Chapter 10 Chapter 46

"Historical Records" has "Family of Foreign Relatives", and "Hanshu" has "Biography of Foreign Relatives".During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the relatives were mainly the emperor's mother and wife families, especially the emperor's parents-in-law and brother-in-law.Historically, in the Han and Tang dynasties, foreign relatives were in charge of the court, which caused disasters for foreign relatives.The incidents of foreign relatives in the Han and Tang dynasties, with typical examples, can be seen in its historical context. Let me talk about the Han Dynasty first.Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty Liu Bang died, Emperor Zi Hui was established, and Empress Lu became the empress dowager.Empress Liu Bang Lu did not have the generosity of Zhu Yuanzhang Empress Ma, but was narrow-minded.After Liu Bang's death, Empress Lu took power, and first took revenge on Mrs. Qi, her husband's rival in love when he was still alive. Also", that is, hair shaving; forceps, instruments of torture, and iron necks.Kun pliers are used as punishment, and "Hanshu·Criminal Law" contains: "When tattooing, Kun pliers are Chengdan pound.".Mrs. Qi lamented: "The son is the king, and the mother is the captive. They are always in the dusk all day long, and they often work with death." Remove the eyes and fumigate the ears, drink the medicine for abscesses, and make them live in Juyu, and the name is 'Renzhu (zhi, meaning "pig")'".He also killed Mrs. Qi's son, King Zhao.Empress Lu's son, Emperor Hui, couldn't stand it anymore. He was in a bad mood, lived a dissolute life, and died after seven years.In order to consolidate power, Empress Lu enfeoffed relatives of the Lu family and took control of military and political power.However, Liu Bang had a last word: "If you are not the king of Liu's family, the world will fight against him!" Empress Lu was in power for eight years, "the sick dog died in an accident"-probably died of rabies.After the death of Empress Lu, a coup took place.Taiwei Zhou Bo, an old minister of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, and Chen Ping, the prime minister, led the troops, "I have learned that all men and women of Lu were arrested, and all young and old were beheaded"! ("Han Shu Lu Hou Zhuan" Volume 97) "Han Shu Lu Hou Zhuan" concluded that there were more than 20 people in the Han Dynasty who were favored because of their beauty, and only four of them could keep the whole family. Destruction, the little ones are exiled!"Therefore, the mirror of history should be taken seriously.

The second time I talked about the Tang Dynasty.The misfortune of foreign relatives was worse in Tang Dynasty than in Han Dynasty.Tang Wu Zetian is an example.Wu Zetian's merits and demerits are not commented here.She has three very strong words: title and wealth, I will give it; the world is safe (yi, meaning "easy"), and I will support it; if it is not good for me, I will kill (lu, meaning "kill"). (Volume 76 of "New Book of Tang Empress Part 1") Wu Zetian sealed off his relatives and strengthened the power of the Wu family.Things go too far and backfire.Later, the Wu family of the relatives received retribution: "Zhuo (zhuo, meaning "cut") the coffin (pu, meaning "sun") the corpse, and the grave was flattened."

Historical reference.The scourges of foreign relatives in the Han and Tang dynasties laid the foundation for the establishment of the Ming Dynasty Zhu Yuanzhang and left a profound lesson. "History of Ming Dynasty Biography of Foreign Relatives" commented: "Ming Taizu established the country, and the family law was strict. The historian said that the concubine lived in the palace, and did not pre-empt the politics. It’s not as good as it has been since.” The “one hair” in the quotation is not the “fa” of development, but the “fa” of hair, which means that foreign relatives do not interfere with the government affairs as small as a hair.It can be seen that the Ming Dynasty learned from the historical lessons of the Han and Tang relatives who controlled the military and political power, which threatened the imperial power.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Empress Ma of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Xu of Ming Chengzu Zhu Di were strict with self-discipline and stayed away from foreign families.Zhu Yuanzhang's Empress Ma, whose parents died early, later visited her relatives and wanted to confer official titles.Empress Ma resigned: "The country's honor and wealth should be shared with virtuous officials, not as private concubines." She also cited the lessons of the previous dynasty's foreign relatives who were extravagant and extravagant, causing disasters.Zhu Yuanzhang accepted Empress Ma's opinion and only rewarded some gold, silver and satin.Empress Xu of Emperor Yongle, whose father was Xu Da, the founding father of the country.Empress Xu always advised Yongle Emperor Zhu Di not to indulge his relatives arrogantly.Doing so also preserved the safety of Jiaofang's relatives and their descendants.Generally speaking, in the entire Ming Dynasty, there were basically no disasters caused by foreign relatives, with only exceptions.During the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, Sun Jizong, the marquis of Huichang, his relative, took part in the affairs of the state with his meritorious service.Therefore, "History of the Ming Dynasty Biography of Foreign Relatives" believes: "From here on, most of the sages are dedicated to the law, modest and Confucian. And one or two parents who bear the grace of the parents are better than fields, dogs, horses, and music. , the sex is nothing more than comedians, prostitutes and concubines, not having the power of the military and the state, and the power of guests and cronies." ("Ming History Biography of Foreign Relatives" volume 300).The foreign relatives in the Ming Dynasty neither controlled the military power nor caused the disaster of the party.There are also foreign relatives, "the family died for the country, huhu Zhuoyi"!

Foreign relatives in the Qing Dynasty are different from those in the Ming Dynasty.The ladies of the Ming Dynasty were recruited by the whole country, and some relatives came from the people.Regarding the relatives of the Qing Dynasty, according to the "Manuscripts of Qing History Biography of Concubines", the empresses of the Qing Dynasty were all from Manchuria, Mongolia, and the Eight Banners of the Han Army, and there was not a single woman from the people. "Drafts of Qing History" has "List of Foreign Relatives", but not "Biography of Foreign Relatives".

The following introduces the relatives of the Ming Palace and the Qing Palace respectively, and first introduces the relatives of the Ming Palace.