The Process and Issues of Dispute over the Crown Prince in the Latter Part of the Zhenguan Period of Tang Dynasty

The case of the abolition of crown prince and the subsequent event of struggles for the replacement among sons of Tang Taizong was a vital things that directly affect the flows of politics in the latter part of the Zhenguan Period. It also gave Taizong a significant affect in terms of his psychology including mental agony and frustration. This incident, as irony would have it, very much resembles the case of Xuanwu Gate Incident(玄武門之變) which also happened among sons of Gaozu and was intrigued by Li Shi min(Taizong). Therefor, Taizong’s concerns for children’s long and bitter dispute was very special and tried to find out the best way of solution for it, but he couldn't make of it mainly because of his indecisive attitude. However, we can get a sense of humane characters well from his trials and errors and father’s concerns for children which was hidden in the perfect image of wise monarch. This essay will try to depict the political background of the dispute and confrontation and conspiracy among Taizong’ sons and their parties, including from Taizong’s point of view.