Chen Show Mao, Ellen Lee, Sam Tan and Baey Yam Keng made references to this in choosing to focus on drawing lessons from this Chinese emperor’s governance.
I would like to remind these legislators that Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-cultural society, and so dwelling too much on ancient China’s history would be to make too much of an assumption that everyone understands this history.
What’s more important is, such over-emphasis may be construed as being insensitive to the other races that live with the majority here in Singapore – the Chinese. But then, how many Chinese Singaporeans know the ancient history of China?
People who hold public office should be mindful not to alienate the minorities in making references or drawing lessons from histories of other countries. It quite easy to forget the minorities who share the same space with the majority,
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Or you prefer them to use western examples like the French Resolution? No?
If we have to be mindful of minorities' sensitivies even for the harmless Parliamentary debate then schools should do away with the learning of Asian (read Malay, Chinese Indian) History and Culture altogether.
The Li clan were of mixed birth and the first few generations maintained their links to their brethen in Central Asia and also brought over their relatively relaxed attitudes towards women, who were given unprecedented freedom during the less than Chinese Tang empire.
No worries. I am Chinese and I don't know much about ancient Chinese history. I can safely say that the vast majority of Chinese Singaporeans do not know as much ancient Chinese history as Chen Show Mao.