The first view is that Wu Zetian's "tablet without words" is used to brag and show his boundless merits. Wu Zetian became queen in 655 AD and was forced to abdicate in 705 AD. She participated in and held the supreme power for fifty years. If it is counted from Tang Gaozong's death, it will be 2 1 year. She is the only outstanding female emperor in the history of China. She attacked aristocratic families politically, and through the development of the imperial examination system, a large number of talents entered the political arena, restraining the monopoly of rich families; She rewarded farming and mulberry, built water conservancy projects, lightened corvee, and rectified the system of land equalization, which made the social economy rise and the number of households increase. She knows how to make good use of people, makes an exception in employing people, encourages officials at all levels to recommend talents, and is also very modest about the position of capable minister, which is why she was "used by many people in the past." She strengthened the frontier defense of feudal countries and improved relations with all ethnic groups on the border. In a word, Wu Zetian is a person full of political talents and ideals. During her reign, she did many things in line with the interests of the people, stabilized and developed the "Zhenguan Rule", pushed history forward a big step, and played a connecting role in the later "Kaiyuan Rule".
The second view is that Wu Zetian set up a "tablet without words" because she knew that she was guilty, and she thought it would be better not to write an inscription. First, Wu Zetian gained trust by flattery, changed from a low-ranking "talent" to a powerful queen, and finally stole the throne. Second, cultivate henchmen, establish a traitor group, and wipe out dissidents under the banner of Li Tang's "imperial court". Third, appoint cruel officials and implement the terrorist policy of informers and abuse of punishment. Fourth, the social and economic development in the early Tang Dynasty was saddle-shaped, and Wu Zetian was at the lowest point when he was in power. Fifth, during his administration, he lost four towns in Anxi, which endangered the unity of the country. Wu Zetian can't make a biography for herself, so she can only set the tone for future generations with the "tablet without words".
The third view is that Wu Zetian is a self-aware person, and it is smart to set up a monument without words. It is the best way for future generations to comment on merits and demerits. Because Wu Zetian has both positive and negative aspects. During the reign of Wu Zetian, the economic development trend since Zhenguan continued; In dealing with the complicated situation before and after Tang Gaozong's death, she showed extraordinary personal talent; Even many feudal orthodox people are amazed at "teachability" and "employing people". However, Wu Zetian's negativity is also very prominent. In order to consolidate her personal status, she appointed "cruel officials" and killed innocent people, believed in Buddhism and was extravagant and wasteful. Especially in the later period of rule, government politics became increasingly corrupt, and a group of new privileged nobles were connived and supported by Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian was forced to hand over power and regain power in Tang Zhongzong. She knew that people would have all kinds of comments on her life, and it was difficult to write a good or bad inscription, so she decided to set up a "wordless tablet" for future generations to evaluate.
In addition, there are several views that:
First of all, Tang Zhongzong Li Xian, who succeeded to the throne, could not call Wu Zetian, but called Wu Zetian the first emperor. Or the queen mother? Second, although Tang Zhongzong is the son of Wu Zetian, he was once abolished, so he was jealous. What is even more shameful is the insertion of a 2 1 year "Wu Zhou" in the Li Tang period. In revenge, he deliberately set up a monument to embarrass her and make a fool of her. Third, how to write an inscription and how to evaluate Wu Zetian has been debated endlessly. Because of infinity, the monument is always empty. The credibility of these three statements lies in that emperors generally don't write a letter to express their opinions on how to write inscriptions and comments before they die.
It is also said that after the death of Wu Zetian, the political situation was turbulent and no one cared too much. When people pay attention to it again, his history has long been controversial, and it is difficult to distinguish between true and false.
New discoveries and inferences
During an inspection by Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics, it was accidentally discovered that Fang Gezi was engraved on the front of the tablet without words from top to bottom. After textual research, these are not engraved by future generations. These Fang Gezi are each 4 cm long and 5 cm wide, and arranged neatly. There is only one possibility, that is, they were originally prepared to engrave on the stone tablet, and they have already prepared the inscription. According to the grid left on the tablet surface, the inscription has about 3300 words. Then, why are the prepared inscriptions not engraved on stone tablets?
Historians speculate that Wu Zetian wrote an inscription before her death and gave it to Li Xian. Wu Zetian has been in power for decades, but after the "Xuanwumen coup", Wu Zetian was forced to give way and restore the title of "Zhou" to "Tang". Although Li Xian was the biological son of Wu Zetian, he lived in fear for a long time. Although I can't vent my hatred after regaining the throne, I can't speak.
◎ Inscriptions by later generations on the tablet without words.
It was not until the Song and Jin Dynasties (960- 1234) that tourists inscribed on the tablet and became a tablet with words. However, most of these people have no orthodoxy and no respect for history. They only care about their own catharsis. As soon as they caught a place, they began to dance, and the monument of Nuoda became a patchwork of old monks. The front words are blurred, and the back words are engraved, overlapping bedsteads and a pot of paste. There is an inexplicable feeling: "The mistress is gone, and I hate her for thousands of years"; There is a feeling that the local people miss and respect Wu Shi. The poem reads: "Pines and cypresses in Ganling were killed by soldiers, and cattle, sheep and grass were everywhere. Only the dry person Huaide, wheat and rice worship every year. " Guo Moruo's "Gan Yong Order" says: "After a thousand years of case-solving, a hundred hectares of fertile land in Cheng Liangtian. No word tablet is full of words, who can know Gu Kunyuan. "
Because of the long history, predecessors and descendants can't communicate and coordinate and take care of each other, which leads to trouble and no rules. Among them, only 1 135, the Jurchen script "A Brief Introduction to the Dutong of the Daikin Emperor", is relatively well preserved (with a Chinese translation next to it). Jurchen script is now extinct, and inscriptions have become valuable materials for studying Jurchen script and the history and culture of ethnic minorities in China.
Many words of the Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties are engraved on the majestic wordless tablet, which not only naturally forms an' inscription' to evaluate Wu Zetian in content, but also has five elements of truth, grass, official seal and calligraphy. Figuratively speaking, it is indeed a masterpiece that spans dynasties. This may be in line with the original intention of Wu Zetian's monument. Third place: Xie An's tablet without words.
Located in Meigang, Nanjing, it is the tombstone of Xie An (also known as Xie Taifu) in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. "There is a stone without words, and people call it a tablet without words". The reason is that "it is difficult to describe (thank) the merits of an 'an, so a white monument has been set up" (selected from Volume 4 of Ke Rong by Ming and Gu Jieyuan). The so-called white monument means that there is no word on the monument. In the Battle of Feishui, Xie An defeated the million-strong army of Fu Jian in the former Qin Dynasty with 8,000 troops, which made the Eastern Jin Dynasty deviate for another 38 years. So a wordless monument was erected for Xie 'an's tomb, which read "Great Achievements". There is also a saying that Xie An asked him who wrote the inscription before he died, and he kept silent. Tao Qian and Wang Xianzhi were mentioned, and he shook his head. Until his death, he was not sure who wrote the inscription, so he had to set up a wordless tablet. There is also a saying that Xie An has done an earth-shattering event. It is hard to praise, but it should not be degraded, so it has to be empty.
Fourth place: Qin Gui's tablet without words.
Located in Nanjing Muniu Pavilion, it is "with a forehead and no words, lying between stones and grass" (selected from Ming and Gu Qiyuan's "Guest Spare" Volume 4). After Qin Gui died at the age of 66, his family invited many people to write inscriptions for him. Because he is "sinister as a cliff trap, unpredictable", "he is too vicious in his later years, but he does not avoid his appearance" and "he is loyal to the minister for a while and does not avoid his appearance" (Biography of the History of Song Dynasty) belongs to Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen struggled for the revolution all his life, made great contributions to overthrowing the feudal monarchy and establishing the Republic of China, and won wide support and praise from the world. After the death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, it is logical to write an epitaph for Dr. Sun Yat-sen, but it is a pity after all.
At first, when discussing the monument, it was originally planned that Wang Jingwei, Hu and others would write inscriptions and epitaphs respectively. Later, many people objected. After careful consideration, everyone thinks that only Mr. Zhang Taiyan, who has a deep friendship with Dr. Sun Yat-sen and a deep knowledge of Chinese studies, can win this great post. Mr. Zhang Taiyan also said: "As for the intimate friendship and acquaintance with Mr. Zhongshan, only I can get the epitaph and only I am qualified to write it. I want to make an epitaph for Mr. Zhongshan. In this way, Zhang Taiyan wrote a simple, elegant, concise and prudent official document of offering sacrifices to the sun.
Who knows, Zhang Taiyan's willingness to write an epitaph also deprived Chiang Kai-shek of an opportunity to gain political capital. Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek bears a grudge. As the architectural director of Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, and as a representative of the Party and the country, he refused to use the epitaph written by Zhang Taiyan. Therefore, after the completion of Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, although there is a tablet pavilion, there is no epitaph. Later, the word "the world is public" was engraved on the pavilion to replace it.
Later, people seemed to think that the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum without epitaph might be an act of God. Mr. Wang's great achievements in his life cannot be expressed in a few words. This mausoleum is beyond words. Mr. Wang's achievements and kindness are engraved in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people and will be treasured forever.
The sixth place is Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty.
The Ming Tombs have a Tianshou Mountain in the north of Changping County, Beijing. There are beautiful forests and flowing green water here, and thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty lie underground, collectively known as the Ming Tombs.
Tianshou Mountain, formerly known as Huang Tu Mountain, was visited by Judy, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who made a detailed field trip to choose a piece of geomantic treasure for himself as his bedroom. I guess he didn't even let a fly go. After rigorous argumentation, Judy thought it would be more comfortable to lie here after ten thousand years, so she changed Huangtu Mountain to Tianshou Mountain, which means "the domain of longevity". After all, the name of the emperor's tomb should not be too "earthy".
As a nostalgic place, the Ming Tombs have many beautiful scenery and relics, but surprisingly, all the stone tablets in front of the tombs are empty except Changling. According to common sense, after the death of the emperor, regardless of his political achievements, the civil servants in charge of inscriptions should write magnificent words with their own intentions. Otherwise, the soul of the dead old emperor will also order the heir to cut off the head of the civilian as a sacrifice. However, things are always different. As the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, made outstanding achievements in military service and was also an emperor who killed people without blinking an eye. Many loyal ministers and good generals died at his hands. One day, he seemed to suddenly regret his behavior, hoping to leave a lesson for future generations, and said to the ministers around him: "The epitaphs on the imperial tomb are whitewashed by ministers and cannot be educated to future generations." The implication is that I hope there will be a fair statement when I cover the coffin. Therefore, imperial academy's bachelors never dared to write the emperor's inscription. Royal scholars know that this is a thankless thing. Whether you pat the face of the first emperor or not, the head around your neck is in danger of moving. Therefore, scholars took Mao's Ming Xun as a shield and pushed the task of writing inscriptions to the heir emperor. Therefore, the inscription of Xiaoling (Taizu) was written by Ming Taizu Judy, while the inscription of Changling (Chengzu) was written by Ming Taizu Zhu Gaochi. Mao's mausoleum is far away in Nanjing Zijin Mountain, so only Changling in the Ming Tombs has an inscription.
Since the reign of Emperor Renzong, why did the heir no longer write inscriptions? It turns out that after Injong, there were no pavilions and monuments in front of the mausoleum, and it was not until Sejong (Jiajing) that pavilions were built. After the pavilion was completed, a minister wrote to Emperor Sejong and asked him to write inscriptions for the seven emperors who were buried in Tianshou Mountain. It's a pity that this Jiajing emperor is obsessed with magic, thinking about how to become immortal all day, disorderly in his private life, addicted to debauchery, and moody. The Queen of the Imperial Palace alone made three titles and was busy with these things all day. Where did he get so many inscriptions? Since the reign of Emperor Renzong, why did the heir no longer write inscriptions? It turns out that after Injong, there were no pavilions and monuments in front of the mausoleum, and it was not until Sejong (Jiajing) that pavilions were built. After the pavilion was completed, a minister wrote to Emperor Sejong and asked him to write inscriptions for the seven emperors who were buried in Tianshou Mountain. It's a pity that this Jiajing emperor is obsessed with magic, thinking about how to become immortal all day, disorderly in his private life, addicted to debauchery, and moody. The Queen of the Imperial Palace alone made three titles and was busy with these things all day. Where did he get so many inscriptions?
Jiajing's virtue is that not only ministers have opinions, but even maids want to murder him. This is the famous "maid-in-waiting case" in history. Emperor Jiajing had a concubine named Cao Shi, who was very favored. Jiajing often goes to her to enjoy it. Cao Shi was naturally grateful, but the maids around him were in trouble. Jiajing was tyrannical by nature, and he often lashed and abused the lower class because of some minor mistakes, which was very unsightly. After a long time, all the maids bear a grudge. One day, Jiajing was sleeping in Cao Shi Palace, and it happened that Cao Shi went to Piandian again. Several ladies-in-waiting stood trembling, thinking about the king's daily abuse and the fate of his escape. They couldn't help but have evil thoughts, and quietly put a rope around Jiajing's neck, trying to strangle him. Out of panic, several people thought there were too many cooks, and they didn't kill Jiajing for a long time. One of the ladies-in-waiting saw that things could not be done and wanted to make amends, so she hurried to inform the queen. When the queen hurried with a group of eunuchs and maids, the thrilling murder was over.
As an emperor, Jiajing really failed. Even if he had filial piety to inscribe his ancestors, the seven emperors in the underground would feel humiliated, and it would be better to have nothing. After Jiajing, because the ancestors set a precedent without words, the emperors had more reason to leave them empty. The main reason is that most emperors in the middle and late Ming Dynasty have no ambition. They believe in magic and reuse eunuchs, which makes the capital smoky. Setting up a monument without words may better cover up the emperor's corruption and incompetence, so I simply won't write it. Although there are no words on the stone tablets of the Ming Tombs, they reflect the political corruption after the middle of the Ming Dynasty.