Preface
The Qin and Han dynasties, which also dominated the centralized system of Confucianism, went to very different fates. This contrast has triggered the thinking and discussion of countless historians and thinkers.
Why did the Qin Dynasty eventually fall while the Han Dynasty became stronger on this basis despite the use of the same system? In this epic change, the fates of the Qin and Han dynasties were very different, and what was the reason for this great difference? Let us find out.
1. The Qin Dynasty: The Price of Iron-Fisted Rule
The ritual of assembly: the manifestation of imperial power
"The widow is noisy, raising troops to punish riots, the spirit of Lai Zongmiao, the six kings are innocent, and the world is decided. Qin Shi Huang reigned for 26 years, and he was full of emotion. The merit is high in the world, but he still feels that his name does not match his achievements. So, he issued an order to "discuss the emperor".
Prime Minister Wang Xiao and Tingwei Li Si suggested that the honorific title be "Emperor of Thailand", but Qin Wangzheng disagreed. He called himself "Emperor" and combined secular authority with sacredness. He abolished the title of honor, proclaimed himself "the first emperor", and hoped that "the second and third emperors will be endless".
In this assembly, the Qin Wangzheng led everywhere, and his subordinates could only follow. The assembly was nothing more than a political performance, with the aim of strengthening the order of "respecting the king and humbling the ministers" and demonstrating the supreme authority of the emperor.
Qin Shi Huang's obsession with power had reached the point of obsession, and he longed to immortalize his rule for generations to come. Therefore, he did not hesitate to put on an arrogant and authoritarian posture at the assembly, demanding that his subordinates obey orders without objection.
This practice can certainly consolidate imperial power in the short term, but in the long run, it is a curse. Blindly suppressing the voices of their subordinates will only make them resentful, and eventually brew rebellion. Although Qin Shi Huang was supreme in power, he was a mortal after all, and it was inevitable that he would have made mistakes and mistakes, and if even his closest courtiers did not dare to speak out, then his rule was destined to fall into the quagmire of rigidity and decay.
The feudal controversy: the strangulation of ideas
In the thirty-fourth year, Qin Shi Huang held a banquet in Chengyang Palace, and once again "made a discussion" to discuss the affairs of feudal counties. Zhou Qing and Dr. Chun Yuyue argued, and Li Si once again spoke on behalf of the emperor, criticizing "foolishness" for hindering change, and putting forward the idea of "burning books", elevating the controversy into an ideological dispute.
In the end, Qin Shi Huang adopted Li Si's suggestion and burned books to stifle dissident thoughts. In this rally, Qin Shi Huang once again showed his iron-fisted rule, and any opposition would be ruthlessly stifled.
The reason why Qin Shi Huang was so paranoid and narrow-minded stemmed largely from his greed for power. He tried to impose his idea of rule on the world, and he would not allow any dissent. However, the development of a country needs to be inclusive of different voices, and it requires the collision and exchange of various ideas.
Qin Shi Huang's actions were tantamount to self-destruction of the Great Wall, and were destined to weaken the foundation of his rule. What is even more terrifying is that Qin Shi Huang's actions stifled the vitality of thought to a large extent, and caused the whole society to fall into spiritual sinking.
When a country's ideology and culture are stagnant, then it is difficult for the country to be truly strong. The fall of the Qin Dynasty was largely due to the narrow-mindedness and bigotry of its rulers.
The price of tyranny
Qin Shi Huang relied on Li Si and others, autocratic and dictatorial, tyrannical and unreasonable. He rested on his laurels and refused to reform, which eventually led to the fall of the Qin dynasty. Tyranny was hard to return, and it is not surprising that the Qin Dynasty fell.
The autocratic rule of Qin Shi Huang shrouded the entire government and the opposition in a haze. People live in fear and do not dare to disagree in the slightest. Such an environment will undoubtedly stifle the vitality of society and stagnate the country's development.
What's even more serious is that Qin Shi Huang's tyranny and unreasonableness have completely lost the hearts of the people. When a ruler loses the support of the people, then his rule is doomed to collapse. The fundamental reason for the fall of the Qin Dynasty was the narrow-mindedness and bigotry of its rulers. Qin Shi Huang tried to use violence and autocracy to maintain the system, but this approach was destined to fail.
A country's development needs to be inclusive and open, and it needs to absorb diverse voices. Qin Shi Huang's approach not only stifled the vitality of thought, but also plunged the whole society into a desperate situation. Therefore, the fall of the Qin Dynasty was an inevitable consequence and a slap in the face to its rulers.
2. The Han Dynasty: The Wisdom of Soft Rule
Etiquette
Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, once feasted his ministers, and when he saw them "drinking and fighting for merit, getting drunk or shouting in vain, drawing swords and striking pillars", he couldn't help but "get tired of it". He was well aware of the lessons of the Qin Dynasty that imperial power must be constructed in a flexible way.
As a result, the uncle and grandson "started the court" and put on the "velvet gloves" of "ceremony" for the "iron fist" of the emperor's absolute authority. Liu Bang felt that "the emperor is noble", and Shusun Tong was also reused.
Although Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, came from a humble background, he had extraordinary wisdom and foresight. He was well aware that the fall of the Qin Dynasty was largely due to the tyranny of its rulers. Therefore, he was determined to take another path of soft rule, to conserve imperial power in a ceremonial way, rather than relying on force.
Shusun Tong's "Qi Chao Yi" is a good example. Through this kind of ceremonial activities, Liu Bang not only felt the dignity of imperial power, but also paid more attention to the etiquette system. Etiquette can not only regulate the hierarchical order between monarchs and ministers, but also cultivate people's character cultivation and make the whole society orderly.
It can be said that the prosperity of the Han Dynasty was largely due to the importance that its rulers attached to etiquette. Etiquette not only gave the imperial power a cloak of legitimacy, but also made the whole society orderly and the hearts of the people to be submissive. This kind of soft rule is undoubtedly more intelligent and long-term than the tyrannical methods of the Qin Dynasty.
The wisdom of the assembly
The rulers of the early Han Dynasty fully recognized the importance of assembly in the construction of imperial power. But unlike the Qin dynasty, they took a more gentler and more cautious approach.
In the assembly, the ruler will patiently listen to the opinions of his subordinates, but the final decision is still in the hands of the ruler. In this way, you can not only obtain the wisdom of your subordinates, but also enhance your subordinates' sense of identification with the imperial power.
The reason why the rulers of the early Han Dynasty adopted this moderate method of assembly was also largely based on the lessons of the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang dominated the assembly at every turn, and his subordinates could only obey orders, which although this practice could consolidate imperial power in the short term, but in the long run, it laid the root of the curse.
Blindly suppressing the voices of their subordinates will only make them resentful, and eventually brew rebellion. Therefore, although the rulers of the early Han Dynasty retained the final decision-making power in the assembly, they gave their subordinates a greater say.
This practice can not only gain the wisdom of the subordinates, but also enhance the subordinates' sense of identification with the imperial power. When their subordinates feel that their voices are valued, they will become more loyal to their rulers, thus laying the foundation for the long-term stability of the country.
It can be said that the wisdom of the rulers of the Han Dynasty in assembling was one of the important reasons for their long-term stability. They learned the lessons of the Qin dynasty and adopted a more moderate and tolerant approach, thus winning the support of their subjects and laying a solid foundation for the development of the country.
Be open and inclusive
Unlike the Qin Dynasty's "book burning and Confucianism", the Han rulers showed greater openness and inclusiveness. They reused Confucianism and absorbed a variety of ideas, thus consolidating the foundation of their rule.
The reason why the rulers of the Han Dynasty were able to be so open and tolerant was largely because they learned the lessons of the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang's "book burning and Confucianism" not only stifled the vitality of thought, but also plunged the whole society into spiritual depression. When a country's ideology and culture are stagnant, then it is difficult for the country to be truly strong.
Therefore, the rulers of the Han Dynasty decided to take a different approach, recruiting a wide range of wise men and different voices. They reused Confucianism, not only out of the importance of Confucianism, but also in the hope that in this way they would stimulate the vitality of society and inject new impetus into the development of the country.
It can be said that the open and inclusive attitude of the rulers of the Han Dynasty is one of the important reasons for its long-term stability. They have absorbed a variety of different voices, which has made the whole society full of vitality and the development of ideology and culture. This laid a solid foundation for the prosperity of the Han Dynasty.
More importantly, the open and tolerant attitude of the rulers of the Han Dynasty also won the support of the scholars. When a ruler can really value the intellectual, then the intellectuals will naturally be more loyal to the ruler. This relationship of mutual trust and mutual support laid a solid foundation for the long-term peace and stability of the Han Dynasty.
epilogue
The fates of the Qin and Han dynasties were very different, and the fundamental reason was the difference in the wisdom of their rulers. The tyrannical rule of the Qin dynasty was destined to be short-lived, while the Han dynasty was enduring by its soft rule.
In short, the comparison of the fates of the Qin and Han dynasties gives us a valuable historical enlightenment: those in power should be humble and tolerant of different voices, and rule the country with wisdom rather than violence, which is the way to long-term peace and stability. Only in this way can a country be truly strong.