The Tang Dynasty - Reflection of Emperor Taizong

Yeo Reen Kim

David Salomon

Section C08

Writing Assignment 3

13 March 2018

Reflection of Emperor Taizong

        The Tang Dynasty is considered one of the highest points in history of Chinese civilization, especially its the prosperous capital, Chang’an. Emperor Taizong, the co-founder and the second ruler of Tang Dynasty, is well-known in great Chinese history for strengthening the monarchial institutions. (Ebrey, 243) By focusing his power on the dynasty rather than himself, Taizong was able to set an exemplary model as a ruler for his heir. Although not all the later rulers followed his way and belief in ruling, it is evident that he influenced Wu Zetian, better known as Empress Wu, in her way of ruling. Empress Wu was the only female ruler of Tang Dynasty, and it was harder for her to achieve such a position because of her gender. Empress Wu is portrayed as a brutal ruler, but that only shows the extra steps she had to take in order to take her position as an Empress. In fact, her actions are seen as more of a reflection of Emperor Taizong’s way of ruling, as she followed his examples in being a strong ruler, evidenced by the way she seized power, the way she adapted a system in order to strengthen the government, and the way she welcomed advice from others.

        Emperor Taizong is most-known for his vigorous actions he used to seize the supreme seal of power. In 618 BCE, he helped put his father on the throne by fighting in the campaigns and lead the armies against the Turks. However, when his elder brother was told to be the heir apparent, he killed his own brother and forced his father to retire in order to overtake the throne himself. (Ebrey, 112) This change led Emperor Taizong to expand the state which brought the Tang Dynasty to be the state it is remembered to be. In his text, “Emperor Taizong on Effective Government,” written by Emperor Taizong himself as advice to his heir, he mentions that “Slanderers and flatterers are as harmful to the country as grubs to seedlings.” (Ebrey, 114) Emperor Taizong truly believed that rulers who are in the system for their own benefit and not for the well-being of the state will only be harmful to the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Taizong did not let his competitor, even if it was his own brother, be a threat to his plan of being an emperor of the state. This theme of personal ambition can be seen in Empress Wu’s actions, as she was harsh to her competitors, focusing on her two sons. Li Hong and Li Xian were both Empress Wu’s sons raised under her husband, Emperor Gaozong’s reign. Once Gaozong got ill due to his health condition, the heir apparent Li Hong, mysteriously died. According to Wills, the author of the chapter “Empress Wu,” pointed out that Empress Wu herself might have poisoned him because he was seen as a threat to her plan. This is also evident in the death of Li Xian, as he was the next heir apparent after Li Hong’s death. Wills says, “Empress Wu now seems to have seen him as a great a threat to her power as his brother had been.” (Wills, 137) Li Xian’s threat to Empress Wu resulted in her accusing him of planning to rebel against his parents, and he was later forced to commit suicide. Empress Wu had four other princes exiled, which shows the amount of time and commitment she had in planning her reign in the Tang Dynasty. Empress Wu’s beliefs can be seen as a reflection of Emperor Taizong’s actions, as they both did not allow any type of threat or distraction in order to be a successful ruler for the state.

        Emperor Taizong believed that every official had their own task that suited their abilities and made the best use out of their knowledge to make a meritocracy. Taizong stated, “If the right person is given the right task or responsibility, the empire can be governed with ease.” (Ebrey, 113) Taizong believed that a wise emperor should consider the official’s abilities, because everyone is only limited to certain things they can be so good at, and they have their own task. To reflect on his belief, Empress Wu brought back the Jinshi, system introduced in Sui Dynasty, to challenge the official’s ability to understand political and moral problems. Wills states, “But she rose to power in a time when the bureaucracy was expanding, consistently presented herself as anxious to find and promote deserving officials, and continued to tinker with the content and practices of the examinations through most of her years in power.” (Wills, 138) By coming up with a system to choose the right officials to work in the government, it strengthened her power in the years she had the title of Empress and continued throughout the late Chinese era. Instead of being biased by giving unreasonably high positioned roles to her family member, she strengthened the Jinshi to elect officials that would only be beneficial to the state. Empress Wu well reflected on Emperor Taizong’s belief in order to strengthen the state and its officials, which let Tang Dynasty be remembered as the highest point of Chinese history.

Emperor Taizong believed that even with such high power, rulers needed to be taught with open ears to become a better ruler. Emperor Taizong stated in his advice, “The emperor, living in the palace, is blocked from direct access to information. … he must set up various devices to elicit loyal suggestions and listen attentively to sincere advice. If what is said is right, he must not reject it even though it is offered by a low servant.” (Ebrey, 113) As someone with high power in the state, he cannot and will not be able to understand all the problems, or even determine the right and wrong by himself. By listening attentively to other people’s opinions, Emperor Taizong was able to rule the Tang Dynasty to become a well-rounded state. Similarly, in the 670 BCE, Empress Wu began to increase her involvement with the outside world. Wills states, “She gathered around her a private brain trust of scholars who would advise her on policy and draft state papers for her. … Thus the empress, like Wang Mang in his ascent to power, presented herself as a patron of learning.” (Wills, 136) Because she believed that she was still learning through this whole process, it led her to be more open-minded of the problems occurring outside the palace she lived in, which made Tang Dynasty better and her power as a sovereign ruler stronger. Like Emperor Taizong, by listening to words of advice and knowledge from other trusted scholars, she was able to grow her power as an Empress.