Introduction: "The King of Qin swept Liuhe, and the tiger looked at He Xiongya!" Swinging his sword to break the clouds, the princes came to the west. The poet Li Bai said in just a few sentences that qin shi huang's martial arts were exhausted, and after qin shi huang died, he was shocked and customary. Unexpectedly, just a few years later, Qin collapsed and Chu died, and Liu Bang, who was only three years younger than Qin Shi Huang, held a three-foot sword and qing Huan Hai, and started a business for four hundred years. Compared with the long-lived Han Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty was like a strong young man who died of a violent illness, which was particularly lamentable!
The Cambridge History of the Qin and Han Dynasties in China has a section entitled "The Causes of the Collapse", which summarizes the five reasons for the qin's death: first, brutality and exploitation; second, Qin Shi Huang and the second emperor were unwilling to accept advice, and the children were weak; third, they failed to learn the lessons of history; fourth, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang revolted; and fifth, they were good and happy. And other than that, is there any other reason?
Look at the end of the world from the prosperous world
Over the years, the author has focused on the rise and fall of China's dynasties, comprehensively sorted out the 43 prosperous dynasties in history (including Zhishi and ZTE), focused on exploring 15 ZTE, and analyzed the 70 years of the founding of more than ten longevity dynasties and the last 10 years of 12 dynasties. Looking at this series, there is a word that gradually emerges and becomes clear, which is "gorgeous turn".
"Gorgeous turn" is a modern word that refers to the transformation from one social role and image to another social role and image. "Turning" means change, while "gorgeous" emphasizes that change and change is in the direction of positive, good, public acceptance, or expectation. "Gorgeous" extends to the political field, that is, the so-called "enlightened imperial way" of the ancients and the so-called "civilized governance" of modern times. For an emperor, that's the key.
Few dynastic regimes in history have come from peace. After the seizure of power, the actions were divided into the superior and inferior rulers. Therefore, I think that reading history is like looking at the lotus, not to dwell on how muddy the origin of the new regime is, but to focus on whether it is timely and gorgeous. Some emperors quickly turned around gorgeously and tried to say goodbye to violence, even if they did not form a prosperous world at that time, they also laid a good foundation for the dynasty, and entered the prosperous world after two or three generations. More emperors refused to turn around, one by one, and the dynasty could not persist for generations without dying in their own hands.
Emperor Liu Xiu of Han Guangwu, Sima Yan of Emperor Wu of Jin, Xiao Yan of Emperor Wu of Liangwu, Yang Jian of Emperor Wen of Sui, Zhao Kuangyin of Song Taizu, and Zhu Yuanzhang, Emperor Of Ming, were all prosperous when the country was founded. Zhou Chengwang Jixuan, Song Wendi Liu Yilong, Qiwu Emperor Xiao Zhao, Tang Taizong Li Shimin, Later Tang Mingzong Li Siyuan, Qing Shengzu Xuanye (Kangxi), etc., the second and third generations also created a prosperous era. The so-called "Zhongxing", the Southern Song Dynasty Wang Guanguo evaluated as "the decline of the king's road and the ability to revive", from the predecessors to receive the "king's road decline" of the foundation, and it is too late not to turn around gorgeously.
Fat and proficient in the Language of the Nine Flies, An Lushan danced a huxuan dance and walked like a fly
The "Kaiyuan Prosperous Era" was like a day in the sky, but at this time, the "Anshi Rebellion" broke out. According to the analysis of the Japanese Kodansha "History of China": "The Anshi Rebellion fundamentally shook the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's rule, leaving the Tang Dynasty in a crisis situation on the verge of extinction, but unconsciously, the Tang Dynasty stabilized its position and even continued the lifeline of a century and a half."
The reason for this should be said to be related to the strong resilience of the flexible structure contained within the Tang Dynasty. This "strong tenacity" contained in the flexible structure within the dynasty is the crystallization of the prosperous world. With this "strong tenacity", the Tang Dynasty was able to withstand unexpected blows. Although Qin unified China rapidly, because it did not have "strong toughness", it seemed incomparably hard, but it was actually very brittle, and it would break when it was hit. The strength of resilience, or the length of the period of prosperity and stable development, determines the length of a dynasty's lifespan.
From tyrant to ming
Simply labeling a character is easy to blind.
In the face of the situation of the Spring and Autumn Warring States, many people of insight stepped forward, and the so-called sons and hundreds of families were actively seeking a way to rescue, but most of them failed. Qin Shi Huang cleaned up such a big mess, it should be said that he had done a great job.
Qin Shi Huang read the recital day and night
After reunification, Qin Shi Huang still exerted great efforts to govern. The "Chronicle of History" says: "The affairs of the world are decided by the lord. Up to the weighing stone book, day and night, not in the middle of the presentation can not rest. "At that time, the document was engraved on a bamboo jane, and a stone was about 30 kilograms in modern times. Although it is difficult for us to imagine how many pages of A4 paper are equivalent to today, it will certainly not be easy to read.
The Chronicle of Major Events in Chinese History records the main deeds of the First Emperor: in 221 BC, he unified the Six Kingdoms, fixed the official system, changed the county system, unified weights and measures, collected folk weapons and cast musical instruments, toured the west in 220 BC, built Chi Dao, in 219 BC toured the East to seal Zen and chisel the Ling Canal, in 216 BC checked tian mu, in 215 BC cut down the Xiongnu, in 214 BC attacked South Vietnam and built the Great Wall. Bai Yang "did not sing praises for the kings, but only spoke for the people of Cangsheng", but made an exception and praised Qin Shi Huang for "doing almost more than most of the emperors in the next two thousand years combined".
But this series of events is really unbearable for a country that has just been unified after hundreds of years of war. The history books describe the time when "ochre clothes blocked the road, and the prison became a city", which was unbearable to see. If it is said that the destruction of the Xiongnu, the attack on South Vietnam, and the construction of the Great Wall are out of helplessness, then the construction of palaces and Lishan tombs can be postponed, right? Things that exceed actual capabilities are inevitably enforced by violence. The worst is the "book burning pit Confucianism", although there is a lot of controversy about "pit Confucianism", but as the Cambridge History of China and the Qin and Han Dynasties says, "it caused the literati of later generations to have a lasting antipathy to the Qin Empire".
Qin Shi Huang burned books
However, Qin Shi Huang obviously also had a gorgeous turn. He believes that "the whole world fights endlessly to have a prince", so he dug out the root of the scuffle between the princes from the system. Unified weights and measures and the chiseling of spiritual canals are related to the economy and people's livelihood, and the collection of weapons and casting musical instruments is of great symbolic significance. Delve into the history and find some intriguing details. Qin Shi Huang hired 70 scholars and awarded him the official title of "Doctor"; he also recruited more than 2,000 students for the doctorate, called "Zhusheng", and "gave great respect". This "Bo" and "Zhu" show that there is no uniqueness.
In 2002, Qin Jian unearthed in Longshan Liye, Hunan Province, recorded that 12 criminal men who were transferred to serve in the military in 214 BC had a daily salary of 8 yuan, and the remaining 6 yuan in addition to food expenses could be added. A day's income can deduct 3/4 of the food cost, which is not cruel. In 215 BC, during the Northern Tour, Qin Shi Huang ordered Li Si to write the "Jieshi Men's Words", which contains the sentence "Men enjoy their domains, women cultivate their professions, and things are in order." Even if this is not a realistic portrayal, it at least shows that Qin Shi Huang had such an ideal, which does not contradict what Confucianism pursued. It can be seen that Qin Shi Huang did not want to turn around gorgeously, but he did not turn successfully, or did not have time to turn successfully, and he was labeled as a "tyrant".
From benefactor to enemy
Until the death of Qin Shi Huang, the situation in the Qin Dynasty looked more stable than when many regimes had changed since then. In the first half of 210 BC, Qin Shi Huang toured east to Yunmeng to worship Yu Shun, to Huiji Mountain to worship Dayu, looking at the southern battlefield, and perhaps wanted to continue to go south. However, as Montesquieu said, "This stability is not too peaceful, it is just silence.".
Compared with the barbaric book burning, pit Confucianism is debatable. The picture shows the alchemist fooling Qin Shi Huang
At this moment, Qin Shi Huang fell ill, and the situation also fell like a mountain. The grand duke Fu Su had openly defended Confucianism and was expelled by Qin Shi Huang to the border overseers, which was a fatal mistake made by Qin Shi Huang. However, on the eve of his death, Qin Shi Huang's will and testament to help Su take over show that he still has the heart to turn around. Not wanting this important moment to have an accident, there was a grudge between the chancellor Zhao Gao and the general Meng Tian, so Zhao Gao tampered with the edict and gave Su and Meng Tian the death, and let another prince, Hu Hai, succeed to the throne. At this point, the situation is not the worst. Hu Hai studied law with Zhao Gao when he was young, and he was 23 years old. At this time, there was still a full year before Chen Sheng unveiled the pole, and Liu Bang's army was even more after him, and Hu Hai still had time to turn around gorgeously. The problem is that Hu Hai has no such heart at all.
Here, let's not criticize Zhao Gao, Li Si and the like, because there are evil people at any time; we should not complain that the restoration of the Descendants of the Six Kingdoms has given you more than ten years, why can't they still be "satisfied"? If Chen Sheng hadn't taken the lead, how could they have resisted? The key is that Hu Hai, the unworthy son, recognizes the thief as his father, covets pleasure, and acts like a puppet at the mercy of the wicked, and makes a mistake to the end.
While the rebel army was breaking through the bamboo and burning its eyebrows, Hu Hai, Zhao Gao, Li Si and the like were still there. It wasn't until Zhao Gao killed Li Si that Hu Hai realized the danger and angrily rebuked Zhao Gao. Zhao Gao was frightened and forced Hu Hai to commit suicide and support his nephew and baby. The child is not a fool, Zhao Gao sent someone to invite the child to receive the seal to take the throne, and the child called the disease. Zhao Gaoxin believed it to be true, went to visit, and was killed as soon as he entered the door.
"The Legend of Chu Han" sub-baby sacrifice
Babies may be extraordinary, but it's too late. On the 46th day of succession, Liu Bang's army entered Xianyang. The baby did not want to bother the people any longer, gave up resistance, and surrendered to Liu Bang. The mighty Qin Empire existed for only 15 years.
In the final analysis, we still have to pursue Qin Shi Huang. Because he failed to turn around in time, although he did a lot of big things, he lost everyone's heart. Think about the later Northern Wei Wencheng Emperor Tuoba Mao was only 12 years old when he was emperor, how much wisdom and courage could he have, or did he rely on the right and left ministers? However, when Qin Shi Huang's testament was tampered with, why did no one else stand up to stop Zhao Gao and Li Si?
Hu Hai entertained himself to death and continued to expropriate the tyrannical Repair Afang Palace, and mistook the increasingly fierce uprisings in various places for rats and dogs. It was not until the flames of the war reached the waters only 30 kilometers from Xianyang that Hu Hai woke up like a dream, hurriedly pardoned hundreds of thousands of prisoners who repaired the tombs in Lishan Mountain, issued weapons, and encouraged them to fight to the death. Before this, what did so many civilian and military generals do? Don't forget, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were mostly peasants without armed training, and the officers and soldiers swept through the Central Plains more than a decade ago.
From polyline to ray
If the history of the Qin Dynasty is depicted with lines, the polyline is the most vivid, the rising line is 11 years, the downward line is 4 years, and after the soaring, it falls like a jumping building, like a steel bar suddenly broken.
Sui Dynasty Emperor Parade Map
The Sui Dynasty was similar, but different. In 581, Yang Jian was "zen concessions" by the Jing Emperor of Northern Zhou, and in 589 he ended the chaos of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and then turned around gorgeously and created the "Rule of the Kai Emperor". In 604, Yang Jian died, and his son Yang Guang succeeded to the throne, although it was said that his father usurped power, but it did not affect the overall stability. Yang Guang completed the development of the Grand Canal, improved the imperial examination system, expanded the territory, and smoothed the "Silk Road", and until 609, there was still a scene of ascension and peace. But then a sudden change occurred, especially the Three Expeditions to Goryeo fell into the quagmire, God made it worse, Shandong and Henan were seriously flooded, and rebellions were carried out everywhere, and there were more than 200 rebel organizations confirmed by the literature alone, and the officers and troops could not cope with it at all, until they were replaced by Tang in 618. This shows that it is not enough to have only one ornate founding emperor who turned around gorgeously.
Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty once defended himself: "The Han family was created in the beginning, and the four Yi invaded China, and the system could not be changed in future generations." In fact, which country or dynasty in history was not "founded"? Moreover, as Fan Zhongyan said: "The government of all generations has had drawbacks for a long time, and if there are disadvantages but not saved, disasters will arise." "Even in the prosperous world, there are more or less hidden problems. Therefore, even if the opening turn is gorgeous enough, it cannot be done once and for all, and it still needs one gorgeous turn after another to form a "strong resilience" that can withstand various unexpected blows.
The Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties were very different from the Qin and Sui dynasties. In the early Tang Dynasty, there were "the rule of Zhenguan", "the rule of Yonghui", "the rule of Wuzhou" and "the prosperity of Kaiyuan", just like a section of rockets boosting satellites into space, which developed for more than 130 years in one go. After the "Anshi Rebellion", there were successively "Yuanhe Zhongxing", "Huichang Zhongxing" and "Great Zhongxing", which lasted for more than 150 years. The Ming Dynasty is similar to this, in the early period, there were three major prosperities of "Hongwu Zhizhi", "Yongle Zhizhi" and "Renxuan Zhizhi", and in the later period, it continued for more than 150 years because of "Hongzhi Zhongxing", "Longqing Zhizhi" and "Wanli Zhongxing".
Stills of the Sui Dynasty Emperor
If you depict their historical trajectory, a prosperous world is a peak, and the entire dynasty has several peaks. The highs of these peaks are connected by curves to form a roughly rising arc. If the center of the ellipse is placed at the origin of a coordinate system, the ascending arc of the dynasty resembles the arc in the second quadrant. Longevity dynasties are like the arcs of the second quadrant of the horizontal ellipse, and shorter dynasties are like the arcs of the second quadrant of the vertical ellipse—they are by no means polylines with only one high point, straight down after the rush.
Tan Baoxin said that historically China's boundaries were "as big and small as the French accordion", in fact, other countries are the same. In the historical jungles of Eurasia, except for the great trees of the ancient Egyptian, Western and Eastern Roman, Ottoman and Han and Tang dynasties, most regimes were shrubs or grasses. It was different after World War II. Through profound introspection, mankind has established a series of international order and civilized norms. From then on, the powerful can no longer destroy a poor and weak country at will.
It is based on this that the author imagines that the historical trajectory of a country in the future can be expected to change from an oval to a "ray". Rays are characterized by only one endpoint and one direction, and second, they are not measurable. In the era of overall peace in the world, as long as we maintain our ruling determination and constantly reform and forge ahead, we can hope that the history of the country will develop indefinitely and sustainably in one direction.
(Excerpted from the prologue of "The Seasons of History: Reading the Ming Dynasty of History", this article was published in the Central Party School "Learning Times" on February 5, 2018, the original title was "The Strong and Tough Qin Dynasty - Lessons from the Death of Qin Dynasty II", slightly changed)
Feng Minfei is the author of Huaxia Publishing House in October 2019
The Seasons of History: Reading History
The 70-year historical node of the founding of China's 14 long-lived dynasties
perform slice analysis,
Read Shi Mingshi
It is this kind of historical long lens, longitudinal slice observation and analysis of the natural conclusion of Chinese history.
The author Feng Minfei is right
Grim reflections on the complexity of history
Right
Ancient Chinese politics rose and fell
and
The contemplation and discernment of the shortcomings of traditional culture
It is interesting and thought-provoking, and feels the vicissitudes and charm of history in the witty words and alternative paths:
Confucius's cage ranged from version 1.0 to version 4.0, the strong and tough Qin Dynasty
，
There are many and few hermits
What should be added to Wu Zetian's wordless stele? "The benevolence of the woman" and the "benevolence of the lord", the emperor was favored by the later Confucians, the more bad, the "trade war" in history
"Wait, everywhere in the golden urn, there is a wind flow.