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Wang Mang
Chinese civilization has lasted for thousands of years, and there are countless precious cultural relics or collections. The rare treasures of the dynasties are even more staggering.
But few people know that there is a unique "collection" in the history of the mainland, which has been regarded as a treasure by successive royal families and treasured for 272 years.
This collection is not a precious jade, not a rare ancient book, but a head, which belongs to the emperor of the new dynasty - Wang Mang.
In 23 AD, Wang Mang was killed by the rebels, and the rule of the new dynasty, which lasted only fourteen years, came to an end, but Wang Mang's story went in an unexpected direction.
Note: Similar to the source - not Wang Mang's head
After Wang Mang's head was cut off by the rebels, it was collected by the new ruler, thus starting its peculiar "collection journey" that lasted for nearly three centuries.
What is so special about this skull that it can be so cherished by the royal family of all generations? Why has it survived for so long? What has it been through in the past 272 years? Let's take a look.
1. Game of Thrones: The Rise of Wang Mang and the Establishment of a New Dynasty
At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, there were undercurrents inside and outside the imperial court. Over time, the actual power gradually shifted from the hands of the royal family to the hands of the Wang family's relatives, headed by the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun. In the whirlpool of this change of power, a young man named Wang Mang began to emerge.
Wang Mang was born in 45 BC and was the nephew of Wang Zhengjun. His father, Wang Man, died young, and his mother, Wei Ji, raised him as an adult. From an early age, Wang Mang has shown extraordinary talent and ambition. He was diligent and studious, proficient in economics and history, and laid a solid foundation for his later political career.
Wang Mang's career did not start smoothly. He was originally just an ordinary Lang official, unknown in the court. However, he was adept at seizing opportunities and soon attracted the attention of the ministers of the DPRK and China. In 22 BC, Wang Mang was recommended as a servant and began to contact the inner circle of power.
During this period, Wang Mang showed extraordinary talent. He is good at reading words and feelings, and knows how to navigate the complex court relations with ease. He also established his image of integrity and filial piety through various means, and won the favor of the government and the opposition.
In 16 BC, Wang Mang was appointed as the Great General of the Great Sima, marking a new height in his status. He began to actively participate in the politics of the court, and his influence grew day by day. Over the next few years, Wang Mang gradually consolidated his power base through a series of operations.
However, Wang Mang's ambitions don't stop there. In 8 BC, at the age of 38, Wang Mang became the Great Sima and seized de facto power in the court. He began to use this position to gradually control the power of the court, even beyond the influence of the emperor himself.
In the process, Wang Mang showed superb political skills. He used his position and influence to gradually eliminate dissidents while co-opting his supporters. He also took advantage of the social contradictions at the time to put forward a series of reform proposals, which won the support of many people.
In 9 AD, Wang Mang finally revealed his true colors. With an irresistible attitude, he forced the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun to hand over the jade seal of the country. Subsequently, he established himself as emperor, established a new dynasty, and changed the name of the country to "Xin".
This move shocked the entire government and the opposition, marking his transformation from a member of a family of relatives to a real usurper.
2. The Wave of Reform: Wang Mang's Policies and the Intensification of Social Contradictions
After ascending the throne, Wang Mang was not blindly addicted to the taste of power. Instead, he embarked on a series of reforms. He abolished slavery, nationalized land, and introduced a new monetary system.
The original intention of these policies was to change the social problems that had accumulated for a long time in the late Western Han Dynasty, but they were too radical and caused huge repercussions.
Wang Mang's reforms are multifaceted. None of the most striking of these is the abolition of slavery. This was groundbreaking at the time.
Wang Mang believes that slavery is one of the root causes of social inequality, and that abolishing slavery can promote social equity. This idea may seem taken for granted today, but in the feudal society of 2,000 years ago, it was an extremely avant-garde concept.
In addition to the abolition of slavery, Wang Mang also implemented a series of economic reforms. He brought important industries such as salt and iron back to the royal power, and tried to stabilize prices and improve the economy through imperial court regulation. The starting point of these reforms was undoubtedly good, but they ignored the complex social realities of the time.
Wang Mang's reforms swept through society like a sudden storm. However, this reform did not bring about social progress and prosperity as Wang Mang had hoped.
Why is this so? The problem is that Wang Mang's reforms were too radical and did not take into account the capacity of society to bear it. The abolition of slavery, although noble in its ideals, shook the foundations of the rulers and aroused strong opposition from the aristocracy.
Economic policies, while aimed at stabilizing the economy, hit the interests of businessmen and led to a contraction in economic activity.
To make matters worse, the implementation of these policies is fraught with chaos. For the sake of their own interests, local officials often distort the original intent of the policy and increase the burden on the people. Policies aimed at improving people's livelihood have instead become the last straw that crushes the people.
With the passage of time, social contradictions have become increasingly acute. Public grievances are boiling, and wars are raging one after another. Wang Mang's new dynasty was crumbling in this storm of reform.
3. The Fall of the Dynasty: The Uprising and the Tragic Ending of Wang Mang
Wang Mang's reforms were like a double-edged sword, which ultimately hurt himself. As the contradictions intensified, the peasants' discontent was like a flash flood, and it was out of control. Under these circumstances, the anti-reckless wave began to sweep across the country.
The flames of the uprising were first ignited in the outlying areas. These places have been neglected for a long time, and the common people live in hardship, and dissatisfaction with the new dynasty is the strongest. Under the banner of "doing the right thing for heaven", the rebel army attracted a large number of poor peasants to join. Their slogan was simple but powerful: "Down with the new dynasty, restore the Han dynasty!" "
The scale of the uprising grew and soon turned into a nationwide uprising. Wang Mang sent troops to suppress it, but with little success. The rebel army was like a spark of fire, and soon formed a prairie fire.
In 23 AD, the rebel army finally arrived at the city of Chang'an. The heart of the empire was in danger under the onslaught of the rebels. Wang Mang was helpless in the face of this situation. He seems to be still immersed in his own ideals of reform, unable to accept the cruelty of reality.
In the end, Chang'an City was broken. Wang Mang's fate came to an end. He was killed by the rebels, ending his short and controversial reign. However, Wang Mang's story does not end there.
Wang Mang's head was cut off and hung in the downtown area, becoming the object of the people's anger. This emperor, who once called for wind and rain, has now become the object of ridicule and hatred. However, fate played a joke on Wang Mang again. His head was not discarded or buried like ordinary people, but was ordered by Liu Xiu to be hidden.
Liu Xiu, the founding emperor who later founded the Eastern Han Dynasty, seems to have seen the special value of Wang Mang's head. He saw the skull as a symbol of his victory and a proof of his legitimacy.
4. The Mystery of the Millennium: The Peculiarity of the Skull and the Collection of the Ages
Wang Mang's head was collected, a move that caused a huge sensation at the time. The head was not just a trophy, it became a special symbol. It serves as a warning to usurpers and a reminder to future generations of rulers to do their best to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
The way this skull is handled is also quite special. It is recorded that it was painted black and all flesh was removed, leaving only the facial bones. This treatment not only ensures the long-term preservation of the skull, but also adds a bit of mystery.
Over time, Wang Mang's head became a royal collector's item. It was carefully kept in the palace and became a "mirror" for successive emperors. Every newly enthroned emperor was brought to this head and let them witness the terrible consequences of the abuse of power.
The head remained in the royal collection for 272 years. During these long years, it has witnessed the change of countless dynasties and witnessed countless power struggles.
However, the head was ultimately doomed. In 295 AD, a fire swept through the palace. In this fire, Wang Mang's head was reduced to ashes along with other precious cultural relics. In this way, this head, which once caused countless controversies and conjectures, finally disappeared into the long river of history.
5. The legend of the traverser: the other side of Wang Mang
In the long years, the legend about Wang Mang has never stopped. One of the most fascinating is the statement that "Wang Mang is a traverser". This seemingly absurd rumor is particularly striking because of some peculiar historical details.
Why do some people think that Wang Mang is a traverser? This starts with a series of policies and inventions that were ahead of his time.
First of all, some of the reform policies pursued by Wang Mang seemed to be fantastical at the time. For example, the abolition of slavery, economic policies, etc., these policies are very advanced concepts today, 2,000 years later. Some people believe that such advanced thinking could not have come from the hands of an ancient person, and Wang Mang must be a time-traveler from the future.
But what is even more surprising is the vernier caliper invented by Wang Mang. In 1922, archaeologists unearthed a bronze caliper in Yangzhou. After research, this caliper is believed to be a measuring tool designed and invented by Wang Mang himself.
Shockingly, the design of this bronze caliper is almost indistinguishable from that of a modern vernier caliper, making it the prototype of a modern precision measuring tool.
Vernier calipers
This discovery came as a surprise to many. You know, vernier calipers, a precision measuring tool, were not invented in the West until the 17th century. Wang Mang actually mastered this technique two thousand years ago, which can't help but make people think. Could it really be that he is a time-traveler from the future?
Of course, these speculations are just folk rumors. But it is undeniable that Wang Mang did show wisdom and foresight that was ahead of his time. Whether it is his reforms or his scientific and technological inventions, we see a complex and fascinating historical figure.
Epilogue:
Wang Mang's life is like a legendary novel with ups and downs. From rise to fall, from his reforms to his failures, every link is full of drama. And his head, which has been collected for 272 years, adds a bit of mystery to this legend.
Although the new dynasty only existed for a short period of ten years, the legacy and stories left by Wang Mang are still talked about by future generations. His head has become a strange memory in the marks of history, reminding future generations to remember the lessons of the past.
What do you think differently about this?
Resources:
[1] Cui Xiangdong. The Fall of the Hao Clans in Different Regions of the Western Han Dynasty and Wang Mang's New Dynasty[J].Social Sciences Series,2012,(06):159-165.)
[1] Liu Dezeng. Spring and Autumn,2022,(06):42-47.
[1] Liu Binhui. Jiangling Yingcheng unearthed Wang Mang period cultural relics[J].Jianghan Archaeology,1980,(02):22.)
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