In the third chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after Dong Zhuo entered the capital, he openly proposed deposing Emperor Shao, who was “timid and weak” in his opinion, and installing the Prince of Chenliu, attempting to force officials to express agreement. Lu Zhi stepped forward, citing two historical cases—Yi Yin exiling Tai Jia and Huo Guang deposing the Prince of Changyi—to refute Dong Zhuo.
Again Dong Zhuo put the question. “Do you see reason in what I have said?” “Not altogether, my wise lord,” responded Lu Zhi. “In ancient times Yi Yin, the sage minister of the Shang dynasty, immured Tai Jia, an unfit sovereign, in the Paulownia Palace; and during the Han Prime Minister Huo Guang indicted his sovereign, the prince of Changyi, in the ancestral temple for three thousand misdeeds committed in twenty-seven days after he came to the throne, and then dethroned him. However, in the present situation, although the Emperor has not reached maturity, he has demonstrated his receptive intelligence and humane wisdom. There is no blemish in him. You, my lord, an imperial inspector from the western border districts, have never been a part of court administration. Lacking the remarkable abilities of an Yi Yin or a Huo Guang, how can you arrogate to yourself the authority to alter the succession? As the sage has said, ‘For the reasons of an Yi Yin it may be done; otherwise, it is treason.’”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 3
Today, let us briefly introduce one of these historical allusions: Yi Yin exiling Tai Jia. Let’s explore what insights this story can offer us.
Yi Yin Exiling Tai Jia
“Yi Yin Exiling Tai Jia” is a famous political story in ancient China, originating from classics such as Records of the Grand Historian and Book of Documents. It tells the story of how Yi Yin, a virtuous minister of the early Shang Dynasty, educated and corrected the “foolish, arrogant” monarch Tai Jia.
King Tang was the founding ruler of the Shang Dynasty. His wise minister, Yi Yin, assisted him in overthrowing King Jie of Xia and establishing the Shang Dynasty. After Tang’s death, his son Tai Jia succeeded to the throne. However, after ascending the throne, Tai Jia disregarded the laws of his predecessors, ruled tyrannically, neglected state affairs, and even destroyed the systems established by Tang, causing great suffering among the people.
As an elder minister assisting in governance, Yi Yin repeatedly advised Tai Jia to no avail. He then took extraordinary measures—relocating Tai Jia from the capital Bo to the Tong Palace(Paulownia Palace) under house arrest , allowing him to reflect and repent. Yi Yin himself took over the administration, an period historically known as “Yi Yin’s Regency”.
Tai Jia’s reformation and return
During his three years of guarding the tomb at the Tong Palace(Paulownia Palace), Tai Jia witnessed the people’s hardships firsthand, reflected on his mistakes, thoroughly reformed himself, and became benevolent and diligent in governance. Seeing his genuine repentance, Yi Yin personally welcomed Tai Jia back and restored political power to him. Thereafter, Tai Jia worked hard to govern effectively, becoming a wise monarch, and the Shang Dynasty enjoyed stability and prosperity.
The Moral and Significance of the Story
Yi Yin Exiling Tai Jia is a classic story that blends political wisdom, moral education, and the ethics of ruler-minister relationships. It tells us that:
- A ruler should govern with virtue, and a minister should serve the ruler with principle;
- the ability to correct one’s errors is of great virtue.
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