Five dynasties and ten kingdoms, the most chaotic period in Chinese history, with frequent dynastic changes and endless wars.
"The History of the New Five Dynasties" contains: "Since the decline of the Tang Dynasty, the five seasons have been rising, the Chinese mounds and ruins, and the lives have been ruined." In 960 A.D., there was a mutiny that changed the course of history. Zhao Kuangyin, a general of the Northern Han Dynasty, staged a coup d'état and forced the 6-year-old Later Zhou Gong Emperor Guo Zongxun to take the throne, established himself as emperor, and established the Great Song Dynasty. As the "History of the Old Five Dynasties" said: "Emperor Zhou Gong ascended the throne, and Taizu ordered the Chan Dynasty to receive Zen in the Jinde Palace." Since then, the five dynasties and ten kingdoms have ended, and the world has been unified again.
However, after Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin ascended the throne, he had a grudge. He knows very well that he has won the country unjustly, usurped the world of others, and his name is not right. So, he had an idea and came up with an idea. Zhao Kuangyin renamed Guo Rong of Later Zhou Shizong as Chai Rong. "Continuation of Capital and Governance Tongjian Long Edition" records: "Taizu is the name of Ge Zhou, posthumously named Shizong Temple, and changed his name to Chai Rong." His intention is obvious: Guo Rong was originally surnamed Chai, but he was succeeded by Guo Wei and changed his surname to Guo. Now that the Zhao family has taken over the Chai family, it is logical and understandable.
This seems reasonable, but it is Zhao Kuangyin's shocking scam. From the moment Chai Rong was accepted by Guo Wei as his adopted son and renamed Guo Rong, he adhered to the surname Guo. Even if he ascended the throne as emperor, he never changed back to the surname Chai. "The History of the Old Five Dynasties" clearly recorded: "Chai Shouli is honored with the young, and then he is powerful." Wei Aizhi, thought it was a son, and changed his name to Guo Rong. "Guo Rong is a person who abides by his duties, he knows that he is inheriting the foundation of the Guo family, so he always respects the ancestors of the Guo family.
Not only that, Guo Wei's biggest regret in his life is that his wife Chai Shouyu failed to witness his ascension to the throne as emperor, and several children also died early. "The History of the New Five Dynasties" records: "Wei Chang thinks about guarding jade, but all children are infertile, but Rong is the closest relative." For this reason, he posthumously named Chai Shouyu as Queen Shengmu, only accepted the three concubines, and then had no queen, that is, he wanted to be loyal to Chai Shouyu. It can be seen that if Guo Rong hadn't remembered his adoptive father's kindness, how could he not restore his mother's surname and worship the ancestors of the Chai family instead?
Looking at Guo Rong's administration after his accession to the throne, it is not difficult to find that he inherited Guo Wei's legacy. He made great efforts to make the country prosperous, repeatedly eliminated traitors, and tried to create a stable and peaceful situation. "The History of the New Five Dynasties" praised it as "holy virtue and glory, virtuous and capable ruler of the world", "the request of the rich and the powerful, the prestige and blessing of the deposed ministers, and the military and state administration, all of which are judged by their own will." Reigned for 6 years, known as the "first Ming Jun of the five generations", the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the world presented a long-lost peaceful and prosperous era.
On the other hand, Zhao Kuangyin, although he seized the world of the Great Zhou, he was panicked. "Continuing the Governance of Tongjian" said: "Taizu does not win the world with virtue, so he is afraid of others taking away himself." One is that it is not right to win the country, and the other is that he is worried that others will follow his example and try to usurp the throne. In order to legitimize his ascension to the throne, Zhao Kuangyin did not hesitate to distort the facts and changed Guo Rong's name to Chai Rong. At first glance, the descendants of the Chai family can be the son of heaven in the Zhou Dynasty, and the Zhao family will naturally sit on the world, which is justified and beyond reproach.
However, the paper can't contain the fire. From the moment Chai Rong was succeeded as Guo Rong, Guo Wei treated him like a father and son. Guo Rong also did his filial piety to his adoptive father, and after he ascended the throne, he respected the ancestors of the Guo family and did not change his surname. On the contrary, in order to grease and whitewash the usurper, Zhao Kuangyin forcibly changed Guo Rong to Chai Rong, and the scam was born.
From Guo Wei's pacification of the Later Han Dynasty, Guo Rong's succession to the unification, to the Song Taizu Chen Qiao Mutiny, it was only 26 years. In the past 26 years, the Central Plains has been divided several times, and finally ushered in reunification. However, the price of reunification is that the truth is covered up and history is rewritten.
Song Taizu's scam has far-reaching implications. Since the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, the history books have called Later Zhou Shizong Chai Rong. The biography of "History of the Song Dynasty" is called "Chai Rong", and the "Continuation of the Governance of Tongjian" is also "Chai Rong, the Lord of Zhou". To this day, many people who don't know what he knows still stubbornly call him Chai Rong, but they don't know that this Chai Rong is just a historical lie made up by Zhao Kuangyin.
History is not subject to human will. The official history records the rise and fall of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the merits of Sejong, which are all undoubted. Guo Rong adheres to the legacy of his adoptive father, makes great efforts, and is committed to creating a stable and peaceful situation. Although he died young, he won the reputation of "the first emperor of the five generations", and this achievement cannot be erased.
Throughout the entire Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty can be described as the inevitable result of the favorable time, place and people. Zhao Kuangyin took advantage of the Chen Qiao Mutiny to ascend to the throne, but it was just in line with the trend of history and reflected the aspirations of the people. But if he wants to cover up and change history, he is deceiving himself and others and laughing at future generations.
History cannot be tampered with, and the truth will eventually be revealed. Later Zhou Shizong's name was Guo Rong, which is an indisputable fact. "Shufu Yuan Turtle" clearly recorded: "The surname of the Zhou lord is Guo Zhenrong, his nickname is Bao, and he is also from Longcheng, Chaizhou."
Although Zhao Kuangyin created a historical deception, he could not hide Guo Rong's achievements and reputation. For thousands of years, it is precisely because of the existence of this scam that the history of Hou Zhou and Guo Rong has been almost forgotten. Many people mention the Five Dynasties, but they only know the Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, and Five Dynasties, but they don't mention the Later Zhou Dynasty. Today, we revisit this dusty history and lift the fog that shrouds it, precisely to let the truth be revealed to the world, return history to justice, and give Guo Rong a clean slate.
We believe that history will eventually be restored to its original appearance. Although Guo Rong was caught in Zhao Kuangyin's deception, his deeds of diligent government, love for the people, and hard work will forever be recorded in history. Although he only served as emperor for 6 years, he brought long-lost prosperity and stability to that turbulent era. No one can erase this.
Today, let us remember this Ming monarch who has been forgotten by history, and let his exploits reappear in the world and be admired by all generations. Let us also learn from history, draw lessons, jointly defend the truth of history, and resolutely resist any form of historical nihilism. Only in this way can we better inherit and carry forward the excellent cultural traditions of the Chinese nation and create a better future.