Sui and Tang · Ruler

Taizong 太宗

Attested AD 619 - AD 649

Passages: 11
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Taizong was a ruler.

Life and dates

Birth

At Celebrating Goodness Palace 慶善宮
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 215

Attested activity

AD 626 to AD 649 太宗時
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 195
AD 619 to AD 626 太宗為秦王
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 200
AD 632 貞觀六年
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 215

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Gaozu (高祖)
son 子
father 父
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 21, passages 195-196
Parent of Gaozong (高宗)
son 子
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 21, passage 196

Career and standing

Prince of Qin 秦王
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 199-200
took the throne 即位
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 201

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 195, 200-201
AD 632 貞觀六年
At Celebrating Goodness Palace 慶善宮 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 215
At Celebrating Goodness Palace 慶善宮 · Relation Born at
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 215

Works and attributed material

Merit Accomplished Celebrating Goodness Music 功成慶善樂
Relation Author of source text
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 216
Chongde dance 崇德之舞
Relation Honoree
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 196
Nine Achievements dance 九功舞
Relation Patron
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 214, 217
Seven Virtues dance 七德舞
Relation Patron
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 198, 206
Prince of Qin Breaks the Array 秦王破陣樂
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 199-200
poem at Celebrating Goodness Palace 賦詩
Poem · Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 216

Show 3 more source-backed claims

on Breaks the Array music and not forgetting roots 謂侍臣論破陣樂
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 201
refusal to depict every captive 拒備寫禽獲
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 209-210
reply balancing martial rise and civil virtue 答封德彝
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 203

Events and relationships

made dance diagram; ordered Lü Cai to teach musicians 製舞圖，命呂才教樂工
Cultural · Patron · Commissioned · With Lü Cai (呂才)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passages 204-205
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Xue Ju (薛舉)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 208
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Wang Shichong (王世充)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 208
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Dou Jiande (竇建德)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 208
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Liu Wuzhou (劉武周)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 200
feasted followers and rewarded the hamlet 宴從臣，賞賜閭里
AD 632 貞觀六年 · Ritual · Host · Feasted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 215

Show 1 more source-backed claim

ordered Seven Virtues lyrics remade 更製七德舞歌辭
Cultural · Patron · Ordered
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 206

Assessments and attributes

Assessment rose by arms but pacified the realm by civil virtue · Mode self-report Speaker Taizong (太宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 21, passage 203

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

New Book of Tang, Chapter 21Volume 21 Treatises 11: Rites and Music 11 · 11 passages

初，太宗時，詔祕書監顏師古等撰定弘農府君至高祖太武皇帝六廟樂曲舞名，其後變更不一，而自獻祖而下廟舞，略可見也。 Taizong ordered Yan Shigu and others to name dances for six temples from the Lord of Hongnong through High Ancestor Emperor Taiwu; later names shifted, but from Offered Ancestor downward the temple dances can be traced.

獻祖曰光大之舞，懿祖曰長發之舞，太祖曰大政之舞，世祖曰大成之舞，高祖曰大明之舞，太宗曰崇德之舞，高宗曰鈞天之舞，中宗曰太和之舞，睿宗曰景雲之舞，玄宗曰大運之舞，肅宗曰惟新之舞，代宗曰保大之舞，德宗曰文明之舞，順宗曰大順之舞，憲宗曰象德之舞，穆宗曰和寧之舞，敬宗曰大鈞之舞，文宗曰文成之舞，武宗曰大定之舞，昭宗曰咸寧之舞。 Offered Ancestor: Guangda; Respected Ancestor: Changfa; Great Ancestor: Dazheng; World Ancestor: Dacheng; High Ancestor: Daming; Taizong: Chongde; Gaozong: Juntian; Zhongzong: Taihe; Ruizong: Jingyun; Xuanzong: Dayun; Suzong: Weixin; Daizong: Baoda; Dezong: Wenming; Shunzong: Dashun; Xianzong: Xiangde; Muzong: Hening; Jingzong: Dajun; Wenzong: Wencheng; Wuzong: Dading; Zhaozong: Xianning.

七德舞者，本名秦王破陣樂。 Seven Virtues was originally Prince of Qin Breaks the Array.

太宗為秦王，破劉武周，軍中相與作秦王破陣樂曲。 As Prince of Qin, Taizong defeated Liu Wuzhou; the army composed Prince of Qin Breaks the Array.

右僕射封德彝曰：「陛下以聖武戡難，陳樂象德，文容豈足道也！」 Right Vice Director Feng Deyi said: "Your sagely martial prowess quelled chaos; music images virtue—civil grace alone cannot suffice!"

帝矍然曰：「朕雖以武功興，終以文德綏海內，謂文容不如蹈厲，斯過矣。」 The emperor started: "I rose by arms yet ruled by wen; to call civil grace inferior to stamping—that goes too far."

命呂才以圖教樂工百二十八人，被銀甲執戟而舞，凡三變，每變為四陣，象擊刺往來，歌者和曰：「秦王破陣樂」。 Lü Cai taught 128 musicians in silver armor with halberds—three variations, four arrays each, miming battle; the chorus sang: "Prince of Qin Breaks the Array."

太常卿蕭瑀曰：「樂所以美盛德形容，而有所未盡，陛下破劉武周、薛舉、竇建德、王世充，願圖其狀以識。」 Director Xiao Yu said: "Music should glorify virtue fully—yet victories over Liu Wuzhou, Xue Ju, Dou Jiande, and Wang Shichong remain undepicted; let us chart them."

帝曰：「方四海未定，攻伐以平禍亂，製樂陳其梗㮣而已。 The emperor said: "The four seas are not yet settled; attack and suppression to quell calamity and chaos—making music states the outline only.

太宗生於慶善宮，貞觀六年幸之，宴從臣，賞賜閭里，同漢沛、宛。 Taizong was born at Celebrating Goodness Palace; Zhenguan year 6 he visited, feasted followers, and rewarded the hamlet like Han at Pei and Wan.

帝歡甚，賦詩，起居郎呂才被之管絃，名曰功成慶善樂。 Delighted, he composed a poem; Lü Cai scored it as Merit Accomplished Celebrating Goodness Music.