In this year, China had three emperors.

Author: Ding Yanshi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Ming Emperor Chongzhen was like this, Li Zicheng was like this, Dorgon was like this, Wu Sangui was like this; throughout history—those who believed they were acting for the sake of heaven were like this; those who claimed to save the nation and its people were like this; those with a strong sense of mission were like this; those who were determined to establish their historical legacy were like this. In that year, many shocking events occurred in China, and many remarkable figures emerged. Every event and every person was worthy of attention from later generations in the long and winding river of history.
In the year 1644, the 17th year of the Ming Emperor Chongzhen, the 1st year of the Shunzhi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and the 1st year of the Yongchang era of the Daxian Dynasty. That year—Chongzhen Emperor died, the city of Beijing fell! Wu Sangui surrendered, Shanhai Pass was breached! Li Zicheng fled, the city of Beijing burned! The Shunzhi Emperor entered Beijing, and China underwent a regime change! In that year, China ended the 276-year rule of the Ming Dynasty and ushered in the 268-year foundation of the Qing Dynasty. It was a year of earth-shaking changes, a turning point after the end of a century of turmoil and war, marking the beginning of a new century of peace and prosperity. That year, many shocking events occurred in China; many remarkable figures emerged. Every event and every person was worthy of attention from later generations in the long and winding river of history. Every event that took place, though it may have seemed abrupt at the time, was justified from a historical perspective—it was part of a story, part of a continuation.
"History repeats itself," of course, history is always repeating itself—just as it has in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Because history is created by humans. Yet, throughout history, only a few have learned from it, drawing lessons from the past. Thus, history keeps repeating itself. The figures who appear on the historical stage, whether wise or foolish, virtuous or villainous, brave or timid, as long as they leave a mark, all share a characteristic: a strong "private desire." Without an extraordinary "private desire," one cannot leave a trace in history.
"Private desire" comes in many forms, some good, some evil. The most common are knowledge and power. The former is good, the latter is evil. The great philosophers and sages throughout history are few in number; yet, the history of thousands of years is merely a record of humans chasing power. The corruption of power is like the temptation of the devil in the Bible. When you first pursue power, it clearly grants you intelligence, wisdom, courage, and confidence. But once you taste and absorb the essence of power, it subtly instills in you greed, brutality, ignorance, tyranny, blindness, and arrogance. When power inflates to its extreme, what you gain is loneliness, frustration, sorrow, fear—and then, death.