Figures of Taoism: Xu Hui 徐惠

Xu Hui (627~650), also known as Consort Xu the Virtuous, was a wife of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin.

She was intelligent from a young age, extensively studied classics and histories, and had literary talent. She was accepted by Emperor Taizong as a Cairen (a rank in the imperial harem), later promoted to Jieyu, and then to Chongrong.

After Emperor Taizong's death, she grieved excessively, fell ill, and passed away.

Philosophically, she leaned toward Taoism and adhered to the Taoist thought of "quietude and non-action". She asserted that "the foundation of governing lies in valuing non-action" (Old Book of Tang·Biography of Consort Xu). Using the Taoist concept of "non-action", she opposed the policies of feudal emperors that disturbed the people, criticizing Emperor Taizong for launching extensive military campaigns, frequent expeditions, large-scale construction projects, and luxurious living.

She said, "In recent years, labor and military service have been piled up: there are troops in the Liaohai region in the east, and campaigns in Juqiu in the west. Cavalrymen are exhausted by armor, and boats and carts are weary from transportation" (Ibid.). She distinguished between just wars of "eliminating internal tyranny and suppressing violence" and wars of "indulging in military adventures". Drawing lessons from the fall of the Qin and Jin dynasties, she believed that "extensive territory is not a strategy for lasting peace, while people's toil is the source of easy rebellion" (Ibid.).

She emphasized cherishing people's strength, advocating that people should be used at appropriate times to prevent their strength from being exhausted, and opposed imperial luxury and indulgence. She stated, "Therefore, simple palaces and frugal meals are what a sage ruler finds contentment in; golden mansions and jade platforms are what a arrogant ruler deems magnificent. Thus, a ruler with the Dao eases the people through his own frugality; a ruler without the Dao indulges himself through pleasure" (Ibid.).

She pointed out that if an emperor ignores the people's life and death and indulges in pleasure, he will inevitably face the opposite result of national destruction and his own death. She said, "Precious toys and exquisite craftsmanship are the axes that destroy a country; pearls, jade, brocades, and embroideries are indeed poisons that confuse the mind... Although flaunting luxury conforms to the vulgar trends of the times, it actually corrupts the simplicity of honest customs. It is thus known that lacquered ware is not a way to prolong a dynasty—Jie made it, and people rebelled; a jade cup is not a technique to expand territory—Zhou used it, and the country perished. The source of extravagance must be curbed. Even if one establishes a system of frugality, there is still fear of luxury; if one establishes a system of luxury, how can future excesses be controlled?" (Ibid.). She put forward the proposition that "arrogance arises from prosperity, and laziness emerges from peace" (Ibid.), believing that one should guard against arrogance and luxury when achieving success, and prevent slackness when the country is stable.

As a concubine, she dared to present memorials to Emperor Taizong with sharp words, pointing out the ills of the times, which was no easy feat in her era. Later generations commented on her: "When a court official remonstrates with the monarch, the ancients compared it to 'touching a dragon's scales'—even scholar-officials find it difficult, let alone women... In thousands of years, such cases are rare"... "Among palace concubines, there was someone like Lady Xu. Looking at her remonstrances, even veteran scholars and Confucian masters could hardly surpass her. Alas, what virtue!" (Zhenguan Zheng Yao, Volume 9 Discussions on Expeditions; see her biographies in Old Book of Tang, Volume 51 and New Book of Tang, Volume 76).