Changes

*''Reign: [[626]]-[[649]]''

*''Reign: [[626]]-[[649]]''

*''Other Names'': [[李]]世民 ''(Li Shimin)''

*''Other Names'': [[李]]世民 ''(Li Shimin)''

Taizong attempted to avoid the succession disputes that brought himself to power, and so officially named his eldest son his heir quite early in his reign. That son, however, grew up to be rather problematic, insisting on living a heavily Turkic lifestyle and refusing to speak Chinese, as well as engaging in certain activities his father found disagreeable. When it was discovered that this eldest son plotted to kill his younger brother, the eldest son was executed, and the younger brother made heir.

Taizong attempted to avoid the succession disputes that brought himself to power, and so officially named his eldest son his heir quite early in his reign. That son, however, grew up to be rather problematic, insisting on living a heavily Turkic lifestyle and refusing to speak Chinese, as well as engaging in certain activities his father found disagreeable. When it was discovered that this eldest son plotted to kill his younger brother, the eldest son was executed, and the younger brother made heir.

When Taizong died in [[649]], he was buried with the original copy of [[Wang Xizhi]]'s ''[[Orchid Pavilion Preface]]'', which continues to survive today in later copies, and which is the most famous and celebrated of all works of [[Chinese calligraphy]]. Taizong was then succeeded by his son, who became [[Emperor Gaozong]].

When Taizong died in [[649]], he was buried with the original copy of [[Wang Xizhi]]'s ''[[Orchid Pavilion Preface]]'', which continues to survive today in later copies, and which is the most famous and celebrated of all works of [[Chinese calligraphy]]. As the crown prince was seen to be overly infatuated with nomadic ("barbarian") culture, even going so far as to live in a yurt, and as the next in line after him was seen as being too involved in political intrigues to be trusted, Taizong was then succeeded by his son, who became [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang]]. To him, Taizong left a ''Plan for the Emperor'' (''Difan'') to help guide Gaozong in successful, effective, and virtuous rule.<ref>William Theodore de Bary, ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', vol 1, Second Edition, Columbia University Press (2001), 85-89.</ref>

==References==

==References==

*Valerie Hansen, The Open Empire, New York: W.W. Norton & Company (2000), 196-199.  

*Valerie Hansen, The Open Empire, New York: W.W. Norton & Company (2000), 196-199.  

[[Category:Emperors|Taizong]]

[[Category:Emperors|Taizong]]

[[Category:Asuka Period]]

[[Category:Asuka Period]]