"Han Jia Jie Yu Tang Zhaorong, Gong Poetry can endow thousands of years of the same." Self-proclaimed talent is naïve, and does not obey the husband to win the woman. - Tang Lü Wen, "Song of Shangguan Zhaorong Library"
Tang Dynasty poet Lü Wo's "Song of Shangguan Zhaorong Shulou" uses concise language to express Shangguan Wan'er's historical status and literary genius, and also vaguely tells Shangguan Wan'er's inner world and life tragedies, which is a true portrayal of Shangguan Wan'er's wonderful and short life.
This strange woman, who was predicted in her womb to "weigh the world" in the future, once became the "prime minister" of the political and literary circles at that time in her short life of a few decades.
However, in the feudal society where male power is dominant, Shangguan Wan'er, whose heart is higher than the sky, can not escape the fate of life thinner than paper in the end. Shangguan Wan'er, what kind of a woman is she?
Surprised to see the tomb of Shangguan Wan'er
Located not far from Xi'an, Hongduyuan was once a high-grade burial area in Chang'an City during the Sui and Tang dynasties, where countless princes and nobles and relatives of the emperor and state were buried here.
In 2013, Xixian New Area Airport New City was preparing to build a road in the park, so according to the regulations, the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute was invited to conduct archaeological exploration of the roadbed of this road.
After exploration, the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute proved that under the roadbed, there is a large tomb. The tomb has a sloped tomb passage, 5 patios and a brick burial chamber, which should be a high-grade Tang Dynasty tomb.
Although it is impossible to judge which historical figure the tomb owner is for a while, the Tang tomb of this specification shows that the owner of the tomb must not be a lackluster person.
At the beginning of August, archaeological excavations officially began. After excavating the tomb passage and the patio, archaeologists found that the east and west walls of the tomb were painted with a layer of white mortar water, but no frescoes were found.
On the niches inside the tomb, more than 170 pottery figurines were found, but the size of these figurines was not large, there were not many types, and there were no paintings on the figurines, which was somewhat inconsistent with the regulations of the tomb. What's going on?
As excavations continued, it was found that the northern half of the tomb had been severely damaged, the vault and floor tiles of the Yongdao had been uncovered, the position of the coffin bed in the western part of the burial chamber had been completely bulldozed, and the coffin in the burial chamber and the remains of the tomb owner had disappeared.
From experience, archaeologists believe that the tomb was badly damaged, and this destruction is more like official action than that of tomb robbers, because most of the tomb robbers are only seeking wealth, and there is no reason to destroy the tomb in this way.
In the Tang Dynasty, official tomb destruction for political purposes occurred frequently, and after Xu Jingye's rebellion, Wu Zetian ordered the destruction of the tomb of Xu Jingye's grandfather Li Ji. Could it be that the owner of this tomb was also ordered by the emperor to destroy his tomb for some political reason?
Happily, archaeologists found a bluestone epitaph of the owner of the tomb in yongdao. As the first-hand material of the owner of the tomb, in general, the epitaph is more credible than the history books compiled by later generations.
This epitaph is made of bluestone, the height and width are about 75 centimeters, the sides are engraved with peony, honeysuckle, Rui beast and other patterns, and the top seal is engraved with nine characters of "Tang Dynasty Zhaorong Shangguan Ming". The main text of the epitaph is 982 words, recording important information such as the place of origin, lineage, life, and cause of death of the owner of the tomb.
The words "Tang Dynasty Zhaorong Shangguan Clan" allowed archaeologists to quickly determine the identity of the owner of the tomb - she was shangguan wan'er, the famous "prime minister of the Tang Dynasty".
From the daughter of a sinner to the ruler of the edict
Like many figures in history who have climbed to the pinnacle of power, Shangguan Wan'er also had a tragic childhood.
Because her grandfather Shangguan Yi was on the wrong side in politics, in 664, the Shangguan family was raided, her grandfather and father were killed, and the newborn Shangguan Wan'er, together with her mother Zheng, became the "official slave" of the imperial court.
The mother worked hard and pulled Shangguan Wan'er to grow up slowly.
Although he was a lowly official slave, the Zheng clan still tried every means to educate Wan'er. Because during her pregnancy, Zheng once dreamed that a giant gave her a scale and told her that the child in her belly could "weigh the world" in the future!
Zheng is also from a famous family, and after suffering great changes, she pinned her hopes for changing her fate on her daughter. Happily, Shangguan Wan'er was intelligent since childhood, had a talent that she never forgot, and was beautiful as a flower, which soon attracted the attention of Wu Zetian.
In the second year of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (677), Wu Zetian ordered the summoning of the 14-year-old Wan'er, who ordered her to write an article on the spot. Shangguan Wan'erwen did not add dots, used beautiful handwriting, and quickly wrote a smooth and beautiful article.
Wu Zetian was overjoyed, and immediately removed her slave status and put her in charge of the palace edicts. After that, Wu Zetian's edicts were mostly written by Shangguan Wan'er.
The imperial court proclamations of the Tang Dynasty were generally drafted by Hanlin scholars who were well read poetry. But Shangguan Wan'er, as a daughter, snatched this power from the hands of men, and her talent was evident.
Shangguan Wan'er's family was killed for opposing Wu Zetian, and in a sense, Wu Zetian was Shangguan Wan'er's enemy who did not share heaven.
However, judging from her later performances, Shangguan Wan'er not only had no hatred for Wu Zetian, but had great admiration for him, and was completely impressed by Wu Zetian's ingenuity and superhuman energy, and became Wu Zetian's "die-hard fan".
After being appreciated by Wu Zetian, Shangguan Wan'er took the opportunity to suggest that Wu Zetian set up a XiuwenGuan and recruited talents from all over the world, which was approved by Wu Zetian.
After the establishment of the Shubunkan, a large number of talented students were recruited, and various poetry competitions were frequently held in the museum.
The poems written by the talents were all evaluated by Shangguan Wan'er, and Wu Zetian was also a reward for the excellent works in them. Under the influence of Wan'er's participation, the poetic style of the Middle And Tang Court is changing towards the aesthetic direction of "God comes, Qi comes, and love comes".
Shangguan Wan'er, whose red apricots came out of the wall
In the first year of Tianzhi, Wu Zetian officially became an empress, and the status of the 26-year-old Shangguan Wan'er became more and more important.
Although the status is very high, as a woman, Wan Er also wants to have the same as ordinary women, some people hurt, some people love, have a colorful life, and become a veritable woman. But in Wu Zetian's eyes, Wan Er was just a political tool for her, and as for whether this tool needed feelings or not, she would not consider it at all.
As she grew older, Wan'er, who needed love to moisturize, finally came out of the wall with red apricots. Regarding the reason why Shangguan Wan'er's red apricot went out of the wall, the history books are unknown, but there are many legends in the folk.
Legend has it that after Wu Zetian's male favorite Xue Huaiyi fell out of favor, Princess Taiping gave her male favorite Zhang Changzong to her mother Wu Zetian. Zhang Changzong was extremely handsome and proficient in music, and he and his younger brother Zhang Yizhi soon became Wu Zetian's most beloved male favorite.
Since Zhang Changzong followed Wu Zetian's side every day, there were many opportunities to contact Shangguan Wan'er. Compared with the elderly Wu Zetian, Wan'er, who is in her youth, is obviously more feminine. One after another, the two developed feelings.
However, the good times did not last long, and the private affair between the two was soon discovered by Wu Zetian, and Wan Er also paid a price for it.
It is said that Wu Zetian once summoned Zhang Changzong and Wan Er to accompany him to dinner, but unexpectedly, during the meal, the two frequently secretly sent Qiu Bo in front of Wu Zetian, which angered Wu Zetian.
The Old Book of Tang also roughly records this incident: "Then when the heavens are in heaven, Wan'er's will is to be cursed, then the heavens will not kill him, but only his face." The Prehistory Book says that Wan'er "was condemned", referring to the fact that her private affair with Zhang Changzong was discovered by Wu Zetian.
An enraged Wu Zetian immediately ordered Wan'er to be locked up, and originally wanted to execute Wan'er, but later Wu Zetian considered that she still needed Wan'er to make orders for her, so he decided to punish Wan'er with "appeasement", that is, to engrave a mark on Wan'er's forehead, so that she would always accept the lesson and not deviate.
As for Zhang Changzong, Wu Zetian did not punish him much. Maybe Wu Zetian liked this male pet too much and was reluctant to do anything to him!
For Shangguan Wan'er, this incident was another major blow in her life. Since then, Shangguan Wan'er quickly adjusted her relationship with Wu Zetian and soon regained Wu Zetian's trust. In the first year of the Banzai Tongtian, Shangguan Wan'er once again "commanded the edict within", replacing Wu Zetian in handling the Hundred Divisions and participating in the management of government affairs.
There is a view in the historical circles that the ability and quality of the above official Wan'er, she and Zhang Changzong are at most a scene, not real love.
Because Zhang Changzong has almost no other strengths except for his relatively handsome appearance, it is unlikely that he will fall in love with this kind of man from Wan'er's point of view. Her interaction with Zhang Changzong is nothing more than an instinct between the sexes.
Wan'er's "lovers"
Shangguan Wan'er's first love was actually Li Xian, the crown prince who was deposed by Wu Zetian.
After becoming a female attendant of Wu Zetian, the teenage Wan'er served around Wu Zetian every day and also had the opportunity to contact the crown prince Li Xian.
At that time, Wan'er was in the adolescent stage of Huaichun, and she soon had an ignorant feeling for Li Xian, who was "tolerant and elegant". It's just that she herself knows that how can a family member of a sinner climb the "tall branch" of the prince?
According to historical records, Li Xian was handsome in appearance, dignified in demeanor, and quick in thinking, and was deeply loved by Li Zhi of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. After being made crown prince in the second year of the First Yuan Dynasty, he received unanimous support from both the government and the public, but was jealous of Wu Zetian.
Later, Li Xian was deposed by Wu Zetian on the charge of conspiracy to rebel and exiled to Bazhou.
In 684, Shangguan Wan'er went to Bazhou to visit Li Xian, heard that the prince had been killed, so he built a pavilion on the "Sunning Stone" where Li Xian had once turned over the scriptures next to the Mumen Temple, and gave a poem inscribed on the pavilion to remember Li Xian. With The death of Li Xian, Wan'er's first love has not yet begun, and it has to end.
In addition to Zhang Changzong, Shangguan Wan'er also had a lover, that is, Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi.
For this incident, there is a clear record in the official history: "Emperor Zhongzong Shangguan Zhaorong, named Wan'er... Emperor Zhongzong took the throne and made him a special ruler, and he was deeply trusted. He worshipped Zhaorong and named his mother Zheng Shi as Lady Peiguo. Wan Er had sexual immorality with Wu Sansi, and every time she made an edict, she mostly suppressed the royal family because of the matter. ”
The reason why Wan Er secretly tried to think twice about Wu was not clearly explained in the history books. In fact, if you think about it carefully, it can also be understood.
Although Shangguan Wan'er was trusted by Wu Zetian and her position was already stable, after all, she was only a woman, and she was at the center of the power vortex, and she had to leave a retreat for herself at all times.
Wu Sansi was in hot hands at the time, and taking the line of Wu Sansi was tantamount to adding insurance and chips to herself in the power struggle of the dispute.
The social atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty was relatively open, and even Wu Zetian and Princess Taiping had raised many male pets, and under the influence of this atmosphere, Wan Er could not keep her loneliness, nor was it incomprehensible.
As for why she chose Wu Sansi, it was among the men she often contacted, compared to Wu Youning and Wu Chengsi, Wu Sansi was at least good-looking, and he was also a bit of political talent, even if he was a "general in the box", so he could also understand.
The woman who "weighs the country"
On the tenth day of the first month of the first year of Emperor Zhongzong's shenlong, taking advantage of Wu Zetian's serious illness, Zhang Kamzhi and others launched a coup d'état, killing Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi's brothers, forcing Wu Zetian to pass the throne to the crown prince Li Xian, changing the yuan shenlong, and the Li family finally restored their control over the imperial power.
Li Xian was the third son of Wu Zetian and a man with a relatively cowardly personality.
After being put on the emperor's throne, his heart was both ecstatic and panicked. The joy is that he can finally get rid of Wu Zetian's obscenity from now on, and the panic is that he has no talent for governing the country at all, and it is difficult to provoke the burden of the emperor.
Confused, Li Xian reused three women: Empress Wei, her sister Princess Taiping, and the talented Shangguan Wan'er. Shangguan Wan'er served Wu Zetian for many years, handled the government with ease, and was the helper that Li Xian needed most.
In order to win wan'er over, Li Xian first made Wan'er a concubine of Sanpin, and soon promoted to Zhaorong, one of the nine concubines. Wan Er also became Li Xian's official woman and entered Li Xian's harem.
Li Xian had great trust in Shangguan Wan'er, and Wan'er gradually began her days of "weighing the country".
Wan Er was a wise man, and she knew that in order to retain her power, she must please and serve Empress Wei. Her means of flattery were also very peculiar, and she actually introduced Wu Sansi, who had been having an affair with her, to Empress Wei in person!
According to the Old Book of Tang and the Biography of Emperor Zhongzong Wei Shuren, "When Shi Zhongzhong Jinghui plotted to go to Zhuwu, Wu Sansi thought about it, but he married the Shangguan clan as a helper, and because he was fortunate enough to be behind, he sneaked into the palace to discuss." In this way, making friends with Empress Wei was also the meaning of Wu Sansi, so as soon as Shangguan Wan'er was introduced, the two hit it off, not only forming a physical relationship, but also forming a political alliance.
Wei Hou was a very ambitious woman who wanted to become the second Wu Zetian. After Shangguan Wan'er attached herself to Empress Wei, she often pushed Li in edicts, causing the crown prince Li Chongjun to be indignant.
Li Chongjun launched a coup d'état in July of the first year of shenlong, killing Wu Sansi and others, and wanted to capture Empress Wei and Shangguan Wan'er.
The coup was not well prepared, so it was quickly put down. Shangguan Wan'er, who escaped death, was more trusted by Li Xian and Empress Wei, and Li Xian even allowed Shangguan Wan'er to build a private house outside the palace and live outside the palace.
Since then, Wan'er's private life has become extremely indulgent. According to the New Book of Tang, "Wan'er and the near wall to the outer mansion of the camp, the evil man and the adulterous husband competed for the door, wantonly cunning, because he wantonly asked for a drama official." ”
The Zizhi Tongjian also records: "Shangguan Jieyu and the harem are more than a few places outside, and there is no restraint in and out, and the pilgrims often travel from it in order to reach it." "Shangguan Wan'er, who has suppressed half her life, finally has the opportunity to indulge, and a generation of talented women seems to have become synonymous with debauchery overnight.
In early June of the fourth year of Jinglong, Li Xian was poisoned by Empress Wei and Princess Anle, and Empress Wei ordered Shangguan Wan'er to draft a will. Wan'er then wrote in the edict according to Empress Wei's wishes that Li Chongmao should be made crown prince and that Empress Wei would be known for political affairs.
On 20 June, Princess Taiping and Early Li Longji staged a coup d'état, killing Empress Wei and Princess Anle and exterminating the Wei family. Li Longji's subordinate Liu Youqiu also led an army to surround Shangguan Wan'er's residence. Liu Youqiu was surprised to find that Wan Er was standing outside his own mansion waiting for him!
In the face of Liu Youqiu, Wan Er argued on the basis of reason, emphasizing that she had always been loyal to the Li Tang Dynasty and was definitely not a Weishi henchman. But Li Longji insisted that she was a member of The Webster's party, and without saying a word, he killed Shangguan Wan'er. The woman was only 47 years old when she died.
Soon after Wan'er's death, Li Longji took over the throne from his father Emperor Ruizong, and then in another political struggle to eliminate the power of Princess Taiping, that is, to become emperor, for Tang Xuanzong.
In the same year, Li Longji changed the era name to Kaiyuan, indicating his determination to work hard to create the great cause of the Tang Dynasty. From this time on, China's feudal society was about to usher in its most glorious era, and Shangguan Wan'er unfortunately died before the dawn of this era.
Who destroyed Wan'er's grave
Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph contains a key passage: "Princess Taiping mourned, gave 500 silk horses, sent envoys to offer sacrifices, and the words were silked." According to the analysis of the content of the epitaph, after Shangguan Wan'er's death, it was the Princess Taiping who played Tang Ruizong and paid for the burial of Shangguan Wan'er.
Why did Princess Taiping bury Shangguan Wan'er? First, the relationship between Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er is relatively close in peacetime, and their political views are also relatively consistent in peacetime, and Shangguan Wan'er has always been the object of Princess Taiping's solicitation.
Wan'er's death also made Princess Taiping have a sense of rabbit death and fox sorrow, and Princess Taiping buried Shangguan Wan'er generously, which also allowed those who had been promoted by Wan'er to have a good feeling for themselves, so that they could be used for themselves in the future.
Wan'er was buried on August 24, 1999, and her tomb was later destroyed by who ordered her. It is not clearly recorded in the history books. But experts have a more credible answer through their interpretation of some other evidence.
After the Taiping Princess was given, where she was buried, and according to what level she was buried, there is no record in history. Moreover, after the death of Princess Taiping, Emperor Xuanzong also ordered the destruction of the cemetery of the princess's husband, Wu Youji, in order to make Princess Taiping die without a place to bury.
As a member of the Taiping Princess's party, when Tang Xuanzong ordered the destruction of Wu Youji's cemetery, it was very likely that the tomb of Shangguan Wan'er would also be destroyed.
Archaeological excavations have found that Shangguan Wan'er's tomb has been subjected to large-scale man-made destruction, and experts have deduced that it is most likely Tang Xuanzong's work.
Although this is only an extrapolation, not a conclusion, it is still the most reasonable explanation at the moment. Before new evidence appeared, this was also a generally accepted inference in the field of historiography.
Shangguan Wan'er was born beautiful and extremely talented, and there were many sympathizers in the government and the public for her murder. Therefore, many years later, Li Longji still made certain concessions and agreed to compile Wan'er's poems into 20 volumes of the "Shangguan Zhaorong Collection", which allows people today to read the poems of this talented woman more than a thousand years ago.
Throughout Shangguan Wan'er's life, her natural beauty and talent are the capital on which she stands, and her stoic personality and indulgent lust constitute the two ends of her life. She has met many men in her life, including Li Xian, who is the first love, Li Xian, her legal husband, and lovers such as Zhang Changzong and Wu Sansi, and even some people say that even the prime ministers Cui Xiang and Li Yixiu are her guests.
But through superficial indulgence, we can see that Shangguan Wan'er's life has been struggling between the fate of the family and the authority of the king, and she has always wanted to find her activity stage and find her true self. She got it, and eventually lost it again.
Resources:
People's Daily News: "Shangguan Wan'er's Epitaph Subverts History, Marrying Father and Son, Two Emperors and Wu Sansi Fornication"
Li Yipeng Shangguan Wan'er: "On Shangguan Wan'er"
Li Ming: The Secret from the Tang Dynasty: An Archaeological Interpretation of shangguan wan'er's tomb