The longest-lived dynasty, which still exists, has been in existence for 2,680 years and has been passed down for 126 generations
In Chinese history, dynastic changes are a normal occurrence. No dynasty can last more than a thousand years, more than hundreds of years, and as short as a dozen years.
However, there is a dynasty in the world that lasted for 2,680 years, passed down 126 generations of monarchs, and still exists today, which can be called the longest-lived dynasty in the world.
This dynasty is the Chrysanthemum Dynasty. Many people mistakenly believe that Japan was a country that came into existence after Qin Shihuang sent Xu Fudong to Japan, and that the Japanese and Chinese are of the same origin. But in reality, Japan had already established a powerful dynasty in 660 BC, and the royal family was called the "Manyo Ichi".
The existence of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty is still enduring to this day, which is due to several important factors. First of all, the monarchs of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty have always adhered to the concept of stability and harmony, focusing on the development of the country and the well-being of the people. They implemented a series of beneficial policies, including promoting agricultural development, strengthening the education system, and maintaining social order, thus maintaining social stability and the prosperity of the country.
Secondly, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty maintained a flexible foreign policy in domestic and foreign affairs. They established friendly relations with neighboring countries, promoted ** and cultural exchanges, and also avoided large-scale wars and conflicts. This attitude of peaceful coexistence provided a solid foundation for the long-term existence of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty.
In addition, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty also focused on the inheritance and protection of the country's cultural heritage. They value education, promote the development of culture and art, and are committed to the preservation of historical relics and traditional values. The continuation and protection of this culture enabled the Chrysanthemum Dynasty to maintain its unique cultural characteristics and sense of identity in the long-term historical process, and further consolidated the cohesion of the country.
To sum up, the reason why the Chrysanthemum Dynasty has been able to survive for so long and continue to this day is because of the positive results of its monarchs' stable rule, flexible diplomacy and cultural protection policies. This made the Chrysanthemum Dynasty one of the longest-lived dynasties in the world, and also left a rich historical legacy and precious cultural traditions for future generations.
According to the human fossil research found today, there were traces of human activity in this part of Japan at least 30,000 years ago. And on February 11, 660 B.C., Japan ushered in the dynasty established by the first emperor Jimmu, which still continues today, and Japan calls this day"Statehood Day"。
This dynasty was established at a time when China was still in the Zhou Dynasty, while Japan had already begun to establish itself. The dynasty, known as the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, has lasted for more than 2,600 years and has had 126 generations of monarchs, with the current Emperor Naruhito of Japan being the 126th monarch of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty. Similar to ancient China, the Japanese also believed in the existence of gods, and the god they worshipped was the legendary god Amaterasu. Emperor Jimmu, who founded the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, is believed to be the grandson of Amaterasu, which gave the Chrysanthemum Dynasty a mythical color that was in turn beloved by the Japanese.
Japan has known it"Cherry blossom kingdom"It is called, but its national flower is the chrysanthemum. This is influenced by China. During the Tang Dynasty, the Japanese traveled west to China and learned Xi Chinese system and culture. The people of the Tang Dynasty were very fond of chrysanthemums, and the traditional Chinese festival of Chung Yeung Festival had a huge impact on them. These Japanese brought chrysanthemum culture back to Japan, and even the Xi of the Chongyang Festival were introduced.
In Japan, the Chung Yeung Festival is known as the Chrysanthemum Festival, and both the emperor and the common people will enjoy the chrysanthemums and taste the chrysanthemum tea on this day. Because of its love of chrysanthemums, the Japanese dynasty came to be known as the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, and the family crest of the imperial family was represented by a chrysanthemum pattern composed of 16 petals. The Chrysanthemum Dynasty continues to this day.
In summary, according to human fossil research, there were signs of human activity in Japan 30,000 years ago. In 660 B.C., Japan ushered in the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, which was established by the first emperor Jimmu, and has lasted for more than 2,600 years and has passed down 126 generations of monarchs. The Japanese belief in Amaterasu is associated with the origins of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, which is revered by the Japanese. Japan's national flower is the chrysanthemum, which is influenced by Chinese culture. As a traditional festival in China, the Double Ninth Festival has also evolved into a chrysanthemum festival in Japan, where people enjoy chrysanthemums and taste chrysanthemum tea. The Chrysanthemum Dynasty got its name from its fondness for chrysanthemums, which continues to this day.
The history of Japan dates back at least 30,000 years, but the authenticity of the early history of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty is still debated, and archaeological research on related ruins in Japan is severely limited. In the origin of the lineage of Japanese emperors, the authenticity of the first emperor, Emperor Jimmu, has not been conclusively proven.
There is an opinion that the Japanese may be descendants of the ancient Chinese Xu Fudong crossing, but for some reason they chose to deny blood ties to China and pushed the emperor's history back several hundred years. Therefore, the historical authenticity of the first emperor cannot be determined. However, according to the Nihon Shoki, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty has been going on for about 2,680 years, and even if the first emperor cannot be verified, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty has existed for at least about 2,000 years.
The 10th Emperor of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, Emperor Shojin, was able to prove his existence through archaeological research, and the historical authenticity of the 15th Emperor Ojin was also highly credible. Emperor Ojin was born in 200 A.D. and reigned from 270 A.D. to 310 A.D., about 2,000 years ago.
So, why did many powerful dynasties in ancient China eventually come to an end, while Japan's relatively weak Chrysanthemum Dynasty lasted for thousands of years?
The answer to this question may lie in the belief in gods in ancient times. In the era of underdeveloped science, people believed in the existence of gods and turned the ruling authority of the monarch into a divine authority, believing that the monarch was the true son of heaven. This belief allows the monarch to be a sacrosanct being, ruling over the country and the people.
This was true in ancient China, and it is also true in Japan. Emperor Jimmu, the first emperor of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, was considered the grandson of Amaterasu and was endowed with an extremely long lifespan, which is said to have lived to be 126 years old. In ancient times, such myths were very effective in consolidating the rule, and once a relationship with the gods was established, the monarch was able to gain the confidence of the people.
Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun in Japanese mythology and is regarded as the ancestral god of Japan and the supreme god of Shintoism. Today, she is a symbol of the rule of the Japanese Imperial Family. The reason why the Chrysanthemum Dynasty was able to survive for so long without being overthrown is inseparable from the Japanese belief in Amaterasu.
However, prior to the rule of the Japanese shogunate, the Japanese emperor enjoyed absolute power, similar to the emperors of ancient China. However, after the 10th century AD, the strength and influence of Japanese military commanders grew, and they began to pose a threat to the emperor's rule. However, due to the aristocratic status of the imperial family, they despised the interests of the Japanese samurai class.
Over time, Japan's samurai class grew and gradually surpassed the imperial family, eventually replacing the emperor's rule. Japan entered the era of shogunate rule, which lasted for 682 years. During this period, the emperor lost his real power, and the power of the country was completely in the hands of the shogun.
To sum up, the mystery of Japan's Chrysanthemum Dynasty that lasted for thousands of years may lie in the ancient people's belief in the gods and the idea that the authority of the monarch's rule was divinely granted. The history of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty is closely linked to the Japanese belief in Amaterasu. At the same time, the advent of the shogunate period also marked a shift in the power structure of Japanese society, with the samurai class gradually replacing the emperor's dominance. The continuation of this period is closely related to the political evolution of Japanese society.
When the shogun came to power, he did not choose to overthrow the emperor directly, but followed the ancient Chinese practice of bringing the Son of Heaven to order the princes. On the surface, the emperor was still regarded as the supreme leader of the country, but in reality lost real power. This arrangement made the shogunate's rule smoother and also reduced the presence of opposing voices.
The Chrysanthemum Dynasty had a profound impact on the Japanese at that time. Under the name of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, the shogun better managed the Japanese people. During the reign of the shogunate, the shoguns were deeply aware of the influence of the emperor on Japan, so they did not take action against the Japanese imperial family, allowing the Chrysanthemum Dynasty to continue.
Why, then, did the shogun not follow the Zen concession system of our dynasty?Forcing the Japanese emperor to abdicate allows them to rule the entire country legally. However, the shogun was not qualified to do so at all.
The Japanese imperial family attaches great importance to the purity of their blood, as they have always considered themselves descendants of Amaterasu. In order to maintain the purity of the bloodline, the Japanese imperial family had to choose to marry close relatives, although this violated ethical and moral norms and could easily lead to physical defects in future generations.
However, in order to maintain the purity of the bloodline, coupled with the lack of understanding in this aspect, the Japanese imperial family has always adhered to the tradition of consanguineous marriage. Later emperors were also chosen from the imperial family. Therefore, in the hearts of the Japanese, the Japanese imperial family is believed to have the blood of Amaterasu.
If the shoguns seized the power of the emperor, they would lose the legitimacy of the divine authority of the king. Not only will the power lose its legitimacy, but it will also be resisted by the Japanese people. Therefore, the continuation of the bloodline of the Japanese emperor is one of the important reasons for the continuation of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty.
Regardless of whether the Japanese emperor had real power or not, they always regarded themselves as gods. In the hearts of the Japanese people, the image of the emperor is very lofty. It was not until the later period of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty was facing its collapse that the Japanese people gradually realized that the emperor was only a human being, not a god.
In the 60s of the 19th century, the shogunate movement occurred in Japan, the shogunate regime was abolished, and the Chrysanthemum Dynasty regained state power. After Emperor Meiji became the de facto head of state, the Meiji Restoration was carried out, and Japan gradually entered modernization.
However, in the last century, after Emperor Hirohito ascended to the throne, Japan launched the War of Aggression against China and the Pacific War, becoming a war criminal. After Japan's defeat, Allied general MacArthur occupied Japan by force and became the de facto ruler of Japan.
At that time, most of the Allied countries advocated the abolition of Japan's emperor system. However, due to various political considerations, the United States decided to let Japan retain the emperor system, and the Chrysanthemum Dynasty survived. However, Emperor Yuju issued the "Human Declaration", which officially denied the sacred status of the emperor, indicating that the emperor was just an ordinary person.
Since then, the Japanese emperor has become a spiritual symbol in Japan, similar to the king of England, with no real power. However, the influence of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty on the Japanese people was deep-rooted. Although Emperor Hirohito had already recognized the emperor as just a man, the Japanese people still held the emperor with great admiration and respect.
Summary: The Chrysanthemum Dynasty lasted in Japan for 2,680 years, went through 126 generations of monarchs, and was not overthrown. The reasons for this are very complex, but in the last century, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty was in danger of collapse.
However, in the end, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty successfully survived this crisis and continued to exist. Although the Emperor of Japan has no real power, he remains one of the symbols of the country.