Illustrated History of the Rise and Fall of Ancient Chinese Dynasties

Author: Zhang Hai Nian / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The historical lessons of the rise and fall of China's dynasties are well summarized by the Eastern Jin historian Gan Bao: The rise of emperors must await the Mandate of Heaven. The rise and fall of dynasties are not caused by human actions. Yao and Shun practiced the inner abdication system, embodying Chinese virtues; the Han and Wei dynasties adopted the outer abdication system, conforming to the broader principles of China. The revolutions of Tang and Wu were in accordance with the will of Heaven; the conflicts between Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu laid the foundation for their achievements. Each achieved the throne due to their destiny. Behind the phenomena of historical rise and fall, there are certain patterns, like mines, waiting for us to brush away the superficial, insignificant soil to discover the profound lessons buried beneath. It is to extract beneficial insights from this valuable resource.
In 251 BC, King Zhaoxiang of Qin passed away, and his son Ying Zhu succeeded him as King Xiaowen. King Xiaowen honored his mother, Tang Bazi, as Empress Dowager Tang, and appointed his son Ying Yi as crown prince. Thus, the state of Zhao sent Ying Yi's wife and children back to Qin. The king of Korea, dressed in mourning, came to the mourning hall to pay respects to King Zhaoxiang.
In 250 BC, King Xiaowen formally ascended the throne but died after ruling for only three days. Ying Yi succeeded him as King Zhuangxiang of Qin. King Zhuangxiang honored his mother, Xia Ji, as Empress Dowager Xia, and his mother-in-law, Huayan Fu, as Empress Dowager Huayan.
In 249 BC, after King Zhuangxiang's death, the crown prince Ying Zheng ascended the throne. At that time, Ying Zheng was only thirteen years old, and Lü Buwei served as the Prime Minister of Qin, deciding all state affairs. Ying Zheng called him "Zhongfu." When King Ying Zheng first ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Zhao Ji maintained a private relationship with Lü Buwei. As Ying Zheng grew older, Lü Buwei feared that this relationship would be exposed and bring him trouble, so he presented his concubine, Lao Ai, disguised as an eunuch, to Empress Dowager Zhao Ji. Empress Dowager Zhao Ji favored Lao Ai and had two sons with him, appointing him as Marquis Changxin and granting him Taiyuan as his fief. Lao Ai also influenced political decisions. Many guests requested to become Lao Ai's attendants, and someone in Ying Zheng's entourage had a conflict with Lao Ai, leading to his accusation of being an uncastrated eunuch.
Ying Zheng then ordered Lao Ai handed over to the judicial officials for punishment. Fearing for his life, Lao Ai stole the imperial seal and pretended to act on behalf of the king, mobilizing troops to attack Xinyan Palace, where Ying Zheng resided, and starting a rebellion. Ying Zheng sent the Prime Minister Changjun and Lü Wenjun to suppress Lao Ai. In Xianyang, they killed hundreds of rebels, and Lao Ai was captured while fleeing.
In autumn, in the ninth month, Ying Zheng ordered the execution of Lao Ai's father's family, mother's family, and wife's family—three clans in total. His associates were executed by being pulled apart alive, and their relatives were exiled to Shu for lighter crimes, totaling over 4,000 households. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Zhao Ji was imprisoned in Yongcheng, and her two sons with Lao Ai were killed.
Ying Zheng decreed: "Anyone who dares to advise me about the Empress Dowager will be beheaded, have their limbs cut off, and piled beneath the palace gates!" As a result, 27 people died for this.
A guest scholar from Qi, Mao Jiao, sought an audience with King Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng sent a messenger to tell him, "Have you not seen the corpses piled beneath the palace gates?" Mao Jiao replied, "I have heard that there are 28 stars in the sky. Now that 27 people have died, I came precisely to make up that number. I am not a man who fears death!" The messenger reported Mao Jiao's words to Ying Zheng. Fearing involvement, all of Mao Jiao's fellow villagers fled, carrying their belongings.
Hearing the messenger's report, Ying Zheng flew into a rage and ordered, "Bring a large cauldron quickly! Boil this audacious man who deliberately offends me and see how he can still pile up corpses beneath the palace gates to make up the 28 stars!"
Ying Zheng sat holding his sword, and immediately summoned Mao Jiao. Mao Jiao slowly approached, knelt and bowed multiple times before standing up and saying, "I have heard that living people do not shy away from discussing death, and that rulers of states do not shy away from discussing the fall of their nations. Those who fear death cannot preserve life, and those who fear the fall of their state cannot ensure its survival. The way of life and death, and the rise and fall of states, are what wise rulers eagerly seek to understand. Do you not wish to hear what I have to say?"
Ying Zheng asked, "What do you wish to discuss?"
Mao Jiao replied, "Your Majesty has acted arrogantly and rebelliously. Do you not know it yourself? You have been pulled apart alive, your two brothers beaten to death in sacks, your mother exiled to Yongcheng and imprisoned, and you have killed ministers who dared to advise you. Even the tyrants Xia Jie and Shang Zhou did not act with such cruelty! Now, when the people of the world hear of these atrocities, their hearts will scatter and disintegrate, and no one will long for the state of Qin. I cannot help but worry for you in private! I have finished speaking!"
With that, Mao Jiao undressed and lay on the torture device, ready to face punishment.
Hearing this, Ying Zheng had an epiphany and quickly descended the hall, personally assisting Mao Jiao and saying, "I am willing to accept your advice!" He then granted Mao Jiao the title of Shangqing.
The next day, Ying Zheng personally drove his chariot to bring Empress Dowager Zhao Ji back to Xianyang, and mother and son were reconciled as before.
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