Meg Lam
Evaluation of Qin Shihuang: How to evaluate the first feudal emperor in China history? Since the death of Qin until today, this is still one? Say different questions. Some people praised him as "an emperor through the ages" ("Li Zan Library Volume II Catalogue"); Some people say that Qin Shihuang "is not as good as the dragon, although he is the fourth or sixth emperor" (Zhang Taiyan's Qin Zhengji); Some people praised Qin Shihuang's reunification cause: "Qin Wang sweeps Liuhe, and he looks" (Li Bai's "Qin Wang sweeps Liuhe"). They all spoke highly of Qin Shihuang's achievements and affirmed his role in history. He is a great historical figure. Others curse? Qin Shihuang's "greed, progressive mind" and "tyranny is the beginning of the world" (Jia Yi's Qin Xin Zhu); "The first emperor was tyrannical until his son died" (Volume 8 of Zhenguan dignitaries); "The first emperor was resolute and willing to take punishment as a threat. He was lucky enough to be a full-time jailer, but he was bored at home "(quoted from Chen's Old News of National History). They all denounced the cruelty of Qin Shihuang's rule and were tyrants. These viewpoints all have some truth, but they are also one-sided because of the different positions and starting points of commentators.
To look at the problem historically is to put Qin Shihuang under the historical conditions at that time, analyze his merits and demerits and study his merits and demerits. To study the historical environment of Qin Shihuang, we should not only pay attention to the general trend of historical development at the end of the Warring States period, but also pay special attention to the historical characteristics of Qin's formation since the founding of the People's Republic of China and its influence on Qin Shihuang. This latter point has been ignored by most people in the evaluation of Qin Shihuang so far. When we systematically study the history of Qin dynasty and then evaluate Qin Shihuang, it is expected to avoid the one-sidedness of the past and draw a conclusion that is more in line with historical reality.
According to this observation, it should be said that Qin Shihuang was an outstanding historical figure who made great contributions to the historical development of China, and was also a brutal tyrant. His advantage is the main aspect, but it can't cover up his evil; His sins are deep, but this should not erase his great historical achievements.
Qin Shihuang's most important historical achievement was to complete the great cause of reunification and establish the first feudal centralized state in history.
Of course, the unification of Qin is an inevitable trend of historical development, and the objective situation has created conditions for reunification. Qin Shihuang came to the orchard when the unified fruit was ripe. But this historical inevitability does not mean that the role of individuals is insignificant. Why? Unification was achieved by the state of Qin? Why should reunification be completed in 22 1 year BC? In these respects, it shows the personal role of Qin Shihuang.
After Shang Yang's political reform, Qin became stronger and stronger, showing the vigorous vitality of the new feudal system in all aspects. In the later period of Wang Zhao's rule, the conditions for Qin to annex six countries gradually formed. After Qin Shihuang came to power, although there was a disagreement with Lv Buwei on how to govern China, which led to a massacre, he always adhered to the established national policy of the Qin Dynasty on the basic policy of developing eastward and eliminating separatist countries, without wavering or hesitating. He recognized the situation clearly, made decisive decisions, and accomplished the great cause of reunification in one go. As long as you look at the schedule after Qin Shihuang came to power, you can see that Qin Jinjun's pace is almost non-stop:
From 238 BC to 230 BC, Qin attacked Korea, Zhao and Wei successively to prepare for the large-scale elimination of vassal States.
Since 230 BC, they have been almost wiped out by a country:
Destroy Korea in the first 230 years
Attack Zhao in 229.
Destroyed Zhao in 228.
Attack Yan in the first 227 years
Swallows were destroyed in the first 226 years.
Destroy Wei in the first 225 years
1924 attack on Chu.
Chu was destroyed in the first 223 years.
Eliminate a generation in the first 222 years.
In the first 22 1 year.
From the speed of this March, we can see Qin Shihuang's courage and courage to complete reunification. Therefore, Jia Yi said that he "continued to be strong after VI and formulated a long-term strategy for conquering the mainland" (On Qin is quoted from Historical Records of Qin Shihuang's Biography), which to some extent reflects the role of Qin Shihuang in unifying China. If Qin Shihuang can't advance the unified war so resolutely and decisively, it is still a question whether the situation of the Warring States can end in 22 1 BC.
Qin Shihuang's contribution to reunification lies not only in making decisions of great historical significance, but also in making good use of talents and courageously changing course. Some critics praised Qin Shihuang's "military command ability", and there is not much basis for this evaluation. Compared with his predecessors, such as Qin Mugong and Qin Wugong, Qin Shihuang almost did not directly direct the war; However, Qin Shihuang made more brilliant achievements than his predecessors, except for the luck caused by history, mainly because he was good at employing people and brave in change. On the eve of China's reunification, Qin gathered almost all the first-class military strategists and politicians in China. There are Wang Jian, Wang Ben, Liao Wei, Li Si, Yao Jia and Dunwei. Most of them are not nationals of the State of Qin, or they serve the State of Qin wholeheartedly. All military offensives and political strategic plans to defeat the enemy were formulated and realized by them. The role of Qin Shihuang is to give full play to their role, listen to their advice and be brave in correcting mistakes. For example, when Chu State was destroyed, it began to misuse Li Xin. After the failure, he immediately changed course, invited Wang Jian to go out and delivered all the soldiers in the country to Wang Jian. As a result, he won. This kind of situation, if compared with the situation that unbelief in Li Mu and disinformation led to national subjugation, can be seen that Qin Shihuang, as a monarch, was good at employing people and had the courage to make up for it, which was of great significance to historical development? Important influence.
Qin Shihuang's contribution also lies in laying the foundation of a multi-ethnic feudal country. Some policies and measures implemented after Qin's reunification not only affected the feudal society in the next two thousand years, but also affected the present, such as the unification of characters. The unified measures and systems adopted by Qin Shihuang were bold innovations in the historical development at that time. He not only changed the political culture of the separatist regime, but also made the feudal society and economy develop smoothly. But also changed the inherent historical tradition of Qin in many ways. For example, the State of Qin has always been regarded as a backward area in the west by the Central Plains countries, and Qin Xiaogong has also suffered greatly. Although the forces of Qin entered the Central Plains after the Zhao Dynasty, its main ruling areas and base areas are still outside the pass. During the reign of Qin Shihuang, its territory reached an unprecedented level. Faced with this situation, Qin Shihuang created various systems on the basis of Qin system. He was not confined to the inherent system and tradition of Qin Dynasty, which showed his political foresight. Most of the systems formulated in Qin dynasty were inherited by later generations, which can prove that these systems and measures were adapted to the historical situation at that time. Qin Shihuang, who created these systems, could not have done this if his political vision did not go beyond the limitations of Qin in the western frontier.
In the history of Qin State, Qin Shihuang is an important figure in the development history of Qin State after Qin Mugong and Shang Yang. In the history of China, Qin Shihuang was also a representative figure who initiated an era.
But Qin Shihuang was still a rare tyrant. Qin Shihuang's cruelty cannot be explained only by the general reason of "the nature of the landlord class". Tang Zhen once said: "Since Qin Dynasty, emperors have been thieves" ("Hidden Books and Room Language"). This view is correct, but the "thief" of Qin Shihuang seems to be more tyrannical and guilty than other emperors. He is not only extravagant, but also causes the suffering of the broad masses of people; What is conducive to reunification is measures. Although it was beneficial to social development in the long run, it became a catastrophe at that time, such as the construction of the Great Wall. For decades, hundreds of thousands of people were recruited to do extremely heavy work. How much pain this corvee burden has brought to the people can be seen from the following records? Terrible degree. Yang Tinglie, a A Qing writer, wrote in Fang County Records that a hairy "hairy man" was discovered. It is said that their ancestors were migrant workers who escaped the labor of Qin Shihuang to build the Great Wall. Because they hide in the deep mountains and forests, they are covered with long hair. It is said that when they met the long-haired man, he asked you first, "Is the Great Wall finished?" Qin Huang is still here? ? "Just answer:" The Great Wall is not finished, Qin Shihuang is still there ",and the" Mao Man "will scare away. Of course, this record can only be regarded as a group of people? A legend, but if there is no such cruel reality in history, this terrible legend will never appear. It reflects that what Qin Shihuang did was based on the cruel exploitation and oppression of the broad masses of working people, which far exceeded the degree that society could bear, making it difficult to maintain the simple reproduction of society, so even some measures conducive to historical development caused disasters to the people at that time.
The cruelty of Qin Shihuang's rule is closely related to the historical tradition of Qin State. Qin was founded as a nomadic people. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Qin has been in an environment of fighting against the enemy. "Qin people suffer hardships" is caused by history, and the "cruelty" of the rulers is also consistent with the cruel reality of this war. From Qin Xianggong to Shang Yang and then to Qin Shihuang, its ruling methods have been extremely cruel: "Yi San ancestor" and "Yi Jiuzu", which are extremely rare in other vassal States. There are hundreds of martyrs recorded in Qin alone. Qin Shihuang completed the plan of the former monarchs to unify China, and at the same time, the cruel rule of Qin reached its peak. However, emphasizing the tradition of Qin does not mean exempting Qin Shihuang from personal guilt. His cruel personality, ambition and success, especially after reunification, are important reasons for aggravating people's disasters. Because of this, and because he pushed the social economy to the point of collapse at that time, the Qin Dynasty became an extremely dark dynasty in history.
Qin Shihuang is such a historical figure: he is not only a politician with great contributions, but also a tyrant.
(Selected from Lin Jianming's Draft of Qin History, Shanghai People's Publishing House 198 1 Edition).
White head? The General History of China, edited by the editor-in-chief, discusses the historical conditions of the prosperous Western Han Dynasty.
The Historical Conditions of the Prosperous Age of the Western Han Dynasty
"People create their own history, but not at will, but under the conditions of direct encounter, which is established and inherited from the past." The appearance of the flourishing age of the Western Han Dynasty has its objective material basis. From the founding of the Han Dynasty to the early years of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, due to the continuous implementation of the policy of resuming production and recuperating, the country has already possessed considerable economic strength. History:
It's been several years now. For more than 70 years, the country had nothing to do except floods and droughts. The people have given enough to their families, and they are all full, while the state treasury has more money. There is too much money in the capital to teach. The millet in Taicang, agarwood overflowing, is too heavy to return, so that it is corrupt and inedible. ? There are horses in ordinary streets and lanes, and there are crowds between buildings, but the people who take the characters can't get together. Yan-keepers eat Liang meat, officials are descendants, and officials think their surnames are numbers.
In the early years of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, this rich economy was different from that in the early Han Dynasty, which was the most basic historical condition for the Western Han Dynasty to embark on a prosperous era.
Another basic historical condition for the prosperity of the Western Han Dynasty was the consolidation of the unity of feudal countries. Since the early Han Dynasty, the king with different surnames was eliminated, and the separatist forces of the king with the same surname were greatly weakened. Emperor Han Jing also "ordered the vassals to rule their country", and the vassal countries only sealed the land and ruled the people. The feudal court was able to effectively control the whole country, and the unity of the country was strengthened. In addition, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was brilliant and had a long reign, and many factors combined to promote feudal rule.
"wise"
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty developed on the basis of the previous administration of Gao Zu, Wen and Jing, and formed a set of basic policies to meet the needs of many conveniences and "promoting his career". The core of this policy is "cultivating self-cultivation and educating people", and monks respect Confucianism.
Before Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, there was no system of recommending talents. In the second year of Emperor Wendi (BC 178), he issued the imperial edict "A person who is upright and can speak out to the extreme", and most of these imperial edicts were selected from the current officials. Shortly after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ascended the throne, he recruited talents on a large scale for many times in succession, and established a system of promoting sages at the age of county and county. In the winter of the first year of Jianyuan, the prime minister, the censor, the liehou, the middle twentieth, the twentieth, and the princes were called to promote the sages. In November of the first year of Yuanguang, "at the beginning, the county was ordered to raise a filial piety." In May, Liang Wudi wrote to a virtuous man, saying, "A wise man knows the body of kings in ancient and modern times, asks his advice, and writes in books. Personally, I see. " This time, Dong Zhongshu and Gong Dou were recommended for their research on Chunqiu. Dong Zhongshu put forward the idea of "making each vassal state have thousands of stones, choosing its officials and people, and paying tribute at the age of two". This idea includes annual tribute and quota, which is aimed at officials and people, and is more complete than Wendi in system. In fact, it includes talented people and people who should be commended from the perspective of feudal ethics. If you focus on one aspect when recommending talents, it is also called "praising Cai Mao and filial piety". Therefore, Ma Duanlin said: "Later, I ordered Zhou County to raise Cai Mao and Lian Xiao, all of whom borrowed from Chinese books." In the fifth year of Yuanguang (BC 130), "the micro-officials have a wise business, learn the skills of the first king, and continue to eat in counties and counties, so that the plan is common."
When the inspection system was first implemented, it was not implemented in counties and countries, and some counties and counties did not recommend anyone. Therefore, in the first year of yuanshuo (BC 128), Liang Wudi issued imperial edicts in winter and November, strictly enforcing the supervision responsibility, saying, "I stayed up all night. Jia and the people in the word are on their way. So, I went to the elderly to restore filial piety, choose heroes, talk about literature, participate in the discussion of state affairs, pray for the people's hearts, write letters to deacons, and promote honesty and filial piety, which became a common practice. ..... and sages are rewarded, sages are slaughtered, and the ancient road is also. It is sinful not to mention it with Dr. Zhong, Dr. Zhong and Dr. Zhong. "After consulting with the courtiers, they stipulated a severe punishment method:" Not filial piety and not imperial edict should be regarded as disrespect. If you are dishonest and incompetent, you will be exempted. " During this period, he was promoted from a doctor to a public doctor, and then he became a prime minister and was named Hou. He built a guest house in Xiangfu, opened the east gate with convenient access, and invited the world's sages to participate in the discussion.
According to Hanshu, from the first year of Yuan Dynasty to the fifth year of Yuan Dynasty (BC 140- 106), the imperial court recruited talents on a large scale six times. In addition to the national recruitment recommendation, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty often rewarded and appointed those who met different talents. The emergence and appointment of outstanding talents in all aspects is one of the important reasons for the heyday of Emperor Wu.
(selected from Whitehead? Editor-in-Chief: A General History of China, published by Shanghai People's Publishing House 1995. )