The collapse of the Song Dynasty Empress Zhu and the lost courage under feudal etiquette

Mondo Culture Updated on 2024-01-30

There was a famous saying in the history of the Song Dynasty: "Jing Kang is ashamed, it is still snowing, and the courtiers hate, when will it be destroyed." This sentence not only exhausted the shame of the Northern Song Dynasty, but also reflected the weakness and incompetence of the Song Dynasty at that time. Since Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu of the Song Dynasty, gave up military power, the Song Dynasty has entered a rare era of "emphasizing literature over military force". However, for a country, the loss of the blessing of force is equivalent to the loss of basic security guarantees.

The weakness of the Song Dynasty: the price of emphasizing literature over military force.

In the Song Dynasty through the generations, although successfully resisted some foreign enemies, the weakness of military strength eventually became a fatal weakness. It was not until the Song Qinzong period that this weakness was finally broken by the Jin State and became a great shame for a period of national history. At that time, the Song State turned a blind eye to its own problems, and after uniting with the Jin State to invade Liao, it exposed its own various flaws, providing a good opportunity for the Jin State to attack.

The victory of the Jin Kingdom and the shame of Jingkang.

There are no eternal friends in the world, only eternal enemies. Jin Guo took advantage of the victory to pursue and chose to attack Song. In the face of foreign invasion with strong combat effectiveness, the weak Song soldiers were difficult to resist, which eventually led to the famous "Jingkang Shame" in history. All members of the royal family were captured and subjected to the most humiliating treatment, and the "sheep ceremony" became one of the punishments.

The origin of the "Sheep Ceremony".

"Sheep ceremony" is not an invention of foreigners, but originated from the Chinese nation. It had already appeared during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, when it was a formal ritual and was not intended to insult prisoners of war. The original sheep holding ceremony was a ritual of reparation, indicating that the surrendering party needed to lead the sheep, naked upper body, pull the sheep with the left hand, hold the spear in the right hand, and then kneel down to express submission, similar to the later guilty plea. In ancient times, livestock represented wealth, while spears symbolized force. Offering the two means that you are willing to admit defeat, which is the origin of the sheep ceremony.

The fall of the "Sheep Ceremony".

Over time, however, the ritual was abused as a tool to punish the captives. After the Jingkang Revolution, the Jin Kingdom changed the original sheep ceremony to make it a humiliating form of punishment. The Jin people put a rope around the captive's neck, made the captive bare-chested, put on sheepskin, and then led the captive with a rope to crawl in front of him, like a sheep. This form of sheep ceremony may be just a loss of dignity for men, but for the people of Jinguo, such punishment is imposed even on women.

The tragedy of Empress Zhu.

Empress Zhu became a victim of it. After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Jin people imposed various humiliating punishments on members of the royal family, including the "sheep ceremony". Empress Zhu has a noble status, but she is forced to endure humiliation. In the eyes of the Jin people, she was already an abominable captive. Empress Zhu chose to commit suicide and ended her life. Her death also reflected the weak and incompetent leadership of Song Qinzong at the time, unable to protect his country and wife.

The bondage and liberation of women.

The tragedy of Empress Zhu is only a microcosm of the unequal treatment of women in history. The arch of chastity established for women in ancient societies was actually a bondage. Why can't women pursue their own happiness?Even in modern times, women are still deeply constrained, despite the progress that has been made compared to ancient times. Empress Zhu's courage in the feudal society was commendable, and her steadfastness and pursuit of freedom were particularly precious in the society at that time.

Conclusion: Empress Zhu's courage and relief.

Empress Zhu chose to be relieved at the cost of her life. In the royal palace, bound by feudal etiquette, she has the opportunity to make her own choice. Although her death was a microcosm of the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty, it also foreshadowed the anachronism of feudal traditions. Empress Zhu's steadfastness and courage made her an outstanding woman in history. Perhaps, she would rather not accept the posthumous title of her descendants, because she knows that in a country with feudal tradition, her fate is destined not to change much.

This article profoundly reveals the weakness and incompetence of the Song Dynasty in the shame of Jingkang and the troubles of feudal etiquette. By describing the historical origins of this ancient ritual, the author vividly illustrates its evolution from a formal ritual of atonement to a humiliating punishment of captives in the Jin Kingdom. Among them, the criminal law of "bathing" for women is even more shocking, showing the unfair treatment of women in feudal society.

The article takes Empress Zhu of the Song Qinzong as an example to vividly depict the suffering of women under feudal etiquette. Empress Zhu's steadfastness and bravery are admirable, and she chose to end her life by committing suicide in the face of the insults of the Jin people and the weakness of her husband, showing the courage and dignity of a woman in a difficult situation. However, this also makes people lament the shackles of feudal society on women at that time, so that she could only choose suicide in the face of shame, and could not obtain any salvation.

The article deeply reflects on the bondage and liberation of women. Although Empress Zhu showed steadfastness in feudal society, her death was also a tragedy of feudal etiquette and social system. Modern society has made some progress in women's rights, but inequalities still exist, which makes attention to the suffering of women in history even more urgent. Through an in-depth analysis of the story of Empress Zhu, the article calls for the emancipation of women and reflects on the problems left over from history, so as to promote more equality and justice in society.

Overall, this review is a profound reflection on the historical phenomena and social issues revealed in the article. Through the analysis of the history of the Song Dynasty and the concern for the fate of Empress Zhu, the article triggers a deep reflection on feudal etiquette and the status of women, and calls on people to cherish and strive for a more equal and just society.

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