Cao Cao and Genghis Khan shared a fetish that few people understand today
Although Cao Cao and Genghis Khan lived in different eras, what they had in common was their penchant for marrying foreign wives. Is this an abuse of power, a sexuality? Or is it to blame for the limitations of the times? Let's solve this mystery.
First of all, why are married women hunted down? What's going on inside them?
In patriarchal societies, women often have no choice. When they are forced to leave their loved ones and enter an unfamiliar environment, will there be resistance in their hearts? Did Cao Cao and Genghis Khan also reflect on their actions?
Cao Cao took wives and concubines in many conquests, the most famous of which were Du Shi, the wife of Zhang Xiu's aunt, and Guan Yu's wife. After Cao Cao discovered Du's beauty, he decided to marry her by force. We don't know what Cao Cao thought at the time, but we can speculate that he enjoyed Du's beauty during the campaign. However, Cao Cao was not mercenary, and he had sincere feelings and a sense of honor for many of his concubines. Du was treated very well in Cao Cao's harem and gave birth to two sons and a daughter, which shows that Cao Cao treated her well.
So, why did Cao Cao insist on taking away Du Pre, who was already engaged to Guan Yu? Since Cao Cao wants Guan Yu to know that he is the master of the world, there must be an element of power rent-seeking. However, we cannot rule out that Cao Cao was really attracted by Du Yu's beauty, perhaps the combination of power and beauty made him ignore Guan Yu's request. Cao Cao was a power-seeking ruler, but he was also an ordinary man of flesh and blood.
The appearance of the Governor's Mansion is very outstanding and can impress anyone of the opposite sex. Cao Cao's acquisition of the Governor's Mansion represented the satisfaction of power and selfish desires. Cao Cao himself is perhaps the one who best understands the complexities of human nature.
Genghis Khan's harem had thousands of beauties. These women come from a variety of races, and most of them are trophies they have won in battle. Genghis Khan divided them into four hierarchies and prescribed a hierarchy. Did he think about what he was doing? Is all this just a symbol of power? There is no record in the history books of Genghis Khan's thoughts, but he was very kind to his concubines, among whom Princess Jinghai was his favorite.
For Genghis Khan, the herd of wives and concubines was undoubtedly the pinnacle of his power and the fruits of his conquest. At the same time, these beautiful women also satisfy his arrogance and desires as a man. The combination of power and sexuality allows him to constantly expand his harem. Genghis Khan was a wise ruler, but he was also an ordinary man. He craves power and beauty. This complex humanity allowed him to continue collecting loot. We do not know whether Genghis Khan himself would have considered this. But the fact that he treated them well shows that he also had a benevolent side. Only Genghis Khan could understand the complexities of human nature.
The fate of women's powerlessness and subordination.
In that era, women were inferior and often at the mercy of others. Cao Cao got the woman he wanted, but did Du's heart agree? This is unknown.
Du Qianben and Guan Yu have a marriage contract, and the two are in love. However, Cao Cao wanted to get Du and marry her, thus destroying the relationship between Du and Guan Yu. When Du was forced to enter Cao Cao's harem, whether he was secretly mourning or speculating about the twists and turns of fate, we have no way of knowing. He came to Cao Cao's side, immersed in fame and fortune, but lamented the impermanence of the world in his heart. She is unable to control her own destiny and can only submit to the existing order. This may be a portrayal of women at that time.
Genghis Khan had thousands of concubines, the most popular of which was Yesugai. She was the wife of King Linhaqi and later became the third Goodwill Queen. We don't know what kind of feelings she had when she came to Genghis Khan. The war rewrote her fate, and she became a vase for kings.
Isn't he happy? Or succumb to the glory of the times? History doesn't tell us what she really thinks. But she managed to redeem herself and became a popular queen. This was probably the usual image of women at the time. During the war years, their fate was helplessly controlled by others, and they could only follow the will of God and create a new life for themselves.
iii.Contemporaries accepted the social roots of their work.
Cao Cao and Genghis Khan certainly craved beauty, but they didn't do it just to satisfy their own selfish desires. In the social environment of the time, this behavior was seen as a symbol of power and a sign of conquest. Cao Cao showed his high status by acquiring the woman of his choice. The wealth of Genghis Khan's harem is the perfect embodiment of power.
It was a chaotic time when the cult of power and the fear of the powerful reigned supreme. Cao Cao was regarded as a great hero for his many feats on the battlefield, and Genghis Khan shocked the world with his vast empire.
Their power is unquestionable. In such a historical atmosphere, the luxury of Cao Cao's wife and Genghis Khan's harem became a symbol of power and a manifestation of heroic character, so it was accepted and even worshipped by the people of the time. The social morality of the time was also more results-oriented; Conquests and achievements are of course valued, while resources are secondary. This paved the way for the actions of Cao Cao and Genghis Khan.
At that time, it was widely understood that those who could plunder were heroes, and those who were plundered should obey. Although Cao Cao and Genghis Khan's actions were criticized, they were accepted by the people of the time. After all, the most powerful man at that time was the king. Their actions are the result of the values of the time. If they were there, perhaps they wouldn't have been so harshly criticized for their actions.
iv.Although there is no freedom, harem life is respected.
We don't know what these women really think, or if they miss their homeland in the midst of their glamorous lives. However, the history books clearly record that Cao Cao and Genghis Khan were not treated differently because of their origins. Concubine Ji was respected, and most of Cao Cao's children were born to him. Although they have lost their freedom, there are signs that they have gained a new and respectable life.
Du gave birth to three sons for Cao Cao, and Cao Cao did not lose his feelings for her. Du Shi sympathized with Cao Cao and lived a carefree life. Although she lost her freedom, she was still respected by Cao Cao's upper echelons. Genghis Khan made An Lushan the assassin of Yizhou, making her a veritable empress. Although she is no longer in her own country, she is highly respected in the empire of Genghis Khan. Do these concubines also love their rulers? Or go with the flow? We have no way of knowing what they really thought, but their fate was tied to the new owners, reflecting the powerlessness of women at the time.
Cao Cao and Genghis Khan wanted someone else's wife, which was a symbol of power and allowed by the social environment of the time. What they did may seem unacceptable today, was not considered a sin at the time. These women have lost their freedom, but they still enjoy honor. Their fate is hopeless, but they eventually get used to a new life. Power and beauty, morality and desire, are the two sides of human nature. We cannot simply criticize Cao Cao and Genghis Khan, but we must understand the historical atmosphere and boundaries of that era in order to reveal a little-known side of Du Mu.