In feudal China, every word and deed of the emperor had supreme authority. However, there are also some emperors in history who have issued some ridiculous orders because of their personal preferences. This article will tell the story of an emperor who ordered a ban on eating dog meat because he was a dog, and a witty minister made the emperor realize his mistake with a clever rhetorical question.
The emperor's peculiar prohibition
This story takes place in the Ming Dynasty, and the protagonist is Zhu Houzhao of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Houzhao was the tenth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and during his reign, he was known for his unique personality and strange behavior. According to historical records, because Zhu Houzhao was a dog, he ordered a nationwide ban on eating dog meat, and violators were severely punished.
The minister's witty rhetorical question
Zhu Houzhao's ban naturally aroused dissatisfaction from both the government and the opposition. Many ministers believe that the ban on dog meat is a gross interference with people's habits and has no practical significance. However, because of Zhu Houzhao's authority, the ministers did not dare to oppose it directly.
At a court meeting, a minister named Yang Shen stood up. He did not directly oppose Zhu Houzhao's ban, but subtly asked: "Your Majesty, what do you think your father belongs to?" "Zhu Houzhao's father, Ming Xiaozong Zhu Youji, is a pig. Yang Shen's sentence is actually hinting at Zhu Houzhao: If it is forbidden to eat dog meat because it is a dog, is it also forbidden to eat pork if it is a pig?
The Emperor's Enlightenment
Yang Shen's words made Zhu Houzhao fall into deep thought. He realized that his ban was indeed too arbitrary and unreasonable. In the end, Zhu Houzhao revoked the order prohibiting the eating of dog meat and praised Yang Shen.
The revelation of the story
This story, although it seems simple, contains profound revelations. First of all, it tells us that even the emperor cannot interfere with the habits of the people at will. Second, it also demonstrates an ingenious way of exhorting. Yang Shen did not directly oppose Zhu Houzhao, but used a rhetorical question to make Zhu Houzhao realize the problem.
Zodiac culture of the Ming Dynasty
In the Ming Dynasty, the zodiac culture was already very popular. It is widely believed that the zodiac sign is closely related to the fate of the individual. Because Zhu Houzhao is a dog, he has a special affection for dogs, which is also the psychological basis for him to issue an order prohibiting the eating of dog meat.
Food culture of the Ming Dynasty
The food culture of the Ming Dynasty was very rich, and dog meat as an ingredient also had a certain market. Zhu Houzhao's ban was undoubtedly an impact on the food culture of the time. However, with the ban lifted, people are free to enjoy dog meat again.
Well, that's it!
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