Recently, I was listening to Mr. Jiang Xun talk about Dream of Red Mansions, and when I heard the teacher talking about Chapter 9, I talked about it"The autumn queen asked to chop", only to understand the deep logic and cultural connotation behind the "Autumn Queen" that TV series and movies have always said.
In the era of agriculture, the ancients followed the idea of the unity of nature and man, and regarded the change of seasons as the embodiment of the order of the universe. According to the Book of Rites and the Order of the Month, in spring and summer, all things grow and multiply, and the life force is vigorous, and if the execution is carried out at this time, it is regarded as the destruction of the vitality of heaven and earth. In autumn and winter, the earth enters the stage of harvesting and collecting, and the atmosphere of slaughter grows stronger, which is the best time to follow the way of heaven and carry out the death penalty. Dong Zhongshu's theory of "heaven and man induction" in the Han Dynasty further codified this concept, advocating that the emperor's governance should be in accordance with the heavens, thus establishing the law of autumn and winter executions. Moreover, autumn belongs to gold, and metal tools are needed for execution.
Confucianism also had a profound influence on this practice. Confucianism advocates benevolent governance and ethical governance, emphasizing respect for life and maintaining social order. The choice to carry out the death penalty in autumn and winter not only conforms to the rhythm of nature, but also demonstrates the cautious attitude of state power towards life and death, and fully reflects Confucianism's humanistic concern for social governance.
"Autumn Queen" is not a simple seasonal law enforcement behavior, but the result of ancient Chinese civilization's emphasis on the interweaving of wisdom, which skillfully combines natural philosophy, legal norms and Confucian ethics, and has become a unique badge in traditional Chinese judicial practice. The profound meaning behind this custom undoubtedly provides us with a unique perspective on the spirit of ancient justice, and triggers a new round of thinking about how modern society should treat life, respect nature, and implement justice fairly.
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