Early life

Li Tai was the fourth son of Li Shimin, then the Prince of Qin under his father Emperor Gaozu of Tang. His 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 (Li Zhi) and three daughters (the future Princess Changle, Jinyang, and Xincheng). In 620, he was created the Prince of Yidu, at the same time that Li Chengqian and another older brother, Li Ke (by Li Shimin's concubine Consort Yang (a daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui)) were also created princes. In 621, he was created the Prince of Wei (卫, different than his later title of 魏) and posthumously adopted into the line of his uncle Li Xuanba (李玄霸), who had died early without issue.

In 626, Li Shimin, in an intense rivalry with his older brother Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince, ambushed Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, at Xuanwu Gate and killed them. He then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to first create him crown prince and then yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). He created Li Tai's mother Princess Zhangsun empress and Li Tai's older brother Li Chengqian crown prince. In 628, Li Tai's title was changed to Prince of Yue (Taizong made another royal member Li Baoding (李保定) heir to Li Xuanba instead of him), and he was made the commandant at Yang Prefecture (扬州, roughly modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), but was not sent to Yang Prefecture, remaining at the capital Chang'an instead. In 633, he was made the commandant at Fu Prefecture (鄜州, roughly modern Yan'an, Shaanxi), but also appeared to not have been sent there, and in 634 he became the prefect of the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州).

As Prince of Wei

In 636, Li Tai's title was changed to Prince of Wei (魏), and he was made the commandant at Xiang Prefecture (相州, roughly modern Handan, Hebei), but again, he was not sent there, but remained at Chang'an. By this point, Emperor Taizong had begun to favor Li Tai greatly for his literary talent, he permitted Li Tai to retain a staff of scholars, and also, because Li Tai was obese, allowed him to ride a litter into the palace rather than walk. 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. In 637, Emperor Taizong made the senior official Wang Gui, a one-time chancellor, Li Tai's teacher, and he ordered Li Tai to honor Wang as if he were honoring his own father. Li Tai did so, and Wang accepted this. In 640, Emperor Taizong personally visited Li Tai's mansion, and to celebrate the occasion, Emperor Taizong pardoned the minor criminals of Chang'an, exempted Li Tai's neighborhood of its taxes for one year, and gave awards to Li Tai's staff members and the seniors in Li Tai's neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Li Tai's staff member Su Xu (苏勖) suggested to him that, like the talented princes in past dynasties, he should commission a major literary work, so Li Tai commissioned the work Journal of Geography (Kuodi Zhi) and retained the officials Xiao Deyan (萧德言), Gu Yin (顾胤), Jiang Yaqing (蒋亚卿), and Xie Yan (谢偃) to head the project. Initially, the work was drafted at Chang'an, and his staff scholars received so many visitors among the noble youths that they were distracted from their work. Li Tai saw that their time was not being productive, and so sent them out to the field—the various prefectures—to collect data and write. It took four years for Li Tai's scholars to complete the work, which had 550 volumes. The work was completed in 642, and Emperor Taizong rewarded Li Tai with a large supply of silk. By this point, Li Tai's staff was growing so large that the imperial stipend to Li Tai exceeded that to Li Chengqian. The official Chu Suiliang suggested to Emperor Taizong that this was improper, and Emperor Taizong agreed—but rather than reducing Li Tai's stipend, he removed all limits on Li Chengqian's spending, which led to Li Chengqian, who was already wasteful in his lifestyle, to be even more wasteful. Emperor Taizong also had Li Tai move to Wude Palace (武德殿), next to Li Chengqian's palace—an action that Wei Zheng considered inappropriate, and so Emperor Taizong reversed.

Struggles with Li Chengqian

Meanwhile, Li Chengqian was losing favor with Emperor Taizong over his wastefulness and favor for games rather than study. He also suffered from a foot illness that the nature was not specified in historical accounts. Li Tai began to have ambitions on displacing his older brother as crown prince, and a number of officials, seeing this as an opportunity, began to congregate around Li Tai, causing the government to divide into Li Tai's faction and Li Chengqian's faction. In 642, in order to dispel rumors that he was about to replace Li Chengqian with Li Tai, Emperor Taizong made Wei Zheng, then ill, Li Chengqian's senior advisor, but that failed to stop the rumors. Meanwhile, Li Tai's chiefs of staff, Wei Ting (韦挺) and Du Chuke (杜楚客, brother to the deceased chancellor Du Ruhui), were making plans for Li Tai to enhance his reputation and defame Li Chengqian, and the public began to perceive Li Chengqian negatively.

By 643, Li Chengqian was so fearful that Emperor Taizong was about to depose him that he conspired with a number of officials, including the major general Hou Junji, Emperor Taizong's brother Li Yuanchang (李元昌) the Prince of Han, the imperial guard commander Li Anyan (李安俨), his cousin Zhao Jie (赵节), and Du Chuke's nephew Du He (杜荷, Du Ruhui's son), to overthrow Emperor Taizong. That summer, however, Li You (李佑) the Prince of Qi, a younger brother to both Li Chengqian and Li Tai, resentful of the head of his household, Quan Wanji (权万纪), killed Quan and then rebelled. Li You was soon defeated and captured, and when Emperor Taizong investigated Li You's co-conspirators, Li Chengqian's associate Gegan Chengji (纥干承基), who had been an assassin for Li Chengqian and was involved in his conspiracy, was arrested and sentenced to death. Gegan, in order to save himself, revealed the plot. Emperor Taizong, in shock, convened the senior officials Zhangsun Wuji (Empress Zhangsun's brother), Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, and Li Shiji, as well as officials from the supreme court, the legislative bureau, and the examination bureau, to investigate, and the extent of the plot was revealed. When Emperor Taizong requested opinions on what to do with Li Chengqian, Lai Ji suggested sparing him, and Emperor Taizong agreed. He deposed Li Chengqian and reduced him to commoner rank, while ordering Li Yuanchang to commit suicide. Hou and the other conspirators were all executed.

Exile and death

After Li Chengqian was arrested, Li Tai visited Emperor Taizong everyday, and Emperor Taizong promised to create him crown prince—an idea that was also suggested by the officials Cen Wenben and Liu Ji. However, Zhangsun Wuji suggested that Li Zhi, also favored by Emperor Taizong, be created crown prince. In order to persuade Emperor Taizong to create him crown prince, Li Tai told Emperor Taizong that he would agree to kill his own son and make Li Zhi crown prince should he be allowed to inherit the throne. 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. Li Tai, meanwhile, made comments to Li Zhi that he should be worried in light of his friendship with Li Yuanchang—comments that Li Zhi told Emperor Taizong, who then began regretting promising Li Tai the crown prince position. Further, when Emperor Taizong visited Li Chengqian to rebuke him, Li Chengqian accused Li Tai of machinations against him, causing him to plot treason. Depressed over the actions of Li Chengqian, Li Tai, Li You, and Li Yuanchang, Emperor Taizong summoned Zhangsun, Fang Xuanling, Li Shiji, and Chu to a private meeting, during which he told them his intent to create Li Zhi crown prince instead. Later that day, when Li Tai tried to enter the palace to visit Emperor Taizong. Emperor Taizong put him under house arrest, and the next day created Li Zhi crown prince.

Several days later, Li Tai was removed from his official posts and reduced in rank to Prince of Donglai. Emperor Taizong exiled his close associates and reduced Du Chuke to commoner rank. Two months later, Li Tai was created the Prince of Shunyang instead. In fall 643, Emperor Taizong exiled both Li Chengqian and Li Tai—in Li Tai's case, to Jun Prefecture (均州, roughly modern Shiyan, Hubei). Emperor Taizong was gut-wrenched about the decision, and he stated:

:The love between father and son is a natural one. It is difficult for me to separate from Li Tai, and I cannot bear this. However, I am the lord of all under heaven, and as long as the people can be safe, I can cut off my personal love.

He also showed Li Tai's well-written submissions in the past to his close officials and stated:

:Li Tai is exceedingly talented. I miss him, and all of you know this. However, for the sake of the empire, I have to cut off my relationship with him with righteousness. I let him live far away to try to make everyone safe.

In 647, Li Tai's title was upgraded to Prince of Pu. After Emperor Taizong died in 649, Li Zhi succeeded him as Emperor Gaozong. 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. Later that year, Emperor Gaozong did permit Li Tai to again retain a staff, and ordered that he be supplied with high quality supplies of wagons, food, and clothing. Li Tai died in 653. His son Li Xin (李欣) inherited his title.

Family

Princess Consort, of the Yan clan (妃阎氏), personal name Wan (婉), daughter of Yan Lide (阎立德) and niece of Yan Liben

　• Li Xin, 2nd Prince of Pu, his successor, who would be accused by secret police officials of Wu Zetian and demoted to lieutenant general of Zhaozhou (昭州), first son

　　• Li Jiao (李峤), né Li Yuqing (李馀庆), 3rd Prince of Pu, who would be granted Yinqingguangludafu (银青光禄大夫) and serve as Guozijijiu (国子祭酒) and Tongzhengyuan (同正员). Later accused and demoted to lieutenant general of Dengzhou (邓州), later restored

　• Li Hui (李徽), Prince of Xinping, second son

生平

李泰是李世民与长孙皇后的次子。他出生时，李世民还是秦王。620年，封宜都王，621年，封卫王，过继为早夭的叔父卫怀王李玄霸的后嗣。李世民登基后，李泰归宗。628年，改封越王、扬州大都督。631年，兼左武候大都督，633年，封鄜州大都督。634年，任雍州牧兼左武候大将军。636年，改封魏王，领相州都督。贞观十二年（638年），奏请撰《括地志》，四年书成，修书五百五十卷。

贞观十七年（643年），太子李承乾因失宠而和吏部尚书侯君集共谋刺杀李世民，准备政变，事败之后被废。李世民有意立李泰为太子，已经当李泰面许诺了，李泰也表态，自己将来身后将杀掉自己的儿子，传位胞弟晋王李治，李世民很感动，但谏议大夫褚遂良却指出李泰此言有悖常理，说：「过分宠爱李泰是造成李承乾之祸的根源，要立魏王，就先把晋王处置了吧。」而李世民却不忍处置晋王，而长孙无忌等人也支持立晋王李治为太子。李泰又以汉王李元昌事恫吓与李元昌交好的李治，李治将此事告诉李世民，而被废的李承乾也坦承自己谋反是因为李泰对太子位有所图谋。于是李世民下定决心，带著李治驾临两仪殿，待群臣退朝后留下长孙无忌、房玄龄、李绩、褚遂良，说：「我三个儿子（指李承乾、李泰、李佑）一个弟弟（指李元昌）都做出这种（图谋帝位的）事来，我活著还有什么意思！」甚至作取佩刀自刺状，长孙无忌等上前抱持制止，夺下刀给李治，然后问李世民想立谁为储，李世民说想立李治，长孙无忌当即表示奉诏，于是李治被立为太子。

李泰对此并不知情，照常来见父皇，被囚于北苑，李世民下诏历数李泰结党夺嫡之过，罢雍州牧、相州都督、左武侯大将军，废为东莱郡王、顺阳郡王，迁均州郧乡。后来李世民说：「如果我立李泰为太子，等于说太子之位是可以通过经营得来的，这是给后世做示范。以后再有太子无道、藩王窥伺的，两个都废黜。」「如果立李泰为太子，李承乾和李治都活不成；如果立李治，李承乾和李泰都能保全。」647年，李泰被复封为濮王。

唐太宗驾崩后，继位的唐高宗李治允许众兄弟回京参加葬礼，但李泰不在此列。高宗在车服饮食方面予李泰以优待，允许他开府置僚属。永徽三年十二月，李泰死于郧乡。唐高宗追封为太尉、雍州牧，谥号恭。子李欣嗣。

李泰著有《濮王泰集》二十卷，已失传。

评价

苏辙评唐太宗立太子：太子承乾既立十馀年，复宠魏王泰，使兄弟相倾。承乾既废，晋王（李治），嫡子也，欲立泰，而使异日传位晋王，疑不能决，至引佩刀自刺，大臣救之而止。父子之间，以爱故轻予夺至于如此。

作品

括地志

《括地志》是一部大型地理著作，由魏王李泰主编。全书正文550卷、序略5卷。它吸收了《汉书·地理志》和顾野王《舆地志》两书编簒上的特点，创立了一种新的地理书体裁，为后来的《元和郡县志》、《太平寰宇记》开了先河。全书按贞观十道排比358州，再以州为单位，分述辖境各县的沿革、地望、得名、山川、城池、古迹、神话传说、重大历史事件等。徵引广博，保存了许多六朝地理书中的珍贵资料。原书字数无考，今留传《括地志辑校》四卷，约13万字。

文集

李泰另有《濮王泰集》二十卷，现已失传。《全唐文》有收录他的一篇文章《请释法恭为戒师书》。

芙蓉园

贞观中，唐太宗把在长安城东南部，曲江南岸一带的原隋朝离宫芙蓉园赐给了儿子李泰，此园「居地三十顷，大唐芙蓉园周回十七里」，园中「广厦修廊，连亘屈曲，其地延袤爽垲，跨带原隰，又有修竹茂林，绿被冈阜，东阪下有凉堂，堂东有临水亭……」李泰去世后，高宗将此园赐给了太子，开元时唐玄宗作为御苑，这座御苑里，水边至南岸高地建有紫云楼、彩霞亭等仙山楼阁般的宏伟宫殿群。唐代著名画家李思训之子李昭道有写生图画传世，宋人有变体摹本一并保存至今。

都城之盛

贞观中，唐太宗在东都洛阳「并坊地」以赐儿子李泰大宅，且在合并坊地后李泰的宅邸还是占了「东西尽一坊」之地，另有「潴沼三百亩」，李泰为池，池与洛河之间，修建有堤以便人们来往，故名魏王池及魏王堤。魏王池与魏王堤古时被称为「都城之盛」，是文人墨客的游赏圣地。特别是每年春天，这里堤上杨柳依依，堤下河水清清，堤外湖水湖光水色，招来无数游人。文人墨客在这里赋诗咏叹（唐代韩愈、白居易、韦庄、刘禹锡、宋代施宜生、梅尧臣、邵雍等均留下了不朽的诗篇），还在这里举行「修禊」等活动。古时以来，形成一种民俗，即在农历三月上已日（魏以后固定为三月三日），到水边嬉游，以消除不祥。这就叫做「修禊」。魏王池与魏王堤，李泰因父亲的宠爱而得，而如此胜景，又是因魏王李泰之名而闻名于世。

三龛记

贞观十年，长孙皇后去世，其次子魏王李泰在龙门山宾阳洞开凿佛窟，为母求取冥福。于宾阳南洞正壁雕造了五尊大佛像，主尊阿弥陀佛高约8.20米，面相饱满，额方颐丰，颈部刻横纹二条，头作高肉髻，刻波状发纹。内著僧祗支，胸间束带，外披双领下垂袈裟。两侧侍立的二弟子高约5.80米，身披袈裟，双手合十，神情谦恭。外侧侍立的二菩萨高约6.50米，头戴高花蔓冠，颈下戴项圈，身披披帛和联珠纹璎珞，下身著百褶长裙，身体呈直筒状，立于莲台上。

《伊阙佛龛碑》又名《三龛记》、《褚遂良碑》，是李泰贞观十五年十一月在宾阳洞完成造像后镌刻的发愿文，碑文由中书侍郎岑文本撰文，谏议大夫褚遂良书丹，共计一千八百馀字。此碑现存洛阳龙门西山宾阳中洞和南洞之间，虽名为碑，实为摩崖刻石，通高约5.00米、宽1.90米，是龙门石窟形制最大的摩崖碑刻，碑首上有蟠螭形浮雕，上有仿木结构的屋檐建筑，正脊两端配鸱尾，脊正中有迦陵频伽鸟，龟跌座首已残毁。关于该碑的记载，最早见于宋嘉佑六年欧阳修的《集古录》和赵明诚的《金石录》。传世墨拓以明代何良俊清森阁旧藏明初拓本为最佳，拓工精致、字口如新；比《金石萃编》所载犹多五十馀字，1960年发现一宋代拓本，现均藏于北京图书馆。

家庭

李泰妃阎婉（622－690年），工部尚书阎立德之女，育有二子：

• 长子：李欣（633－685年？），字伯悦，嗣濮王、颍州刺史。

　• 孙：李峤，嗣濮王，国子祭酒。

• 次子：李徽（644－683年），字玄祺，贞观二十一年（647年）封顺阳县开国侯，永徽四年（653年），封新安郡王；永淳二年（683年）九月廿三日，死于郧乡县，时年40岁，嗣圣元年（684年）三月十四日，迁葬于马山。顺阳县开国侯、新安郡王。

家族墓

李泰家族墓地，位于湖北郧县城东1公里处的棒棰河西岸，唐代称此为马山，当地群众俗称此地为大李王坟、小李王坟。从已发掘的4座李唐王室家族墓群得知，墓主是李泰、阎婉、李欣、李徽。具有较高的科研价值。

李泰墓为砖室墓，由墓道、甬道小龛、墓室组成。1975年3月，湖北省博物馆会同郧阳地区及各县文物干部联合对李泰墓进行发掘。发掘时，发现此墓已被盗过，本次发掘共出土各类文物442件。其中，陶器99件、瓷器9件、银器13件、金器121件（重3102.35克）、玻璃器9件、石器7件、铁器2件、珍珠2件、水晶珠2件、铜器178件以及残存墓内壁画若干幅。县博物馆收藏225件。省博物馆收藏217件。其中，陶器42件、瓷器3件、铜器18件、银器11件、金器121件。具有较高的科研价值和陈列价值的文物品有陶俑、仪仗俑、乐队俑、金狮子、墓志铭等。

阎婉墓位于李泰墓西北隅。墓葬形制为长斜坡墓道的砖室，由墓道、过洞、天井、甬道、墓室组成。出土文物共34件，其中陶瓷器2件。其馀为银铜器和铁器。银下颌托、铜境、壁画以及墓志铭，为研究唐代政治、文化提供了依据。

李欣墓由墓道、过洞、天井、甬道、墓室组成。此墓被盗2次，墓内大量积水，出土文物较少，主要有小铜马镫、鎏金小马镫、铜饰花片、石饰牌、白素珠、镏金开元铜钱等。具有科研价值的主要是墓志铭和壁画。

李徽墓为砖室墓，由墓室、甬道、墓道三部分组成。出土文物共82件，以陶瓷为主，次为铜器、铁器、少部分金、银、骨、蚌器。珍贵文物有三彩龙首杯、三彩瓶、三彩盂、三彩角杯、瓷砚、石熏、银勺、铁斧、陶甑以及墓志铭和壁画。

延伸阅读

参考

• 《资治通鉴·唐纪十二》

• 《资治通鉴·唐纪十三》

注释