In Chinese history, there were a total of 494 emperors, some of whom were civil and martial arts, and some of whom were mediocre. But among the emperors in this vast sea of smoke, who can be called the "Emperor of the Ages"?
In the long river of history, countless emperors have emerged, but only four emperors can truly deserve this honor. Who are they? What outstanding achievements and unique charm did they rely on to be regarded as the first emperor of the ages by later generations?
Today, we will take you through the millennium, uncover the legendary lives of these four emperors, and explore how they left an indelible mark on Chinese history and became the first emperors to be admired by future generations.
1. Qin Shi Huang of "Ding Qiankun".
When it comes to the greatest emperor in Chinese history, the first person who comes to mind must be Qin Shi Huang. He not only established the imperial system, but also unified China, which can be said to have ushered in a new era.
As the monarch of the Qin State during the Warring States Period, Qin Shi Huang was regarded as a generation of heroes since he was a child. He succeeded to the throne at the age of 16 in 246 BC and began a series of ambitious reforms. He realized that in order for Qin to truly dominate, it was necessary to complete the unification of the other six kingdoms.
He sent large armies to conquer the princes, and finally unified the country in 221 BC, establishing the Qin Dynasty, the first truly centralized dynasty in Chinese history.
This was undoubtedly a revolutionary change for China at that time. Prior to this, although there were also Xia, Shang, Zhou and other dynasties in the world, they were actually all feudal systems, and the Son of Heaven was only the nominal ruler, and the princes below were in their own affairs.
The unification of Qin Shi Huang completely broke this pattern and established a strong centralized system. From then on, there was no so-called division of princes, and all the lands were surnamed Qin.
This change has had a significant impact not only on the political level, but also on the cultural level. First of all, Qin Shi Huang boldly abolished the writing, weights and measures, and currency of the Six Kingdoms and implemented unification.
In this way, people in different regions live more harmoniously and gradually form a common cultural identity. At the same time, Qin Shi Huang also led the construction of the Great Wall.
This majestic Great Wall, built in the Warring States Period, has not only become a landmark of the Chinese nation, but also a near-perfect national defense project. It not only cut off the invasion path of the northern nomads, but also became an important passage connecting the inside and outside.
Of course, Qin Shi Huang's reign was not all smooth sailing. In order to consolidate the rule of the dynasty, he implemented harsh Qin laws and policies, causing great suffering to the people.
But even so, he undeniably made outstanding contributions to China's reunification and development. It is precisely because of the foundation laid by Qin Shi Huang that later dynasties can build on a solid foundation and move towards a more glorious road.
It can be said that without Qin Shi Huang's "Dingqiankun", how could the "fame" of later emperors come from? He created the first truly unified dynasty in Chinese history, laying the foundation for the centralized system that has been popular for more than 2,000 years.
2. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty who "shocked the Quartet".
In Chinese history, the monarch who wanted to be on a par with Qin Shi Huang was Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. This Han emperor, who is capable of writing and martial arts, has set an indelible example for future emperors.
The lofty historical status of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty can be seen from his position among the emperors of the Han Dynasty. Although Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, was the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, in terms of prestige, the status of Liu Che, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, had far surpassed him.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was so famous because of his outstanding achievements in two key areas: the repulsion of the Xiongnu and the development of the Western Regions.
In 133 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who had just ascended the throne, faced a great threat from the Xiongnu in the north. This violent and ferocious nomadic people has long been the great enemy of the Central Plains Dynasty.
Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, was also defeated and besieged in Baideng for a time, which shows that the Han Dynasty at that time was unable to completely solve the Xiongnu problem. However, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not follow in his footsteps and adopted an aggressive strategy.
He first sent Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions, intending to find the Xiongnu's old enemy, Yueshi. This move not only opened a chapter in the history of the Silk Road, but also laid a good foundation for the later anti-Xiongnu campaign.
Subsequently, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty appointed famous generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to lead the elite army to launch a series of protracted offensives. Under their leadership, the Han army won great victories one after another, and finally forced the Xiongnu to flee to the depths of the desert and did not dare to set foot in the Central Plains again.
This vigorous counteroffensive not only defended the security of the Central Plains, but also demonstrated the majesty of the Han Dynasty, making it one of the most powerful countries in the world at that time.
At the same time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also vigorously explored the Western Regions. He sent Zhang Qian twice to the Western Regions, and as a result, he not only found the old enemies of the Xiongnu, but also explored various communication routes to the West.
This "Silk Road", which later became famous all over the world, not only brought a large number of rare treasures, but also promoted cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Under the leadership of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty reached unprecedented glory in many aspects such as military, economic, and cultural.
He not only revitalized the Han Dynasty, but also expanded China's vision, and his influence spread throughout the ancient world. Because of this, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was able to become one of the greatest monarchs in history, on a par with Qin Shi Huang.
3. The Yongle Emperor of "The Death of the King".
As the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di's great achievements during his reign have all made future generations staggered. He not only consolidated the territory of the Ming Dynasty, but also set up more brilliant achievements in economic and cultural construction, and was praised as "the first emperor of the ages" by later generations.
First of all, Zhu Di's greatest contribution during his reign was to establish the national policy of "the Son of Heaven guards the country, and the king dies". This means that whoever ascends the dragon chair must not hesitate to take on the sacred duty of defending the country.
This principle originally originated from Zhu Di's own personal experience. As the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di finally broke out of the encirclement and became the new emperor by virtue of his outstanding military talent in the process of brotherly rivalry.
This experience made him deeply realize that only by putting the interests of the country above everything else can he ensure peace in the world. Therefore, even if he is already a supreme minister, Zhu Di is still on guard at all times.
He not only personally commanded the troops on many occasions, but also ordered that the emperor should not go out and that he must stay in the "gate of the country" of Beijing at all times. Although this approach has received a lot of criticism, it shows that Zhu Di attaches great importance to national security.
At the same time, in terms of economic and cultural construction, Zhu Di also left many masterpieces. For example, he organized the compilation of the Yongle Canon, a huge work that gathered all the classics of the time, which was undoubtedly an unprecedented protection and inheritance of Chinese culture.
He also led the famous Zheng He to the West, a feat that greatly expanded China's international influence. With these rich achievements, Zhu Di was regarded as the greatest emperor of the Ming Dynasty by later generations, and some people even ranked him alongside Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, as the real "Emperor of the Ages".
Fourth, the Tang Taizong of "both civil and military".
In Chinese history, the fourth emperor who can be called "the first emperor of the ages" is Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty during the Tang Dynasty. The level of his achievements is by no means comparable to that of ordinary emperors.
The reason why Li Shimin is so famous is mainly because of his "civil and military skills". This emperor was not only a generation of heroes with outstanding military talents, but also a far-sighted politician who also made great achievements in the management of the country.
As the founding father of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin himself was an outstanding general. Before he ascended the throne, he competed with his brother Li Jiancheng for the throne, and finally defeated his opponent and ascended to the throne with his military strength and strategy.
After ascending the throne, he led his army to conquer all directions, making the Tang Dynasty rise rapidly under him and become the most powerful dynasty in the world at that time. However, Li Shimin did not win by force alone.
He was also a wise politician who knew how to govern the country. At the beginning of his tenure, he set up a literary museum to recruit talents from all over the world, so that Shijin was no longer subject to the family. This laid the foundation for the later revival of the Tang Dynasty.
At the same time, Li Shimin is also a wise gentleman who is good at listening to advice. He devoted a great deal of effort to listening to his ministers, rather than simply going his own way. This tolerance and agility also earned him the heartfelt allegiance of his subordinates during his reign.
It was this unique ability to combine civil and military affairs that made Li Shimin the most outstanding monarch in the Tang Dynasty and even in Chinese history. Under his rule, the Tang Dynasty ushered in unprecedented prosperity and was later called the "Prosperous Tang Dynasty" period.
There is a saying that "all the heroes of the world are in my place", which shows Li Shimin's extraordinary status at that time. It can be seen that those who can be praised as "the first emperor of the ages" by later generations must be those monarchs who have made outstanding contributions to the country and the people in a specific historical period.
They not only have outstanding achievements in politics and military affairs, but also often have unique insights and attainments in culture and art. Only such a person can truly be called "an emperor through the ages".
epilogue
As we all know, there have been a total of 494 emperors in Chinese history, but there are very few who can really match the title of "Emperor of the Ages".
Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Yongle and others were all monarchs who made outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese civilization during a critical period.
Their achievements lie not only in their personal talents, but also in their adaptation to the times and their contribution to the course of history. This kind of keen insight into the historical trend and excellent execution is exactly the proper meaning of "an emperor through the ages".
This also enlightens future generations of monarchs that in order to truly dominate history, it is not enough to have a simple personal talent, but also to have insight into the world and a broad vision of the world. Only in this way can they truly become "emperors of the ages".
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