Royals › Monarch / Emperor

Li Shimin

Second Tang emperor who as Prince of Qin defeated the rival regimes, seized the throne in the Xuanwu Gate coup, and reigned under the title Zhenguan

Also known as Tang Taizong · Wenhuang Di · Tian Kehan

Li Shimin, second son of the Tang founder Li Yuan, was born at Wugong. He joined his father's rising at Taiyuan in 617, became Prince of Qin when the Tang was proclaimed, defeated Xue Rengao and Liu Wuzhou, and in 621 captured Dou Jiande at Hulao Pass and forced Wang Shichong to surrender. In 626 he staged the Xuanwu Gate coup, killing the crown prince Li Jiancheng and his brother Li Yuanji, and took the throne that August, adopting the reign title Zhenguan the next year. He governed with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui as ministers, accepted blunt criticism from Wei Zheng, merged prefectures and counties and divided the empire into ten circuits. After the Eastern Turks were destroyed in 630, steppe chieftains acclaimed him Heavenly Khan, though his personal campaign against Goguryeo in 645 failed. He died in 649, received the temple name Taizong and was buried at Zhaoling. Wu Jing later compiled his discussions with his ministers as the Essentials of Government of the Zhenguan Era (Zhenguan zhengyao).

Life and times

  1. 598 CEBornSuiTang
  2. 615Siege of YanmenShibi Khagan besieged Emperor Yang at Yanmen; relief forces and diplomacy ended the crisis but exposed the weakness of Sui's northern defense.
    1. Shibi Khan Besieging Emperor Yangage 17Turkic forces under Shibi Khan besieged Emperor Yang at Yanmen until Li Shimin engineered a relief countermeasure.
  3. 626Xuanwu Gate IncidentTook partage 28Li Shimin ambushed and killed his brothers Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at Xuanwu Gate, securing control of the succession.
    1. Li Shimin Coup at Xuanwu GateLi Shimin secured imperial power in the Xuanwu Gate coup, taking the throne as Emperor Taizong to launch the Golden Era.
  4. 627Reign of ZhenguanTook partage 29Taizong reduced taxes and corvee, welcomed remonstrance, and disciplined officials, restoring the postwar economy and stabilizing Zhenguan governance.
    1. Emperor Taizong Welcomes RemonstranceEmperor Taizong & Wei Zheng Cultivating the Zhenguan Era
  5. 627Xuanzang's Western PilgrimageTook partage 29Xuanzang crossed Central Asia to study in India, returned to Chang'an with Sanskrit texts, and led a major translation program.
  6. 630Taizong as Heavenly QaghanTook partage 32Eurasian steppe leaders crowning Emperor Taizong 'Heavenly Qaghan', founding the cosmopolitan Pax Sinica.
    1. Taizong Acclaimed as Heavenly KhanIn 630 CE, steppe monarchs converged on Chang'an to bestow upon Emperor Taizong the universal title Heavenly Qaghan.
  7. 641Princess Wencheng's JourneyIn powerage 43Princess Wencheng married Songtsen Gampo in a Tang-Tibetan alliance that expanded exchanges of envoys, crafts, and texts between the courts.
  8. 649 CEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Sayings7
    1. Immortal Dew and Bright PearlsTangIdiom from Emperor Taizong's preface for Xuanzang: purer than dew, brighter than pearls
    2. Lofty Halls and Carved Walls: Taizong's Warning Against LuxuryTangIdiom from Taizong's preface to Songs of the Imperial Capital: palaces of reckless luxury
    3. Too Absorbed to Sleep or EatTangIdiom from Emperor Taizong's Model for an Emperor: too intent to sleep or eat
    4. Wind in the Pines and the Moon on the WaterTangLine from Emperor Taizong's preface for Xuanzang: purer than pine wind and moonlit water
    5. Sturdy Grass Revealed by a Fierce WindTangIdiom from Tang Taizong's poem for Xiao Yu: the gale reveals the sturdy grass
    6. +2 more
      1. Ordering Heaven and Earth Like Warp and WeftTangIdiom from Emperor Taizong's Models for an Emperor: a talent vast enough to order the world
      2. In a Fierce Wind One Knows the Sturdy Grass: Taizong's Poem for Xiao YuTangIdiom in Tang Taizong's poem for Xiao Yu: hard times reveal the truly steadfast
  2. Literature · Prose3
    1. Models for an EmperorTangEmperor Taizong's twelve-chapter guide to rulership for his heir Li Zhi, written in 648
    2. Preface to the Sacred Teachings of the Tripitaka of the Great TangTangEmperor Taizong's preface to Xuanzang's sutra translations, later carved in Wang Xizhi's script
    3. Models for an Emperor: Models for an Emperor: PrefaceTang
  3. Literature · Poetry2
    1. Presented to Xiao YuTangEmperor Taizong's quatrain honouring his minister Xiao Yu for loyalty in a time of crisis
    2. The Imperial Capital, Ten PoemsTangEmperor Taizong's cycle opening the Complete Tang Poems, a ruler's pledge of restraint

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Li Yuan
    Father
    Li JianchengRival for the succession, Elder brother
    Li YuanjiRival for the succession, Younger brother
    Princess PingyangSister
    Li Shimin
    Wife
    Empress Zhangsun
    Consort
    Wu Zetian (Empress Wu)
    Ninth son
    Li Zhi
    Seventeenth daughter
    Princess Gaoyang
  2. Other kin1
    1. Li ShizhiGreat-grandson · 694 CE–747 CE

Connections

  1. Shared events7
    1. Yang Guang569 CE–618 CE
    2. Xuanzangc. 602 CE–664 CE
    3. Li Ji594 CE–669 CE
    4. Princess WenchengBirth unknown–680…
    5. Li Jing571 CE–649 CE
    6. Zhishi Sili600 CE–665 CE
    7. Ashina She'er604 CE–655 CE
  2. Interactions1
    1. Songtsen GampoPolitical: Allied by marriage · c. 617 CE–650 CEPrincess Wencheng's Journey
  3. Rulers and officials5
    1. Wei ZhengChancellor · 580 CE–643 CE
    2. Fang XuanlingChancellor · 579 CE–648 CE
    3. Yuchi GongGeneral · 585 CE–658 CE
    4. Du RuhuiChancellor · 585 CE–630 CE
    5. Qin QiongGeneral · Birth unknown–638…
  4. Others1
    1. Zhangsun WujiOld friend · c. 595 CE–659 CE