Preface
The name has exuded a mystical light since ancient times, and it symbolizes power, domination, and destiny. However, what kind of vicissitudes of fate did the jade seal, which represents the supreme power, go through? It once triggered fierce power struggles during the ups and downs of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
In the end, this priceless treasure magically appeared in the hands of the Houjin Emperor Taiji. A few generations later, Emperor Qianlong destroyed it. So, what's the story behind this?
Shift of Destiny
After Qin Shi Huang unified the world, in order to consolidate his dominance, he deliberately made a jade seal. This jade seal is engraved with eight characters of "Ordered by the sky, both longevity and eternal prosperity", implying the eternal foundation of the Qin Dynasty. It not only represents supreme power, but also a symbol of the legitimacy of the Qin dynasty's rule. However, who would have thought that just when the Qin Dynasty fell, this jade seal was taken away by Liu Bang, the general of Chu, marking a complete change of the Mandate of Heaven.
At that time, it was a period when the Chu-Han War was at a fever pitch. Ziying, as the last king of Qin, chose to surrender in the face of being completely defeated by Liu Bang. He presented the Qin seal to signify the eternal end of the Qin Dynasty's legal system.
And Liu Bang was a general with the command of King Chu Huai, and after defeating Xiang Yu, he unceremoniously respected Qin Xi as the "Han Seal of the Kingdom". Since then, this jade seal has become a symbol of imperial power in the Han Dynasty and has been passed down from generation to generation.
However, it should be noted that Liu Bang's acceptance of Qin Xi did not represent an acknowledgment of the rule of the previous dynasty, but only heralded the arrival of a new dynasty and the end of the old era. In the political atmosphere at that time, the prophecy of "the death of Qin will be Chu" has become a reality, and Liu Bang and Xiang Yu are both subordinates of King Huai of Chu, so it is naturally impossible for them to regard the acceptance of Qin Xi as an act of inheriting the legitimacy of Qin Dynasty's rule.
On the contrary, after the establishment of the Han Dynasty, its rulers, in their orthodoxy of advocating "Han Ji Zhou De", clearly expressed the ideological tendency to cut off the negative legacy of the fallen Qin. It can be said that the change of ownership of the heirloom jade seal is often accompanied by the change of dynasties and the seizure of the world by force, which does not represent the recognition of the legitimacy of the rule of the previous dynasty.
It is only a figurative object to be used to make the propagation of orthodoxy more convincing. Since the Han Dynasty, the concept of "the unity of the emperor does not lie in the Tao but in the seal" has gradually formed, making the Qin seal a symbol of the legitimacy of the emperor's rule. However, whether this jade seal is really the Qin seal of Li Si Seal is already quite suspicious, regardless of the successive dynasties and dynasties that have gone through wars and turmoil in the future.
A bloody palace coup
After more than 100 years of war, the Great Khanate finally established a unified Mongol Empire in 1271. Kublai Khan was the ruler at the time, and in order to ensure that his heirs could inherit the throne, he deliberately obtained the so-called "Qin Seal" from the descendants of Muhuali. This was undoubtedly an attempt to enhance the legitimacy of their rule, since in the eyes of the Mongols, the change of hands meant a smooth transfer of legitimacy and natural succession.
However, after the death of Kublai Khan, a bloody palace coup broke out within the imperial family. His grandson Timur, with the support of Hanchen and his ability to skillfully recite the ancestral teachings, eventually overtook the other princes and inherited the throne. In this process, "Qin Xi" played a key role, adding weight to Timur's path to power.
It should be pointed out that in the Yuan Dynasty, the status of the national seal was not as highly valued as in the previous dynasty. This was because the Yuan Dynasty had never been able to establish an institutionalized system of heirs to the throne, and whenever the throne was alternated, there would be bloody palace coups or even full-scale civil wars.
Against this backdrop, the seal has completely lost its traditional function of helping to ensure the smooth accession of the successor designated by the emperor during his lifetime. As a result, it was brought into office relatively late in the political life of the Yuan Dynasty, and its status also showed a downward trend.
This palace coup undoubtedly proves once again that the change of ownership of the heirloom jade seal is often accompanied by a struggle for power, rather than a recognition of the legitimacy of the previous dynasty's rule. It is just an important prop that can increase the weight of the ruler, and it has become one of the key weights in the struggle for the world.
An omen of the sacred bird
Meanwhile, in the steppe, a whole new legend is brewing. Legend has it that on the eve of Genghis Khan's birth, a colorful bird landed in front of his tent and chirped "Genghis". What's even more amazing is that a square stone cracks on its own, revealing a jade seal from it.
This is the heirloom treasure and jade seal that was later called "Hasbao". Its back is engraved with the image of a double dragon coiled turtle, which can cover exactly a thousand sheets of paper. From then on, Genghis Khan was officially proclaimed the monarch of the Mongols, and the Great Mongolian State was born. This jade seal not only represents supreme power, but also contains the Mongolian reverence for the Mandate of Heaven and the protection of sacred birds.
This magical legend undoubtedly added a layer of mystery to the rise of Genghis Khan. In the cultural tradition of the Mongols, the Mandate of Heaven and the protection of the sacred bird are supreme, and being able to obtain such a "gift from heaven" undoubtedly means that Genghis Khan is a figure of the Mandate of Heaven and should become the monarch of the Mongols. The formation of this concept is completely different from the Han Dynasty's idea that "the unity of the emperor does not lie in the Tao but in the seal", and reflects the unique political culture of the Mongols.
It can be said that the Hasbao jade seal is the exclusive treasure of Genghis Khan's family, and the legend of its appearance contains the Mongolian reverence for the mandate of heaven and the protection of the sacred bird, which is fundamentally different from the political legitimacy represented by the jade seal. It is not a tool used to fight for the world, but a sacred token of the Genghis Khan family, symbolizing the orthodoxy of their destiny.
A battle for orthodoxy
By the time of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, the Mongol regime had fallen apart. The Mongol envoys under the leadership of the Watt Thorn clique went to Korea and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the latter's refusal to receive the Ming envoys: "I will not be allowed to enter the country, and I will not be allowed to enter the country. The Ming Emperor who built the city with manpower and ascended the throne was submitted, and the Mongol Emperor of the Heavenly Jade Seal was contemptuous. "
These words reflect that, in the minds of the Mongols, the Hasbao Bao Yin represents a higher legitimacy of rule than the Ming emperor. They threatened that if they did not obey the "Jade Seal Edict", they would force the Ming Dynasty and Korea to submit by force. It can be seen how far the thirst for power has reached in this struggle for orthodoxy.
It should be noted that the "heavenly jade seal" mentioned here is not a national jade seal, but refers to the exclusive treasure of the Genghis Khan family. In the eyes of the Mongols, this jade seal represents the favor of the Mandate of Heaven and is the orthodox basis for their rule. That's why they were so conceited to confront the Ming Dynasty and Korea, believing that they were the real orthodox emperors.
The struggle for power has once again highlighted the importance of power. For the rulers, it was necessary not only to physically master military and political resources, but also to demonstrate their legitimacy through some kind of symbolic sign. And the Hasbao Bao Seal is an important magic weapon used by the Mongols to prove the legitimacy of their Mandate of Heaven.
Houjin's windfall
Just as the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia were facing off, a new force quietly rose - the Later Jin. Under the leadership of Huang Taiji, this tribal alliance began an offensive against the Ming Dynasty. However, what people never expected was that the heirloom jade seal actually appeared in the hands of Huang Taiji.
There is a theory that Huang Taiji captured this treasure from the Mongols during the attack on the Ming Dynasty. Another theory is that it was captured Ming officials who surrendered. In any case, this priceless treasure magically fell into the hands of the Houjin people, adding incomparable weight to their dominance.
For Hou Jin, it was undoubtedly an unexpected joy to be able to master the jade seal of the country. This not only strengthened the legitimacy of their rule, but also provided powerful political capital for further expansion in the future.
After all, in the traditional Chinese concept, whoever owns the national seal has supreme power. As a result, the Later Jin quickly changed their name to the Great Qing Dynasty and formally unified China as the new ruler in 1644.
It can be said that the emergence of the heirloom jade seal has provided a key boost for the rise of the Houjin. It represents not only supreme power, but also a symbol of the legitimacy of rule. The fact that the Houjin people were able to master this treasure undoubtedly greatly enhanced their status and voice in the Central Plains. This also proves once again that in traditional Chinese political culture, symbolic signs of power are often more important than actual military strength.
The weight of power
Later Jin soon changed the name of the country to the Great Qing Dynasty and formally unified China in 1644. Since then, the heirloom jade seal, which has caused countless power struggles, has been regarded as a symbol of imperial power in the Qing Dynasty. However, even Emperor Qianlong, a monarch with supreme power, was far away from the jade seal.
According to legend, whenever someone mentioned this jade seal, Qianlong would wave his hand and say: "It is an old thing, not worth cherishing." In the end, under his instructions, this treasure, which had caused countless changes, was destroyed in this way. This decision of a generation of wise monarchs may be out of fear of power, and they do not want this jade seal to become the fuse that causes unrest again.
Qianlong's practice once again proved the special status of the jade seal. As a symbolic object representing supreme power, it often becomes the key to the struggle for the world. Even a Qing emperor like Qianlong did not dare to touch this treasure easily, for fear that it would cause turmoil again.
It can be said that the existence of the heirloom jade seal has always been a heavy burden. It represents not only the weight of power, but also a potential threat. Therefore, Qianlong finally chose to destroy it completely, perhaps out of awe and vigilance for this power. This also shows once again that in traditional Chinese political culture, the symbolic sign of power is often more important than the actual military strength.
epilogue
So far, this heirloom jade seal, which has caused countless power struggles, has been completely erased from the traces of existence. But its story will forever be etched in history, bearing witness to people's desire for power, the pursuit of legitimacy of rule, and the endless strife that arises from it.
It not only represents the status and prestige of the ruler, but also a heavy burden. In history, countless people have fought for it, and countless people have lost their lives for it. This attachment to power also reflects the deepest desires and dark sides of human nature.