In the long course of history, there have always been some incomprehensible phenomena: Why do some people change from hatred of the enemy to awe and even worship? Just like the "Wu Ah Ping offering five ghosts" incident mentioned in the article, this is not an isolated case. From ancient times to the present, there have always been some people who have lost their principles in the face of power, and even acted for the tiger. What is hidden behind this phenomenon? Is it the weakness of human nature, or is it the helplessness of history? With these questions, let's explore this embarrassing period of history together.
Let's start with a little-known historical event. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, some people went so far as to pay homage to those brutal Japanese generals, and this makes people wonder: Why do some people feel awe or even worship for these brutal people who suffered so much? In fact, this phenomenon is not uncommon in history.
Back in the Han Dynasty, we know how famous generals such as Huo Quzhi and Wei Qing bravely resisted the enemy, but on their opposites, there were figures like Bank of China Shuo, who provided strategies to the enemy and caused the Han Dynasty to suffer heavy losses. In the Song Dynasty, the same plot was staged again, Yue Fei, Han Shizhong and other generals were dazzling, but there were also people like Song Gaozong Zhao Gou who showed weakness in front of the enemy, and even instigated others how to please the enemy.
Especially in 1130, Han Shizhong trapped Wanyan Zongbi in Huang Tiandang, and it was the time to achieve a great victory, but because of the "strange strategy" of a Fujian person, the tide of the war was reversed. The Min man suggested that the Jin army improve their ships, attack when the wind is strong, and hide when there is no wind, which directly led to the defeat of the Song army. The list goes on and on, all of which show a strange psychology: in the face of absolute power, people often choose to give in rather than resist.
This psychology is also reflected in modern times. For example, after World War II, some Japanese war criminals were sentenced to death, and their crimes are obvious to all. Soon after, some people began to erect monuments to commemorate these war criminals, and some even openly overturned their cases. This phenomenon still exists in contemporary society, and some of the culprits of historical tragedies are glorified by some people, or even portrayed as heroes.
Why, you might ask? The answer may have to do with the complexity of human nature. In the face of power, fear, interest, and even a distorted sense of identity can drive people to make incomprehensible choices. And this phenomenon is not only a part of history, but also a warning to modern people: in the face of power and interests, can we stick to our principles and morals?
Here, we have to mention the influence of culture. Culture shapes people's worldview and values to some extent. In some cultures, blind worship and obedience to authority may be seen as a virtue. In other cultures, independent thinking and critical spirit are highly valued. This cultural difference also explains, to a certain extent, why people's attitudes towards authority vary so much in different historical periods and social environments.
From a psychological point of view, this phenomenon can also be explained as a kind of "Stockholm syndrome", that is, people who have been in oppression or fear for a long time may develop some degree of sympathy and even dependence on the abuser. This psychological mechanism has been played out over the course of history, from the loyalty of subjects to tyrants in ancient times to the unreasonable dependence of victims on perpetrators in modern society.
The asymmetry of education and information also plays an important role in this. In an age of information blackout, people often only have access to information through official channels, which makes it easy for those in power to shape the public's perception of certain people or events. And even in today's relatively open information, misinformation may still be amplified and disseminated, affecting people's judgment.
Going back to the incident of "Wu Ah Ping offering five ghosts", this is not only the behavior of individual people, but also reflects a certain underlying trend of thought in society. This kind of glorification and worship of historical sinners is undoubtedly a distortion and blasphemy of historical truth. It is not only a secondary injury to the victims, but also a challenge to public morality and historical justice.
In the face of history, what we need is not only memory, but also profound reflection and rational criticism. History should not be forgotten, let alone distorted. Every attempt to glorify historical criminals should be vigilant and resisted by the public. At this point, everyone has a responsibility to bear, both as a disseminator of information and as a practitioner of education.
History is a mirror that not only reflects the past, but also the future. In the face of history, we can neither forget nor distort it. As this article explores, from hatred of enemies to awe and even worship, there is a complex interweaving of human nature, cultural influences, and psychological mechanisms. As future generations, we should draw lessons from history, adhere to rational and moral judgment, and ensure that the truth of history is respected and justice is upheld. Only in this way can we avoid the repetition of historical tragedies and build a more just and rational society.