Queen Changsun - Empress of Tang Taizong
Queen Changsun (601-636), a native of Chang'an, whose ancestors were the Tuoba family of the Northern Wei Dynasty, was born in an official family, and her father was Changsun Sheng in the Sui Dynasty. Official to General You Xiaowei. She loved reading since she was a child and was well-versed in ethics. She married Li Shimin when she was thirteen. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, she was canonized as Princess Qin. When the rift between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng deepened day by day, she served Tang Gaozu wholeheartedly and was diligent and respectful to the concubines in the harem. She tried her best to win their sympathy for Li Shimin and eliminate their misunderstandings about the King of Qin. On the eve of the "Xuanwu Gate Incident", she also expressed her cordial condolences to the staff of the Qin government, and all the soldiers on the left and right were moved by her. After Li Shimin was promoted to crown prince, he was established as queen.
Empress Changsun is frugal by nature, and all the items she uses are limited to enough and never extravagant. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty knew that she had a deep understanding of justice, so he often talked to her about national affairs after going to court. But she said solemnly: "Sichen is the only one who cares about the family. I am a woman, how can I talk about national affairs at will?" Taizong didn't listen, and still talked to her incessantly, but she remained silent. Silent.
Empress Changsun’s brother, Changsun Wuji, was a close friend of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. He also played a great role in the establishment of the Tang Dynasty and the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Therefore, Emperor Taizong regarded him as a confidant and planned to make him his best friend. Prime Minister, in charge of government affairs. After the queen heard about it, she said to Taizong: "Since I have been established as a queen, I have become extremely noble. I really don't want my brothers and nephews to dominate the court. Empress Lu and Huo Guang's family in the Han Dynasty can serve as a lesson for others. So, I asked, You must not appoint your brother as prime minister." Under Empress Changsun's repeated objections, Emperor Taizong only gave Changsun Wuji the false title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi.
Princess Changle, born to Empress Changsun, was regarded by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty as the apple of his eye. Therefore, when the princess got married, the items given by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty were more than twice as much as those given to the eldest princess, the daughter of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty. For this reason, Wei Zheng raised objections to Tang Taizong in person. After coming to court, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty conveyed Wei Zheng's different opinions to the queen. Changsun said with deep emotion: "I heard that your Majesty thinks highly of Wei Zheng, but I don't understand why. Today I listened to his advice. After speaking, I truly understood that he is a very upright minister of the country. Loyal words are helpful to the ears, and good medicine is beneficial to the patient. Please think deeply about this truth, which is the greatest luck in the world."
Zhenguan 8. In 634, when Empress Changsun went to Jiucheng Palace (in today's Linyou, Shaanxi Province) to escape the summer heat with Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, she contracted a disease and became more and more serious. She took a lot of medicine, but her condition was not relieved. At this time, the prince Li Chengqian who was serving at his side asked his mother for help by pardoning prisoners and converting people into Taoism, but he was firmly rejected by the queen. She said: "Amnesty is a major national event, and Buddhism and Taoism also have their own rules. If you can pardon prisoners and convert people to Taoism casually, it will definitely damage the country's political system, and it is also something your father is not willing to do. "How can I disturb the order of the world with one woman?" After hearing this, the prince did not dare to report to Taizong, but told Fang Xuanling what his mother had said, and Fang Xuanling in turn told Taizong. After hearing this, Taizong was moved to tears and broke down in tears.
In June of the tenth year of Zhenguan (636), when Empress Changsun was dying, she bid farewell to Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty for the last time. She tried her best to say to Taizong: "My family does not have any great merits or virtues. It is only because we are destined to marry the emperor that we are worth a hundred times. If you want to maintain the reputation and reputation of this family forever, I ask your Majesty not to let it go in the future." For any of my relatives to hold important positions in the court, this is my greatest expectation for Your Majesty. I did not make any contribution to the country when I was alive, so I must not be buried in a grand manner after my death. I am buried just because of the mountains. I cannot afford a tomb or a coffin. , All necessary utensils are made of wood and tiles, and they are sent to the end in a frugal way. If you can do this, it will be your Majesty's greatest memorial to me." Not long after he said this, he died in the harem. In November of the same year, he was buried in Zhaoling.
The system of concubines in the Tang Dynasty
The empress dowager, empress, three wives (noble concubine, Shu concubine, De concubine), nine concubines (Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, Zhaoai, Xiuyi, Xiu Rong, Xiu Ai, Chong Yi, Chong Rong, Chong Ai), twenty-seven wives (Jieyu, nine beautiful women and nine talented women each), eighty-one royal ladies (Baolin, royal ladies, twenty-seven talented ladies each) People), during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, four concubines were added: Concubine Xian, Concubine Hui, Concubine Li, and Concubine Hua.
The success of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty in becoming an emperor throughout the ages, creating the Li Tang Dynasty and the "Reign of Zhenguan" are inseparable from the help of Empress Changsun.