who is lee sai mun?

Question

He's a Chinese emperor of the Tang Dynasty. But what is he famous for?

Answer 1

He is famous for the grand Canal

Answer 2

Lee Sai Mun was the 2nd son of general Lee Ying who is a cousin of the Siu King.

Before the Siu Dynasty, China was divided into two parts North and South. The Siu Dynasty restored peace to China by reuniting the country into one. However their existed many rebellious factions during this period. In the early part of the 600's peasants began an uprising which eventually led to the collapse of the Siu Dynasty. There were many warring factions, however general Lee Ying emerged as the victor of the battles. He then became King in 618 and changed the title of his rule to Tong Kwok Kong. In English we call this period the Tang Dynasty which was one of China's golden periods. The period of the Tong Dynasty was from 618-907.

However shortly after becoming King, Lee Ying, abducted his throne to his 2nd son Lee Sai Mun. Four months before Lee Ying abducted his throne, Lee Sai Mun ambushed and killed his older brother, Lee King Sing, who was the rightful heir to the throne and his third brother, Lee Wai Gut. Despite this Lee Sai Mun goes down in history as one of China's greatest Kings. Lee Sai Mun ascended the throne in 627 as Tong Tia Jong and was known as a wise and intelligent ruler. His rule ended in 649AD.

The famous threesome of "Fung Chun Sai Hup", Cheung Sam Long, Lee Jing and his wife Cheung Chut Chun take on a more novelistic type of hero status. However some scholars confirm that Cheung Sam Long was said to have existed and was a ruler of a nation south of China. However whether his abilities where that great is debatable. Lee Jing was named the Prime Minister of China under Lee Sai Mun's rule. Ching Ngow Gum, lived a long life of prosperity and was said to have outlived Lee Sai Mun and was made latter a Lord, for his length of service in the Tong Dynasty.

How Lee Sai Mun actually gained the throne is a topic filled with uncertainty. Based on the fact that China flourished under Lee Sai Mun's rule, most novelists and historians give him the benefit of doubt and state that his brothers harbored ambitions to eliminate him and thus were killed themselves. However three points are certain. One Lee Sai Mun was the one who convinced his farther Lee Ying to rebel. Two Lee Sai Mun was not the heir to the throne thus his brothers need not kill him to gain the throne. Three in the clash between the three brothers, Lee Sai Mun lived, Lee King Sing and Lee Wai Gut died. That is fact. But what triggered those events remains unknown.