who frequently advised at that time, such as Wang Ju, Dai Zhou, Ma Zhou, Zhang Xuansu, and his wife Empress Changsun. Even during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, Feng Deyi, who was famous for flattery and flattery, had records of multiple remonstrances. During the reign of Emperor Taizong for more than 20 years, more than 30 officials advised, including Wei Zheng, on more than 200 matters, totaling 100000 words, all of which were relevant to the current situation. They played a huge role in improving court politics and helping Emperor Taizong of Tang implement correct decisions.
Professor Ning Xin from Beijing Normal University: He realized that monarchs actually have desires, and it is possible for a monarch’s autocratic desire to harm the country. If you want a monarch to be superior, it is possible that he can do whatever he wants? That could potentially affect decision-making and lead to decision-making errors, putting the country in a precarious situation.
Tang Taizong armed himself to seize imperial power, and two months later, on this morning, the capital city of Chang’an was unusually lively. Civil and military officials rushed from all directions to Xuanwu Gate, hoping to participate in a debate personally presided over by Emperor Taizong of Tang on the gains and losses of ancient governance, in an attempt to find a way to achieve the rule of the world. However, at the beginning of the debate, two opposing views emerged.
Professor Liu Houbin from Renmin University of China: At that time, the faction represented by the Shandong gentry and the Fengde Yi ethnic group believed that the people’s hearts were bad, and the people’s hearts were very bad. They needed to continue implementing high-pressure policies because the Fengde Yi and other families were the targets of the turmoil in the late Sui Dynasty. They were the returning home group, and they wanted to counterattack and calculate. However, the so-called Shandong heroes, represented by Wei Zheng, were ordinary bureaucrats from the landlord class who came from Wagangzhai. They were anti Sui forces. He understood the trends of the people in Shandong and Hebei regions, and he believed that after the chaos, the people’s hearts were like a person thirsty for a long time. What to drink? They are all sweet. After being hungry for a long time, everything you eat is fragrant. After a long period of war, the people hope to settle down and live a stable life.
However, how to make the people settle down and carry out great governance? Li Shimin hoped to find answers from history. He couldn’t help but ask himself why the once prosperous and powerful Sui Dynasty collapsed in less than 40 years. He summarized the three main reasons for the downfall of Emperor Yang of Sui: first, the large-scale construction of buildings and the widespread rule of the palace; second, the search for beautiful women and excessive indulgence; third, the eastward and westward expeditions and military warfare; Li Shimin was amazed by the miraculous people who created miracles during the prosperous era of the Sui Dynasty, and their tremendous power erupted in the subsequent wars, causing the Sui Dynasty regime to collapse. These have given him a very clear understanding of the relationship between the country and the people, as well as between the ruler and the people.
Professor Wu Guozong from Peking University: He said that the emperor is the one who has the Tao. He blames others and puts them first, and abandons them without the Tao. Sincerity is admirable, and we can also see it from sincerity. This is clearly a conclusion drawn from a lesson of the downfall of the Sui Dynasty and traditional culture, which is what this sentence means. The emperor is the common people, because you have a way to elect him. If you have no way, the common people can push you away.
In order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin and his ministers often gathered together to discuss how to better govern the country. In his eyes, the people are like water, the monarch is like a ship, and the military and the people share weal and woe together. As a monarch, if he satisfies his own desires by harming the interests of the people, it will inevitably lead to the overthrow of the regime. He officially knew the ancient saying that water can carry boats and restore them. Li Shimin repeatedly emphasized the importance of putting the hearts of the people at the center. The way of serving the ruler must first preserve the people. Under this philosophy, Li Shimin formulated the strategy of pacifying the people and calming them down, forming a set of people-oriented ideas. It transformed these ideas into a series of specific policies, and the prosperous era of the rule of Zhenguan was gradually unfolded. The main content of the theory of governance by the ruler and subjects was recorded in the book “Zhenguan Zhengyao” written by historian Wu Jing during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. It was widely praised by later generations that the emergence of a clear and bright society must be based on the rule of law and ensure the fairness of law enforcement. At the ceremony of Li Shimin’s accession to the throne, Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling were ordered to revise the Code of Martial Arts and formulate the Code of Zhen Guan. Later, Changsun Wuji organized 19 ministers and legal experts to annotate Tang laws, completing 30 volumes of commentary on Tang laws, which had a significant impact on later feudal laws. While complete legal provisions were important, law enforcement was even more important. In this regard, Emperor Taizong of Tang emphasized that everyone is equal before the law, and relatives, friends, nobles, and ministers should not be excluded. In the 9th year of the Zhenguan reign, Gao Zengsheng, the commander-in-chief of the Yanze Road march, was punished by Li Jing for violating military orders. Later, he was relieved of his death and sentenced to exile. Some people in the border region wrote a letter requesting that he be remembered as an old minister of the Qin Prince’s Mansion and given leniency. Li Shimin said that after understanding and abiding by the law, he had to be pardoned, and thus embarked on a path of luck. There were many meritorious individuals who pardoned him, and others would easily break the law. So the petition was rejected and the original verdict was upheld. The emperor set an example and enforced the law like a mountain. In the era where I am the world, which emperor dared to lock himself in the cage of power like Li Shimin.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: Among the laws of the Tang Dynasty, we have found a characteristic. In addition to the general provisions and regulations on emperors, the first one is the system of official positions, while things like thieves are related to the common people. The previous regulations on suppressing the common people are all at the end, which indicates a problem. The law first governs officials, and when you become an official, you must abide by the law and do your duties according to the requirements of the law.
The other side of the rule of law is education. Li Shimin has repeatedly emphasized that law enforcement should be cautious and lenient, and the dead should not be regenerated. Legal affairs should be used in leniency and simplicity. After five years of Zhenguan, he transferred the final adjudication power of the death penalty to the central government and made clear provisions for retrial to increase the opportunity to correct wrongful and erroneous cases. The next year, Li Shimin personally interrogated prisoners. When he saw that the death row inmates were about to be executed, he felt pity in his heart and ordered them to be released home. He agreed to come back for execution in the autumn of the following year, and also released all death row inmates nationwide, allowing them to gather in the capital before the deadline. When the deadline for autumn of the second year arrived, no one urged or organized the release of the first year. There were actually quite a few out of 390 death row inmates, all of whom arrived at the assembly on time. Li Shimin was deeply moved and ordered a complete pardon.
On the 21st day of the first lunar month every year during the reign of Emperor Zhenguan, the city of Chang’an was filled with people. On this day, the emperor took off his dragon robe and changed into short clothes and casual shoes. He personally went to the fields to cultivate and show his appreciation for agriculture and mulberry. This scene was not common among countless feudal emperors in ancient times, and Li Shimin was one of them. In the third year of Emperor Zhenguan’s reign, Emperor Taizong of Tang ordered the restoration of the abandoned ceremony of using farmland for hundreds of years. The people were shocked and all cheered.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, military service was never conscripted during busy farming periods. Once, the Crown Prince was required to carry out the coronation ceremony and the coming of age ceremony. If such a ceremony was to be held, it was necessary to mobilize government soldiers to serve as ceremonial guards. However, this happened to be the time of spring plowing, so in order to not delay production and not affect farmers’ production, these farmers were not mobilized to serve as ceremonial guards, and the coronation ceremony was pushed back.
In the agricultural society, the abundance and shortage of food are closely related to the construction of water conservancy. The completion of Dujiangyan Irrigation Project has contributed to the millennium prosperity and stability of the land of abundance. A flood or a drought can make the people lose their grain, and may cause social unrest and regime instability. In order to strengthen the construction of water conservancy, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty reorganized the water control institutions. The Ministry of Works set up a water department doctor and a councillor wailang, and the capital set up a water supervisor, who is in charge of the dredging and irrigation of the capital’s rivers and canals. During the Zhenguan period, only the New Book of the Tang Dynasty recorded 27 large-scale water conservancy projects. The Yangzhou Gouchengtang Water Conservancy Project, built to solve the drought in Yangzhou, irrigated more than 800 hectares of farmland. Since then, Yangzhou has had abundant harvests year after year, and Cangzhou has cleared the Wudi River, Changlu River, Zhang River, and Heng River, eliminating water damage. In the 7th year of the Zhenguan reign, the Shuofang area of Xiazhou opened an Yanhua Canal, diverting sewage into Dize. In the 10th year of the Zhenguan reign, Chen Liu in Bianzhou opened Guanyin Slope and irrigated the fields with 100 hectares, creating excellent conditions for grain production. Even today’s farmers, regardless of the north and south of the Yangtze River, still enjoy the achievements of water conservancy during the Zhenguan period. In agricultural society, there is an important condition for economic development, which is population.
This is a Shaanxi local opera with a history of over a thousand years, with a stringed and flat tune. The repertoire is mostly based on historical anecdotes and folk stories. These veteran artists live in a place called Yuanjia Village in Xianyang City. This place was not far from the capital city Chang’an during the Tang Dynasty, and had experienced war in the late Sui Dynasty. At that time, the Han people living here had to migrate to the north. Today, veteran artists often gather together and sing their operas to the north. This opera contains descriptions of their ancestors’ wandering experiences and difficult lives.
Professor Wu Guozong from Peking University: At that time, from the east of Luoyang to the East China Sea to the seaside, there were hardly any people on the way. To travel from Luoyang to Shandong, you had to bring your own dry food, and you wouldn’t encounter many families on the way, so you wouldn’t be able to get food supply. At that time, the economic damage reached such a level.
During the war at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the northern Turks abducted a large number of Han people, and many Han people fled north to avoid the chaos, resulting in a sharp decline in population. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty in Wude, the population of the country was only over 2 million, which was less than 1/4 of the peak of the Sui Dynasty. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he immediately realized the serious problem of population shortage and rapidly increased the population, becoming an urgent task. One was to encourage population growth, encourage more children, and the government rewarded him. He also issued an edict encouraging widows to remarry. You know, in ancient Chinese ethics, widows were generally kept clean and could not remarry. In order to increase the population and encourage widows to remarry, Emperor Taizong of Tang issued an edict, and also redeemed the people who had fled to the Turks. He redeemed those people and redeemed 80000 in one year.
In order to stabilize the population of Han people, Emperor Taizong of Tang also stipulated that 20 males and 15 females were the legal age for marriage, and families that gave birth to male offspring would be given appropriate rewards. Those who were unable to marry would receive assistance from the government. Li Shimin also included marriage and population growth as evaluation indicators for local officials as a reference for promotion and demotion. Today, many ancestors of the villagers in Yuanjia Village migrated back to Li Shimin from the north at that time, and the most popular stringed panel tune among the people here is also the traditional song “Qiankun Bag” that praises Li Shimin.
Xianban Opera Artist – Zhang Zhirong: He ascended to the throne at the age of 27 and officially became emperor. This is a singing style from “Qiankun Bag” by Li Shimin. The meaning of this singing passage is to recall the difficulties of entrepreneurship in the past.
In the third year of Yonghui reign, when Emperor Gaozong of Tang ascended to the throne as the son of Li Shimin, the number of registered households in the country reached 3.8 million, with a population of nearly 20 million, nearly double that of the Wude period. Population is the most precious resource for maintaining a political power, and it is also an important criterion for testing the success of governance. The effect of Li Shimin’s policy of pacifying and calming the people is very obvious. In the fourth year of the Zhenguan reign, there was a bountiful harvest in agriculture in Guanzhong, and many scattered people returned to their hometowns. In the sixth and seventh years of the Zhenguan reign, the weather was favorable, and the vast Shandong region changed its former dilapidated appearance. In the eighth, ninth, and thirteenth years of the Zhenguan reign, it lasted until the sixteenth year, and it was once again a bountiful year.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: There are some similarities between the social situation during the reign of Zhenguan and the Daodao trip in the Book of Rites. For example, politics are clear, society is stable, households are not closed, and horses and cows are not wild. The common people live a stable and prosperous life.
Society is destined for economic recovery. Next, Li Shimin can finally start solving the long-standing border problem. In the second year of the Zhenguan reign, Emperor Taizong of Tang eliminated the separatist forces of Liang Shidu, basically solving the chaotic situation of separatism in various parts of the country and unifying China. Two years later, the famous general Li Jing led the Tang army to eliminate the Turkic forces that had been harming the border for many years, allowing the northern border of the Tang Dynasty to stabilize. In the following decade or so, Tuyuhun, Gaochang, Yanqi, Guizi, and others were either defeated or voluntarily surrendered, and the Tang Dynasty’s influence reached the northern and southern parts of the Tianshan Mountains and the western border, stabilizing from then on. Although the Tang Dynasty had enough troops to achieve victory in the war at that time, Li Shimin believed that the cost of war was too great and the stability was not long-lasting. Only by adopting a policy of appeasement and persuading people with virtue and waiting for peace could they truly surrender. In the late winter of the 15th year of the Zhenguan reign, 16-year-old Duke Wencheng put on his wedding dress and red makeup. This intelligent and beautiful princess, who had read poetry and books, was about to leave her hometown and marry into distant Tubo, becoming the wife of his leader Songtsen Gampo. This was also a marriage strategy between Emperor Taizong of Tang and ethnic minorities. Not only did he send a marriage to Tubo, but he also allowed Duke Wencheng to bring advanced agricultural technology from the Tang Dynasty. With exquisite handicrafts and even a large number of craftsmen and bands, although they have doubts about the distant Tubo, they are full of novel aspirations. Under the escort of the wedding procession, Princess Wencheng. After more than a month’s long journey to Tufan, the Han people’s farming, textile, construction, paper making, farm tool manufacturing and other technologies have spread in Xizang. Today, the road that Princess Wencheng once walked has become a link to transmit Chinese civilization, and also witnessed the story that was praised by later generations.
Professor Liu Houbin from Renmin University of China: Chinese barbarians love as one. He said that since ancient times, emperors have valued China and despised the barbarians. People from the Central Plains looked down upon the people of the surrounding ethnic minorities, and even advocated that their race was not like ours (not our race), and their hearts would be different, saying that they must be unable to communicate with us. But Tang Taizong did not think so. He said that ethnic minorities are also human beings. He is the same person as us, and I love her as much. Therefore, during the Zhenguan period, many tribal leaders of ethnic minorities were highly valued.
Zhaoling Museum, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province
In the Zhaoling Museum in Shaanxi, there is a collection of Tang Dynasty official burial objects. Some of them are Han Chinese, while others are ethnic minorities. After the East Turks surrendered to the central government, they strengthened their management. Emperor Taizong of Tang left most of them in their original places to settle, preserving their original organization and customs, implementing a high degree of autonomy, while another part moved to the mainland and selected some people to serve as military officials in the capital. His successful governance experience was also extended to other ethnic minority tribes.
Li Langtao, the deputy curator of Zhaoling Museum: Many foreign khans surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, especially the four Turkic khans. They now see this stone man with seven braids and five braids. He once stood behind Zhaoling, so he represents the Turkic nation. This is the front or back of the Jieli Khan or the Tuli Khan. On these bases stood stone statues of 14 national vassals. They were the leaders of 14 ethnic minorities who were conquered and surrendered by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. The overthrowing monarch in the west is mainly the leaders of today’s Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai, Gansu and other western countries. On the east side, the main leaders are Turkic, including the Korean Peninsula and South Asia. These stone statues stand tall in the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang, which is a true witness to his implementation of ethnic policies.
Professor Liu Houbin from Renmin University of China: They are very grateful to Emperor Taizong of Tang. Emperor Taizong of Tang trusted them very much because they were the surrendered generals in the destroyed regime. From the beginning, Emperor Taizong instructed them to bring weapons to court, not to be wary of their strong trust in them. On the front line of Liaodong, there was a Turkic general named Ashikaga Nasimo who was shot by an arrow and became infected with pus. Without a surgeon, what should he do with the pus? Emperor Taizong personally bent down and sucked out his pus and blood to heal his wounds. Ashikaga Nasimo was deeply moved. Later, after Emperor Taizong’s death, these generals all expressed their intention to be buried, and I wanted to accompany him. Emperor Gaozong of Tang did not agree, so he carved their statues on stones to guard the tomb of Emperor Taizong of Tang.
The Tang Dynasty was awe inspiring throughout the world, and all ethnic groups in the world were grateful and integrated into the Tang family. They bowed down and paid homage, respectfully calling Li Shimin the Heavenly Khan, meaning the co ruler of the world. Behind the love and gratitude of Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang, by various ethnic minorities, is the strong attachment and influence of the Tang Empire, a vast, stable, and unified multi-ethnic country in Chinese history. During the Zhenguan period, the territory of the Tang Dynasty surpassed that of the powerful Western Han Dynasty. In the 14th year of the Zhenguan reign, the Tang Dynasty’s territory extended to the East China Sea in the east, to present-day Xinjiang in the west, to present-day Vietnam in the south, and to the Mongolian desert in the north. The Tang Dynasty became the most powerful dynasty in the world at that time. The prosperity of the Zhenguan Dynasty under the rule of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty was not only reflected in social stability, economic development, vast territory, the arrival of the four barbarians, harmonious coexistence among people of all ethnic groups in the country, and the sharing of the Taiping era, but also in the rapid progress of cultural construction. Li Shimin established a literary museum, a Hongwen museum, and Luo Zhixian was a talented scholar who collected and organized classic books. He loved to read history and placed great emphasis on historical experience, which had an impact on the present. The books of Jin, Northern Qi, Zhou, Liang, Chen, Southern, Northern, and Sui, as well as eight of China’s famous “Twenty Four Histories,” were officially recorded during the Zhenguan period by Li Shimin. Completed under the leadership.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: His biggest cultural characteristic is the inheritance and promotion of traditional culture. So for foreign cultures, it also adopts an inclusive policy, and for traditional culture, it attaches great importance to learning. It asked Wei Zheng to compile a book called “Qunshu Zhiyao” according to the sub collection of classics and histories, and to include him as a textbook for the study of aristocratic ministers at that time, which was suitable for the politics of the time.
This is a relief stone statue named Zhaoling Six Steeds. The Six Steeds refer to the six war horses that Li Shimin had previously admired before the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. These reliefs showcase the heroic performance of Li Shimin and his horses in the major battles of the founding of the country. After becoming the emperor, Li Shimin, who came from a military background, adhered to the strategy of Yanwu Xiuwen in governing the country, which not only promoted the national rejuvenation of cultural governance, but also continued his own education. According to historical records, Li Shimin often studied hard all night long, unaware that the East was already white. With Li Shimin’s elegant cultural hobbies and advocacy, as well as his practical actions, the cultural development of the Zhenguan Dynasty was natural.
Professor Liu Houbin from Renmin University of China: Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty attached great importance to music and dance, calligraphy, painting, and other aspects, so the Zhenguan period also left behind many cultural masterpieces. The Four Masters of Zhenguan Calligraphy are very famous, such as Ouyang Xun, including Chu Suiliang, and others. Painting is also like this. Yan Liben and Yan Lide’s large and elegant brushstrokes appeared during the Zhenguan period, so the achievements of cultural construction are also very high.
However, all good plays in the world will come to an end. In the 17th year of the Zhenguan reign, the prosperous era of Zhenguan reached a turning point. On January 17th of that year, a famous minister named Wei Zheng passed away, which was a very heavy blow to Emperor Taizong of Tang. He announced the 5th day of the court strike and ordered all civil and military officials to attend Wei Zheng’s funeral. On the day of his funeral, Emperor Taizong of Tang climbed up to the west tower of the royal forbidden courtyard and looked at the gradually fading funeral procession under the sunset. He was deeply saddened and lamented that there were no more people in the past. Li Shimin was deeply moved by Wei Zheng. Later, he told his courtiers that he used copper as a mirror, which allowed him to dress properly, ancient times as a mirror, know the rise and fall, and people as a mirror, which allowed him to see gains and losses. I always kept these three mirrors to prevent myself from passing by. Today, Wei Zheng passed away, and he died in one mirror.
Lei Wen, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the entire Zhenguan reign was well understood by its chief designer, and we can even say that Emperor Taizong of Tang was very clear about this. He has told many occasions to ministers that the most important contributors to fighting the world with me may be people like Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji, but the one who led to the current situation of great governance with me was actually Wei Zheng.
Without the most precious mirror of Wei Zheng, who could bluntly remind Emperor Taizong of his mistakes, with the departure of this iconic figure. The dazzling brilliance of the Zhenguan reign seemed to gradually fade away. Du Ruhui, Empress Changsun, Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, loyal ministers, beloved wives, and advisors all left one by one. In this situation, Li Shimin in the later period of the Zhenguan period relaxed and regretfully gradually lost his loyalty.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: He became increasingly suspicious of these ministers at that time, especially those from the Shandong region who came from ordinary backgrounds. Therefore, in the later years of Zhenguan, a situation arose where Tang Taizong placed more and more importance on these officials who emerged from the Guanlong nobility. And for these people, the suspicion in the Shandong region grew stronger, which led to the domination of the aristocrats in the early years of Emperor Gaozong’s reign.
Li Shimin’s poor health condition in his later years, coupled with the turmoil of deposing the crown prince and the failure to conquer Goryeo, resulted in a low mood and various illnesses. In May of the 23rd year of the Zhenguan reign, Li Shimin passed away at the Cuiwei Palace at the age of 52. Emperor Taizong passed away, causing great sorrow and tears to flow down the city of Chang’an. Many ethnic compatriots spontaneously organized a team of hundreds of people to travel thousands of miles to Chang’an to offer condolences. Li Shimin had already made arrangements for his funeral in his will, and on the 7th day after his death, he was quickly buried, simplifying the funeral process. Although Li Shimin relaxed his demands on himself in his later years, he was still able to generally adhere to the principle of self restraint and frugality until the last moment of his life. For a feudal emperor who established great achievements, this is truly a touching and beautiful character. The reign of Zhenguan has come to a complete end, and a great era has finally come to an end in a desolate and sad atmosphere.
Professor Wu Zongguo from Peking University: Li Shimin’s views on the development of ancient Chinese political theory, particularly his proposal that if the emperor has a way, people will push and give priority, and if there is no way, people will abandon and not use it. The ruler mainly focuses on the hearts of the people, and so on. These expressions are beyond the past and have had a great impact on future generations. Therefore, in this regard, he is not only a politician, but also a thinker.
Professor Ning Xin from Beijing Normal University: He has left us with this kind of courage that represents the diverse atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty, this kind of open national policy, and this kind of global mindset. This emphasis on institutional construction, rule of law construction, and elevating military civilian relations to a fundamental level that relates to the safety and survival of the country. I don’t think all the monarchs in history have that height.
Loving the people like a son, practicing kindness like a stream, introspecting and introverted, seeking wisdom like thirst, advocating simplicity, and restraining frugality and desires. Li Shimin undoubtedly possessed these virtues during his tenure, which was truly precious for a land king with supreme power. Li Shimin once said that using people as mirrors can reveal what is right and what is wrong. She once used Wei Zheng as a mirror to check her own right and wrong. Now that Emperor Taizong of Tang has left, she has become an indelible mirror for future generations, from the highest emperor to ordinary officials. Wu Jing, the author of “Zhenguan Zhengyao,” once regarded the governance of Zhenguan as the most prosperous era in history. He believed that Tang Yao, Yu Shun, Xia Yu, Yin Tang, Zhou’s literature and martial arts, and Han’s literary scenery were all inferior to those of the Zhenguan era. The style of the Zhenguan era has been praised to this day, and China during the Zhenguan era is one of the few harmonious societies in history. In terms of the emperor’s own virtues, the good relationship between the emperor and his subjects, the military and the people, and even the national relationship, it has set a lofty benchmark for future generations and left a precious heritage. Emperor Taizong of Tang and his era will forever be engraved in the deepest collective memory of the Chinese people.
90 Seconds of History: Divine Intention from Heaven
This is the Luo River located in Henan Province, formerly known as Luoshui. Since ancient times, it has been regarded as a divine river, but few people living here today know it. More than 1300 years ago, a major event occurred here. In 688 AD, Wu Chengsi, the nephew of Empress Dowager Wu Zetian, secretly sent someone to select a special white stone and carved words on it. The Holy Mother visited the people, and the Yongchang Emperor’s property was claimed to have been obtained by chance in the Luo River. Empress Dowager Wu was overjoyed upon hearing the news and named this stone the Heavenly Sacred Map. From then on, at the age of 66, Wu Zetian was grandly pushed onto the altar, finally breaking through the patriarchal society and becoming the Empress of the Wu Zhou Dynasty.
