All things that are born must die: death, like life, is nothing but a form of material movement. There are two ancient poems that say: "What does the immortal not die into, he only sighs a lot to the west wind," which shows that the so-called immortals are no exception. Qing Zhao Yi has two poems, which are very straightforward: "In ancient times, there were immortals, and now there are ghosts, and there is no one in the sky and on the ground." (Zhao Yi: "Oubei Collection" Volume 38) Obviously, it is impossible for people to live forever. So, in the annals of history, how long can those who are particularly healthy reach the longevity of Haijiaozi? Accounts vary. What "Peng Zushou 800" and the like are nonsense and not worth a damn. Mingren Xie Zhaoqian said: "Life is not more than 100 years old, and the end of the number is also." Therefore, more than one hundred and twenty immortals are called lost demons. Ran Han Dou Gong, one hundred and eighty years old, Jin Zhao Yi, two hundred years old. Yuan Wei Luojie, one hundred and seventeen years old, a total of thirty-six Cao things, refreshed and undecaying, until one hundred and twenty is dead. Li Yuanshuang of Luoyang, 136 years old. Zhong is far away from Gu Siyuan, one hundred and twelve years old, eats both people, and has meat horns on his head. There was a man in the city who was two hundred and forty years old, and he no longer ate grain, but drank the milk of his great-granddaughter. Zhang Yuanshi, a native of Shangjin Township, Jingzhou, is one hundred and sixteen years old, with extraordinary strength and no different food. Pham Minh Huu Xianbei Nu, 250 years old. …… These are all contained in the official history. According to reports, in Northern Europe today, there are elderly people who live to be more than 200 years old. However, as Cao Mengde said, "although the turtle is long, there is still a time", living to be more than 200 years old should be the limit of the length of life, how can it be healthy forever? Whoever can live to be 100 years old can be called a "strange" hero among the thick people, which is quite unusual.
In the examination of the emperors of all dynasties in China, not only did they live to be 100 years old, but they were 90 years old, and they have become an iron threshold that has never been crossed. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Hongli, was arrogant all his life, and one of the capitals he used to be complacent was to dominate the life of the emperors of the past dynasties, but he only lived to be eighty-nine years old. The funny thing is that in China's long feudal society, there was hardly an emperor who did not want to live for 10,000 years. Qin Shi Huang, who mobilized the people and sought the elixir of immortality, was one of the number one celebrities, from Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, "long live" was not only synonymous with the emperor, but also gradually became a patented product. This patent is soaked in the juice of feudal absolutism, and its mysterious and illusory degree has become a strange ninefold heaven that people dare not look up to.
This is really "strange"! However, although the feudal emperors all advertised "respecting the heavens and the ancestors", taking the ancient times as the rule, and examining the origin of the word "long live", these emperors were not necessarily "legal ancestors", but went to ancient times.
Xu Guan of the Song Dynasty said: "Long live the name, I don't know what dynasty it began, since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it can no longer be examined." (Fan Zhen: "Chronicles of Dongzhai") This is not accurate. The Shang Dynasty oracle bone inscription, because it is engraved on the turtle shell excavated from the stock ruins, can be called the history of letters. However, in the large number of oracle bone inscriptions that are full of existing boxes, there is no record of "long live", nor is there a record of "long life without borders". In the middle and late Western Zhou Dynasty Jin Wen, every time you see "Meishou Wujiang", "Wannian Wujiang" (synonymous with "Wansui Wujiang") and there are also records of "Wanshou", however, it is not a praise for the Son of Heaven, but a style of writing, you might as well call it "Golden Eight Shares", which can be used by those who cast the tripod. Such as "Meishou Zhou Bang, is to ensure its 10,000 years without borders, children and grandchildren, forever to enjoy", "B Gong as longevity and respect, children and grandchildren Bao with it", "Only Huang grandson is the uncle of the monarch alone, its 10,000 years without borders, descendants forever enjoy". (Ruan Yuan: "Jigu Zhai Zhong Ding Yi Ware Knowledge" Volume 3 and 4) and so on, and so on. Obviously, the "10,000 years without borders" here is just the meaning of permanent protection and eternal private ownership for future generations. This information is not difficult for us to get a glimpse of from the oldest poetry collection in the mainland, the Book of Songs. It is true that there is a saying "longevity of the Son of Heaven" in "Daya Jianghan", which expresses people's blessings for the "longevity" of the Son of Heaven. However, this is not the case in a broader sense. "Wind in July": "Standing in the court, calling him a child, longevity is boundless." "Xiaoya, Jiayu in the South, Chongqiu": "There is a platform in the South Mountain, and there is a Lai in the North Mountain. Happy only gentleman, the foundation of the state. Happy only gentleman, long life indefinite. "There is mulberry in the south mountain, there is Yang in the north mountain, the music is only a gentleman, the light of the state family, the music is only a gentleman, and the longevity is boundless." "Longevity Without Borders" in "July" depicts people toasting and cheering happily after holding a celebration ceremony in the public hall of the village community at the end of the year. As for the last two songs, they are nothing more than a comparison of interests. The so-called gentleman, Zhu Xi said: "refers to the guests." (Zhu Xi: "Collected Poems", Volume 8) If so, the words "longevity without life" and "longevity without borders" here are all poets' blessings to the guests, and they are likely to be the verbal commonplace of people at that time. Gao Cheng of the Song Dynasty said: "Long live, archaeology caught Zhou, there is no such ceremony." (Gao Cheng: "The Origin of Things", Volume 2) This view is in line with historical reality.
From the Warring States period to before Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, although the word "long live" often appeared in the mouths of emperors and subjects, its meaning can be divided into two categories, which are still roughly the same as those of ancient law. First, it is the period of death. For example, the king of Chu traveled to the clouds, looked up to the sky and said with a smile: "Long live the widow, who will be happy with this?" An Lingjun wept and said: "Long live the king, and the minister is willing to arrive at the Yellow Spring to drive away ants." ("Warring States Policy, Chu Ce") Liu Bangding was in Guanzhong, he once said: "Although I am all Guanzhong, after long live, my soul is still happy." ("Historical Records", Volume 8, "Gaozu Benji") and, "Long live the period, near the cautious morning and twilight". ("Book of Han", Volume 84, "The Biography of Cheng Fangjin") Yan Shigu commented: "Long live the period, it is called death." This clearly shows that whether it is the king of Chu who looked up to the sky and laughed and said "Long live the dry autumn", or An Lingjun said "Long live the king for a thousand years", or Liu Bang said "long live after a thousand autumns" when he was affectionately attached to his hometown, it all shows the meaning of "after death", which is compared with ordinary people who call death, can only say death, death, thanks, fleas, non-secrets, non-lu, death, donation of buildings, abandonment of the church account, opening of siblings and so on, although it seems a bit special, but it is compared with the meaning of the word "long live" that was later sacred. After all, it's still very different. Second, it is to express cheers, which is quite similar to the Russian "Ula", please look at the facts: Lin Xiangru holds rare treasures and family bi "play the King of Qin, the King of Qin is happy, and it is passed on to show the beauty and the left and right, and the left and right are calling long live." ("Historical Records", Volume 81, "Lian Yan Lin Xiangru Biography") The story of Meng Weijun's disciple Feng Yu burning the coupon deed is well-known. History: After Feng Yu went to Xue, the envoys recruited the people to compensate, and they all came to the coupons. …… Because of the burning of its coupons, the people called long live. In order to paralyze the Yan army, Tian Dan "made the old and weak women take the city to send envoys to Yan, and the Yan army shouted long live." ("Historical Records" Volume 82 "Tian Dan Lie Biography") Ji Xin made a plan for Liu Bang, who was surrounded by Xiang Yu's army, and ran to the Chu army to lie: "The city is exhausted, and the king of Han surrenders." "The Chu army is shouting long live. Lu Jia followed Liu Bang's order to write "New Language." Every time he plays, Emperor Gao is not unkind, and he shouts long live left and right." In the ninth year of the Han Dynasty, Weiyang Palace was completed, and Liu Bang "The princes of the Great Dynasty, the ministers placed wine in the front hall of Weiyang." Gaozu Feng Yuwei, from the Emperor Taishang Shou said: 'The first lord is often a scoundrel and can't buy property, so it's not as good as Zhongli. Today's karma, which is more than the middle? All the ministers of the palace shouted long live and laughed for pleasure. ("Historical Records", Volume 8, "Gaozu Benji") - all this fully shows that from the Warring States period to the early Han Dynasty, although people often shouted "long live", they did not call for the emperor, but there was a happy thing, that is, to cheer, and it was nothing more!
By the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, with Confucianism being designated as one by the emperor, "long live" was also designated by Confucianism as the emperor alone, making it synonymous with the highest feudal ruler. Looking at the historical books, it is not difficult for us to find the big lie carefully concocted by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. History: In the first year of Yuan Feng (110 years ago), "the first month of spring, Xing Xing Xuan." The edict said: 'I use Huashan, as for Zhongyue...... The next day, he climbed the Songgao, the royal history was multiplied, and the officials next to the temple heard the three who were shouting long live. Dengli didn't answer. ("Book of Han", Volume 6, "Emperor Wu Ji") look, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty climbed to the top of Songshan Mountain, and the officials heard the sound of shouting "long live" to him three times. Who called? Xun Yue said: "Long live, the name of the mountain god." It turned out that it was the gods who were chanting "long live" to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to salute; Moreover, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty greeted the gods and returned the salute, and all of them agreed, which is the so-called "Dengli did not answer". It's so vivid! In order to further deify the monarchy and strengthen the feudal dictatorship, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty fabricated the myth of "Long Live the Three of the Xianwen Hu", which became an uncanonical code for later generations of subjects to congratulate the emperor with "Long live" - and nicknamed "Shanhu". Fifteen years later, in March of the third year of Taishi (94 BC), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took another step forward on the road of creating political lies, claiming that "fortunately, the day of the ceremony will become a mountain." Ascend to the sea and float in the sea. Long live the mountain". This time, it is even more divine: Shandong's Zhifu Mountain, the whole mountain shouted "Long live, so it is bound to constitute this logic: the gods and stones all shout the emperor "Long live". The subjects are both a head shorter than the gods and a head taller than the ignorant stones, and it is obviously not possible not to shout "long live" to the emperor. So, since then, in front of the throne of the feudal emperor, the voice of "long live" has been heard endlessly. It is self-evident that if others casually call "long live", it is arrogance, rebellion, and great disrespect. Let's give an example: Dou Xian, the general of the Later Han Dynasty in history, "Megatron the world...... Emperor Xi Ancestral Garden Mausoleum, Zhao Xian and the car driving will be Chang'an, and Xianzhi, Shangshu wants to worship it, long live. Ling Zhengse said: 'The husband is not flattering, the lower hand is not blasphemous, and no one is courteous and is called long live. The speaker was ashamed. ("Book of the Later Han Dynasty", Volume 45, "The Biography of Han Ling") It seems that this Shangshu may have a lot of paste in his brain, but Han Ling's mind is still sober; If Dou Xian is really willing to accept the word "long live", even if he is lucky not to move, he will have to endure all the hardships.
After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the tricks played by the feudal rulers on "Long live" were really varied. The emperor proclaimed his birthday as "Wanshou Festival", and the emperor's wife, son, and daughter, etc., were concocted in the same way, and the beautiful name was called "Thousand Longevity Festival". The two female rulers, in particular, are even more ingenious. One is Wu Zetian, she changed the yuan many times casually like flipping through the ledger, and regarded herself as "Long live the Book of Heaven", in a year in 696 AD, the year name was changed one after another, one said "Long live Tongtian", and one said "Long live Dengfeng". Putting the word "long live" on the name of the year is a great invention! The other is the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi, her honorific title is already a long list, and there is a sycophant who actually plays the book, suggesting that the four big characters of "longevity without borders" are also put in. This is truly unprecedented. If "Galeries Lafayette" knows underground, he is probably still proud of it, right? There is also a feudal ruler, although he is a man, but he was ridiculed by Lu Xun as "half a woman"; This person is the despised Ming Dynasty eunuch Wei Zhongxian. He monopolized power, raged the sky, built shrines all over the country, and wanted people to call him 9,000 years old. Judging from the ancestral hall of Jizhou alone, Wei Zhongxian's "golden statue is crowned, and all the words are like praising the saints, and they are called Yao Tian Shunde, the most holy and the most divine." And the cabinet ministers replied with a pun language, Yuntai welcomed the statue of loyalty, five bows, three heads...... In front of the statue, he said: Something depends on the support of 9,000 years old". (Zhao Yi: "Twenty-two Historical Cuts" Volume 35 "Wei Eunuch Ancestral Hall") 9,000 years old is better than 1,000 years old, although it is still 1,000 years less, but it can be regarded as a quasi-"long live". This can't help but remind people of Lu Xun's famous saying: "The more boring and unproductive the footsteps, the more you want to live long and be immortal." (Lu Xun: "The Continuation of the Canopy Collection: Ancient Books and Vernacular") and in fact, whether it is the Empress Dowager Cixi or Wei Zhongxian, to borrow Lu Xun's words, "It's not as long as a fart stinks!" ("The Mobilization of the South and the North: Linkdo's "Records of the Soviet Union")
"Long live" is not only equated with the supreme feudal ruler, but the common people must shout when they bow and worship, otherwise of course it will be disrespectful. However, there were no such provisions in the feudal codes, which included such strict laws as the Tang law, the Ming law, and the Qing law. This shows that the emperor's "system of calling long live" and the corresponding law of great disrespect were fixed by unwritten law; And countless historical facts have proved that unwritten law is a hundred times more powerful than written law. The common people at that time were not unaware of the mystery; In folk dramas, as soon as you open your mouth, it is "Respect my lord, long live the ...... of the lord", and even offer a tablet of "Long live the emperor today", (until 1941, in the seaside countryside of Dongtai County, Jiangsu, some people also "offered a wooden tablet, which was engraved with double dragons grabbing pearls, and there was a line of words: Long live the current emperor, long live, long live.") See Chen Yunhao: "Journey Documentary") to show his so-called loyalty to the emperor, which is proof.
However, as Zhang Fuxiang of the Qing Dynasty said in the poem: "It may not be that the foolish people really offer to the Buddha, and the official family is solemn." (Zhang Fuxiang: "Self-Grown Poetry Collection" Volume 10) Therefore, there are exceptions. According to the research of Zhao Yi of the Qing Dynasty, in ancient times, as the meaning of the word "long live" cheered during the celebration, "the folk colloquial language has not changed, so there are still people who celebrate at the end of the Tang Dynasty, and they dare not use it for a long time." (Zhao Yi: "Shen Yu Cong Kao" Volume 21 "Long Live" Article) As far as the Northern Song Dynasty, which was weak, the history contained: "In Lizhou, every night firecrackers, every sound, that is, the crowd of people in the city shouted that it was ripe, such as Dadan...... Quang Nam shouted long live. (Zhuang Xuan: "Chicken Rib Edition" volume) "Guangnan...... Call your uncle as an official, and your aunt as your family...... The son-in-law is a concubine, all of which Zhongzhou dare not speak, and in addition to firecrackers, the military and civilians gather, shouting long live, especially terrifying. (Zhuang Xuan: "Chicken Rib Editing" Volume II) Actually, what is "horrible"? In a poor rural area like Quang Nam, far from the center of feudal rule, in people's minds, "Long Live Lord" is "the emperor of the sky", which is not necessarily so sacred, amiable or terrible. Therefore, it is better to be on an equal footing with the emperor, and call his son-in-law a concubine; As for whether these colts can also call their father-in-law "Banzai"? History is lacking, and it is unknown. In fact, in the Later Zhou, Sui, and Tang dynasties, the names of the common people were still occasionally called Li Wansui, Shi Wansui, and Diao Wanzai (Zhao Yi: "Long live" article in volume 21 of "Shen Yu Cong Kao"); Pushing its meaning, it may be similar to the name of a child named Chang Geng in modern times, which is intended to bless him with a long life and a hundred years old. As for Chinese New Year's Eve, in the sound of firecrackers, people are very happy, "shouting long live", and there is no shock; This is just a remnant of the ancient customs of the pre-Qin period. Confucius said that "courtesy is lost and seeks the wilderness", and he believed it.
This article is excerpted from "Miscellaneous Examinations of the History of the Ming and Qing Dynasties", by Wang Chunyu, The Commercial Press, June 2016, 1st edition.