In China's 5,000-year-long history, too many heroes have been born, and they have carved a strong and colorful stroke in the history books, which are admired by future generations.
Whether it is a successful retirement, a peaceful old age, or unpaid ambitions, jealous of talents, most of these historical figures will have a clear ending.
However, history is never so simple.
There are such 4 historical figures that we are familiar with, but they "suddenly" disappeared from history, and even if we look through the history books, it is difficult to find their clues.
Their ending has also become an "unsolved case" recognized in Chinese history, and it is still confusing......
Lao Tzu - the west out of the letter, nowhere to be found
Lao Tzu is one of the most famous and influential thinkers, philosophers and writers in ancient China, the founder of the Taoist school, and is also regarded as the ancestor of Taoism.
Lao Tzu's real name is Li Er, and he was born in Ku County around 571 BC, but due to the long age, the specific date of birth and place of origin are disputed.
However, it is certain that Lao Tzu served as the keeper of the Zhou royal family in the 21st year of King Ling of Zhou (22 BC), which is roughly equivalent to the administrator of the State Archives of the Zhou royal family.
In 553 B.C., 526 B.C., and 501 B.C., Confucius visited Lao Tzu three times and asked Lao Tzu.
In 485 B.C., Lao Tzu became more and more disillusioned with the declining Zhou royal family, and rode a green ox west to Guguan to travel in all directions.
At that time, Yin Xi, the general of Hangu Customs, had already heard of Lao Tzu's name and did not want him to leave, so he was embarrassed that he could only leave a work to get out.
To Yin Xi's surprise, Lao Tzu, who was in his 80s at the time, wrote a 5,000-word work in just a few days, which is the "Tao Te Ching" that was circulated in later generations, and then rode away leisurely on a green ox.
"Historical Records of Lao Tzu's Biography" records: At the end of the pass, Guan Ling Yin Xi said: The son will be hidden, and he will write a book for me.
The whereabouts of Lao Tzu after that have become the biggest mystery in the history of the mainland, and different historical books in later generations have also given completely different records, and there are three mainstream theories:
First, after Lao Tzu sent a letter to Guguan in the west, he traveled to the Western Regions, and finally ascended (died) in Lintao, Gansu.
The local relics such as "Chaoran Terrace", "Flying Cliff" and "Shuojing Platform" are rumored to be related to Lao Tzu, and the Li clan in Longxi is very prosperous, claiming to be a descendant of Lao Tzu.
Second, after leaving the letter to Guguan in the west, he lived in the Qin State for a long time and died here.
According to legend, when Lao Tzu died in the Qin State, many people made a special trip to the Qin State to mourn the spirit;
Laojun Mountain
Third, after Lao Tzu sent a letter to Guguan, he finally returned to Jingmur Mountain in Luanchuan, Luoyang, Henan Province (renamed Laojun Mountain by Taizong of the Tang Dynasty) to live in seclusion and practice.
In addition, it is still Lao Tzu who turned into a Buddha, but the statement was forged in the last years of the Western Jin Dynasty and has no historical basis.
The Tao is very good, and it is very good.
Where did Lao Tzu go after leaving the customs may become an eternal mystery in the history of the mainland.
Xi Shi - Fu Yue destroys Wu, and the ending becomes a mystery
"Wu Yue has a lot of scheming, and the goddess of Huansha goes to make peace. A pair of smiles looked back, and 100,000 elite soldiers defected. - Tang Yu Xuanji, "Huansha Temple"
Xi Shi, also known as Xizi, Liji, is the first of the four beauties in ancient China, known as "the first beauty in ancient and modern times".
The allusion to the "sinking fish" in "Sinking Fish and Falling Geese, Closing the Moon and Shy Flowers" comes from her, and the word "Xizi" has also become synonymous with ancient beauties.
Xi Shi was born in the Yue Kingdom in the late Spring and Autumn Period, from a humble background, and was originally a folk Huansha girl.
At that time, the Yue State submitted to the Wu State, and Gou Jian tried his courage to seek the restoration of the country.
Gou Jian listened to the "Seven Strategies for Destroying Wu" of the literary genre, and set up a beauty plan for Wu Wangfu's weakness of being lascivious.
Historical records record that Fan Li selected beauties throughout the country, and eight beauties, including Xi Shi, were dedicated to Wu Wangfucha.
Xi Shi, who was born beautiful, soon got the favor of her husband, she endured humiliation and burden, and finally completed the great cause of destroying Wu in conjunction with her homeland.
But after the destruction of the Wu Kingdom, the fate of Xi Shi has become a mystery that has plagued later generations for two thousand years, and there are different opinions about the ending of Xi Shi:
First, sailing with Fan Li and returning to seclusion.
This statement is the most popular among later generations. Legend has it that Fan Li and Xi Shi were in love, after Gou Jian destroyed Wu, Fan Li knew the truth of "flying birds do their best to hide rabbits and dead lackeys", and rescued Xi Shi under the Gusu stage, and the two left Yue by boat.
This ending is the most satisfying, and later generations derived various romance scripts, and according to legend, the tombs of the two are in Shandong.
Second, self-hanging.
This speculation believes that Xi Shi was full of guilt for his husband, so he chose to hang himself in Guanwa Palace after the fall of Wu;
Third, Shen Jiang said.
This record believes that Xi Shi's ending was not good, and he was sunk in the river by King Goujian of Yue, whether it was Li Bai, Cao Xueqin or Yang Shen, they were inclined to this statement.
Fourth, Shen Jiang, the queen of Yue, said.
It is also said that after the destruction of Wu, because the king of Yue wanted Naxi Shi to enter the harem, the queen of Yue sent someone to kill her.
The four beauties of ancient China, even though the country is beautiful and fragrant, they cannot escape the tragic fate.
For Xi Shi, sailing back to seclusion with Fan Li may be the best destination......
Xu Fu - Looking for medicine in the East China Sea, disappeared
Xu Fu is probably one of the most legendary alchemists in Chinese history.
According to legend, Xu Fu was a disciple of Guiguzi and was proficient in astronomy, geography, navigation, and medicine.
Qin Shi Huang was superstitious in his later years, pursuing immortality, Xu Fu wrote that there were three immortal mountains in the East China Sea: Penglai, Abbot and Yingzhou.
According to the "Historical Records", Qin Shi Huang ordered Xu Fu to lead 3,000 boys and girls to lead the crowd to the sea to find the immortal mountain for the elixir of life, but Xu Fu's fleet has not been heard from since then and has never returned.
There are different opinions about Xu Fu's whereabouts, and the most famous one is "Dongdu Japan Theory".
Japan's "Brief History of Japan" records: "In the seventy-second year of Emperor Xiaoling, Xu Fulai, a Qin man. ”
Many Japanese people firmly believe that Xu Fu is their ancestor, and there are currently 5 Xu Fu tombs and more than 30 ancestral halls in Japan, and there will be a ceremony to worship Xu Fu every year.
The scientific and technological level of the Xu Fu fleet far surpassed that of the Japanese aborigines at that time, and it is very likely that advanced technologies such as farming, fishing, and textiles were brought to Japan.
But some experts have questioned this.
Because the so-called legend about Xu Fu and the "Xu Fu Tomb" in Japan appeared very late, there was no record of Xu Fu in Japan before the Song Dynasty.
This statement is likely to be the statement that the Japanese deliberately "climbed relatives" during the Tang and Song dynasties in their exchanges with the mainland.
There are also scholars who believe that ancient mainland immigrants landed in Japan many times, and it cannot be concluded that these immigrants were Xu Fu.
In addition, it is also said that Xu Fu was dissatisfied with the tyranny of Qin Shi Huang and lived in seclusion in Ganyu, Jiangsu, where the local Xu family tree clearly records Xu Fu as his 56th ancestor.
As for which statement prevails, it is uncertain at this time.
Zhu Yunwen - The palace fire, there are different opinions
If you want to ask the most famous missing person in Chinese history, Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen is definitely the number one in the row.
Zhu Yunwen is the eldest grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, the Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, the second son of the crown prince Zhu Biao, and the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty in law.
He was only 21 years old when he ascended the throne, but his grandfather Zhu Yuanzhang had already paved the way for him, assisted by Wen Liangchen, and had an army of millions of people.
But young people always can't hold their breath, after Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, he was eager to do a big career, so he couldn't wait to start cutting the feudal domain and taking many of his uncles under the knife.
So Zhu Di, the king of Yan, chose the "Qingjun side", which is known as the "Battle of Jingyan" in history.
Zhu Yunwen was overturned by Zhu Di and broke through Nanjing.
But the strange thing is that there are completely different records of Zhu Yunwen's ending in the history books.
The first is the theory of self-immolation.
"History of the Ming Dynasty: Chengzu Benji" and other records show that when the Yan army broke through Nanjing, the palace was on fire, and through the identification of eunuchs, it was determined that the three remains were Zhu Yunwen and his wife and their eldest son;
The second is the theory of "becoming a monk".
"History of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Jianwen Benji" records that "when he entered the palace, he suddenly became angry, and the queen Ma collapsed, and Cheng Ji fled in the monk's clothes." King Yan then entered the palace. Because the back bone in the ember of the finger is up!"
Legend has it that Zhu Yunwen escaped through the palace tunnels and became a monk in Dongming Temple;
The third is to "escape into the door" said.
"History of the Ming Dynasty: The Biography of Yao Guangxiao" has recorded this, and experts have verified that Zhu Yunwen may have cultivated in Sanqing Mountain, Shangrao, Jiangxi;
Fourth, "the theory of fleeing overseas".
It is rumored that an important purpose of Zheng He's trip to the West is to find Zhu Yunwen's whereabouts overseas.
Not only that, after Zhu Di succeeded to the throne, he repeatedly ordered a search for Zhu Yunwen's whereabouts, so it is no wonder that various theories have been circulated among the people.
The truth of history is always so confusing.
I hope that one day in the future, historians will make new discoveries and solve these historical mysteries that have plagued the Chinese for thousands of years.
What do you think about this? Welcome to leave a message to discuss.
Reference Sources:
[1] Luoyang Evening News, "Letter from the West - The Mystery of Lao Tzu's Whereabouts", 2008.08.08
[2] Yangtze Evening News, "2500 years have passed, why we are still curious about the fate of Xi Shi", 2023.10.25
[3] China News Network, "East and West Question|Li Shujie: What are the still difficult mysteries of Xu Fu Dongdu?", 2022.07.10
[3] The Paper, "Li Jiefei: The Disappearance of Emperor Wen of the Ming Dynasty", 2021.02.25
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