EMPEROR TAIZONG OF TANG
(Li Shimin)
In almost all nations until modern times, criticism of the monarch was dangerous and often life threatening and it didn’t happen very often. Taizong, one of the great Chinese Emperors, was unique in that he not only tolerated criticism of him and his administration but he purposely required that his advisors criticize him. Weizheng was his favored subject who criticized him freely and constructively. See related quote for a more modern statement of Taizong’s principle.
Emperor Taizong of Tang (28 January 598 – 10 July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty for his role in encouraging his father Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu) to rebel against the Sui dynasty at Jinyang in 617. Taizong subsequently played a pivotal role in defeating several of the dynasty's most dangerous opponents and solidifying its rule over China proper.
