Comments on Historical Figures in Qin and Han Dynasties (IV): Filial Piety Reform

In 62 BC1year, Qin Mugong died; In 384 BC, Gong Xian succeeded to the throne. In 237 years, Qin experienced 14 monarchs, but all achieved nothing. Internal political chaos, external territory erosion, economic development from prosperity to stagnation.

In 403 BC, the Han, Zhao and Wei clans were divided into Jin, which marked that China entered the Warring States from the Spring and Autumn Period. Qi, Chu and Yan eliminated the neighboring small countries in turn according to the degree of difficulty and expanded their territory. The aristocratic hereditary system based on patriarchal clan system in the six eastern countries gradually collapsed. With the gradual popularization of production tools such as Niu Geng and ironware, the number of yeomen and professional craftsmen in various countries has increased significantly, and the ruling class in various countries has changed from slave owners to emerging landlords. Militarily, regional separatism, agricultural economic development, political separation of civil and military responsibilities, and professional bureaucratic governance system within the country are taking shape.

Among the six countries, Wei had the greatest influence on Qin. During his reign (445 BC-396 BC), he was appointed Prime Minister and took the lead in carrying out reforms. Wei became the first powerful country in the Warring States period. Wei Jun made a crusade to the west, and all the Hedong areas occupied by Qin were recaptured by Wei. Wei also crossed the Yellow River to the west, extending its territory to 100 km north of Xianyang, and building the Great Wall of Wei to block Qin Jun.

Qin Xiangong is determined to become strong and make great efforts. In his 22 years in office, he did three far-reaching events, which made Qin, who had been addicted for more than 200 years, walk out of the darkness and move towards the light.

The first major event was: in the first year of succession, the system of "human sacrifice" cursed by everyone in the world was abolished.

"Human martyrdom" is the custom of being buried with the living in ancient funerals, and it is a cruel and barbaric act. There is no specific standard for how many people die at a time. The number of people who died in Qin Mugong reached 65,438+077, including three sons of a wise minister. When the monarch, doctor and other lords die, close masters and beloved wives and concubines may be buried. Qin's system of "martyrdom" restricted the flow of talents from the East to Qin. Qin Xiangong's abolition of this atrocity is not only the progress of Qin's political civilization, but also a powerful impetus to attract talents from six eastern countries and introduce advanced culture.

The second major event was that in the second year of succession, the capital moved from Yongcheng to Liyang.

Liyang (now Wutun Town, yanliang district, Xi City, Shaanxi Province) is located in the center of Guanzhong area, close to the intersection of Jinghe River and Weihe River, 80km northwest of Fenghao Capital in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and only 50km away from Lishan Mountain, a "bonfire play vassal" in Zhou Youwang, which is a place with prosperous economy, concentrated traffic and dense population. It is less than100km away from the Yellow River, and it is also convenient for Qin to handle the relations with eastern countries quickly.

The third major event is that two great victories have laid a stable external environment for decades.

In 364 BC (two years before Qin Xiangong's death), after a long period of preparation, he fought a decisive battle with Jin Jun in Shimen (northeast of Xunyi County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, northwest of Sanyuan County, Xianyang City), and defeated Wei Jun in Shaoliang (now hancheng city, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province) the following year, and captured the famous soldier.

After entering the Warring States period, the purpose of wars among countries was not to show national prestige and uphold justice, but to occupy land and plunder population. Because where there is land, there is food, where there is food, there is soldiers, and where there is soldiers, there is power. Land is the foundation of consolidating the monarchy. These two great victories not only enabled Qin to recapture hundreds of miles of land west of the Yellow River, but also enhanced Qin people's ambition to plan an eastward expedition.

Just as he planned to gradually restore Qin's "hegemonic" status, his ambition was not realized. In 362 BC, he died in Liyang.

His son, Xiao Gong, succeeded to the throne, and it was this able monarch who pushed the State of Qin to a new historical height.

Later generations evaluated Qin Shihuang's achievements as "vigorous after six generations", which means that Qin's unification of the six countries was the result of the continuous struggle between the six generations of monarchs and subjects, and filial piety was the first of the "sixth generation" monarchs.

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At the age of 0, Qin Xiaogong succeeded to the throne. What kind of internal and external environment does he face?

First, the periphery is surrounded by strong enemies. At this point, Zhou has only one name, and he has no ability to command the world. The eastern countries are stifling the merger, and the six countries of Korea, Zhao, Wei, Qi, Chu and Yan have formed a new political balance pattern. The six eastern countries regarded Qin as a savage tribe, and the governors of the Central Plains never invited Qin to join the alliance. Some neighboring countries are waiting for an opportunity to seize the land of Qin.

The second is internal political chaos. Qin Huaigong, his great grandfather, was besieged by Chao and other ministers, and Huaigong was forced to commit suicide. The pregnant prince died early, so let the son of the prince, that is, the father who offered the public, succeed to the throne. After Gong Ling's death, he did not succeed to the throne and was usurped by his uncle Jane Gong. After Jane Gong's death, his son Gong Hui succeeded to the throne, and after his death, his son gave birth to his son. At this time, he joined hands with an elder named Gai, killed his son and his mother, sank into the abyss, and gained kingship. These events took place 40 years before Xiao Gong succeeded to the throne. Behind the court struggle is the lack of prestige of the monarch of Qin State, the abdication of power, the dictatorship of nobles and the lack of faith.

Third, the domestic culture is backward. Qin and Rong are mixed, at the intersection of farming culture and nomadic culture. The value constraint of civilized etiquette is different from that of the six eastern countries. For example, the Qin family advocates that collective life cannot be separated. According to the tradition of living in tents in nomadic times, parents-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters sometimes live in the same room, which is extremely absurd and backward in the eyes of the six eastern countries. Its name is: "Qin and Rong Zhai are the same, and they don't know etiquette."

These problems are intertwined and placed in front of Qin Xiaogong, who just succeeded to the throne. What should we do?

Qin Xiaogong put forward his own policy plan:

Strong enemies surround us, and we must enrich the country and strengthen the army.

Internal political chaos requires a centralized monarchy.

Domestic culture is backward and needs legal supervision.

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The first important thing that Qin Xiaogong did after he took office was to promulgate a law to recruit talents.

Xiao Gong suggested: "There are guests and ministers who can plot Qiang Qin. I respect the officials and share the land with them." It means that whoever can help the state of Qin to become strong, I will make him a big official and reward him with a fief.

Qin Xiaogong's talent selection ranges are "guests" and "ministers", that is, "guests" from six countries rank first, and "ministers" from their own countries also welcome suggestions. This eclectic and eclectic spirit contains the industrious, pragmatic and rational cultural heritage of Qin people.

"I respect officials" is attractive, but it is not the key. The core is "dividing the soil with it". Qin Xiaogong was the first monarch in the history of China who promised to carve up land. This commitment has a strong appeal to all talented consultants and military commanders in the world. At this time, it is time for a hundred schools of thought to contend. Legalists, Confucianists and Mohists are all running around the world looking for a stage. Qin Xiaogong's order to recruit talents attracted Shang Yang, the first successful reformer in the history of China (formerly known as Gongsun Yang, later known as Shang Yang because of the fief of Qin State). Shang Yang's political reform not only realized Qiang Qin, but also influenced the political structure of China for more than two thousand years. Later generations summed up the history of China, and "Qin political system" refers to many political reform measures carried out by Shang Yang at that time.

Shang Yang is good at sizing up the situation, analyzing the psychology of others and having his own strategic views. Influenced by Li Kui's political reform in Wei, he thought that only Legalists could strengthen the country and enrich the people, so he came to Wei to be a guest at the Prime Minister's door, on the one hand, he studied Legalists' thoughts, on the other hand, he waited for the opportunity to make contributions.

The Prime Minister appreciated Shang Yang's talent very much, so he recommended Wang Wei to reuse Shang Yang, but Wang Wei didn't agree. The Prime Minister also suggested to Wang Wei that if Shang Yang was not appointed, he would be killed to avoid getting into trouble. Wang Wei is still noncommittal. The Prime Minister is very ill. He cherished Shang Yang's talent, so he told Shang Yang his advice to Wang Wei, told him to "kill Shang Yang" and let him escape as soon as possible. Shang Yang thought, "Wang Wei won't kill me. If he accepts your suggestion, he will hire me. How can he kill me if he doesn't hire me? "

The final result proves that Shang Yang's analysis is incisive and his judgment is accurate.

When Shang Yang heard about recruiting talents in Wei, he went to Qin with a copy of Fa Jing. In order to meet Qin Xiaogong as soon as possible, he found Qin Xiaogong's favorite eunuch to arrange a meeting. Shang Yang sought the help of eunuchs and was criticized by later generations. In China's cultural tradition, most literati and gentlemen disdained interacting with eunuchs, so some people in later generations thought that he did whatever it took to achieve his goal and didn't pay attention to virtue, which doomed his tragic ending.

When Shang Yang met with Qin Xiaogong, he went through four "interviews" before he was affirmed by filial piety.

For the first time, Shang Yang talked about the "Emperor Yao" of the ancient Yellow Emperor and Yao Shun, and his filial piety was drowsy. Second talk, Shang Tang and Zhou still don't recognize the "King Way". The third time he talked about the "hegemony" of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period, Xiao Gong became interested. The fourth time I talked about "The Art of a Powerful Country", they sat on the floor and talked for several days.

Qin Xiaogong finally realized Shang Yang's ideological talent and general plan of governing the country, so he pushed everyone, appointed Shang Yang as a regular, and presided over the political reform with full authority.

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From 359 BC to 350 BC, Qin successively promulgated a series of laws on political reform.

The content of filial piety reform mainly focuses on three aspects:

Focus on enriching the country and strengthening the army, and implement incentive farming and rank system;

Around the centralization of monarchy, the abolition of territory, the establishment of counties, the abolition of mining land tax, the abolition of aristocratic privileges and so on. ;

Around the supervision of laws and regulations, measures such as fifteen consecutive sittings, forced separation of extended families, military awards and prohibition of private fighting, and unified measurement were carried out.

The essence of the political reform process is a process of reshaping national spiritual culture, reconstructing social class status and redistributing material wealth. Political reform will inevitably touch the interests of some groups. When these vested interests oppose the reformers' political reform, whoever finally wins the struggle will determine the direction of political reform.

First of all, Qin's political reform is based on the principle of "standing on the wood as the letter", so it is imperative to realize the political reform and establish the authority of the political reform; Secondly, the incident of the prince breaking the law and punishing the Lord contained and attacked the resistance of the aristocratic class to political reform. Under the overall leadership of filial piety and the vigorous promotion of Shang Yang, this method of carrying out economic reform first, then implementing political reform, legalizing and institutionalizing political reform measures, and establishing legal authority ensured the success of political reform and the rapid enhancement of Qin's comprehensive national strength.

After ten years of filial piety, Shang Yang has been promoted to Liang Zuozuo. In the war with Wei, Wei was defeated and ceded territory for peace. Wang Wei learned that the commander-in-chief of Qin Jun was Shang Yang and said with regret, "I hate not listening to the Prime Minister."

There are many stories in the process of Shang Yang's political reform. We told a story about a prince who broke the ban.

In the second year of the political reform, the prince violated some regulations of the political reform. The prince is Qin Huiwen, who succeeded to the throne after Qin Xiaogong's death.

This difficult problem of "the prince breaking the law" is in front of Shang Yang. If handled according to the law, the prince is "Chu Jun". How will he be punished? If we indulge, how can we ensure the authority and strength of the reform?

Shang Yang finally adopted a flexible method to deal with this problem: let the two sons and daughters of the prince be punished. Four years later, one of the masters broke the law for the second time. Shang Yang strictly enforced the law and cut off the master's nose according to the criminal law. As the prince's teacher, he can't even control his nose. This master is ashamed to meet people and hasn't been out of the house for eight years in a row. The aristocratic office bears a grudge against Shang Yang.

When Qin Xiaogong died, the convicted Prince immediately falsely accused Shang Yang of rebellion, and Qin Huiwen ordered the arrest. Shang Yang fled from Qin in a hurry and fell into the hands of Wei border guards. This guard was defeated by Shang Yang. He refused to let Shang Yang enter the country and escorted him back to Qin.

In the end, Shang Yang was tortured by the car crack, but the reform measures of Qin State were not abolished, and they were still firmly implemented.

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Later generations often use two points to describe the key core of filial piety reform.

The reform measures around "agriculture" are aimed at improving production relations, improving production efficiency and increasing social wealth.

The reform measures around "war" shaped the social culture of Qin State, especially cultivated the spirit of utilitarianism, and made Qin Jun a "teacher of tigers and wolves". However, everything has advantages and disadvantages. It paid too much attention to utilitarian culture and ignored moral benevolence and righteousness, which eventually accelerated the demise of Qin State.

The military system enables everyone to become a marquis. The State of Qin has established 20 titles, and each title has the standard of "military service". After completing the "military service", farmers can also be marquis; Without the "meritorious military service", the nobility would lose face. Therefore, the Qin people "fought bravely in public and feared in private", everyone fought for the country, and only killed the enemy and senior officials in the war. This prestigious system of appointing officials and promoting titles has given the army strong cohesion and combat effectiveness, and the defeat of the six eastern countries has also planted seeds from this time.

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Throughout the history of China, events involving political and economic reforms are continuous. The famous ones are the reform of filial piety, the reform of Wang Mang's trust in orphans in the late Western Han Dynasty, the reform of Emperor Xiaowen in the Northern Wei Dynasty (in the reign of 47 1-499), the "two tax laws" in the reign of Tang Dezong, the reform of Wang Anshi and Song Shenzong in the Northern Song Dynasty (in the reign of 1067- 1085), and the reform of Emperor Guangxu in the late Qing Dynasty. 46636.686666666666

The meanings of "political reform" and "reform" are basically the same and can be interchanged. "Reform" is common in ancient times, and "reform" is mostly used in modern times. Among these reforms, only the reform of filial piety and the reform and opening up in 1978 achieved complete success, and most other reforms or reforms ended in failure.

Filial piety reform is the symbol of the first great social change in China, which represents the transformation of social rule from feudal aristocrats to centralized bureaucrats. This social transformation began at the Oriental Weekend, and after the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Qin Dynasty unified China in 22 1 BC, but the transformation was not completed. The feudal system still existed in the early Western Han Dynasty, and it was not until the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that the feudal system was completely eliminated and the county system was fully implemented.

Scholars at home and abroad generally believe that the Qin Dynasty ushered in an era of autocratic imperial power and bureaucracy lasting for two thousand years, and the reform of filial piety was the beginning of this era.

The reform and opening-up from 65438 to 0978 successfully promoted the transformation from the traditional society in China to the modern society, which was the third great transformation in the history of China. The second transformation was the establishment of the new China, which marked the basic victory of the new-democratic revolution, and the people of China embarked on the road of independence, democracy and unity.

Let's briefly analyze the numerous political reforms in the history of China, why only the reform of filial piety succeeded, and what enlightenment can we get from it?

First, conform to the direction of social development. The Qin political reform produced a new social beneficiary class, namely, professional bureaucrats and yeomen. The growth of this beneficiary class conforms to the trend of social development and represents higher production efficiency. Only when the new class is strong enough to resist and suppress conservatives and overcome the obstruction of aristocratic interest groups can we finally ensure the success of the political reform.

Second, the incentive mechanism and resource allocation should conform to the development level of productive forces at that time. Qin is a self-sufficient agricultural economy, and its main resources are land and manpower. To improve production efficiency and increase the total wealth of society, the key is to increase the number of farmers and raise the level of productivity. Forcing extended families to split up, curbing nobles' occupation of land, establishing professional bureaucrats, and attracting people from six eastern countries to immigrate to Qin State. , are effective and reasonable political reform measures.

The third is to update the distribution of benefits on the basis of making a big cake. Only by making a big cake, taking new interests as the main distribution goal and keeping the interests of vested interests unchanged can the resistance to political reform be significantly reduced. Otherwise, if the ruling class becomes a victim of interests, they will oppose political reform and deliberately intensify social contradictions. Most of the beneficiaries of the reform belong to the new forces and generally have no strength to confront them on an equal basis. When the two started to confront each other, the first principle for the monarch, as the highest decision-maker, to deal with contradictions was to consolidate his dominant position, and whether the reform would continue would automatically retreat to the second goal.

Fourth, political and economic reforms should be promoted. The economic reform is mainly "abandoning mining fields and building buildings" and privatizing land. The reform advocated "abolishing feudalism and establishing counties" to ensure absolute monarchy. Economic reform has increased social wealth, while political reform has ensured that the ruling class has the ability to govern and acquire new wealth, thus ensuring the operation of a new structured society. The county system was not initiated by Qin, and has existed in various countries for more than 200 years. This is a common way for monarchs to govern newly occupied areas. As early as 594 BC, Lu began to abolish mining fields, to abolish the distinction between public and private fields, and to implement the private ownership of land in which farmers paid taxes according to the land area. Qin summarized and optimized on the basis of successful practices in other countries, and put these reform measures into practice in the form of law.

Fifth, take multiple measures to form an understanding of social reform. Changing the law of ancestors will inevitably touch the traditional ideology and shake the original social and cultural spiritual foundation. Qin Xiaogong organized a court debate between Shang Yang and the imperial army. The imperial army attacked: "If you want to change the patriarchal clan system, can you be smarter than your ancestors?" ? It's good to keep the system of our ancestors, and we don't want to change anything. "Shang Yang is tit for tat:" Different times have different methods of governing the country. The king of the Tang and Wu Dynasties is also prosperous but not ancient; You can't die easily with courtesy when the summer is over. ""The result of the court debate is that the old guard is untenable and poor. With the effectiveness of the reform, conservatives changed from opposition to neutrality to support. In the process of political reform, such measures as "taking the tree as the letter", "making a knight by meritorious service" and "aristocrats and common people share the same crime" have won the trust and welcome of the bottom people.

The most critical factor for the success of political reform is that political reform must be redistributed after new interests are added. Otherwise, it is only the adjustment of interests between various classes and rulers, some people benefit, some people suffer, and even all people suffer, and no one benefits. At this time, political reform will inevitably turn into a political struggle and eventually lose the support of all parties. Of course, by that time, political reform will only have one result:

Failure.