From: "Ten Thoughts on Emperor Taizong".
Ten thoughts on admonishing Taizong
Ten Thoughts on Emperor Taizong is a memorial written by Wei Zhi to Emperor Taizong in the 11th year of Zhenguan (637). It is intended to exhort Emperor Taizong to be prepared for danger in times of peace, abstain from extravagance and thrift, and accumulate virtue and justice. Li Shimin, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was one of the most successful enlightened monarchs in the history of China. During his reign, the political situation was stable and prosperous, which was called "the rule of Zhenguan" in history. "Ten thoughts" is the main content of memorial, that is, ten situations worth pondering. "Shu", that is, "playing Shu", is a kind of speech style of ancient courtiers to the monarch's deliberation, which belongs to argumentative writing.
The creative background of this poem:
Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, followed his father, Li Yuan, bravely resisted Sui Dynasty, lived frugally and made great achievements. In 627 AD, Li Shimin acceded to the throne and changed his chastity. In the early years of Zhenguan, he learned the lessons of Yang Di's downfall, further maintained a frugal and cautious style, and implemented many policies that were beneficial to the national economy and people's livelihood. After more than ten years of governance, the economy has developed and people's lives have become richer. Coupled with the consolidation of border defense, there was nothing inside and outside, and Emperor Taizong gradually became arrogant and forgot his roots, overhauled temples and palaces, extensively searched for treasures, and traveled around, wasting people's money. Wei Zhi is very worried about this. He clearly saw that there was a crisis behind the prosperity. From March to July in the 11th year of Zhenguan (637), "Four Sparse Frequencies Reflect Gains and Losses", and "Ten Sparse Opinions of Emperor Taizong" is also called "Two Sparse Comments on Current Politics". As soon as Emperor Taizong saw it, he became alert and wrote "a letter to Wei Zhi", indicating that he had changed from remonstrance. This article was put on the desk by Taizong and regarded as the motto. In the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Wei Zhi gradually reached ten, pointing out that the ten aspects of Emperor Taizong's behavior were not as cautious as in the early days, which was written on the screen by Emperor Taizong.