In history, the stories of fathers and sons fighting for the throne and brothers fighting each other for the throne are endless in history, and it seems that we have long been commonplace and strange. But in the Song Dynasty, especially in the Southern Song Dynasty, a very unique phenomenon occurred, that is, the emperor Zen Rang. It wouldn't be surprising if it was one or two, but three or four would be enough to be a major phenomenon.
We know that in ancient times, China practiced the Zen system, that is, the ideal of the royal way that Confucians aspired to, the rule of three generations. Yao ceded the throne to Shun, and Shun ceded the throne to Yu, which is the so-called "Datong Society". That is, the ideal society of "the journey of the avenue, the world is public". Since Yu, chuanzi has not passed on the sages, and has entered the so-called "family world", which Confucians call a "well-off society", that is, a ceremonial society in which "the world is home".
Above_Shun (leader of the Ancient Chinese Tribal Alliance)
Of course, Yao Shunyu's era was still in the period of tribal alliances, and the Zen concessions at this time could be passed on to members of different tribes, and there was no strict boundary. After arriving at the family world, the dynasty became a family and a family, and the succession of the throne would only be passed on to his sons. And the person who can inherit the throne is, theoretically, undoubtedly the eldest son.
Although the eldest son was the crown prince, he had to wait until the emperor died before he could successfully inherit the throne. If the emperor is still alive and the eldest son inherits the position, it must be because of Zen Rang. Compared with the Zen concessions of the Yao Shunyu period, we refer to this kind of behavior of the emperor passing on the emperor's son in advance before his death as "inner Zen", that is, within the family.
When we mention "Inner Zen", we have to mention the Southern Song Dynasty.
Of course, there is no shortage of such examples in other dynasties, such as Li Yuan giving way to Li Shimin, Qianlong giving way to Jiaqing, and so on. However, these are all individual cases, the most typical of which is the Southern Song Dynasty, which can become a phenomenon and a political culture. For example, during the Southern Song Dynasty, the emperor was particularly fond of engaging in Zen, and there was an incident of "Three Dynasties Inner Zen" of Gaozong, Xiaozong, Guangzong, and Ningzong.
Above_Song Huizong calligraphy
Zhao Tuo (1082-1135), also known as Emperor Huizong of Song
In fact, if we look further afield to the Song Huizong period, we will find that this sign has already appeared at this time. As we are familiar with the Jing kang difficulty, the emperor who reigned at that time was Song Qinzong. In the face of the menacing Jin people, Emperor Huizong of Song was afraid, and in order not to be the king of the subjugated country, he passed the throne to his son Song Qinzong early.
And this Song Qinzong was not only unmoved by the imperial throne, but also wept and cried, as if people felt as if the emperor had followed the battlefield. In fact, this Song Qinzong is not stupid, and being emperor at this time is tantamount to taking a hot potato. He was smart, but he was too clever, and only his own calculations were left. As everyone knows, he is also a descendant of the Zhao clan, shouldn't he shoulder the burden of guarding the land and the people and continuing the inheritance of his ancestors? It seems that he forgot that this was his mission that he could not shirk as a zhao family.
In fact, this father and son are not good things, the so-called "father is not father, son is not son" is also. In the end, the Jin people attacked Tokyo and swept the Zhao and Song royal families to the north, leaving only the Kang King Zhao Zhao, a fish that slipped through the net, and finally, with the support of a group of old ministers, ascended to the throne and established the Southern Song Dynasty.
Above_Song Gaozong's hand edict Yue Fei's "Edict of Resurrection" (Sacred Will) on paper in the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei
Emperor Gaozong of Song (1107–1187)
The origin of the Zen phenomenon during this period of the Southern Song Dynasty.
First, Gaozong Zen Rang
After Emperor Gaozong of Song ascended the throne, the capital was Lin'an. Of course, we are all familiar with the situation at this time, so we will not repeat it all. After reaching a collegial agreement with the Jin people, the two countries also got along without incident and enjoyed a period of peaceful life. It was only qin juniper in the imperial court who single-handedly covered the sky, repelled dissidents, and made the entire court a miasma.
We often say that this period was divided into two factions, namely, the main war faction and the main peace faction.
At that time, the mainstream policy of the imperial court was a passive defensive policy, that is, the lord and the peace, not only did people not offend me, I did not offend people; and if people offended me, I also smiled and greeted me, and cut off the land to pay compensation. In fact, there is a very profound truth, that is, "war is used to stop war", and the so-called "peace by compromise is peaceful death; peace by war is peaceful survival". Unfortunately, the lords and factions at that time only coveted their own selfish interests and simply ignored this truth.
In June of the thirty-second year of Shaoxing (1162), after 36 years as emperor, Emperor Gaozong of Song felt tired, so he ceded the throne to his adopted son Zhao Xuan of Song on the grounds of "tiredness". In fact, at this time, Zhao Zhuo was still young and powerful, because he lived for another twenty-five years after he ascended the throne, and he did not die until 1187 at the age of 81, which was enough to be in the top five in Chinese history.
Above_Song Xiaozong Zhao Xuan's "Chishang Poetry Fan"
Song Xiaozong, Zhao Xuan (shèn, 27 November 1127 – 28 June 1194)
Second, filial piety Zen Rang
If the Southern Song Dynasty still had a Ming Jun, then this Zhao Yun was a good emperor. After he ascended the throne, he rehabilitated Yue Fei, actively appointed people from the main war faction, and was determined to restore the Central Plains. In the field of people's livelihood, they have also made considerable achievements, rectifying the administration of officials, laying off redundant officials, and cracking down on corruption; in the field of people's livelihood, they attach importance to agricultural production and lightly dispense with thin endowments, so that the people can become rich and healthy, which is known in history as "the rule of qianchun." Later generations spoke highly of him, saying that "Zhuo Ran was the head of the Emperors of Nandu".
Zhao Yun was of course an active and promising emperor, and during his tenure he launched the "Longxing Northern Expedition", but unfortunately failed. In fact, the reason is also very complicated, due to the death of a group of veterans, there are almost no available generals at this time, so failure is inevitable. No wonder later generations concluded: "Emperor Gaozong's dynasty has restored ministers, but no restored kings." Emperor Xiaozong had restored kings, but no restored subjects. After the defeat, Zhao Yun gradually turned to internal affairs and no longer used troops to the outside world, but the domestic economy during this period still reached a very prosperous level.
In 1187, Zhao Died. After hearing the news, Emperor Xiaozong wept silently and failed to eat for two consecutive days. In order to express his grief, he said that he would serve for three years of mourning, during which time he let the crown prince Zhao Huan participate in the political affairs. Two years later Zen was located in Zhao, for Song Guangzong. In 1194, Zhao Yun died at the age of sixty-eight.
Above_Song Guangzong Zhao Wei's "Five Words Liantuan Fan"
Zhao Huan (1147 – September 1200), also known as Emperor Guangzong of Song
Third, Guangzong Zen Rang
Speaking of this Guangzong Emperor, his life can be described as lackluster and almost nothing to say. He reigned for five years, at the age of 54, and did little major work.
Speaking of this Zhao Wei, it is really pitiful, and he became seriously ill at a young age, sometimes good and bad. And even more tragic is that he has a restless empress Li Fengniang. This Li Hou is not a good stubble, jealous by nature, not to mention, but also very keen on power. Therefore, Zhao Wei was seriously ill, and it can be said that he was right in his arms, so that he could interfere in political affairs. Therefore, she tried her best to gain benefits for her mother's family, and crowned many people as kings, which had the style of Empress Lü, but she did not have the same power schemes as Lü Hou, and at best she was a woman with excessive lust.
Due to Guangzong's cowardly nature, coupled with Li Hou's bullying, Guangzong was depressed all day, and his illness became much heavier, and he gradually became crazy and began to kill innocents indiscriminately, so that everyone in the group of courtiers endangered themselves and could no longer tolerate this situation.
In July of the fifth year of Shao Xi (1194), the ministers Zhao Ruyu and Han Nongxu, with the support of Empress Dowager Wu, supported the throne of Zhao Kuo the Prince of Jia, in favor of Emperor Ningzong of Song. However, in this matter, Guangzong was obviously in the dark, so he was extremely reluctant to move into the palace where the Emperor Taishang lived. But there was nothing to do, the wood had become a boat.
Since then, Guangzong's condition has become more and more serious. In the sixth year of Qingyuan (1200), Guangzong died at the age of 54, which may be a relief for him, because the Power of the Southern Song Dynasty after that, the power of the Southern Song Dynasty, the rivers and rivers declined.
Above_Map of the Southern Song Dynasty
When we look back at this phenomenon of Zen concession in the Southern Song Dynasty, some of them are Zen concessions for the sake of throwing pots, some are Zen concessions because of fatigue, and some are forced to make concessions.
In any case, Zen Rang was not a case in the Southern Song Dynasty, but had become a cultural phenomenon. This is unique in Chinese history, which is the unique temperament of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Text: Mr. Lu li
Reference: History of the Song Dynasty
The text was created by the History University Hall team, and the picture originated from the Internet and the copyright belongs to the original author