A Virtuous Emperor During the Zhenguan Period
 
During the Zhenguan Period in China (627 – 649 AD), Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, was able to select the virtuous people as ministers and assigned posts to people to fully utilize their talents. He opened up the communication channels and humbly accepted criticism. He put an emphasis on farming, low taxes, and low government expenses. He also established an effective process for selecting government officials through an examination system, leading to a stable society.
 
In the traditional feudal society, the central government consisted of three branches and six ministries. However, the government structure during the Zhenguan Period had elements of modern day governments in terms of the division of responsibilities. It consisted of three major branches: 1) the legislative branch, headed by the prime minister, with a committee helping him to develop every piece of legislation for the emperor; 2) a judicial branch, responsible for studying each proposed legislative act and giving recommendations to the emperor; and 3) the executive branch, responsible for carrying out the laws signed by the emperor.
 
The formation of a decree began with discussions among the prime ministers in the legislative branch. After they reached an agreement, they passed the resolution to the emperor. After the emperor approves, the legislative branch issues an edict on behalf of the emperor. Before the edict was announced, it must be reviewed by the judicial branch. The judicial branch had the power to reject the edict, and under the law at the time, the edict could not be announced. Only edicts approved by the judicial branch can become official law, to be implemented by the executive branch. The famous minister Wei Zheng, headed the judicial branch.
 
This is very much like the “separation of powers” system in modern democratic nations. What became a concept in the western world during the 17[sup]th[/sup] century was already being practiced over one thousand years ago. This shows how advanced the degree of civilization was during the Zhenguan Period. What is even more commendable is that Emperor Taizong ordered that a direct order from the emperor himself also needed approval from the judicial branch. Hence, there was always a system of checks and balances that prevented the emperor from misusing his power.
 
Emperor Taizong was serious about governing by law. He once said, "The laws are not set up by the emperor’s family. They are for everyone to obey, myself included." He insisted on treating everyone equally under the law. Emperor Taizong led by example, following the laws and protecting the social stability during his reign. Whether it was the royal family or ordinary people, they were truly equal in the face of the law. When enforcing the law, Emperor Taizong considered the amount of punishment. He said, "A dead man does not have a second chance, so special care must be exercised in ordering the death sentence." The effective legal system resulted in a low crime rate and an even lower death penalty rate. In 630 AD, there were only 29 people sentenced to the death penalty. In 632 AD, the number of death row prisoners increased to 290. At the end of the year, Emperor Taizong allowed them to return home to prepare their families and return for the death sentence the following autumn (sentences used to be carried out in the autumn). In September of the following year, all 290 prisoners returned. During the Zhenguan Period, China had transparent politics and the officials all performed their duties responsibly. People lived peaceful and stable lives. Justice, instead of injustice, was the common theme. As a result, people had little dissatisfaction and people did not need to resort to extreme measures. Thus, the crime rate was very low
 
The Zhenguan Period was also the only feudal society that did not discriminate against businesses. Instead, special opportunities were provided for business development, which further exemplifies Emperor Taizong’s foresight. Under his policies, business development accelerated at a rapid pace. More than half of the business centers in the world were located in China at the time: along the coast were major cities, Jiaozhou, Guangzhou, Mingzhou, and Fuzhou, and inland cities such as Hongzhou (Nanchang in Jiangxi Province), Yangzhou, Yizhou (Chengdu), Shazhou (Dunhuang in Gansu Province), and Liangzhou (Wuwei in Gansu Province). In particular, the capital, Chang’an, and provisional capital, Luoyang, were major international cities at the time.
 
The Tang dynasty was open to foreign trade over both land and sea. The well-known "Silk Road" was established at that time. It was the main business route connecting the west to the east. The vast amount of goods being transferred across the Silk Road turned it into the golden passage of the world.
 
There were hundreds of emperors and kings in Chinese history. Emperor Tang Taizong, Li Shimin, was one of the most brilliant. He had outstanding wisdom and magnanimity. The virtuous Emperor Taizong was a spectacular chapter in Chinese history.
 
贞观贤君
 
贞观年间，由于唐太宗能任人唯贤，知人善用；广开言路，虚心纳谏，并采取了一些以农为本，减轻徭赋，休养生息，厉行节约，完善科举制度等政策，使得社会出现了安宁的局面。
 
中国封建社会的中央政府组织实行“三省六部制”，但贞观王朝的三省职权划分则初步体现了现代化政治特征──分权原则。中书省发布命令，门下省审查命令，尚书省执行命令。一个政令的形成，先由诸宰相在设于中书省的政事堂举行会议，形成决议后报皇帝批准，再由中书省以皇帝名义发布诏书。诏书发布之前，必须送门下省审查，门下省认为不合适的，可以拒绝“副署”。诏书缺少副署，依法即不能颁布。只有门下省“副署”后的诏书才成为国家正式法令，交由尚书省执行（当时的贤臣魏征就供职于门下省）。
 
这种政治运作方式很有点类似现代民主国家的“三权分立”制。西方在十七世纪兴起的分权学说，李世民早在一千多年前就已运用于中国的政治体制，进一步说明了贞观王朝的文明程度是何等之高。最为难能可贵的是，李世民规定自己的诏书也必须由门下省“副署”后才能生效，从而有效地防止了他在心血来潮和心情不好时作出的不慎重决定。
 
唐太宗十分注重法治，他曾说：“国家法律不是帝王一家之法，是天下都要共同遵守的法律，因此一切都要以法为准。”作为一位万人之上的君主能够说出这样一番话来，唐太宗不愧是一位开明的皇帝。法律制定出来后，唐太宗以身作则，带头守法，维护法律的划一和稳定。在贞观时期，真正地做到了王子犯法与民同罪。执法时铁面无私，但量刑时太宗又反复思考，慎之又慎。他说：“人死了不能再活，执法务必宽大简约。”由于太宗的苦心经营，贞观年间法制情况很好，犯法的人少了，被判死刑的更少。贞观四年全国判处死刑的囚犯只有二十九人。贞观六年，死刑犯增至二百九十人。这一年的岁末，李世民准许他们回家办理后事，明年秋天再回来就死（古时秋天行刑）。次年九月，二百九十个囚犯全部回还，无一逃亡。那时的中国政治修明，官吏各司其职，人民安居乐业，不公平的现象少之又少，国人心中没有多少怨气。丰衣足食的人不会为生存铤而走险；心气平和的人也不易走极端，因此犯罪的概率也就少之又少。
 
贞观王朝是唯一不歧视商业的封建王朝，不但不歧视，还给商业发展提供了许多便利条件，这进一步地体现了李世民的高瞻远瞩之处。在李世民政府的倡导下，贞观王朝的商业经济有了迅速和长足地进展，当时世界出名的商业城市，有一半以上集中在中国。除了沿海的交州、广州、明州、福州外，还有内陆的洪州（江西南昌）、杨州、益州（成都）和西北的沙州（甘肃敦煌）、凉州（甘肃武威）。首都长安和陪都洛阳则是世界性的大都会。
 
唐朝开放程度很高，路上、海上的丝绸之路贸易兴盛，举世文明的“丝绸之路”是联系东西方物质文明的纽带，丝绸之路上的商旅不绝于途，品种繁多的大宗货物在东西方世界往来传递，使丝绸之路成了整个世界的黄金走廊。

中国历史上出了几百位帝王，李世民是其中的佼佼者，拥有杰出智慧和胸襟。贤明的唐太宗，为华夏民族的历史谱写了光辉灿烂的一页。