In one of the comedian Zhou Xingchi's early films "Nine Pin Sesame Officials", there was such a classic picture: When Bao Longxing, the inspector of the Eight Provinces played by Zhou Xingchi, took out the ancestral Shangfang Sword to kill Chang wei for Tianxingdao, he was suddenly asked by Chang Wei's grandfather Li Gonggong which emperor gave the sword, at this time he stood up and proudly said: Former Emperor ...
Audiences who have watched this classic comedy movie may know that although Bao Longxing failed to take the sword of the former dynasty to behead the officials of the dynasty, he finally let Chang Wei show his flaws with wisdom and behead him under the tiger's head.
As a classic section of this comedy film, director Wang Jing brings laughter to the audience at the same time, but also some people leave doubts, that is, about the sword given by the emperor.
In the history of our country, the emperor's imperial gifts were generally used as highly utilitarian items such as money, beautiful women, and farmhouses to show the reward for meritorious subjects. But when it comes to giving swords, this kind of behavior is really not very common in history, as a symbol of power and ambition, the sword refers to a new battlefield, whoever holds the sword is the king. So to me personally, giving the sword seems more like a unique coronation ceremony.
In the "Record of Ancient and Modern Swords" compiled by Tao Hongjing of the Southern Dynasty, there are many plots of sword-giving, and today we want to discuss one of them - Liu Bei's sword.
The original book records the following:
Liu Bei, the lord of Shu, used Zhang Wu's first year to mint eight swords of jinniu mountain iron, each three feet and six inches long. One with Prince Chan, one with Wang Li of Liang, one with Wang Yong of Lu, one with Zhuge Liang, one with Guan Yu, one with Zhang Fei, one with Zhao Yun. And is a bright book, all style corner place, there is a command.
When I saw this record of Tao Hongjing, the author actually held a skeptical attitude, such a significant sword-giving ceremony, the entire "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" did not mention a word, and the famous book "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" compiled by Ming Ren Luo Guanzhong did not have such a plot description, obviously there was a pinch of merit.
Today we will talk about the authenticity of "Liu Bei's sword".
First of all, let's focus on the special meaning of the "First Year of Zhang Wu". As Liu Bei's first year of ascending the throne to take charge of the Shu Han regime, when he became Emperor Zhaolie, he naturally would not forget to crown the heroes who accompanied him in the southern conquest and northern warfare over the years. Therefore, for the matter of ascending the throne, the historical books will make a record even if it is a stroke, but there is no such thing as Liu Bei's sword.
To this end, I went through all the records of Zhang Wu's first year of the Three Kingdoms Chronicle of Shu Zhi and Liu Bei:
In the summer of April of the first year of Zhang Wu's first year, there was a general amnesty and a change of year. With Zhuge Liang as the chancellor and Xu Jing as the situ. Set up a hundred officials, establish a temple, and sacrifice to the emperor below. In May, Empress Wu was made empress dowager, and ZiChan was made crown prince. In June, ZiYong was made the King of Lu and Li the King of Liang. The cheri general Zhang Fei was victimized by his left and right. At the beginning, the first lord attacked Guan Yu with sun quan, and the eastern expedition, autumn and July, then commanded the various armies to cut down Wu. Sun Quan sent a letter to ask for peace, but the first lord was angry and did not allow it, and Wu sent envoys to Wu Yi, Li Yi, Liu A, and other Tun Wu and Zi Gui; the generals Wu Ban and Feng Xi Zi Wu attacked the aliens, and the military returned, and the Wuling Wuxi Barbarians sent envoys to ask for troops.
Throughout the book, there are all kinds of ceremonies such as amnesty, canonization, grace, etc., but there is no mention of this sword-giving. Could it be that Chen Shou forgot? Or does it not exist at all?
On the other hand, in Chen Shou's other book, "Wei Benji", it is also recorded that the sword is given: entering the knighthood, giving the sword, adding nine tin, and Zen position. Such a seemingly inconsistent writing style really makes posterity feel that "Liu Bei's sword" is suspected of fabrication.
Secondly, it was these people who were given the title that attracted the author's attention, and it was normal for them to keep one for themselves as a symbol of power; one for each of the three sons, showing the power of the royal family; the military master Zhuge Liang, who highlighted his ability to give advice and guidance to the jiangshan; Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, after all, were brothers who worshiped the master and shared the blessings; and Zhao Yun, who had followed Liu Bei in his early years and worked for more than ten years, had one to show his loyalty. At first glance, there is nothing wrong with it, it is reasonable, but when you think about it carefully, you are extremely afraid, and listen to the author's analysis.
First, why did Liu Bei give the deceased a sword? Viewers who have watched the Three Kingdoms series may know that a year before Liu Bei became emperor, Guan Yu had already defeated Maicheng and was brutally killed. He Liu Bei gave a sword to the dead Guan Yu, and asked the remaining two Five Tiger Generals Huang Zhong and Ma Chao to think? Xi Liangma was not senior enough, and was often guarded by Liu Bei, he could not get a sword but it was understandable; the 70-year-old Huang Zhong defected to Liu Bei, bent on fighting the world with him, and his age and battle achievements were not bad, and that loyalty was even more visible to everyone, but Liu Bei was partial to give the sword to Guan Yu, which was indeed not a wise move to boost morale at that time.
Second, why didn't Liu Bei give the deceased a sword?
Maybe seeing this, some people can't help but ask: ''Give the deceased a sword for a while, and then don't give it for a while, what the hell is going on?' ''
If it is said that the sword of Guan Yu was given to the brothers of the sword, then how should Liu Feng, who was killed by Liu Bei, be explained? He was Liu Bei's first child (not his own child)! He also lived and died with Liu Bei all the way, and his merits were no worse than his remaining brothers, even in the feelings of father and son, for the matter of giving Liu Feng death, the ancestors also wept for it. But the next year, Liu Feng's name did not appear on the list of swords, was it really plastic father-son love between them? If this is really Liu Bei's behavior, it is indeed difficult for future generations to elusive, and it is not quite in line with his character.
Moreover, it is this controversial "Ancient and Modern Sword Record".
Historically, Guan, Zhang, Zhuge Liang, and Huang Zhong were all Shu generals, but in his book, Wu General's Record was included, although it is suspected that the biography mistakenly wrote the title of "Shu General Sword". However, other mistakes after that were even more numerous, Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao were both figures in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and should not be attached to Wei, nor should they be between Deng Ai and Guo Huai. Such a thing is written and questioned.
In addition, it is the excavation of the eight swords of the Shu lord in the book.
House Rong Yue: Tang Yiren Shangshulang Li Zhangwu's real name is Fang Gu, Zhenyuan Ji Nian, for Dongping Shuai, Li Shigu Judge Yin Lidi, digging a sword, there is a Zhang Wu character Fang.
The ancient "Naturalist Chronicle" Zhang Maoxian also knows: Shu Xiang Zhuge Kong Ming's sword also. It is renamed Shi Gu, for the song, please be Zhang Wuyan. One of the eight swords of the Gaishu Lord.
The original text is also a bit uncertain, but if you think about it, there are still some problems.
Liu Bei was the raw material for casting swords at that time, and in that era when the sword casting technology was mature, it was indeed not difficult to build a sword, but if he made a sword that had not been rusted for a hundred years, the difficulty coefficient was very high. Up to now, among the famous swords unearthed by archaeology, it seems that no iron sword figure has been found. Zhang Maoxian deduced that it was Zhuge Liang's sword based on Zhang Wu alone, which was too hasty and really needed to be examined.
From the full text, the story of Liu Bei's sword is only in Tao Hongjing's "Records of Ancient and Modern Swords", and many doubts show that he has deliberately fabricated elements, so to say why Liu Bei only gave Guan, Zhang, and Zhao three five tigers to give swords is actually untenable, and the author does not do much analysis.