Emperor Minh Mạng read books to correct himself and teach courtiers

Abstract

Emperor Minh Mạng always focused and interested in reading books and encouraging his courtiers to read books in order to improve their knowledge to serve political works. Through studying the poetry collection ngu che composed by Emperor Minh Mạng, we found that he wrote many poems about reading books as well as advising his courtiers to read books diligently, stay away from luxurious entertainments. Because according to him, reading books was also to know how to rule the country and people, the rules of governing the country of the ancients. So, depending on the objects, Emperor Minh Mạng had his own way to advise them to read books, from children, to students, mandarins, or even the royals. It was also his wish to improve knowledge.