In the ancient history of our country, the martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty was extremely cruel and even jaw-dropping. The martyrdom of the Shang Dynasty, in short, was the sacrifice of people and the burial of the dead. This system was extremely common during the Shang Dynasty, and even involved high-ranking rulers such as emperors and nobles. This article will reveal in detail the horrific truth of the Shang Dynasty's martyrdom system, as well as the historical reflections behind this.
1. The origin and evolution of the martyrdom system in the Shang Dynasty.
The origins of the Shang Dynasty's martyrdom system can be traced back to the early Shang Dynasty. According to historical records, the ancestor of the Shang Dynasty, Qi, was killed and buried for sacrificing heaven and earth. After that, the martyrdom system gradually became popular in the Shang Dynasty society. During the Shang Dynasty, the system of human martyrdom went through a process from spontaneous to conscious. In the beginning, human martyrdom was mainly to sacrifice to the gods and pray for becoming gods after death. Later, martyrdom gradually evolved into a symbol of the ruler's authority and status.
2. The implementation method and scale of the Shang Dynasty martyrdom system.
There were many ways to implement the martyrdom system in the Shang Dynasty, including killing and martyrdom, life martyrdom, and martyrdom. Martyrdom is the killing of the deceased before his death, martyrdom is the burial of a living person in a tomb and suffocation of him, and burial is the burial of the dead and the living together in the tomb. According to historical records, the scale of martyrdom during the Shang Dynasty was very large. In the tombs of some emperors and nobles, the number of martyrs even reached hundreds. Among them, the most famous example is the last emperor of the Shang Dynasty.
During his reign, he was extremely cruel and fond of luxury. He built massive mausoleums and carried out mass human martyrdom after his death. According to the "Historical Records", after the death of King Xu, nearly 10,000 people were martyred for him. Among these people, there were palace maids, eunuchs, soldiers, and civilians. The magnitude of the martyrdom of the king is shocking.
3. The reasons behind the martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty.
Behind the martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty, there were complex social reasons. First of all, during the Shang Dynasty, the level of productivity was low, private ownership of land gradually took shape, and the gap between the rich and the poor intensified. In this case, the poor people became the victims of the rulers, and the system of human martyrdom existed. Secondly, the Shang Dynasty had a strong theocracy overtone, and the rulers used the human martyrdom system to demonstrate their sacred status and strengthen the royal power. In addition, the customs and habits of the Shang Dynasty also allowed the system of human martyrdom to spread. At that time, it was widely believed that the deceased needed rich funerary goods to live well in the underworld. Therefore, the system of human martyrdom was generally accepted in Shang Dynasty society.
4. Reflections on the martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty.
The martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty revealed the cruel side of ancient society. The existence of this system reflected the social injustice of the time, and also reflected the trampling on human nature. Behind the martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty was the ruler's disregard for the lives of the common people and the extreme pursuit of power. The existence of this system undoubtedly deepened social contradictions and accelerated the demise of the Shang Dynasty.
Looking back on history, we can't help but sigh that the development process of human society is full of blood and tears. The martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty is just a wave in this long history. In the course of future development, we should draw lessons from history, cherish life, advocate humanitarianism, and strive to build a fair, just and harmonious society.
In short, the martyrdom of the Shang Dynasty was horrifying, and its cruelty was jaw-dropping. The existence of this system not only reflected the darkness of the society at that time, but also had a profound impact on later generations. Through the understanding of the martyrdom system of the Shang Dynasty, we should cherish life more, pursue humanitarianism, and work hard to build a better society.