The five great tyrants in Chinese history were extremely cruel and cruel. The downfall of every emperor is their own fault, and if it were not for their debauchery and carelessness, how could anyone be willing to rebel?
Xia Wei
Xia Wei was the last monarch of the Xia Dynasty, and he was regarded as a tyrant by later generations for his brutal rule. According to the "Records of History", during Xia Wei's reign, political affairs were ignored, and a large number of Zhongliang were killed, and even the minister Guan Longfeng was killed with cannons. He also profligate, consuming the country's wealth, building Yaotai, and enjoying a luxurious life for the sake of the wine pond. During Xia's reign, the people were exhausted and the society was in turmoil.
Eventually, Shang Tang rebelled against Xia Wei's tyranny. After the defeat , Xia Wei regretted not trying to kill Xia Tai. After Xia died of illness, the Xia Dynasty fell and the Shang Dynasty was established. Later generations regarded Xia Wei, King Shang, and King Li of Zhou as synonymous with tyrants.
In addition, the "Records of History" also records that the Xiongnu were the state established by Xia Wei's son Chunwei Fleeing North, and called him the Miao descendant of the Xia Hou clan
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang was a famous tyrant in Chinese history, and his reign is considered one of the most controversial and brutal periods in history.
Book burning pit Confucianism
Qin Shi Huang adopted a policy of burning books to pit Confucianism, burning many classics and history books, killing many Confucianists, and seriously undermining the inheritance and development of ancient Chinese culture.
Large-scale requisition of migrant workers for construction projects
Qin Shi Huang built many large-scale projects, such as the construction of the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, and the Spirit Canal, and recruited a large number of migrant workers to build, which made the people's lives in difficulty.
Brutal suppression of dissent and resistance
Qin Shi Huang took brutal measures against dissent and rebellion, repeatedly massacring rebels and political dissidents, causing social unrest and popular resentment.
Desolate
Qin Shi Huang was obsessed with femininity and extravagant pleasures, and held many huge banquets and amusement activities, wasting the country's financial and human resources.
These tyrannical actions weakened Qin Shi Huang's rule and intensified social contradictions, which eventually led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty. Although Qin Shi Huang's political, cultural and institutional legacy has an important impact on the development of history and culture, his tyranny also reminds people of the sins and lessons of tyrants throughout history.
Sui Emperor Yang Guang
Yang Guang, the Sui Emperor, was the second emperor of the Sui Dynasty, and during his reign he practiced tyranny, leading to chaos and popular discontent
Large-scale construction of palaces and mausoleums
The Sui Emperor Yang Guang built many grand palaces and mausoleums, resulting in a huge waste of financial and human and material resources.
Compulsory requisition of manpower and material resources to build the Grand Canal
Yang Guang, the emperor of Sui, ordered the construction of the Grand Canal and recruited large-scale labor to build it, causing hardship and dissatisfaction in the people's lives.
Political corruption
Yang Guang, the emperor of Sui, trusted his traitors and appointed corrupt officials, which was seriously corrupt and harmed the interests of the country and the well-being of the people.
Indiscriminate killing
The Sui Emperor Yang Guang adopted a brutal policy and repeatedly massacred rebels and political dissidents, leading to social unrest and a boil of popular resentment.
These tyrannical acts caused the social contradictions of the Sui Dynasty to continue to intensify, and the people's grievances boiled over, which eventually led to the collapse of the Sui Dynasty.
King Shang
King Shang was the last king of the Shang Dynasty, and his reign is considered a tyrannical period in history
Cruelty to Zhongliang
King Shang killed many loyal generals, such as Yi Yin and Yi, and even killed his uncles, brothers and other close relatives. This tyrannical behavior caused panic and low morale among the people in the imperial court, which was not conducive to the stability of the imperial court.
Intensifying social contradictions
King Shang exploited and oppressed the people very seriously, requiring the people to pay a large amount of taxes and conscription, resulting in a very difficult life and growing dissatisfaction. King Shang also suppressed and suppressed the sages and generals of the Shang Dynasty, which caused social contradictions to continue to intensify.
Luxury pleasures
King Shang indulged in wine, pursued luxury pleasures, held luxurious banquets and amusement activities, consumed a lot of national financial and human resources, and made the country's finances increasingly empty.
Foreign aggression and expansion
King Shang launched many wars, expanded his territory abroad, and collected a large number of soldiers and materials, which caused the country's war costs to continue to rise, suffered heavy losses, and greatly damaged the national strength and strength of the Shang Dynasty.
These tyrannical actions weakened the rule of the Shang Dynasty and dispersed the people, which eventually led to the demise of the Shang Dynasty. Historians believe that the tyranny of King Shang was one of the main reasons for the demise of the Shang Dynasty. The tyranny of King Shang also makes people deeply reflect on the sins and lessons of tyrants in history.