Li Tai, courtesy name Huibao, nickname Qingque, formally Prince Gong of Pu, was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang dynasty.
19 Facts About Li Tai
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Li Tai, who carried the title of Prince of Wei, was favored by his father, Emperor Taizong, for his literary talent and studiousness.
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However, Emperor Taizong soon saw that Li Tai had pushed Li Chengqian toward rebellion by machination and further appeared to bear ill intentions toward their younger brother Li Zhi the Prince of Jin, and so Emperor Taizong created Li Zhi crown prince instead.
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Li Tai was reduced in rank and briefly put under house arrest, and then exiled.
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Li Tai was the fourth son of Li Shimin, then the Prince of Qin under his father Emperor Gaozu of Tang.
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Li Tai's mother was Li Shimin's wife Princess Zhangsun, who had given birth to his older brother Li Chengqian previously and would have one other son later and three daughters.
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In 628, Li Tai's title was changed to Prince of Yue, and he was made the commandant at Yang Prefecture, but was not sent to Yang Prefecture, remaining at the capital Chang'an instead.
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In 636, Li Tai's title was changed to Prince of Wei, and he was made the commandant at Xiang Prefecture, but again, he was not sent there, but remained at Chang'an.
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When rumors reached him that the high-level officials dishonored Li Tai, he grew angry at them, but relented after the chancellor Wei Zheng pointed out that, in fact, according to Confucian ceremonies, those high-level officials were in fact supposed to be higher in rank than Li Tai.
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Meanwhile, Li Chengqian was losing favor with Emperor Taizong over his wastefulness and favor for games rather than study.
11.
Li Tai suffered from a foot illness that the nature was not specified in historical accounts.
12.
Li Tai deposed Li Chengqian and reduced him to commoner rank, while ordering Li Yuanchang to commit suicide.
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However, the statement backfired, as Chu Suiliang pointed out that the statement could not possibly be an honest one, and that in effect, there was the potential that, if Li Tai were created crown prince, the situation between Li Chengqian and Li Tai might repeat itself.
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Later that day, when Li Tai tried to enter the palace to visit Emperor Taizong.
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Several days later, Li Tai was removed from his official posts and reduced in rank to Prince of Donglai.
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Two months later, Li Tai was created the Prince of Shunyang instead.
17.
Li Tai showed Li Tai's well-written submissions in the past to his close officials and stated:.
18.
In 647, Li Tai's title was upgraded to Prince of Pu.
19.
Emperor Gaozong permitted the princes from outlying prefectures to all come to Chang'an to attend Emperor Taizong's funeral, but Li Tai was not permitted to do so.