Recently, when writing an article about Sheng Xuanhuai, a red-top merchant in the late Qing Dynasty, a reader said: "Sheng Xuanhuai is still the first owner of the Diaoyu Islands. ”
The reader didn't say anything. As early as the 1980s, there was a rumor that Empress Dowager Cixi would reward Sheng Xuanhuai with three small islands, including diaoyu Islands. If Empress Dowager Cixi really did this, then Sheng Xuanhuai would really be the first owner of the Diaoyu Islands.
The question is, is this really the case?
Let's first look at the causes and consequences of this rumor.
In 1972, a woman named Xu Yi claimed to be Sheng Yuzhen, the daughter of Sheng Enyi. Sheng Enyi, known as Sheng Laosi, was the fourth son of Sheng Xuanhuai. Sheng Xuanhuai loved Sheng Enyi the most before he died. Under the favor of his father, Sheng Enyi finally became a playboy who became famous in Shanghai. Xu Yi said that when Sheng Enyi studied in the United States, he had an affair with an American woman, leaving her. She was adopted as a daughter by the Republic of China diplomat Xu Shuxi, so she changed her name to Xu Yi.
It doesn't matter who Xu Yi is the daughter. Importantly, she took out a copy of the "Cixi Oracle", saying that because Sheng Xuanhuai had cured Empress Dowager Cixi's rheumatism by supervising the rheumatic medicine produced by Guangrentang. Empress Dowager Cixi was very happy and rewarded Sheng Xuanhuai with Diaoyutai, Huangwei island, and Chiyu Island. Why the Diaoyu Islands? Because the sea hibiscus produced on the Diaoyu Island is the most important medicine in the rheumatic special medicine.
The piece of paper of the "Cixi Oracle" has turned yellow and the edges are slightly broken, indicating that it is some years old. The content is as follows:
"Empress Dowager Ci: Taichang Temple Zhengqing Sheng Xuanhuai into the pills, very effective test, according to the play of raw materials, from Taiwan overseas Diaoyutai island, the elixir is produced in the sea, the effect is special in Middle-earth, knowing that the Qing family set up a pharmacy, medical treatment, relief of poor diseases, special praise, that is, the Diaoyutai, Huangwei Island, Chiyu Island three small islands to Sheng Xuanhuai as an industry, for the use of medicine, its deep body Empress Dowager and Emperor Rendepu were favored. Thanks. Guangxu nineteenth year in October. ”
As if to show the authenticity of the "Cixi Handbook", two seals are also printed on it. One is the "Imperial Reward" and the other is the "Treasure of Empress Dowager Cixi".
Xu Yi also showed a letter written to him by his father, Sheng Enyi, in 1960, which read:
"There are three small islands off the coast of Taiwan, namely Diaoyutai, Huangwei Island, and Chiyu Island, all of which are deserted islands, which are found in the account of zhao Wenkaijie, an envoy to the Ryukyu Ryukyu. These three small islands, although they are desert islands, are rich in medicinal herbs, and when my family was prosperous, there were Guangren Halls in Yantai, Shanghai and Chang, and they were well-known for their diagnosis and administration. The Emperor gave these three islands to Emperor Ruzong as a medicine, and the edict was in my home, which was also my family's property. There is also a picture in the house that says, I send Ru, hoping that Ru can try to go and have a look. ”
The "Cixi Oracle" presented by Xu Yi set off an uproar at home and abroad. However, both the "Cixi Oracle" and Sheng Enyi's letters were forged.
First of all, let's look at Sheng Enyi's letter, the forgery is the most obvious. The reason is simple, as early as 1958, Sheng Enyi died of poverty and illness in the gatehouse of suzhou lingering garden. How could he possibly write to Xu Yi in two years?
Second, let's look at the so-called "Cixi Oracle." We know that Sheng Xuanhuai was indeed very favored by Empress Dowager Cixi, whom she called "an indispensable person", and in 1905 received a special gift of riding a horse in the Forbidden City. However, this "Cixi Oracle" was not forged enough to be careless enough, and it actually mistook Sheng Xuanhuai's official position. Sheng Xuanhuai never held the position of "Taichang Temple Zhengqing" until the twenty-second year of Guangxu (1896), when he was awarded the title of Shaoqing of Taichang Temple. In the nineteenth year of Guangxu (1893), Sheng Xuanhuai was still serving as the inspector of the Customs Department of Zhilijin and the customs of Zhilijin.
How could the grandiose "Cixi Handbook" possibly misrepresent Sheng Xuanhuai's resume and official position?
Third, the book "Xiankao Xingsun Fujun (Sheng Xuanhuai)" written by Sheng Wenyi, Sheng Boyi, Sheng Enyi, and other descendants of Zha ShengXuanhuai recorded in more detail the events of Sheng Xuanhuai's summons by Empress Dowager Cixi and the Guangxu Emperor, and even recorded in great detail that Empress Dowager Cixi rewarded the blessings of the characters pitou, rao, and meat, but did not say a word about "Diaoyu Island". If Empress Dowager Cixi really rewarded Sheng Xuanhuai with the Diaoyu Islands, how could Sheng Xuanhuai not mention a word?
In fact, Sheng Xuanhuai's family also firmly denied this matter.
In 2000, Song Luxia, a writer of literature and history who had written "Sheng Xuanhuai Family", was in Tokyo to consult Sheng Enyi's eldest son, Mr. Sheng Yuyou, on this matter. Sheng Yuyou said flatly:
"None of us know her (Xu Yi) and have never heard of any family heirloom 'Cixi Oracle.'" However, if my family really had such a 'Cixi Hand', no matter who passed it on to her, it would never reach her. I am the eldest at home, and I don't hide anything from me about everything in the family, so I've never heard of such a thing. I am not a historian on the authenticity of the 'Cixi Oracle', so I cannot express my opinion, but I have never heard of it before, nor have I seen it. As for the so-called letter from my father to her, it was indeed a fake! ”
Conclusion: The so-called fact that Sheng Xuanhuai was the first owner of the Diaoyu Islands is pure fiction.
[References: Draft History of the Qing Dynasty, Sheng Xuanhuai Family, etc.]