Derived from the Japan Shinki Dynasty
Weeping willows sway in the wind, and the blooming chrysanthemums set off a solemn scene. This is the symbol of the ancient Japanese dynasty - the chrysanthemum. In ancient Japanese legend, the first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, was the savior given by God to the Japanese.
After years of warfare, he finally unified the tribes of the south-central part of the Japanese archipelago.
To commemorate the exploits of Emperor Jimmu, the Japanese people praised the founding emperor with a flower that blooms towards the sun, the chrysanthemum. As a result, the chrysanthemum gradually became part of the blood of the Japanese imperial family and became the iconic symbol of this ancient dynasty.
In the minds of the Japanese, the emperor is the embodiment of the god and receives a high status. The chrysanthemum represents the solemnity, tranquility and glory of life.
Time flies, this solemn and resilient flower has gone through countless ups and downs, and has been intertwined with the ancient dynasty in the long river of time. It has witnessed the ups and downs of the dynasty, and also carries the spiritual connotation of Japanese national culture.
Nowadays, whenever chrysanthemums bloom, it seems to tell the magnificent history of this ancient dynasty.
The early development of the dynasty
After the untimely death of Emperor Jimmu, Japan was once again in chaos. Powerful people rise in various places, and tribes are in endless disputes. Time flies, the sun and the moon change, until 600 years later, a wise empress pushed the ancient emperor onto the stage of history.
When Emperor Tuiko was crowned emperor, his face was filled with a determined look. She resolutely carried out reforms, established a centralized system, and set up the imperial officials to be directly responsible to herself.
Under her 40 years of wise governance, Japan has undergone tremendous changes, moving from a primitive tribal society to civilization and modernity. Under the wise leadership of Emperor Suiko, the people lived happily ever after, creating a splendid Heian period.
Time flies, and historical changes are like flowing water. In the middle of the 8th century, Emperor Kanmu, who succeeded to the throne, decided to move the capital to Heiankyo. This magnificent new capital city concentrated the most advanced palace architecture at that time, which greatly demonstrated the glory of the dynasty.
Over the next two centuries, Heiankyo witnessed and carried the pinnacle of Japan's political, economic and cultural development, adding a brilliant aura to this magical ancient dynasty.
The Chrysanthemum Dynasty is a legendary dynasty that originated in ancient Japan and lasted for thousands of years. In 660 B.C., Japan's first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, ascended the throne, marking the end of this evergreen tree.
Emperor Jimmu, with his extraordinary wisdom and open-mindedness, succeeded in unifying the south-central part of the Japanese archipelago, which was still in a primitive state at the time, with constant tribal strife. He carved out a vast territory, and the people of all ethnic groups lived and worked in peace and contentment.
Emperor Jimmu laid the foundation for the unification of Japan, and his exploits are unparalleled.
To commemorate the great exploits of Emperor Jimmu, the Japanese people chose a bright and dazzling flower, the chrysanthemum, as a symbol of the widely revered founding emperor.
A colorful chrysanthemum with buds in full bloom contrasts sharply with the unwavering will of Emperor Jimmu.
A sixteen-petal chrysanthemum inspired by Emperor Jimmu's 16-character edict eventually became the symbol of the dynastic tree. A chrysanthemum, a groundbreaking hero, has since become one and has become the sustenance of the Japanese national spirit.
In autumn, the emperor holds chrysanthemums in his hands and rejoices with his subjects, which has become a profound cultural symbol of Japan. Chrysanthemum, Emperor Jimmu, and the Chrysanthemum Dynasty have all become part of Japan's national identity, witnessing the magnificent historical origins of this ancient oriental country.
After Emperor Jimmu founded the country, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty experienced many periods of ups and downs, and finally went through a long millennium.
In 592 AD, a competent empress, Emperor Suiko, ascended to the throne. In the face of the chaotic political situation at the time, Emperor Suiko resolutely implemented reforms, established a centralized system with the emperor as the supreme core, and strengthened the ruling power of the dynasty.
Under the wise leadership of Emperor Suiko, Japan stepped onto the track of becoming a strong country. The branches of the dynasty also flourished and grew under her watering. More than 300 years later, during the reign of Emperor Kanmu, the dynasty ushered in its first peak.
Emperor Kanmu chose to move the capital to Heiankyo, a large-scale and beautifully architecturally beautiful capital city that concentrated the most advanced world civilization at that time.
The glorious momentum of Heiankyo reflects the heyday of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty. The economy and culture of the dynasty reached unprecedented prosperity. Many outstanding literary and artistic works were produced during this period, showing the most splendid cultural outlook of the Japanese nation.
The Chrysanthemum Dynasty ushered in its first golden age in Heiankyo.
However, behind the flourishing of this evergreen tree, an undercurrent is also spreading. In the mid-11th century, the dynasty was weakened by strife and strife within the dynasty.
After centuries of turmoil and decline in the Middle Ages, this ancient dynasty took a new turn in the mid-19th century.
After the Meiji Restoration, the Meiji government carried out a series of political reforms, the most important of which was to re-establish and strengthen the power of the emperor. Under the planning of the Meiji government, the emperor re-emerged from a disregarded symbol to the spiritual leader and supreme commander of the Japanese nation.
The Meiji government presented the emperor as a representative of the destiny of the Japanese nation, and won the support and support of the majority of his subjects. At the same time, the Meiji Restoration also introduced a Western-style constitutional monarchy, making the emperor a virtual head of state.
This mechanism of checks and balances of power allowed the dynasty to regain its balance.
On the one hand, dynasties are embraced as a symbol of national identity; On the other hand, a constitutional monarchy guarantees the development of democracy. The two complement each other, so that this 10,000-year-old green tree, which has endured wind and rain, has been revitalized in modern times.
The Meiji Restoration opened a new chapter in the history of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty. It has finally crossed the historical stage of turbulence and decline, and under the framework of the constitutional monarchy, it has adapted to the changes in modern Japan and has also gained a new continuity for itself.
How does the world's oldest dynastic tree stand for thousands of years and remain alive and well? The key lies in its unique growth mechanism.
Within this dynastic system, the emperor has only a symbolic meaning, and he is neither a true ruler nor a puppet. The real core of power is in the hands of the regent, shogunate and other forces.
They used the legitimacy of the emperor to consolidate their rule, but they did not rush to depose the emperor.
Such a mechanism of checks and balances of power enabled a dynamic balance within the dynasty. The emperor could not and could not accumulate enough power to shake the entire dynasty, yet he had enough legitimacy to be relied upon by all powers.
This became the institutional guarantee for the long-term continuation of the dynasty.
The constitutional monarchy after the Meiji Restoration further improved this equilibrium system. The emperor became the virtual head of state, and democracy and royal tradition were both realized. In addition, the strict control of the lineage within the royal family to avoid fierce competition also allowed the dynasty to continue peacefully.
With this unique way of continuation, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty has survived many storms and still stands. It has become part of the Japanese nation's identity and has become part of the identity of the people of that ancient oriental country.
Just as the chrysanthemum symbolizes vitality, this evergreen tree also relies on its unique growth mechanism to grow endlessly and endure for a long time.
With the vicissitudes of 2,680 years and the succession of 126 generations of emperors, when we look back at this long history, we can't help but be shocked by its grandeur and waves.
The oldest dynastic tree in the world records the most glorious moments of the Japanese nation, and it has also experienced the longest time.
It has witnessed the transformation of that island nation from a primitive tribe to a modern civilization, accompanied by the blood and tears of the Japanese nation.
Human history is an epic of splendor and suffering. This tree's resistance to wind and sun stems from the strong vitality of the nation. When we touch the vicissitudes of life on the bark, we will feel the tenacity and persistence contained in it.
Today's Japan has been able to continue to develop within an orderly framework, thanks to this evergreen tree. We sincerely hope that tradition and innovation can continue to interact benignly, and this tree will bloom more lush new branches and leaves, witnessing a brighter tomorrow for Dongying.
The giant wheel of history is rolling forward, and the world's oldest tree is still alive and well, with its unique resilience, it continues to spread out in the long river of history.
We are in awe of its thousand-year-old foundation and look forward to its splendid rebirth.