Meng Xianshi on Tang History: From the Xuanwu Gate Incident to the Zhenguan Reign

The Xuanwu Gate Incident was one of the bloodiest and most brutal palace coups in Chinese history. At Xuanwu Gate, Li Shimin planned with meticulous care and acted decisively, shooting an arrow through his elder brother's throat. In ancient China, history is full of violent seizures of power. Yet among those who took power by force, few went on to achieve anything as glorious as Li Shimin did.

The Reign of Zhenguan has long been a favorite topic among historians. During his twenty-three years on the throne, Emperor Taizong of Tang welcomed frank advice and governed with diligence. He not only created a civilized political environment and harmonious relations between ruler and ministers for the age of monarchy, but also laid the institutional foundations for three hundred years of the Tang dynasty. He became the model of an enlightened ruler for China in the thousand years that followed.

The birth and development of the Zhenguan era depended on Taizong's wisdom. But the word "wise" alone cannot explain all the reasons behind his remarkable achievements, much less the bloodshed at Xuanwu Gate. What exactly did Li Shimin go through between the Xuanwu Gate Incident and the Reign of Zhenguan? Grounded in historical sources, this book delves into the hidden subtleties beneath the texts and explores the unspoken motives of its historical figures. It answers why this era, and why this emperor, produced such momentous achievements.