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Wang Mang, in the Confucian society of the late Western Han Dynasty, whose political status rose but faced a moment of rapid deterioration, became a key figure in this era. Some people called him a thief, others a devout Confucianist, and still others a reformer, but it ended in failure. In recent years, due to the overwhelming marketing numbers, Wang Mang's association with the "traverser" has become the focus. People praise his actions seem to be ahead of their time.
In the second year of Yuan Shou, Liu Xin, the emperor of Han Dynasty, died at the age of twenty-six, and an accident occurred, and the succession of the regime became a priority. However, Emperor Wei of Han left no sons, and as is customary, the focus of the power contest was usually between the empress dowager or the great general Sima. But this time the situation was particularly special, the grandmother and birth mother of the Han Dynasty Emperor were deceased, and the great Sima Dongxian, although young and beautiful, had no political talent. In the Han court at that time, the only person with prestige was the empress dowager of the Han Yuan Emperor Liu Xi, and the empress dowager Wang Zhengjun of the Great Han Dynasty. Faced with the urgency of the situation, Wang Zhengjun took decisive action, seized the jade seal of the kingdom and issued a decree, ordering the new capital Marquis Wang Mang to quickly enter the palace, and summoned the Grand Sima Dongxian at the same time. At this time, Dong Xian was asked about the arrangements for the funeral of the Son of Heaven, but he seemed at a loss and had no ability to govern. Wang Zhengjun proposed to let the new capital Marquis Wang Mang preside over and contribute to the stability of the situation. Dong Xian was eventually removed from office, and Wang Zhengjun's actions laid the foundation for Wang Mang's reign.
Wang Mang entered the political arena, his aunt took control of the overall situation, and his nephew was in charge of military and political affairs, which gradually calmed the turbulent Han dynasty. Although Wang Zhengjun is controversial, she is actually caring for her relatives and protecting her son with the help of the foreign qi system. Wang Mang's rise was inseparable from Wang Zhengjun, a relative, and his reform ideas were influenced by his aunt to some extent. Wang Mang selected Liu Jizi (刘箕子), the son of Liu Xing, the filial king of Zhongshan, as emperor after Emperor Xuan of Han and set a puppet-like role for him, but the power was held by Wang Mang.
On the economic and political front, Wang Mang introduced a series of adjustments and reforms. He tried to stabilize social order by reforming officials and implementing a system of division and sealing. At the same time, he advocated the restoration of the well-field system and the prohibition of the sale of slaves in order to strengthen direct control over the economy. However, these measures contain both "socialist" elements and traces of political interference in the economy. Although he had a deep understanding of the gap and conflict between the rich and the poor in society, his reform ideas were essentially political dominance of the economy and deviated from economic laws. He tried to solve economic problems through political means, but failed to solve the practical problems facing the new dynasty.
Wang Mang shows the Confucian philosophy, emphasizing "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and faith", and practicing "gentleness, courtesy and thrift". However, his ideas on economic reform did not really solve the problem, but instead facilitated the private interests of the monarchical clique. His ideals, although he harbored a beautiful vision of a peaceful and prosperous world, seemed too idealistic in reality.
Wang Mang was powerless in the face of the situation, deeply aware that every step of the political stage required caution. This stage is very demanding for actors, and even those who think highly of themselves find hardships on the stage after taking the stage. Wang Mang once sighed for the broken dream of Jiangshan: "Jiangshan's play is not good to sing!" ”
Wang Mang's life, both in the civilian period and at the peak of politics, showed the qualities of humility, incorruptibility, and kindness. He was not only known for his self-discipline, but also for adhering to Confucian moral principles during political storms. The Confucian ideals to which he adhered to were his guide at all times. However, he failed to put his ideas into practice, and finally faced the helplessness of the situation, highlighting the life of this reformer.
Wang Mang's life was like a magnificent performance on the political stage, full of ideals and ambitions, but it ended in a tragic song. His experiences and thoughts have left a strong mark in the long river of history, and have become an important reference for future generations to think about politics, economics and morality. On this huge stage, every actor who walks on the front needs to choose their roles carefully, because "Jiangshan this play is not good to sing!" ”