"Learn from others, learn from history" means that you can learn from others' affairs, such as what you get and what you lose; Using history as a reference, we can know the rise and fall of the country. "Take people as a mirror to know the gains and losses, and take history as a mirror to know the rise and fall" comes from the story of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and Minister Wei Zhi.

Introduction to allusions

Wei Zhi, a minister, was able to give his opinions to Emperor Taizong bluntly and often expressed his opinions in court. Because Emperor Taizong could listen to the correct opinions, during his reign, politics was clear and society was stable, and the Tang Dynasty experienced economic prosperity and national strength. After Wei Zhi died of illness, Emperor Taizong burst into tears and was very sad. He ordered a monument to Wei Zhi, and wrote the inscription himself.

Emperor Taizong often missed Wei Zhi, and sighed and said to his ministers, "Take copper as a mirror, and you can dress properly; Take the past as a mirror, you can know the rise and fall, and take people as a mirror, you can know the gains and losses. I have tried to protect these three lessons, and I have defended myself from the inside. Today, when Wei Zhi dies, he will die. "

It means "using copper as a mirror can make you dignified and neat when you wear it; Taking history as a mirror, we can know that since the dynasties, survival has risen and fallen; Take people as mirrors, you can know your own gains and losses. I used to keep these three mirrors to prevent my own mistakes. Now that Wei Zhi is dead, I have lost a mirror. "