In the field of Chinese historiography, the status of the "Zizhi Tongjian" cannot be overstated, and even those who do not understand history must be very familiar with this name, and it is the only historical masterpiece in history that can be compared with the "History of History".
However, it was such a far-reaching national-level work that was almost banned, and the murderer was actually related to Wang Anshi.
Speaking of Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, naturally everyone knows that in the Northern Song Dynasty, they were all well-known literary and political masters, whether in the literary or political circles, they have made great achievements, even in the entire history of China, they are also counted.
Both men, one born in 1019 (Sima Guang) and one born in 1021 (Wang Anshi), were only two years apart; one was born in Shanxi (Sima Guang) and the other was born in Jiangxi (Wang Anshi), both had a "Xi" character and both served as prime ministers; moreover, both died in 1086.
Two big people with such a relationship, in such a special era, will inevitably intersect, some good and some bad.
Speaking of which, Sima Guang and Wang Anshi are both selfless and loss-free people, and there is almost no place to blame in their personal lives, if there is no change, the two people will definitely become close friends.
Of course, even if you earn your life in the change, the two are still respectful of each other in life, and have not said a bad word about each other.
However, in the face of politics, you are not allowed to talk about friendship, and Sima Guang and Wang Anshi are both stubborn people, both regard the world as their own responsibility, and both believe that the other party's approach is to destroy the world, and conflict is inevitable.
When Wang Anshi came to power, all of Sima Guang's faction was exiled, including su shi, Ouyang Xiu, and Wen Yanbo, who were also famous; and after Sima Guang came to power, none of the advocates of changing the law remained and were all eliminated.
(Photo: Portrait of Sima Guang)
This is the extreme nature of the Chinese-style reform, either left or right, refusing to reconcile, rejecting centrists.
After the two died in 1086, the new party of Wang Anshi's faction returned to power and began to liquidate the old party, Sima Guang, as the leader of the old party, although he had died, still smashed his tombstone, and Sima Guang's "Zizhi Tongjian" for 19 years was also considered to be the old party's thing and demanded that it be banned.
If the New Party's demands succeed this time, then there will be no "Zizhi Tongjian" in China's history, what a great pity!
Fortunately, some people in the old party stood up and said that the four words "Zizhi Tongjian" were given by the former emperor Shenzong, and the preface was also written by Emperor Shenzong himself, so how dare you destroy what the former emperor left behind?
People who often watch costume dramas know that as soon as this sentence comes out, the situation will be reversed immediately, and even arrogant people dare not act rashly.
In this way, the Zizhi Tongjian was preserved, which is really fortunate!
It is also worth mentioning that the person who advocated the prohibition of the destruction of the Zizhi Tongjian was named Cai Bian, the younger brother of the traitor Cai Jing, and also the son-in-law of Wang Anshi.
This is also a reason why Wang Anshi has always been criticized by people, and most of the people appointed in the change of law are talented and unethical, such as Lu Huiqing, Cai Jing, Zhang Huan, Zeng Bu, and so on.
Fortunately, Emperor Shenzong attached great importance to the Zizhi Tongjian at that time, which made us breathe a sigh of relief today.
Look at the evaluation of this historical masterpiece by celebrities throughout the ages.
Gu Yanwu: "With a lifetime of energy, it will become an indispensable book for future generations." ”
Wang Mingsheng: "There must be no books in this heaven and earth, and scholars must not fail to read books." ”
Zeng Guofan: "Stealing the book of the sages, Mo is good at Sima Wenzhenggong's "Zizhi Tongjian", and its ancient treatises are eclectic and open-minded. ”
Liang Qichao: "Sima Wengong's Tongjian is also a great text of heaven and earth. The grandeur of its structure and the abundance of its materials have made it impossible for future generations to write a general history, and it is inevitable that they will not be able to base it on it, and there is no one who can heal it so far. Wen Gong is also a great man! ”
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