Preface
In ancient times, why did those emperors who held the power of the world and stood out from the crowd always have such a short lifespan? They had supreme glory and enjoyed the best of life on earth, and they deserved to live a long life and enjoy eternal life.
However, history has repeatedly confirmed a cruel fact - the life span of emperors is often shorter than that of ordinary people. What is the reason for the fate of these supreme people who control the power of life and death to be so bumpy?
The weight of power
Under the splendor of the royal palace is the bleak life of the emperor who is overwhelmed by the weight of power and responsibility. Take, for example, a day in the Qing Dynasty emperors, who began their long and heavy work at four o'clock in the morning.
Getting up early to read books and review the classics was the daily homework of the emperors. This is not only to improve one's own cultural accomplishment, but also to warn oneself at all times that as the supreme of the world, we must govern the country with virtue and educate the people with culture.
However, such learning was not based on the autonomous will of the emperors, but was a rigid institutional requirement. They must follow, or they will be seen as incompetent monarchs. This was followed by a report from the ministers on the affairs of the world and a decision was made.
These affairs involved all aspects, from the appointment and dismissal of personnel within the imperial court, to the military dynamics in the frontiers, to the relief measures for the famine, all of which did not require the emperor to make decisions personally. The ministers only provided information and advice, and the final decision-making power was in the hands of the emperor.
This was undoubtedly an extremely heavy task, requiring the emperor to maintain a high degree of vigilance and quick thinking at all times. After that, he discussed state affairs with his confidants and ministers in the study room, and could not rest until the afternoon. These discussions covered everything from imperial reform, to diplomatic strategy, to economic construction, all of which did not require the emperor's personal check.
Ministers may offer professional advice, but the final decision is in the hands of the emperor. This highly centralized decision-making model undoubtedly brought great mental pressure to the emperor.
In the afternoon, it is a review and a review until late at night. These memorabilia came from various local officials, and all of them did not require the emperor to personally review and make a decision. Sometimes some difficult issues require the emperor to convene his ministers again for discussion.
This kind of work intensity is enough to make ordinary people tired. From sunrise to moonset, the lives of the emperors were filled with layers of government affairs, and it was difficult to have a chance to breathe. They must always maintain a high level of vigilance and agile thinking to make the right decisions.
This high concentration of power, while giving them supremacy, also imposes heavy responsibilities on them. Under the weight of this responsibility, the flower of life of the emperors was thus extinguished in the prime of life.
The temptation of beauty
In addition to the heavy pressure of government affairs, beauty is also a major cause of the early death of emperors. The harem is as beautiful as a cloud, and the beauties are everywhere, which is undoubtedly the biggest temptation for the emperors who are in the prime of life.
Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty is a typical example. He is obsessed with the two beauties, Zhao Feiyan and Hede, and immerses himself in wine with them every day, not hesitating to damage his body. According to historical records, Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty took various pills all year round, hoping to maintain his youth forever and satisfy his greed for beauty. Finally, after an overindulgence, he took a large amount of pills and alcohol, and died of poisoning at the age of 33.
This kind of behavior of drowning in the harem women not only destroyed the emperors' bodies, but also ate their spirits. Once you indulge in the gentle township of the harem, it is easy to lose yourself and waste state affairs. This will not only lead to the early death of emperors, but also lead to the tragedy of political chaos and social unrest.
In the harem, the beauties are like clouds, and the emperors can enjoy the pleasures of the flesh to the fullest. But this pleasure is often built at the expense of one's own health. In order to maintain their affairs, the emperors did not hesitate to take all kinds of pills, even highly poisonous things. Although these drugs can temporarily satisfy the emperors' desires, they will inevitably cause serious harm to the body if taken for a long time.
What's even more terrifying is that this kind of behavior of indulging in women's sex will also affect the mental state of the emperors. They will gradually lose themselves and concentrate entirely on the harem and ignore the affairs of the state. This will undoubtedly cause chaos and social unrest, and eventually hasten the early death of the emperors.
It can be said that femininity is a double-edged sword, which can bring physical pleasure to emperors and destroy their physical and mental health. For the emperors in the prime of life, this is the greatest temptation and the deadliest poison.
Nightmare of Immortality
Compared with women, the pursuit of the dream of immortality may be more deadly. Qin Shi Huang is a striking example. In order to prolong his life, he worked tirelessly to refine all kinds of pills and did not hesitate to take highly poisonous things.
According to historical records, Qin Shi Huang's pursuit of immortality can be said to have reached the point of paranoia. He constantly sent messengers around to find immortals and immortal secrets, and personally presided over the work of alchemy. He believed that as long as he could find the secret of immortality, he would be able to rule the world forever and become a true immortal monarch.
However, this obsession with immortality eventually became a nightmare for Qin Shi Huang. Those highly poisonous pills slowly accumulated in his body, and finally took his life on the way to the "Southern Tour". This once powerful emperor died in his prime, becoming one of the most famous tragic figures in history.
The nightmare of immortality not only destroyed the emperors' bodies, but also distorted their minds. They began to frantically believe in all kinds of absurd immortality secrets, immersed in illusory dreams, and gradually drifted away from the real state affairs. This is undoubtedly a kind of spiritual self-exile, doomed to their early death.
For emperors, immortality is undoubtedly the greatest temptation. They aspire to rule the world forever and become true immortal monarchs. However, this obsession eventually became their nightmare. Those highly poisonous elixirs slowly accumulated in their bodies, and eventually took their lives.
It can be said that the pursuit of the dream of immortality is a kind of spiritual self-exile. It caused the emperors to drift away from the reality of state affairs and immerse themselves in illusory dreams. This not only devastated their bodies, but also distorted their minds, eventually leading to their early death.
Skate on thin ice
Finally, and one of the most fatal reasons, is the psychological state of the emperors who are always on the lookout and walking on thin ice. They clearly know how they killed and conspired step by step, and finally seized this throne. Therefore, they are always worried that someone will follow their example and seek to take their own country.
Emperor Yongzheng is a typical example. He endured the brutal struggle of the Nine Kings for the throne, and finally defeated his brother and ascended to the throne. The struggle was bloody, full of intrigue and physical conflicts. Yongzheng witnessed how his brothers were killed by himself one by one or by others. This experience undoubtedly left a deep shadow in his heart.
Therefore, even if he ascended the throne, Yongzheng was always worried and walked on thin ice. He didn't even worry about his own concubines, for fear that they would collude with others and murder him. This constant mental tension can also seriously affect his physical and mental health. In the end, Yongzheng also died early after only 20 years of reign.
It can be said that this psychological state of walking on thin ice was the biggest nightmare of the ancient emperors. They clearly know how they seized this throne step by step, so they are always worried that someone will follow their example and seek to seize their own country. This constant mental stress will undoubtedly seriously affect their physical and mental health, and eventually lead to their early death.
epilogue
Through the above analysis, we can see that the reasons for the short life of the ancient emperors actually reflected the disadvantages of feudal dynasty rule.
Excessive power and responsibility doomed their lives to be consumed by work, the beauty of the harem and the dream of immortality were the double poison of their spirit and body, and the defensive psychology of walking on thin ice imprisoned their lives in endless fear.
The tragic fate of the emperor is a microcosm of feudal absolutism. In this hierarchical world, even the supreme ruler cannot escape the fate of being consumed by power and lust.
This bad luck not only destroyed the lives of the emperors, but also deeply hurt the health of the entire society. Therefore, it is necessary for us to reflect on the violence and absurdity of this authoritarian rule, in order to create a more civilized and rational social order in the new era.