Taizong (太宗) | 24 Histories

Overview

Taizong was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 645 帝伐高麗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 30
AD 622 武德五年
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11
AD 626 王為皇太子
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 13
AD 647 貞觀二十一年
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 255

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Hidden Crown Prince (隱太子)
brother 隱太子 · Paternal half siblings · paternal line
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 95, passage 12
Parent of Gaozong (高宗)
crown prince as son of Taizong 太子
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 95, passages 27, 30, 263
Spouse of Empress Wende (文德皇后)
married to 歸 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 35
Child of Gaozu (高祖)
Prince of Qin as son of Gaozu 秦王
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 95, passages 11, 24

Career and standing

Governor of Yong Prefecture 雍州牧
AD 622 武德五年 · Held
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 27
At Luoyang 洛陽 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 27

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Fang Xuanling (房玄齡) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 257
Edict · Author · Addressed to Gao Jian (高儉) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 28

Events and relationships

Composed Cold Food offering
方寒食 · Ritual · Author of offering text
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 261
Inquired after illness
Personal · Visitor · With Gao Jian (高儉)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 254
Set out to attend funeral
Ritual · Mourner · With Gao Jian (高儉)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 258
Watched coffin from northwest tower
Ritual · Mourner · At Heng Bridge 橫橋
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 262
Wept at deathbed
AD 647 貞觀二十一年 · Personal · Visitor · With Gao Jian (高儉)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 255
Wept facing south in Eastern Park
Ritual · Mourner
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 259

Show 2 more source-backed claims

Relation Rival of · Person Hidden Crown Prince (隱太子)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 12
Relation Patron of · Person Gao Jian (高儉)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11

Assessments and attributes

Assessment owed Gao Jian old friendship, marriage ties, and ruler-minister bond · Mode self-report Speaker Taizong (太宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 257
Item mineral drugs 金石 · Relation Ingested
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 256

Source notes

Value historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 95, passage 11

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

New Book of Tang, Chapter 95Volume 95 Biographies 20: Gao Jian and Fifth Generation Descendents: Gao Zhong, Dou Weizhi, Douzhi, Dou Gui, Dou Cong, Dou Kang, Dou Jing, Dou Dan, Dou Zhi, Dou Congsun: Dou Dexuan · 14 passages

Open chapter

高祖遣使徇嶺南，武德五年與和來降，於是秦王領雍州牧，薦士廉為治中，親重之。 After Gaozu sent agents to bring Lingnan into submission, Shilian surrendered with Qiu He in Wude 5. The Prince of Qin, then governor of Yong, recommended him as administrator and held him in high personal regard.

隱太子與王隙已熾，乃與長孫無忌密計計定，是日率吏卒釋囚授甲，趨芳林門助戰。 As the feud between the Hidden Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin reached its breaking point, Shilian and Zhangsun Wuji laid their plans in secret. On the day of the coup he led clerks and troops, freed prisoners, armed them, and hurried to Fanglin Gate to fight.

王為皇太子，授右庶子。 After the prince became crown prince, Shilian was made right vice tutor.

太宗幸洛陽，太子監國，命攝少師。 When Taizong went to Luoyang and the crown prince governed at the capital, Shilian was appointed acting junior tutor.

手詔曰：「端拱三川，不憂關中者，以屬卿也。」 The emperor wrote in his own hand: "That I can remain at ease in the east and not fret over Guanzhong is because I leave it in your hands."

帝伐高麗，皇太子監國駐定州，又攝太傅，同掌機務。 When the emperor marched against Goguryeo, the crown prince governed from Dingzhou; Shilian again served as acting grand tutor and shared control of state affairs.

還至并州，有疾，帝即所舍問之。 Returning to Bingzhou he fell ill, and the emperor came to his lodging in person to inquire after him.

貞觀二十一年疾甚，帝幸其第，為流涕，卒年七十一。 In the twenty-first year of Zhenguan his illness grew grave. The emperor visited his home and wept; he died at seventy-one.

又欲臨吊，房玄齡以帝餌金石，諫不宜近喪。 The emperor wished again to attend the funeral in person. Fang Xuanling, noting that the emperor was taking mineral drugs, urged that he must not go near mourning.

帝曰：「朕有舊故姻戚之重，君臣之分，卿置勿言。」 The emperor said, "I owe him the weight of old friendship and marriage ties as well as the bond of ruler and minister — say no more."

長孫無忌伏馬前，陳士廉遺言，乞不臨喪，帝猶不許，無忌至流涕，乃還入東苑，南向哭。 Zhangsun Wuji prostrated himself before the horse, relayed Shilian's dying plea that the emperor not attend the funeral, and though the emperor still refused, Wuji wept until the emperor turned back to the Eastern Park and cried facing south.

方寒食，敕尚宮以食四舉往祭，帝自為文。 At the Cold Food Festival the emperor ordered palace ladies to carry four courses of food as offerings and composed the text himself.

高宗即位，加贈太尉，配享太宗廟廷。 When Gaozong succeeded, he was further posthumously made grand commandant and given a place in Taizong's temple.

士廉少識太宗非常人，以所出女歸之，是為文德皇后。 Early on Shilian saw that the future Taizong was no ordinary man and gave him his daughter in marriage — the future Empress Wende.