Small whirlwind's "gatekeeper" magic weapon
Anyone who has seen The Water Margin knows that Chai Jin, the "Little Whirlwind", has a protective treasure called "Iron Voucher of Oath Book".
"You don't know! There is a rich man in my village. His last name is Chai and his first name is Jin. People here call him Chief Chai, and they call him' Little Whirlwind' in Jianghu. He is a descendant of Chai Shizong in the Zhou Dynasty. He abdicated from Chen Qiao, and Emperor Mao Wude gave him a "sworn iron ticket". No one dares to bully him. " In the fifty-second chapter (the seventy-first chapter), it was written that Chai Jin was arrested by Gao Lian, the magistrate. Chai Jin said, "After I am a direct descendant of Chai Shizong, I have an affidavit at home." Another place this time is called "Dan Shu Tie Voucher".
Such a protective "baby" is also called the "death-free gold medal" by the people because of its privilege of avoiding death. Even capital crimes can be exempted, let alone other laws? Therefore, besides bringing great glory to the holder, the iron coupon of Dan Shu also brings many invisible privileges above the law.
China ancient "Dan Shu Tie Voucher" system began in the Han Dynasty. According to historical records, after the Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang seized power, in order to consolidate his rule and win the hero, he awarded the "Golden Book Iron Voucher" to Yuan Xun as a commendation. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang "made Xiao He's son law, Han Xin's Shen Jun law, Zhang Cang's articles of association, and uncle's silk ceremony; He also swore to the hero that the ancestral hall contained Dan books, iron deeds, golden chambers and stone chambers. This is the earliest record of iron coupons in Dan Shu. Among them, "Fu" is also commonly known as "Qi", that is, the documents kept by the emperor, the hero and the etiquette. " Dan Shu, iron deed, golden room and stone room "means that iron is deed, Dan Shu is deed, gold is room and stone is room." The oaths of emperors, heroes and officials were written on the "iron coupons" with vermilion, placed in the golden hall and hidden in the stone ancestral hall to show solemnity and ensure the safety of the "iron coupons".
The legal product of "oath"
The appearance of iron coupons is by no means an isolated and accidental factor, but has its origins and reasons.
Iron coupons have the nature of swearing and keeping promises, so the appearance of iron coupons is closely related to the ancient oath system.
The so-called oath means that people are bound by words. Oath has a long history and originated from primitive clan society. At that time, due to the low level of productivity, people's understanding of nature and life was limited, resulting in a primitive world outlook with immortal soul and animism. The worship of gods and ancestors provides the ideological basis for the existence of vows. Allies prayed to the ancestors of the gods and made a contract, vowing to abide by it. Use the power of ghosts and gods to strengthen the binding force of both sides of the oath. In the poem Feng Wei Meng, the cloud "vows".
In the process of swearing, Meng Si or Zhu Zhu should write swearing words, that is, "the words contained", and record these words in a simple book as evidence. After that, "the alliance is all." As you can see, there are two copies of this book, one of which is kept as an archived copy. If there is any dispute in the future, it will be regarded as evidence. The other is buried underground or submerged in river water. Although the oath was the product of social development at that time, its essence was to serve the politics of the rulers. It plays an active political role in safeguarding the interests of the ruling class and the central authority and maintaining social stability. Therefore, the oath system has been followed by later generations. Iron ticket is a new form of the evolution of oath system. As one of the cultural carriers of the oath system, the iron coupon of Dan Shu is also divided into two parts, with the payee and the court holding half each.
Iron coupons have different names since their birth. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was called "Dan Shu Tie Qi" or "Fu". The history book says: "Anyone who made contributions to the Han Dynasty will cut down Spyker, pledging a solemn pledge of love." According to Records of the Emperor Gaozu, the first official was named Hero and was named Tong Hou. Judging from the word "iron contract", it embodies the obvious nature of oath contract. Calling iron coupons "symbols" also focuses on the characteristics of iron coupons as pledges. It can be seen that in the early Western Han Dynasty, although there were differences in "Dan Shu Tie Qi" and "Fu", they were essentially the same.
At the beginning of the birth of the "iron coupon", there was no promise of exemption from punishment and death, but only as a certificate to increase the level, rank and concubine. Heroes who are given iron tickets and their sons and grandchildren are often convicted for details until they are executed.
From the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty awarded "iron coupons" to imperial clan and modern ministers for self-protection and home defense. During the Southern Dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang and Chen, "iron coupons" were widely issued. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it became a common practice to issue "iron coupons". All the founding fathers, ZTE heroes and leaders of ethnic minorities have given "iron coupons", and they have also given "iron coupons" to minions and eunuchs. By the Song, Yuan and Ming Dynasties, the distribution of "iron coupons" was gradually complete.
An unreliable "gold medal for avoiding death"
Since the beginning of the iron coupon system in the early Han Dynasty, emperors have always regarded it as a tool to "consolidate imperial power". Because emperors have different benevolence and righteousness, likes and dislikes, they have also caused several tragicomedy because of iron coupons.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the separatist forces confronted each other, and the flag of the king was often changed in Chengtou. According to historical records, the secretariat of Bazhou in the Northern Wei Dynasty "was afraid of being convicted at first, and I asked for it when I came to Yin, and I sent an envoy to give it by letter and iron ticket." . As a result, Liang Wudi expanded his strength and territory without losing a single soldier. Later generations commented: "The merit of building iron coupons is also."
During the period of Tang Dezong, the centralization was weak, and the governors were divided and did not listen to the emperor's orders. In those days, Li Huaiguang, the ambassador of North China, not only solved the siege of Fengtian, but also failed to appear in court because of great anger. Ambassador China was sent to Gaqiu and given an iron ticket. I have to throw all the tickets to the ground with phosgene. " If people and ministers rebel, they will be given iron coupons. Today, giving iron coupons is a kind of rebellion. "As a result, the emperor's attempt to woo senior officials and iron coupons didn't work, but it accelerated Li Huaiguang's rebellion. Shortly after Li Huaiguang rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, he was killed by the Ministry because he lost the hearts of the people.
In the Five Dynasties, after the Tang Dynasty, the back beam was destroyed, and it was quite a credit to the general Zhu, who personally gave him an iron ticket to avoid the death penalty. However, the development of the situation made Zhuang Zong change his original intention. Later, after listening to the slanders, he gradually felt that Zhu had a feeling of anti-bone. Finally, he charged and cut off more than 200 mouths of Zhu himself and his people. Zhang, Zhu's wife, is about to be executed, and asks the executioner to take the waist iron coupon, screaming and saying, "The emperor gave it to him." It's no use begging for mercy with an iron ticket. The executioners grimaced and said, "Today it's called beheading!"
In Li's history, there are also some "masters" or generals who covet imperial power. When the emperor doubted them, he often issued iron coupons as a preventive measure. After Liao Daozong and Lu Ye Hongji ascended the throne, Lu Ye Chongyuan, the minister of imperial power, held heavy power, sought authority and was ambitious. Although Daozong observed his mind, he "played hard to get". In addition to constant praise, he also said that "the book is an emperor's uncle, exempt from titles, and gives gold coupons to the generals of the military and horses in the world." This golden ticket is like an anesthetic, which makes Lu Ye Chongyuan arrogant and bold. Finally, Daozong seized his guilt and cut it off in one fell swoop.
Chai Jin, a small whirlwind, was mentioned in the ninth chapter of Water Margin. He is a descendant of Chai Rong, a former Zhou Shizong. After the establishment of the Song Dynasty, it was a virtue to read Chai Jia's Zen Position, and the iron ticket was also awarded to Zhou Shizong's descendants. However, at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, although Chai Jin's uncle Chai Huangcheng held the iron ticket, Yin Tianci, a relative of Gaotang magistrate (an uncle and brother of Gao Taiwei) unexpectedly occupied Chai's garden and killed Chai Huangcheng.
As a special favor, emperors often gave iron coupons to meritorious officials, important officials and generals, which played a positive and important role in maintaining the political and social stability of rulers. Iron coupons have had a far-reaching impact on later generations since their appearance. Iron coupons not only become a symbol of the holy monarch, but also a symbol of people's achievements and ideal pursuit.
Iron coupons are a double-edged sword, which will inevitably produce certain negative effects. Freedom from capital punishment has become the most important content and feature of iron coupons. The Iron Vow publicly stipulates that the person who is given the iron ticket has the privilege beyond the law, and objectively allows the person who owns the iron ticket to violate the law by relying on the power in his hand to a certain extent and scope, which not only embodies the supremacy of monarchy, but also conflicts with the sacred and inviolable imperial power. In the society with strict feudal etiquette in ancient times, most of the time, iron coupons were just a mere formality. For the sake of their own ruling interests, the rulers did not really perform the function of avoiding death with iron coupons, and there are many examples of people with iron coupons being executed.
It can be seen that iron coupons are not omnipotent amulets. In addition, there are also a lot of material rewards, which also deepened the burden of the central government of the dynasty to a certain extent, and the negative impact of iron coupons can not be ignored.
"Death-free gold medal" may not avoid death.
There is a good saying: "Don't believe in promises casually, because promises are true only then." It seems that even the promise of the imperial book is hard to guarantee. In the eyes of corrupt officials, cruel officials and bullies, "the county magistrate is not as good as the current governor", as Yin Tianci said earlier, the brother-in-law of an uncle and brother of the imperial dynasty was completely out of touch with his relatives, which could force the distinguished former royal family of Chai family into such a situation. It can be seen that the iron coupon of Dan Shu may even be worthless in the eyes of some people. In a sense, I really have to "thank" Yin Tianxi. In the final analysis, it is they who make the iron coupons of Dan Shu lose their teeth and show their true colors, so that many unscrupulous "golden branches and jade leaves" no longer feel good about themselves.
The ancients once advocated the idea that "a monarch breaks the law and Shu Ren is guilty", but unfortunately the ideal is full and the reality is very skinny. The iron coupons of Dan Shu exposed the naked inequality in real life one by one, and emperors gave them to heroes one after another, engaging in "extra-legal kindness" and "iron", favoring and taking care of their own heroes, just as a delaying tactic after weighing political interests. "The rabbit is dead and the dog is cooked, and the bird is hidden." Once you firmly control the power, what can you do with the "Dan Shu Tie Voucher"? Commitment is the means, and winning each other's trust and striving for their own rule is the purpose.
In modern society, the concept of rule of law has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, but there are still many people who have some invisible privileges when facing the law in real life, which deserves our reflection. Although there is no absolute equality, we hope to make this possibility endless, face up to the inequality in reality and let our country move towards a more brilliant tomorrow.