The Emperor's Secret: A Psychological Analysis of Seven Chinese Emperors

Author: Zhao Liang
Author Country: China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: Why did Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, burn books and bury scholars? Why could the habitual drunkard Liu Bang seize the world from Xiang Yu? Did Wu Zetian's debauchery stem from early-life male worship? Why was the Great Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang described as a "bloodthirsty man controlled by sorrowful memories"? And how did Emperor Guangxu become a withered creature under the shadow of necrophilia? See the psychological biographies of seven Chinese emperors written by the author, drawing on the research methods of psychological history! (Recommended by Southern Weekly!)
Author's Self-Introduction: This book is precisely a lyrical psychological biography. The term "lyrical" indicates that whatever I discuss, whether it be a person or a topic, reflects my personal views. I have always held the belief that a unique individual, even when drafting a document, imbues it with a distinctive flavor; conversely, a victim of popular social tastes, no matter what genre they choose, cannot express anything personal. Their feelings are universal, and their ideas are trendy, so their works, in my view, do not qualify as lyrical prose. I have aspired to be a lyrical prose writer and measure my achievements by this standard. This book is an attempt at lyrical prose writing. The writing of this book draws on certain methods of psychological history. Psychological history is a historiographical school that emerged in Western countries in the 1960s, aiming to apply various psychological theories, particularly Freudian psychoanalytic theory and methods, to explain historical processes, phenomena, and the actions of historical figures. In the 1970s, the study of psychological history reached its peak, with a large number of works published, including biographical studies of historical figures such as Erikson on Luther and Gandhi, Frank Manuel on Newton, Doris Kearns on Johnson, Peter Loewenberg on Heinrich Himmler, Otto Frank on Bismarck, and analyses of Hitler by many others. Some contemporary figures, such as Mao Zedong, Nixon, and Kissinger, were also subjects of study. The inclination of psychological history toward biographical research was clearly influenced by Freud's own biographical study of Leonardo da Vinci. Freud's The Psychopathology of Everyday Life projected certain conceptual assumptions from psychology onto specific subjects, establishing their personality types, revealing the hidden causes of their psychological disorders, and analyzing the "id" of the seven emperors.
—Excerpt from Southern Weekly · Smelling the Fragrance of Books:
The debauched Wu Zetian only at her age (her psychological age was at least 10 years younger than her actual age) could indulge in sex without restraint, truly enjoying it for pleasure rather than for reproduction or other purposes. Similarly, in the previous stage, though she was fully immersed in power struggles, her experiences in hunting for men provided her with valuable insights into the superiority of men in sexual matters. When she finally decided to enjoy sex, she knew exactly what kind of partner to choose.
Regarding her mother's preferences, the daughter, Princess Taiping, was well aware. Historical records describe this plump princess, who bore a striking resemblance to the Empress, as "her father was an emperor, her mother was an empress, her husband was a prince, and her son was a marquis—more honored than anyone else." Spending her days idly at court, she indulged in promiscuity without restraint, engaging in countless sexual encounters with men, tasting every pleasure without limit. By chance, Princess Taiping discovered Feng Xiaobao, a humble pharmacist from Hu County in the capital. This mediocre merchant, unable to prosper through business, had gained entry into the palace through his masculine appearance, "finding favor with the maidservant of the Thousand Gold Princess." He was tall, strong, well-proportioned, and exuded a heavy aura of lust.
Princess Taiping felt an instinctual attraction to him. Upon trying him, she found him to be a skilled and virile warrior, physically powerful and possessing an exceptionally large penis, a rare and extraordinary gift. Out of filial piety, after repeatedly enjoying him, she introduced him to her mother, Wu Zetian, who was suffering from sexual frustration. At that time, the Tang court had not yet shaken off the customs of the Five Barbarian Tribes' chaos, and incest was not considered a disgrace. Mother and daughter both indulged in the same man, and everyone accepted it without shame. Therefore, when introducing Feng Xiaobao, Princess Taiping spoke candidly: "Xiaobao has extraordinary abilities; he can serve the Empress."
Thus, this tall and handsome sexual machine was now in the hands of Wu Zetian. The machine's characteristic was that it could operate as long as it was fueled. After Wu Zetian had consumed large quantities of poultry, fish, and delicacies within the belly of this giant, the human machine offered its reward in the form of a-like embrace, a series of intense tremors, and the expulsion of drenching sweat from her mother's body.
Accompanied by this continuously surging sexual machine, Wu Zetian spent countless nights of ecstasy. Though she was already 60 years old, she still indulged in the pleasures of a young woman in her prime, like a tigress or a wolf at the height of her youth. There was no other reason—just that it kept her young. Which woman doesn't want to be young? Especially as old age approached, Wu Zetian was eager to blur the line between imagination and reality.