Tang Taizong also had a certain level of calligraphy. His best calligraphy was Fei Bai. He mainly studied Wang Xizhi's calligraphy, paid attention to the study of techniques, and wrote "On the Theory of Brushwork", "On the Fingering Method" and "On the Intention of the Brushstroke", discussing everything from beginners to in-depth calligraphy. Virtuous Concubines
As a famous emperor of his generation, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also had two concubines who left a good name in history like him. One is the Queen's eldest son, and the other is Concubine Xu.
Empress Changsun was born into a noble family. She received a good upbringing since she was a child. She was proficient in poetry and prose, and was smart and virtuous. She was as magnanimous as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and was a model of maternal etiquette for the world. Her most important contribution was to prevent her relatives from taking over power. Her elder brother, Changsun Wuji, had a common acquaintance with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and later followed him around. He was also a hero in the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Therefore, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty relied on him the most. However, Empress Changsun always asked Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to lower his brother's official position to avoid the monopoly power of the Lu family and the Huo family in the Han Dynasty. She also asked her brother to personally request Tang Taizong for demotion, and when she was dying, she told Tang Taizong to guard against the arbitrary power of her relatives. She expressed her feelings to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty many times: "Since I am entrusted with the Purple Palace, I am extremely noble, but I really don't want my brothers and children to serve in the imperial court. The Lu and Huo of the Han Dynasty can be cut to the bone." She understood it very deeply, and her concubine had exclusive power. Not only will it bring trouble to the government, but it will also affect the family. Queen Changsun is indeed far-sighted.
Empress Changsun was very considerate of the concubines in the harem. When some concubines were sick, she would not hesitate to stop taking medicine to help them, so she had a high prestige in the harem. The stability in the harem also created good conditions for Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to manage politics. Not only that, when Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was angry and wanted to punish Wei Zheng for offending him because of his remonstrance, Queen Changsun also tried her best to persuade him instead of adding fuel to the fire. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty came to his senses. Empress Changsun's contribution to the rule of Zhenguan should be fully recognized.
Empress Changsun, like Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, opposed superstition and did not believe in Buddhism. She advocated thin burials. When she was about to die, she requested not to be buried in thick burials, which was a waste of money. She could be buried close to the mountain without raising a grave. She was only thirty-six years old when she died and was buried in Zhaoling.
As for Concubine Xu, Xu Hui, she was also very virtuous and knowledgeable about etiquette. When Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty later started construction projects, she even wrote a letter to dissuade him from disturbing the masses and recorded the entire text in the "Old Book of Tang Dynasty".
6. Mistakes and reflections in his later years
In the late Zhenguan period, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had some changes, which were first reflected in the acceptance of remonstrances. In the tenth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng discovered that he was "increasingly outspoken", which was the beginning of some mistakes for Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
First, he conquered Goryeo twice and did not listen to the advice of the ministers. Although he achieved some victories, the gains were not worth the losses. Not only did Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty fall ill, but the need to build a large number of ships also caused a peasant uprising and intensified domestic conflicts.
There is also an increase in luxury. In the 16th year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty issued an edict stating that other institutions should not restrict the things used by the prince. As a result, the prince was wasted seriously. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty also began to build palaces. In the 11th year of Zhenguan, he built Feishan Palace in Luoyang, the eastern capital, and in the 21st year of Zhenguan, he built Cuiwei Palace.
Another big mistake is to read the daily life notes written by historians. These are specifically about the daily life and remarks of the emperor. The emperor has no right to interfere. This is a long-standing tradition. Emperors in the past have not read it. , Respect the authority and status of the historian. The historian was also fair and straightforward, never hiding anything and never fearing the emperor's retaliation. However, the famous emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty made a big historical mistake. He believed that the living notes set a bad precedent for subsequent emperors of the Tang Dynasty and destroyed the system.
However, Tang Taizong was a famous emperor after all. It is rare that he could reflect on his mistakes in his later years. When he taught Prince Li Zhi, he reflected on his life: "You should look for the ancient wise emperors from history as models to learn from. People like me are not enough to follow. I have done many wrong things, such as the endless brocade and pearls. In the past, palaces and pavilions were often built, dogs, horses, eagles and falcons went everywhere. Traveling around wasted people and money. This was a big mistake. Don't think that this is a good thing. You always want to learn to do it.
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In 636 (the tenth year of Zhenguan), when he returned from the Liaodong campaign, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty suffered from carbuncle. Now he couldn't help but fall into the medicine. By 647 (the 21st year of Zhenguan), Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty suffered from "wind disease" again. He was irritable and afraid of heat, so he had Cuiwei Palace built on the top of Lishan Mountain. The next year, He sent people from Zhongtianzhu to obtain the alchemist Naluo Suo Po Mi, and took the "life-prolonging medicine" of this foreign liar. As a result, his condition worsened in May of 649 (the 23rd year of Zhenguan), and the toxicity of the elixir finally broke out. He died at the age of only fifty.
[Tang Taizong's merits and demerits]
Merit:
1. Summarize experience and lessons, select officials and appoint talents.
2. Be frugal and self-disciplined, strictly enforce the rule of law, and develop the national economy
3. Live in harmony and maintain harmonious ethnic relations
4. Foreign exchanges. , spreading the atmosphere of the prosperous Tang Dynasty to the world
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Past:
In the late Zhenguan period, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty had some changes. The remonstrance began to show. In the tenth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zheng found that he was "increasingly outspoken". This was the beginning of Tang Taizong's mistakes.
First, he conquered Goryeo twice and did not listen to the advice of his ministers. Although some victories were achieved, not only did Tang Taizong become ill, but also caused a peasant uprising and intensified domestic conflicts in the 16th year of Zhenguan. At that time, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty issued an edict that the things used by the prince should not be restricted by other institutions. As a result, the prince began to build palaces. In the 11th year of Zhenguan, he built the Feishan Palace in Luoyang, the eastern capital. Cuiwei Palace was renovated in 2001.
Another big mistake is to read the daily notes written by historians. This is specifically about the emperor's daily life and remarks. The emperor has no right to interfere. This is a long-standing tradition. Emperors throughout the history did not read it, respecting the authority and status of the historian. The historian was also fair and straightforward, never hiding anything, and never fearing the emperor's retaliation. But the famous emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty made a big historical mistake. The living notes set a bad precedent for subsequent emperors of the Tang Dynasty and undermined the system.