It means that a ship is like a monarch, and water is like a common people. Water can carry a ship, and it can also make it overturn. This shows that Emperor Taizong attaches great importance to the common people.

"To be a monarch, you must save the common people first. If you hurt the common people to serve them, you will still bite their stomachs and be full, but your health will be harmed." So you adopted it. Externally, the national strength is strong, and the four sides are subdued; For the most powerful feudal country in the world at that time, the history called "Zhenguan Rule < P > generally means: compare the ship to the monarch and the water to the people, and the people can support a monarch and oppose it. He is telling himself to care for the people, let them live and work in peace and contentment, and consolidate his rule.