The "Hundred-Character Proverbs" written by Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, to the ministers of the court. Use this to admonish ministers and warn yourself. The heart of loving the people, respecting labor, and cherishing things is beyond words, and the principles of self-cultivation, peace of mind, and governance of the country are contained in it.
Original text:
Farmers are busy, and most of them have no overnight food;
Bobo, the weaver girl, rarely has clothes to keep out the cold.
When you eat three meals a day, you should think about the hardships of farmers;
Wearing a robe, think about the work of the Weaver Girl every time.
An inch of silk has a thousand lives, a spoonful of rice has a hundred whips.
Receive salary without merit, and have trouble sleeping and eating.
Make virtuous friends, never useless friends.
Take your share of wealth and abstain from nameless wine.
Always have a heart of self-restraint, but keep your mouth shut about right and wrong.
If you can follow my words, you will be rich and famous for a long time.
Translation:
Farmers are busy in the fields, many of them have no food left overnight;
Weaver girls are busy weaving and have few clothes to keep out the cold. .
When you eat three meals a day, you should consider the hard work of farmers;
Every time you wear clothes, you should think of the hard work of the Weaver Girl.
A little bit of clothing is obtained by the working people with the lives of thousands of silkworms, and a spoonful of rice is obtained by the working people by waving the whip nearly a hundred times.
Receiving salary without merit makes you restless in eating and sleeping.
Make virtuous friends and reject unhelpful people.
Take your share of money and refuse the unjust banquet.
Always keep the morality in your heart, and don’t gossip or make irresponsible remarks.
If you can follow my words, you will be rich and famous for a long time.
Extended information
During the reign of Li Shimin, the Tang Dynasty became very powerful and was known as the rule of Zhenguan. In his later years, he wrote the book "Emperor's Model" to teach and admonish the prince. It summarized his life's political experience and also commented on his own merits and demerits. ?
During his reign, he implemented the government-military system, the rent-to-yong modulation system and the land equalization system, and actively promoted the imperial examination system.
In 649 AD, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty suffered from dysentery, and the treatment was ultimately ineffective, so he ordered Prince Li Zhi to go to Jinye Gate to act as state agent. Li Shimin died of illness in Hanfeng Hall, Chang'an in July 649. He was buried in Zhaoling on a mountain peak more than 50 miles northeast of Liquan County, Shaanxi Province, China. His posthumous title is "Emperor Wen".
Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was good at listening to the criticism and opinions of his ministers. Wei Zheng remonstrated with him and stated his faults more than 200 times.
Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was also proficient in calligraphy and used to write steles in running lines, becoming the originator of later generations. Famous works include "Hot Spring Inscription", "Jinci Inscription", etc. After his death, he was buried with the preface to the Lanting Collection written by Wang Xizhi, a great calligrapher of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Bai Zi Zhen