Message from the article:
In the dust of these thousands of years, the succession to the throne is not for nothing, but a process in which opportunities are left to those who are prepared. Among them, the principle of father's death and son's succession, and brother's death, has been a tradition followed by successive dynasties, but in special moments, opportunity and personal quality have also become decisive factors. Let's walk into the long river of history together, explore the special experience of five emperors succeeding to the throne, and appreciate the wonderful blend of chance and personal charm.
Event Content:
In ancient times, a wise man once said: "The succession to the throne is like the rhyme of the strings, born from music." ”
In the long course of history, the succession of five emperors is particularly remarkable.
Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Liu Heng, who had an extraordinary background, spent his youth in the shadow of his mother Empress Lu in power. Liu Ying, the young man who succeeded to the throne and became Emperor Wen of Han, died early due to mental depression. Chen Ping, Zhou Bo and other loyal ministers saw the opportunity and chose the young but potential Liu Heng as their heirs, opening the prosperous era of "Wenjing Rule".
And Liu Xie, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, was mired in the quagmire of eunuch dictatorship and ten permanent servants. After Dong Zhuo usurped the throne, Liu Wei was deposed, and Liu Xie became Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. During this period, rebellious ministers and thieves were rampant, and the government was chaotic, which made the inheritance of the throne bumpy and tortuous.
Song Yingzong Zhao Shu was not born as a direct prince, but because Zhao Renzong had no son, the son of his cousin Zhao Yunrang inherited the throne. Zhao Shu was elegant and benevolent, became Yingzong, and led a glorious era.
Song Xiaozong Zhao Yan is facing the dilemma of having no hope of giving birth. In the process of finding a suitable heir, the heir after Zhao Kuangyin was selected from many descendants. This choice made the later Ming Dynasty.
Ming Shizong Zhu Houxi, when he died of illness, he had no children and no brothers, and at the critical moment, Yang Tinghe chose Zhu Houyu as his heir and followed the ancestral system. This historical choice made the Ming Dynasty prosperous.
These five emperors, their inheritance paths are very different, but they have all become the focus of history because of their special experiences. Among them, the criteria for selecting the emperor are also becoming more and more diverse, not only the coincidence manifested by the mandate of heaven, but also inseparable from the advantages of personal low-key, courage, benevolence and filial piety, and politeness.
Social Care:
At that time, society had different views on these special cases of inheritance. Some people believe that this is an arrangement of the Mandate of Heaven and an inevitable choice that conforms to the trend of history, while others question whether such a method of succession is truly in line with traditional principles and whether it will affect the stability of the government.
After Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty Liu Heng succeeded to the throne, his "rule of Wenjing" was widely recognized by the society, and people praised the witty actions of loyal ministers such as Chen Ping and Zhou Bo. However, during the reign of Emperor Liu Xie of the Han Dynasty, eunuchs were autocratic, rebellious ministers and thieves were rampant, and the society was quite controversial about the inheritance method of this period, believing that it was a turbulent history.
As for the succession of Zhao Shu of Song Yingzong, Zhao Yan of Song Xiaozong and Zhu Houxi of Ming Shizong, the society generally has a more tolerant attitude. Zhao Shu won the hearts of the people with his gentleness, benevolence and filial piety, and Zhao Yan's choice was also seen as an inevitable move to find a suitable heir at the time.
As for Ming Shizong Zhu Houxi, Yang Tinghe's decision was also recognized by the society, because this choice ensured the continuation of the Ming Dynasty.
Criteria for selecting the Emperor:
It is worth noting that the criteria for selecting the emperor have long gone beyond the mere talk of destiny. In addition to the traditional principles of succession to the throne, personal characteristics and merits have also become factors that cannot be ignored. Qualities such as low-key, courageous, benevolent and filial piety, and politeness are considered to be the qualities that an emperor should have.
After Emperor Wen of Han Liu Heng succeeded to the throne, his low profile and humility earned him the respect of the people. During the period of Emperor Liu Xie of the Han Dynasty, the problem of eunuch dictatorship and ten permanent servants made the consideration of personal quality more prominent.
Song Yingzong Zhao Shu was known for his gentleness, benevolence and filial piety, which also became a key factor in his choice as the crown prince. And Song Xiaozong Zhao Yan paid more attention to the quality and ability of the heir because of the hopelessness of childbearing, and finally chose the heir after Zhao Kuangyin.
Ming Shizong Zhu Houxi's inheritance was selected as the heir at the emergency moment of his death. This choice fully demonstrates the decisive role of personal quality at a critical moment in history.
Summary:
Through a review of the succession process of the five emperors, we find that in the long course of history, the succession to the throne is not static, but is affected by many factors.
The principle of father-to-son succession and brother-to-brother is the cornerstone of tradition, but in the absence of sons or brothers, successive emperors have had to rely on a variety of unexpected factors.
The common traits of these five emperors include personal qualities such as low-keyness, courage, benevolence, filial piety, and courtesy, as well as chances and historical coincidences. Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared, and this is the key to the successful succession of these five emperors.
Society's views on these special inheritance situations are mixed, ranging from admiration and recognition, to doubts and controversy. However, in any case, these historical choices have contributed to the prosperity and prosperity of the later era.