The Ruler’s Guide: China’s Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success

109 Pages·2017·1.31 MB·English

by  Chinghua Tang

Thank you for downloading this Scribner eBook.
Join our mailing list and get updates on new releases, deals, bonus content and other great books from
Scribner and Simon & Schuster.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
or visit us online to sign up at
eBookNews.SimonandSchuster.com
Contents
Introduction
I
CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN TANG TAIZONG AND HIS MINISTERS
1 On Being Emperor
2 On Human Resources
3 On Moral Character and Talent
4 On Management
5 On Remonstrance
6 On Virtues
7 On the Art of War
8 On Crime and Punishment
9 On Frugality
10 On the Rise and Fall of an Empire
11 On Parenting and Educating the Next Generation
12 On Being Well Remembered
II
THE AMAZING LIFE OF TANG TAIZONG
Author’s Note
Dynasties in Chinese History
Acknowledgments
About Chinghua Tang
To my beloved parents, QINGAN TANG and EILEEN H. GE, who
have dedicated their lives to teaching and who have
fostered in me a habit of reading.
Introduction
The Tang dynasty, one of the longest dynasties in Chinese history (618–907), is
hailed by historians as China’s golden age. It didn’t come about by chance. It
owed much to the conscious efforts of its co-founder, Emperor Taizong.
Tang TaizongI is one of history’s greatest rulers, ranking with Augustus,
Genghis Khan, and Napoléon—and even, in some cases, exceeding their
accomplishments. Under Taizong’s leadership, China became the world’s largest
and strongest country. The emperor’s reign was marked by a number of savvy,
innovative, and bold accomplishments, setting a high standard for all leaders
who would come after. Among the feats that make Taizong extraordinary:
· He assembled a team of advisers even before he assumed the throne at
the age of twenty-eight.
· He was a gifted administrator, presiding over all major policy and
executive decision-making at his court.
· He was a master military strategist, leading his armies to defeat the
Turks—descendants of Attila the Hun—and reopening the Silk Road.
· He slew a thousand enemy fighters by his own hand.
· He was remarkably versatile: an archer, hunter, horseman, poet,
composer, and calligrapher.
· He allowed both Christianity and Islam into China for the first time and
was, indirectly, the cause of Buddhism’s being planted in Tibet.
· He was apparently expert at picking a wife: his empress was one of the
wisest and most virtuous women in history.
· He set out to build a strong, prosperous, and long-lasting empire and
succeeded spectacularly.
Tang Taizong and his circle of gifted ministers held many discussions
regarding how best to run the government and achieve longevity for the dynasty.
Most of their conversations were recorded and later compiled in an anthology
entitled The Zhenguan Executive Guide. This book has since become a classic on
leadership, management, and statecraft. It has been translated into Korean,
Japanese, Mongolian, Khitan, Jurchen, and Tangut. It was eagerly read by rulers
of China and other Asian countries—potentates such as the Mongol conqueror
Kublai Khan, the Japanese shogun Tokugawa, and the Qing emperor Qianlong.
Today, Taizong’s thinking is ardently studied by business executives and
government leaders throughout Asia. And it is far past time that the emperor’s
thoughts be shared with those in other parts of the world.
Wittingly or unwittingly, today’s leaders—regardless of what organization
they head—often assume the role of “ruler.” Politically, the emperor is a thing of
the past. However, an elected leader in many cases enjoys much the same power
as an emperor within his or her domain. And, of course, business leaders and
corporate managers are rulers in their world. There are rulers in virtually every
field. For example:
II
The president of a trade union is the ruler of his organization.
The head of a philanthropy is the ruler of his institution.
The headmaster is the ruler of his school.
The teacher is the ruler of his class.
The coach is the ruler of his sports team.
The conductor is the ruler of his orchestra.
The lieutenant is the ruler of his platoon.
The priest is the ruler of his local church.
Parents are the rulers of their family.
The list goes on and on. You may be a ruler in one situation and ruled in
another. You may be ruler and ruled simultaneously. You may be ruled and yet
aspire to be the ruler.
Whether running a country or a commercial enterprise, whether leading a
team or serving as a role model, rulers wield enormous power over the people
and the resources they command. They’re capable of exerting great influence
over the society, environment, and community in which they operate. And they
face many problems that are similar to those an ancient emperor would have
faced.
Many books have been written on leadership and management. This one is
distinctive in that it is not a one-way stream of advice but, rather, an anthology
of conversations between Tang Taizong and his ministers. And because the