Humanities Building 002 - The of the Great Empire

Author: Jiang Shibei (Xu Xu)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: A heavy rain ignited the beacon fires that led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty; a failed reform echoed the dirge of the late Western Han Dynasty; a jade seal found in a field witnessed the court struggles, and the Rebellion of the Seven States. In the two thousand years of China's imperial history, every prelude to a new dynasty was rooted in peasant uprisings. Those unpredictable accidents always sway the fate of the state. Thus, the bookish Wang Mang became emperor, the peasant Liu Xiu became emperor, and even the cowherd Liu Panzi became emperor. What unseen force determines the course of history? In the distant past, how many stories of lament and laughter are there? China's two thousand years of imperial history is a history of war, a history of heroes, and more importantly, a history of the fusion and permeation of various ethnic groups and the renewal of civilizations on this vast land. The majesty of the great empire cannot suppress the cry, "Kings, nobles, generals, and ministers—how can there be a fixed lineage?" The "Son of Heaven" is merely a common occurrence for the strong and mighty. The heroes who rose up with pitchforks and banners competed for the world; the gravediggers of successive dynasties rose and fell swiftly. What unseen force determines the course of history? In the distant past, how many stories of lament and laughter are there? A heavy rain ignited the beacon fires that led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty; a failed reform echoed the dirge of the late Western Han Dynasty; a jade seal found in a field witnessed the court struggles, and the Rebellion of the Seven States. In the two thousand years of China's imperial history, every prelude to a new dynasty was rooted in peasant uprisings. Those unpredictable accidents always sway the fate of the state. Thus, the bookish Wang Mang became emperor, the peasant Liu Xiu became emperor, and even the cowherd Liu Panzi became emperor. What unseen force determines the course of history? In the distant past, how many stories of lament and laughter are there? China's two thousand years of imperial history is a history of war, a history of heroes, and more importantly, a history of the fusion and permeation of various ethnic groups and the renewal of civilizations on this vast land. The majesty of the great empire cannot suppress the cry, "Kings, nobles, generals, and ministers—how can there be a fixed lineage?" The "Son of Heaven" is merely a common occurrence for the strong and mighty. The heroes who rose up with pitchforks and banners competed for the world; the gravediggers of successive dynasties rose and fell swiftly. What unseen force determines the course of history? In the distant past, how many stories of lament and laughter are there?