Excerpts From Emperor Taizong On Effective Government In The Great Tang Government

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Both sources remark the emperor’s role in government and his characteristics. The first source, The Great Tang Code, states laws and regulations of Tang empire. These rules dates back to Western Zhou dynasty, where the rulers felt the urge to state their own laws. The significance of this source is based on it’s policies and the knowledge of right and wrongs of Tang empire gained by it. The next source is first hand written by emperor, as a guidance for next kings. It is significant in order to understand what the emperor thought was wrong or he did wrong. At the same time, he did right or thought he did it right. The source, emphasize military, cultural and strategic actions. The source states that the king is receives Heaven’s will and acts …show more content…

This shows that government is relied on king and spiritual belief, stops the plot and rebel against the country. In addition, the source provides significant statement which is different than other countries. “The woman has her husband’s house; the man has his wife’s chamber; and there must be no defilement on either side.” This part of code introduces new regulation, women and men had equal rights in marriage, at least they both should not cheat. The idea, strongly suggests and makes us think that different than other states, in Tang women had almost equal rights as …show more content…

The rulers should not burden everything alone and their family should help them. this indicates that in past rulers had difficulties facing problems alone and the advice for later on rulers is to have their family help them. For the sake of country, emperor should listen to advices of high officials and does not have a direct link to information. The king in Tang was obligated to listen and could not do anything he wishes. It means, previous kings might have done as they pleased and it affected the country badly. Later source tells us demanded characteristics of an emperor; generous, majestic, disciplined and thoughtful. The emperor is not someone that will only rule, he is expected to be a father of the country. Rather than a dictator, the demanded emperor is wise and kind man. He is also expected to be wise enough to choose right person for its task. The clever idea of helping emperor to rule the country was successful during Zhou dynasty. “Formerly when the Zhou dynasty was at its height, the empire was divided among the royal clan. Nearby there was Jin and Zheng to help; far off there was Lu and Wei”. This strategy was helpful one and we can conclude that government depended on royal family alone. Although, emperor had to listen to his advisers, the royal family was the only rulers. Nevertheless, since humans are greedy if you

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