The Yuan Dynasty: How glorious it was!

#gentghishan# #Mongolian Empire# #元朝# #KUblai Khan#

For many modern people who lack knowledge and have no intention of reading history, the Yuan Dynasty can be said to be looking at flowers in the mist and looking at the moon in the water. After countless darkenings after the Ming Dynasty, it is difficult for future generations to see clearly and clearly. In many people’s impressions, the Yuan Dynasty was a dark, authoritarian and barbaric emperor, cruel ministers, corrupt officials and people divided into four categories... It seems that there is no natural reason why this dynasty should not perish, but is this really the case? Let us go through six historical truths about the Yuan Dynasty , take a peek into the real Yuan Dynasty.

1. Leniency in punishments and caution in law are unmatched in previous generations

The biggest feature of the criminal law in the Yuan Dynasty was lenience in punishment and caution in law. When Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, first came to the throne, he publicly declared to his ministers: "Human life is of the utmost importance. I am truly sorry for what I regret." He also emphasized the guiding ideology of lenient punishment and caution in the criminal law of the Yuan Dynasty: "I govern the world with great care and pity. Anyone who is guilty must be punished again and again. "Compared with the Tang and Song dynasties, the criminal laws of the Yuan Dynasty were much more relaxed, which was a huge progress in the history of China's legal system. The only means of punishment for crimes were flogging, rod, punishment, and death. There are five types of death, and the judicial authorities are particularly cautious when implementing these five punishment methods.

"History of the Yuan Dynasty" commented on this: "In ancient times, the five punishments were ink, scorpion, slaying, palace, and big punishment. In later generations, corporal punishments were eliminated, and the five punishments were whipping, rod, disciple, flow, and death. Because of this, the Yuan Dynasty used light codes and was also benevolent." American scholar Jack Weatherford also commented: "Kublai Khan established a more stable criminal law system than the Song Dynasty, and it was also better than the Song Dynasty. The law is gentler and more humane. "In the spirit of humanitarianism, the central government of the Yuan Dynasty vigorously prohibited torture. The second section of the Criminal Department of the "Yuan Dian Zhang" contains a special article "Prohibition of Cruel Torture", which stipulates: "Tools for imprisonment are custom-made. In recent years, the government outside the country has used cruel methods to torture people. Anyone who refuses to accept the punishment will kneel down." On top of the porcelain awning and broken tiles, there is so much pain that no one can bear it. No matter whether he is guilty or not, what can he ask for? The other crimes are beyond the law and will not be compared to this. If an official is violated, he will be severely punished, which seems to reflect the emperor's original intention of merciful punishment and eliminate the lingering wind of cruelty. "From this article, it is worthy of future generations to think carefully. In the Yuan Dynasty, there were some lower-level state officials. Excessive torture methods were strongly prohibited by the Yuan government, and questioning such as "the pain is unbearable, no one can bear it" was raised in a humanitarian spirit. This is similar to the Ming Dynasty where the government openly advocated heavy legal torture to intimidate people all over the world. What a huge difference.

2. Advanced science and technology, unparalleled in the world

The Yuan Dynasty was not only the last golden age of Chinese mathematics, but also the pinnacle of the development of ancient Chinese astronomy. Mathematician Zhu Shijie's "Si Yuan Jade Mirror" completely represents the highest level of mathematics in the Song and Yuan Dynasties! American science historian George Sarton (G.Sarton) believes that "Si Yuan Jade Mirror" in his famous book "Introduction to the History of Science" It is "the most important Chinese mathematical work and one of the most outstanding mathematical works in the Middle Ages." Luo Shilin, a mathematician of the Qing Dynasty, said when commenting on Zhu Shijie's mathematical achievements: "Han Qing during the Song and Yuan Dynasties could be called a tripod with Qin Daogu (Jiushao) and Li Renqing (Ye). Daogu's positive and negative squares, Renqing Tianyuan is like a pile of accumulated materials, all of which are sufficient for the ages. Han Qing also encompasses everyone, trying their best to match the similar, divine and clear, especially surpassing Qin and Li!" This means that Zhu Shijie's mathematical achievements are rare and rare throughout the ages, especially surpassing the mathematician Qin Jiushao of the Song Dynasty. and Li Ye, a mathematician from the late Jin Dynasty to the early Yuan Dynasty.

During the reign of Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty, the astronomer Guo Shoujing compiled the "Time-telling Calendar", made simple rituals, and made brilliant achievements such as the lamp leakage of the Daming Palace, which were hundreds of years ahead of the West. Xu Guangqi, a man of the Ming Dynasty, praised Guo Shoujing's great achievements in astronomy and calendar in the Yuan Dynasty and said: "It is Shoujing's method. Over the past three hundred years, the world has relied on it to surpass the previous generations." At the same time, Xu Guangqi also recognized the reason for the decline of mathematics in the Ming Dynasty. It is a sad reality, so he criticized this situation: "The study of arithmetic has been abolished for hundreds of years in modern times." And Xu Guangqi's friend Li Zhizao commented on the astronomical officials of the Ming Dynasty: "In Taiwan, all the officials were supervised, and all the leaks were covered with dust. , the star platform is broken, and the sundial hall plan is still unknown. "How sad!

There is also a living fact that also reflects the evaluation of Xu Guangqi and Li Zhizao - when the Italian missionary Lima Dou Laihua saw in Nanjing the astronomical instruments manufactured by Guo Shoujing, who were transported from Dadu in the Yuan Dynasty to Nanjing in the early Ming Dynasty. He couldn't help but admired: "The scale and exquisiteness of its design far exceed anything of this kind that has ever been seen and known in Europe. Although these instruments have withstood the test of rain, snow and weather changes for 250 years, they have not lost any of their original glory." However, due to the different geographical latitudes of Nanjing and Beijing, Yuan Dadu's instruments cannot be adjusted without adjustment. Suitable for use in Nanjing. Matteo Ricci therefore mocked the Ming Dynasty very sharply and said: "As for the sundial, they know that it gets its name from the equator, but they have not yet learned how to adjust the sundial according to changes in latitude."

3. Living a Well-off Life , Yangji has a hospital

In many history books today, it is said that the people in the Yuan Dynasty were in trouble, so the people rose up. Indeed, the largest natural disaster in history occurred at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, which led to widespread refugees, so the White Lotus Sect took the opportunity to incite them to rebel. However, we have to see that for most of the Yuan Dynasty, people basically lived a happy and well-off life.

Ye Ziqi, a native of the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, recorded in "Cao Mu Zi": "In the Yuan Dynasty, after the ancestors were mixed together, the world was peaceful for six to seventy years. The punishments were light and the taxes were light, and the war was rarely used. The living were raised and the dead were buried. Traveling thousands of miles and staying at home, you can truly say that you are prosperous! ""The Yuan Dynasty benefited the people with a plan, a hospital with support, and food for the heavy prisoners, all of which were benevolent policies!"

Li Kaixian of the Ming Dynasty wrote in "Xi Ye" "Spring Outing Preface" reveals the real reason why the Yuan people lived a well-off life in one sentence: "The Yuan Dynasty did not guard the borders. Taxes were light but they had enough food and clothing. They had enough food and clothing to sing and compose." Even Zhu Chongba, who opposed the Yuan Dynasty and seized power, had to put on his dragon robe. Acknowledgment: "For example, my parents were born in the early Yuan Dynasty when the world was under control. At that time, the laws were strict, which made the stupid and stubborn fear power and virtue, the strong did not bully the weak, and the masses did not bully the widowed. Among the people, fathers, sons, husbands, , Women, live their lives in peace, and benefit from nothing. ""The Yuan Dynasty ruled China for almost a hundred years. At the beginning, the monarchs and ministers were simple and simple, and they rested with the people."

Some. If people think that it is Huang Po selling melons from the Yuan Dynasty, they are totally wrong. After the great Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta came to China, what he saw and heard was no different from what the Yuan people recorded. At that time, I traveled along the coast of China, and the travel notes I left behind were basically full of exclamations, such as “There is no one richer and more powerful than the Chinese in the world!” “The Chinese are the most skilled in craftsmanship among all ethnic groups. This is famous far and wide!" "For business travelers, China is the safest and most beautiful place! Even if a single traveler carries a lot of belongings, he can rest assured during the nine-month trip."

After the great chaos in the Yuan Dynasty, there were still quite a few places in the south of the Yangtze River where living standards were still very high. For example, Gu Ying of Kunshan relied on his financial resources, bold personality, and clever talents to flourish in the world and revitalize elegance. Hosted the grand art event - Yushan Yaji for 20 years. Among them, there are more than 200 literati who came to Yushan Pavilion and sang with it. There are more than 3000 poems in existence today, which can be regarded as the last glory in the cultural history of Yuan Dynasty. It's a pity that after the Yuan and Ming Dynasties changed, Gu Ying's home was confiscated and his property was distributed to Fengyang. He died in exile, and the romance of Yushan disappeared. Who did this? You know it well.

4. All nations come to court, a land of etiquette

There is no doubt that among all Chinese dynasties throughout the ages, only the Yuan Dynasty has the highest international status. "Records of Taizu of the Ming Dynasty" once recorded Zhu Chongba's envy of all the nations who came to the court during the prosperous period of the Yuan Dynasty: "The Emperor Taizu of the Yuan Dynasty was born in Mobei, and the Fan Dada and Huihui kings pacified him. Taizu's Sun was known for his benevolence, and he was the emperor of the world. For a hundred years, no one admired his kindness and no one feared his orders. At this time, there was no danger in all directions, and the people were prosperous. ”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s words “No one yearns for kindness, no one fears orders” reflects the clear legal system of the Yuan Dynasty government and good social order, while “there is no danger in all directions, the people are well-off and everything is safe” reflects the high international status of the Yuan Dynasty , the people’s life is good, and the society’s material wealth is sufficient.

To this day, the issue of the quality of Chinese people is still the focus of discussion from all walks of life. Have the quality of Chinese people always been so poor? In fact, not at all, at least not during the Yuan Dynasty. Many people one-sidedly believe that in Chinese history, the social atmosphere during the heyday of the Yuan Dynasty was good due to the rule of Wenjing of the Han Dynasty and the rule of Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty. In fact, the social atmosphere of the Han and Tang Dynasties was not as good as that of the Yuan Dynasty. Dai Liang, a great poet at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, recorded in the preface of "Huangyuan Fengya": "The ancestors have cultivated the world for fifty or sixty years with their deep benevolence and virtue, and the old people of Daibai and the young children of Zhongya cheered and encouraged each other. The bustle among the alleys is beyond the reach of the Han, Tang and Song dynasties."

Marco Polo once mentioned his impressions of the urban residents of the Yuan Dynasty in his travel notes: "They run themselves with fairness and loyalty. They live in harmony with each other, and the men and women living on the same street are as close as family members."

The French priest Lubruch's memories of the social atmosphere of the Yuan Dynasty were more detailed and detailed. True: "One unexpected circumstance is the politeness, refinement, and respectful affection that characterizes their social life. The quarrels, fights, and bloodshed that are common in Europe do not occur here, even in the drunken atmosphere. It's the same in Dazu. Loyalty is a quality that can be seen everywhere. Their cars and other belongings don't need to be locked, and no one will steal them. If their livestock is lost, everyone will help find it. The property can be returned to its original owner."

After the papal envoy Odoric came to China, he expressed the most praise for the society of the Yuan Dynasty in his "Odoric Journey to the East": " The fact that so many people of different races can live together peacefully under the management of the only authority seems to me to be a miracle in the world."

5. The prosperity of culture and education is the envy of neighboring countries

The Yuan Dynasty established 24,400 official schools at all levels, so that every 2,600 people in the country had the achievements of one school. The Yuan Dynasty also attached great importance to academies, which were cultural and educational organizations for Chinese scholars, and supported them in many ways. Mongolians, Semu people, Han people, and southerners joined the ranks of academies builders, creating the idea that "the establishment of academies was not as good as in the Yuan Dynasty." History. Moreover, the teaching in the academies of the Yuan Dynasty further expanded and was no longer limited to the well-known traditional content of spreading Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and seeking to pass the imperial examination.

For example, Yuanli Mountain Academy was the first one discovered in ancient my country and the only one that practiced medical teaching and provided outpatient services. It has special research value. Another example is that the West Lake Academy of the Yuan Dynasty was not only the national publishing center of the Yuan Dynasty, but also had an important historical position in the entire history of Chinese publishing.

The prosperity of education in the Yuan Dynasty made the Korean people on the Korean Peninsula envious. For example, Jin Dongyang once praised: "Today, my emperor Yuan is towering and illustrious. He first used martial arts to determine the world. Now he uses literature and science to coordinate the sea. He builds Jun buildings and serves as Jun balances. Those who abandon straw and lai and talk about morality do not know how many people are there!" < /p>

6. Vast territory and powerful military

The Yuan Empire in the 13th century was like the British Empire in the 19th century and the only superpower today - the United States. In the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the compilation of national maps and maps, and the secretary and supervisor who presided over the matter reported: "Now wherever the sun rises and where the sun goes down belongs to us!" Later Zhongshu Zuo Cheng Xu Youren wrote in "Dayuan" In the preface of "Yi Tong Zhi", he proudly declares: "We are far away from the four extremes of the Yuan Dynasty. Those who have never heard of it in the records, and those who have never belonged to the ancient times, will all confuse their groups and mix them together." Not only the officials of the imperial court were full of pride, but also the people The same is true for ordinary writers of Yuan songs. For example, Wu Hongdao sang in the Yuan song "Yue Diao·Fighting Quails": "First they took over Dali, and then they took over Goryeo. They all took over the small and partial countries, and unified the country and the country."

Sadly, few modern Chinese people know this historical truth - when the Yuan Dynasty invaded the Yunnan border with the Burmese Bagan Dynasty, the Yunnan people were closely united around the Yuan central government headed by Kublai Khan and The local government of Yunnan, headed by Sai Dianchi, dealt a powerful blow to the invading Burmese invaders. Seven hundred to forty thousand, only one person died, creating a miracle in the history of Asian wars! What would have been the consequences if there had not been this self-defense counterattack against Myanmar with less to win more? It is difficult for us to imagine! Perhaps, Taungoo, Myanmar in Zhu Ming's era The Burmese army of the dynasty "divided into the invaders, maimed several counties, and ravaged one area", leaving behind a "white bones and green phosphorus", so that a few years later, people were still gnashing their teeth, and "Dali, Heqing, Menghua, Yao'an, The tragedy of Yunnan in the Ming Dynasty of "the five counties of Chuxiong and Wuyi Village were deported, and they moved to Er without dying" will be staged in advance!

After reading these six historical facts, I can't help but wonder, what will happen to the past glory in the future? In the "greater" dynasties, there should be further progress, but unfortunately, the historical trend ends here. The short-sighted rulers and slave literati of the Ming Dynasty looked down upon this.

In fact, from the perspective of the short-sighted rulers and slave literati who succeeded the Ming Dynasty, any statement about the darkness, corruption and cruelty of the Yuan Dynasty is objectively correct; any description of its glory is questionable and needs to be reconsidered. Discussion: All records involving the regression of civilization in the Yuan and Ming dynasties need to be strictly banned or deleted; all folk speech and writing that affects the rule of the Ming Dynasty need to be vigorously supervised and controlled