During the reign of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, after years of effort, the Tang Dynasty achieved social stability, economic development, and a peaceful and prosperous life for the people. Based on Li Shimin's reign title "Zhenguan," this period is referred to as the "Zhenguan Governance."
During this period, social order reached an unprecedented level of stability. The government was clean and efficient, officials fulfilled their duties diligently, and the people lived contentedly with ample food and clothing, with very few incidents of crime or lawbreaking. In a single year, the number of prisoners executed nationwide was only a few hundred or even just a few dozen—a remarkable achievement for such a vast country. One year, at the end of the year, Li Shimin approved the release of over 290 prisoners to return home to settle their family affairs, with the agreement that they would come back the following autumn to face execution. When the next autumn arrived, every single prisoner returned on time.
Commerce experienced development during this period. Feudal dynasties generally regarded agriculture as the foundation of the state, implementing policies that "emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce," which restricted commercial growth. This led to agriculture occupying a very high proportion of the national economy, while commerce's share remained extremely low. Consequently, farmers often held higher social status than merchants. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, although agriculture was still highly valued, commerce was not discriminated against; instead, conditions were actively created to encourage its development. Commerce grew rapidly during this period, with many commercial cities emerging. In addition to the capital Chang'an and the eastern capital Luoyang, cities such as Yangzhou, Guangzhou, and Liangzhou (present-day Wuwei, Gansu) also became renowned commercial centers both domestically and internationally.
The national borders were unprecedentedly open. Many envoys from around the world, upon witnessing the prosperous scenes and advanced culture of the Tang Dynasty, were filled with admiration for it. At that time, Emperor Taizong of Tang was confident that the Tang Dynasty was the most powerful country in the world, so there were no strict restrictions on foreigners coming to Tang. Foreigners living in the Tang Dynasty felt very free and natural, without any sense of restraint. They could choose to engage in commercial activities or pursue careers as officials. Both the Tang ruling class and ordinary people treated them entirely as their own compatriots.
The emergence of the "Zhenguan Reign" golden age was mainly due to the following reasons:
First, the Tang Dynasty was established after overthrowing the brutal rule of the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, learned from the Sui Dynasty's downfall and placed great emphasis on the people's welfare. After ascending the throne, he implemented policies to reduce taxes and corvée labor, giving the war-weary populace a chance to recover and rebuild their lives.
Second, the implementation of the "Fubing System" (militia system). This system stipulated that soldiers were farmers who cultivated land during the busy farming season and trained during the off-season. When going to war, soldiers had to prepare their own horses and weapons. This approach ensured a sufficient supply of troops while shifting the burden of military supplies onto the farmers, thereby reducing the state's military expenditures. Additionally, this system separated soldiers from their generals, preventing generals from amassing personal military power and carving out independent territories, thus ensuring national security.
Third, the "Equal-field System" was restored. This system allowed many peasants to obtain land, satisfying their demand for land to a certain extent, curbing the land annexation by wealthy landlords and powerful families, promoting agricultural production, and ensuring the state's tax revenue.
Fourth, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty placed great importance on the legal system and implemented a policy of governing the country according to law. He once said that law is the foundation of a nation, and that everyone, whether from the ruling class or ordinary people, must abide by it. He led by example, and under his influence, the people across the country behaved themselves, with very few instances of crime or lawbreaking occurring.
Fifth, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was able to appoint talented individuals and encourage open discussion. The Tang Dynasty inherited the imperial examination system from the Sui Dynasty, and Emperor Taizong further reformed it by adding more exam subjects and expanding the number of candidates. These measures allowed a large number of capable people to be appointed to important positions in the imperial court.
Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty said, "The people are water, and the ruler is a boat. Water can carry the boat, but it can also overturn it." This statement fully reflects his people-oriented philosophy, and it was precisely because of this mindset that he was able to usher in the golden age known as the "Reign of Zhenguan."