Sui and Tang Dynasty concubines compete for glory: Yang Guang, Li Shimin, and Li Zhi are not descendants.
In the strict order of the Sui and Tang dynasties, Yang Guang, Li Shimin, and Li Zhi were all non-descendants. At that time, the concept of concubine was very different from today. Although Yang Guang was blessed by Queen Dugu, he broke the convention of concubines because he abolished his longevity and broke the convention of concubines, so his identity is still regarded as a concubine.
This view stems from Fang Xuanling's insights in the Book of the Old Tang Dynasty, in which he criticized Emperor Wen of Sui's actions for failing to secure the imperial family's foundation.
During the reign of Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, he originally appointed Li Chengqian, the eldest son of the eldest grandson empress, as the crown prince, but he was so attracted by the charm of his second son Li Tai that he considered replacing him. However, many wise ministers, such as Chu Sui Liangli Chen, emphasized the importance of the distinction between the concubines and the concubines, and they insisted that Li Tai was a concubine and could not surpass Li Chengqian, who was a concubine.
Chu Suiliang even stressed that Li Chengqian, as the legal heir to the throne, could not shake this principle regardless of his personal conditions. Even Wei Zheng earnestly suggested on the sickbed to keep the prince stable, Li Shimin promised not to change rashly, even in the face of Li Tai's favor, he also strengthened his status as Li Chengqian's eldest son.
Looking back on the past, Chu Suiliang pointed out that when he was appointed as the crown prince, it was out of a clear understanding and respect for his concubines.
In ancient societies,"Sister-in-law"The definition goes beyond the label of the main wife alone, and it symbolizes the person who has the right to inherit the glory of the family according to the strict patriarchal order.
No matter who the prince's mother is, as long as he is the legal heir of the family power, such as Li Jiao, although he is not born to the queen and is not the direct child of the crown princess, because he is the first son of Li Heng and his father is the crown prince, he is respected as the authentic eldest grandson of Tang Xuanzong.
Therefore,"Sister-in-law"The title is based on the dual identification of descent and status, not on the identity of the mother alone.
The strict patriarchal system in ancient times stipulated that the status of the second son born by the mother-in-law was often a concubine, which was an iron law of history. Therefore, Yang Guang, Li Shimin and Li Zhi, the three emperors of the Tang Dynasty, although they were born into the royal family, were regarded as concubines rather than orthodox descendants in terms of identity.
This unique royal phenomenon has been deeply analyzed in the Qing Dynasty classic "Imperial Dynasty Jingshi Wen Compilation".
Interpreting ancient family structures from a modern perspective"Sister-in-law"Is the traditional definition limited to the eldest son of a wife? Strictly speaking, this view has changed at different stages of history.
For example, in the Sui and Tang dynasties, the second son of the main wife may be regarded as a concubine, but in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's "Emperor Ming Zu Xun" gave the identity of all the sons and daughters of the main wife.
As stated in the Qing Dynasty's "Imperial Dynasty Jingshi Wen Compilation", the difference between the concubines and concubines is different from that after the Ming Dynasty, and the sons born to the main wife are all concubines. Therefore, Yang Guang, Li Shimin, and Li Zhi were called sons-in-law, which may be wrong for the people of the Tang Dynasty, but after the Ming Dynasty, it is in line with historical facts.
Historical works should be created with rigor, to avoid misunderstandings, and in everyday discussions, moderate colloquialism is acceptable, but it is important to maintain historical accuracy.