Chapter 52 Lecture 38 Jingyang Xianfu

In the front hall of Jingyang Palace, there is a plaque "Rou Jia Su Jing" written by Emperor Qianlong.Hanging on the east wall is "Praise of Practicing Clothes after the Holy Horse" written by Zhang Zhao, and "Picture of Practicing Clothes after Horse" hangs on the west wall. The story of "Horse Empress Practicing Clothes" comes from "Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Empress Ma".This picture of palace training shows the deeds of Empress Ma, Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who worshiped herself and lived frugally.Empress Ma was the young daughter of General Fubo and Xinxihou Mayuan, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty.Ma Yuan made an oath: "A husband is ambitious, poor and strong, and old and strong." Ma Yuan gallops on the battlefield, hits the arrow in the shins, and makes extraordinary achievements. , "Guests and old friends, don't dare to hang up the meeting." ("Book of the Later Han·Ma Yuan Zhuan" Volume 24) Ma Hou lost his father as a young man, and then lost his mother. A ten-year-old girl was able to manage the housework and manage affairs competently, just like an adult.Because of the envy and hatred of the rich and powerful after his father's death, he suffered a lot after being falsely accused.Her elder brother, after thinking about it, "asked to enter the Ye Court", that is, trying to enter the harem.Therefore, the elder brother wrote a letter: the first statement is the outstanding achievements of his father Ma Yuan; "There are three daughters, the older one is fifteen, the younger one is fourteen, and the younger one is thirteen, all of them are filial, careful, quiet and polite."The request is: "The first aunt of karma, as the harem." In the book, the promise-"Enter the uterus of the crown prince, at the age of thirteen." (Volume 10 of "Hou Han Shu Biography of Queen Ma") The second emperor Han Mingdi.

The crown prince succeeded to the throne, and the Ma family was the queen. Although he was favored, he had no children.The Jia family in the harem gave birth to a son, and the Empress Ma was ordered to raise her, and she devoted herself to nurturing her son, which was better than her own.The prince later succeeded to the throne as Emperor Hanzhang, the third emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty.Empress Ma was promoted to Empress Dowager.Empress Ma reigned for twenty-three years and was a famous empress of the Eastern Han Dynasty.There are four main virtues after the horse: One, studious. "Can recite "Yi", good at reading "Chunqiu" and "Chu Ci", especially good at "Zhouguan". She likes to read Dong Zhongshu's "Chunqiu Fanlu" and write "Xianzong Daily Life Notes". She has rich literature and history , Philosophy knowledge, deep learning, knowledge of books and rituals.

Second, frugality. "Lian often wears a lot of clothes, but does not add fringes to skirts." The word "Lian" here means white, no color is added to the clothes, and the hem of the skirt is not decorated.Zhu Guiji and others paid homage to the queen, and when they saw the queen's "robes and clothes are sparse and rough", the beauty of the six palaces, all admired her.As a result, the story of "the queen of the horse practicing clothes" spread. Third, self-discipline.She said: "I am the mother of the world, and I wear a lot of clothes. I don't want to eat sweets. I only wear silk cloth on the left and right. Those who don't have aromatherapy ornaments are willing to lead the body." a role model.

Fourth, resignation.After giving the horse, her natal Marquis, Jinbo, and mansion have repeatedly declined, saying: "When I was young and strong, I loved bamboo and silk to the point of disregarding my life. Although I am old now, I return to 'precepts are found', so I am vigilant day and night and think about myself. Reduce losses. Don’t seek security in your home, don’t be greedy for food....In the day when you rest in peace, there will be no regrets.” That is to say, since childhood, I have envied reading and disregarded life expectancy. Coincidentally.Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, Empress Ma also had a similar story of "practicing clothes" - "Practice the clothes in daily life, although it is not easy to bear." Empress Ma only wears ordinary clothes without colorful embroidery on weekdays. Replace it with a new one and continue to use it.

Empress Ma of Zhu Yuanzhang was born in Suzhou, Anhui. Her mother died prematurely, so her father fostered her in Guo Zixing's family.Later, her father also died, and Guo Zixing treated her like his own daughter.Guo Zixing loved his subordinate Zhu Yuanzhang, so he married his adopted daughter Ma Shi.Later, Guo Zixing listened to the slanderous rumors that separated him and Zhu Yuanzhang. Fortunately, Mrs. Ma obeyed and explained in front of Guo Zixing's wife, and the suspicion was resolved.Mrs. Ma personally sewed clothes and made shoes for the officers and soldiers, and rewarded the sergeants with gold, silver and satin from her family. She often asked Zhu Yuanzhang to "make the world based on not killing people." Zhu Yuanzhang was very grateful to Mrs. Ma.In the first month of the first year of Hongwu (1368), Zhu Yuanzhang took the throne in Jinling (Nanjing), and named Ma as the queen.

Empress Ma is strict with herself.One year, there was a severe drought in the south of the Yangtze River, and the army was short of food, and often had nothing to eat.And what about the queen?Often hungry.After Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he often praised Empress Ma's virtuousness among his officials, such as telling the story of Ma's "Woodou Bean Congee" (drinking vegetable porridge).Later, in drought years, Empress Ma led the harem concubines and maids to eat vegetables. ("History of Ming Dynasty Biography of Empresses" Volume 13) Empress Ma cared about the lives of scholars.Emperor Hongwu inspected the Guozijian and returned to the palace. Empress Ma asked how many students there were, and replied: "Thousands." Empress Ma said: "There are many talents. All students have granary food, what will the wife look up to?" That is to say, Tai students There are stipends, and their wives too!So a red plate warehouse was set up to store grain for their families, that is, a special granary was set up to give grain to the wives of the students.Therefore, "History of the Ming Dynasty Biography of Concubines" said: "The family food of Tai students starts from the back." The government subsidizes the food of Tai students' families, starting from Empress Ma.

There is a big picture in the back of the horse.The Ming army captured Yuan Dadu, obtained jewels and jade, and transported them back to Nanjing, the Ming capital.Empress Ma said: "There is truth in the original, but you can't keep it. The emperor has his own treasure if he wants to." Take the virtuous as the treasure."Ma Hou thanked him and said: "My concubine and your majesty have been poor and humble. To this day, I am always afraid of arrogance born of extravagance, and danger and death from small things. Therefore, I hope that wise men will manage the world together." Zhu Yuanzhang sighed: "It's true."

Although the clothes that Empress Ma usually wears are very old after washing many times, she still refuses to change them for new ones.Empress Ma heard the frugal story of Kublai Khan's empress who boiled old bow strings, and ordered her to make a quilt for the old widows and loneliness.The remaining silk was made into clothes and given to the queen and princess to let them know the difficulty of silkworm weaving.Concubines and concubines who are favored and have children are never jealous and treat them favorably.Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to visit the same family of Empress Ma's natal family and entrusted them to officials. Empress Ma thanked her and said: "It's not in accordance with the law to give the salary of an official to a relative's family."After several hard words, he gave up.

In August of the fifteenth year of Hongwu (1382), Empress Ma was critically ill. Emperor Hongwu asked if she had anything to say, and Empress Ma said: "May your majesty seek virtue and accept advice, be as cautious as the beginning, and all descendants will be worthy, and the subjects will get what they deserve. "Soon, collapse, fifty-one years old.The palace people miss and sing praises. ("History of Ming Dynasty Biography of Empresses" Volume 13)