Why did no one dare to forge a holy decree in ancient times? Just look at the first word of the decree to understand it
Why did no one in ancient China dare to issue a forged holy decree?
Who is in charge of state affairs? Whose word gave birth to the greatest wealth in the world?
Ancient China had countless secrets that were not known to future generations. These include the important and mysterious process of drafting the decree.
The Divine Decree is the supreme power that transmits the will of the emperor to his subjects, gives orders to thousands of troops, and its authority cannot be blasphemed. However, for thousands of years, few people have dared to follow the decree, and few have known why.
China has a long history and frequent changes of emperors, what changes have the system of divine decrees undergone? What anti-counterfeiting mechanisms are in place to ensure that they are not counterfeited? As a treasure of imperial power, what kind of cultural connotation does it have? We might as well dig deeper into this historical smokescreen.
The simple origin of the Qin-Han script.
The oldest prototype of the Holy Decree in China dates back to the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang advocated the reform of writing and printed bamboo slips to record official affairs. This was the prototype of what would become the Divine Decree.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the system of sacred decrees was perfected. Handwritten books replaced bamboo slips and engraved books, and silk edicts appeared. Liu Xiang, the imperial historian in charge of princes in the Han Dynasty, also contributed to the development of the edict style and created the model of writing edicts on silk silk. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty followed the example of the Qin Dynasty and set up the Imperial Historical Observatory, which was responsible for investigating the falsification of edicts and strengthening the imperial power system.
The original text and the simple system are the initial embodiment of the Divine Precepts.
Complexity and stereotypes: the rigid system of the Wei, Jin, Sui, and Tang dynasties.
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the political situation was turbulent, and it was difficult to follow the old ritual system. During this period, the writing of edicts was relatively short, and the words were no longer cumbersome, and wood carvings were mostly used. The jade edict gradually became adaptable. Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty began to use it"Edict"This title gave rise to a new title of the Holy Decree.
The Sui and Tang dynasties were the most famous period for the development of the edict system. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, two kinds of edicts, edicts and edicts, appeared, which later became a tradition. Hanlin scholars wrote edicts on silk and white paper, and edict tablets were printed and promulgated in wooden blocks. These two works have a clear division of labor and are well-made, and they are representative works of the old edict style. At this time, the text of the edict, the paper, ink, silk and silk are all taken from the top grade, and the dragon and phoenix are carved to show auspiciousness.
The format of the content also refers to the provisions of the "Six Classics of the Tang Dynasty", which requires orderly writing and dignified and standardized fonts. The slightest mistake can lead to overwriting. Precise design and meticulous production processes were fundamental to the central role played by the Tang Dynasty. But it also hides dangers, in the Anshi Rebellion, Tang Xuanzong tore up on the Mawei slope called"Commercial Oath"The silk cloth edict became a symbol of the fall of the Tang Dynasty.
Simplicity and Change: The Strategies of the Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan, and Qing Dynasties.
The early poetic society was dominated by literati. During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, the reorganization of the Hanlin bachelor system also changed the way the sacred decree was written. He abolished some of the Tang dynasty's cumbersome forms, simplified the content of the edicts, and gave the literati more editorial powers. The text has become more concise and fluent, reflecting the characteristics of the times. At the same time, the Khitan people in the north established the Liao Dynasty, which followed the form of the Han Dynasty's holy decree and developed the form of the holy decree according to the national characteristics. The Jin and Yuan dynasties further simplified the content of the decrees and reduced bureaucracy. This became the basis for the magnificent rhetoric of the works of the Yuan Dynasty.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the form of the Sacred Oracle improved. Ming Chengzu implemented the first severe punishment of Hanlin and strengthened the control of writing. As a result, the decrees of the Ming Dynasty became more standardized and unified. After the Later Jin Dynasty entered the Central Plains, it followed the Ming system and became the last form of feudal holy decree.
Unpretentious language, consistently profound. This is the true meaning of feudal China.
Anti-counterfeiting mechanism: embroidery, jade seal, imperial history.
Against the backdrop of a strong imperial power, we analyze to the maximum the anti-counterfeiting techniques used by the Holy Church over the centuries.
The most classic was proposed by Wei Zheng in the Tang Dynasty"Phoenix-embroidered"。He added one to each of his decrees"Phoenix"word, to reflect the head of auspicious clouds. Every time"Phoenix"The characters are all in different positions, which is the key to preventing forgery. This method is not widespread, and only a few experts know that it has a significant anti-counterfeiting effect.
After the development of generations, the form tended to be stable in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The three jade seals are decreasing in size in turn, and are called"The Holy Order, plus three jade seals", revealing the name of the three talents, the union of heaven and earth, the ritual order of the unity of heaven and man, or the performance of the evaluator. It is well-made, carved from a whole piece of beautiful jade, and the anti-counterfeiting effect is obvious.
In addition, successive dynasties have instituted a well-established system of banning holidays to prevent malfeasance. During the Han Dynasty, the Imperial Historical Observatory was established, and later the Chunfang was set up to manage the drafting and application of sacred decrees to prevent judicial errors or deliberate falsification. The combination of rigorous systems and advanced technology adds a sense of sacredness to the sacred decrees of ancient China.
The Sacred Decree not only embodies the feudal characteristics of strict hierarchy in form, but also reveals a unique cultural connotation in its formal differences.
From the initial simple bamboo carving, it gradually evolved into a standardized holy decree, and then to a concise type in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The complex and simple historical changes reflect the profound influence of the political environment and ideology and culture at that time. During the Warring States Period, the division of princes required strict punishment and strict laws, and the unification of the world was reflected in the atmosphere and elegance. Therefore, the imperial decree is characterized by the contrast between simplicity and simplicity.
Despite the simplicity of the language, the liturgical music in the edict was crucial to the rise and fall of the nation. The arrogance and arrogance of the Qin Empire contrasted sharply with the prosperity of the Han Dynasty, illustrating the subtle influence of ritual music culture on society.
It is precisely this cultural factor that has created the unique importance of the Holy Religion in the development of Chinese civilization. It proves it"When a country is about to die, it must first establish morality"with"Benevolent government wins the hearts of the people"of truth.
In our ancient society, hierarchy was highly valued. In thousands of years of feudal dynasties, there were constant conflicts between the imperial power and the monarch. Sacred decrees not only regulate, but also settle disputes between kings and ministers.
In the age of information storage, this means something mysterious. Nowadays, due to the rapid development of technology and the adaptability of priest electronic manufacturing, the production of ancient priests is no longer mysterious.
But the cultural essence contained in it cannot be erased. The warmth in the smoke and rain of history still has value worthy of our careful recollection and understanding.