As we all know, the emperor reached its peak in ancient feudal society. Most emperors took the turn of their princes after their deaths. However, many emperors still chose to abdicate in their later years, allowing princes to ascend the throne as emperors and become emperors themselves. So as the previous emperor, emperor Taishang is often the father of the current emperor, what power does he have? Will the Emperor still obey him?
Although the Han Dynasty had the principle of the Emperor Taishang before, the Han Dynasty was established. As we all know, Liu Bang's life experience is not high. After Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty as emperor, he still had great respect for his old father and paid tribute to him like an ordinary person.
Later, the person in charge of Liu Taigong's family affairs said to Taigong: There is only one sun in the sky, and there should not be two monarchs on the earth. Although the emperor is your son, he is also the monarch of the imperial court. According to the law, you should honor him as a monarch. How can a monarch see his courtiers? From someone else's point of view, this doesn't make sense. If this kind of thing continues, it is estimated that the emperor's majesty will be exhausted. Liu Taigong believes that this is reasonable and should be changed. After Liu Bang came to see him, he greeted him at the door and walked back with a respectful attitude. Liu Bang saw it and quickly got out of the car to help his father.
Later, after Liu Bang knew the reason, Liu Bang went back to reflect and decided to honor his father as emperor Taishang. Liu Taigong became the first Emperor Taishang in history. Before that, Liu Taigong was just a farmer, so even though he was honored as the Emperor Taishang, his self-designation was still me. It is also recorded in the "Records of History" that Liu Taigong said: "Why do I mess with the law of the world."
After that, this criterion became a common method of passing on the throne. Of course, the power of the too god is also related to how he became too god. For example, Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty was forced by Li Shimin to become a Tai God. Of course, he has no power. Of course, Li Yuan's life is still very good, and his old age is also very leisurely. Like Qianlong, he automatically became Emperor Taishang, but in fact, he still controlled the government. His emperor son was no different from a puppet emperor in his early days.
So at this time he called me again, that is, he was taboo, so he called himself me. But his descendants may have learned a lesson from it. In 712, Emperor Ruizong of Tang gave his son Li Longji(李隆基), who had contributed to the Dragon Coup, in the position of Emperor Li Chanzong. The Old Book of Tang records that the titles of Emperor Taishang and Emperor were automatically drafted: August Gengzi, the emperor was located in the crown prince, calling himself Emperor Taishang, who was once chao Taiji Hall on the fifth day, calling himself I... Every day, the emperor was subjected to the Wude Hall, claiming to be giving, and the three products had been granted and sentenced and ordered, and their handling was called systemic and wise. ”
At this time, the Emperor Taishang can call himself me. The emperor could only claim to be given, and could only decide on the judicial regime of officials below the level of three pins. Zuo only because at this time, the power of the Emperor Taishang surpassed that of the Emperor. But his son was also not Rusu, and in the second year of his life (713), Li Longji tried to regain the power that belonged to the emperor.
So he launched the first congenital coup d'état, killed the wings of the Emperor Taishang's side, seized all the power, and began to call me. But the Emperor Taishang claimed that my power had not been plundered, but still claimed to be myself. Every drink and peck had a fixed number, and then Li Long was forced to abdicate for the Anshi Rebellion, because at this time he did not rob his father of the right to call me. Becoming empress taishang, he also called himself me.
Historically, the dynasty with the most Taishang emperors was the Southern Song Dynasty, and even three consecutive emperors abdicated while they were alive and then let their successors ascend the throne, which was also related to the fragility of the Southern Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, which emphasized literature over military force, poor military talents led to the rule of the Southern Song Dynasty being often threatened, and no one could become the king of the country. Therefore, in order to throw the pot, they had to abdicate quickly, so that the next successor, becoming the Emperor Taishang, enjoyed his old age.
When they became Emperor Taishang, their self-proclaimed titles were basically "Yuan", and due to historical reasons, they also called themselves officials. But all equal to the emperor. However, the only exception was song Huizong's refusal to become the king of the subjugated country due to the Jing kang rebellion. In 1100 AD, he directly passed the throne to his son Song Qinzong and became the Emperor Taishang. Because of my ancestors, I didn't dare call me anymore, so I had to call myself old and decaying.
But later in the Ming and Qing dynasties, except for the long-term imprisonment of Emperor Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen, I don't know what he claimed to be. But after the Qianlong Emperor ascended the throne, he also called himself me. But speaking of which, Tang Ruizong abdicated as Emperor Taishang. Perhaps thanks to the rules that Tang Ruizong had originally formulated.