What kind of punishment is torture? Why did Shangguan Waner finally get this punishment?

Ink punishment, also known as torture and torture, is one of the five major punishments in ancient times. About this kind of punishment, it is estimated that everyone is most familiar with the Water Margin. Song Jiang, Song Wu and others were all tattooed on their faces and exiled, which was called "stabbing to death".

There is a record of Shangguan Waner being hanged in the Book of the Old Tang Dynasty, Biography of Empresses:

He is very good-looking, educated and knowledgeable about official affairs. When the weather is right, if Wan'er wants to punish him, then God will pity him for not killing him, but it's just a slap in the face. "

Song Qi, Ouyang Xiu, etc. Compiled the book of the new Tang dynasty, which records:

"If you taste the purpose, you will punish it, then you will cherish its talents and stop killing it."

Neither history book explains why Shangguan Waner was "punished with one heart", only that Wu Zetian was angry, but out of pity for talents, she spared Shangguan Waner's face. "

There is no reason for the result, as if there is something to hide. According to unofficial history legend, the reason is not elegant.

First, the Prime Minister Shangguan Waner

Shangguan Waner's life experience is very tragic. The Book of the Old Tang Dynasty recorded the tragic experience of their family:

Zhongzong Shangguan, the first name, is the grandson of Xitai Assistant Minister Yi. Father Ting Zhang, who was punished with Yi, was a baby when he was a child and married with his mother.

Shangguan Yi, the grandfather of Shangguan Waner, was the prime minister of a famous poet in the early Tang Dynasty. Shangguan Style was named after Shangguan Yi.

At that time, Tang Gaozong always wanted to find an opportunity to abolish Wu Zetian. So he called Shangguan Yi to discuss the matter and arranged for him to draft the imperial edict. Unexpectedly, Wu Zetian immediately ran to the front of Tang Gaozong to defend. Tang Gaozong, who was soft-hearted, was afraid of the resentment and anger of Wuhou, and even put all the blame on Shangguan Yi.

Although Shangguan Yi, who offended Wu Zetian, was the prime minister, he could not protect himself. Finally, Wu Zetian was accused of Luo Zhi, executed together with her son Shangguan Tingzhi, and her property was confiscated. Shangguan Tingzhi's wife, Zheng, was pregnant and was taken to the court to do an official job.

There is also a story about the birth of Shangguan Waner in Old Tang Book:

At the beginning, when Wan'er was pregnant, her mother dreamer left her own scale. The occupier said, "When you have a precious child, you should weigh this country." In view of the birth of a woman, those who heard it laughed that it was invalid. As the occupier said, Wan'er specialized in internal affairs.

During Zheng's pregnancy, she dreamed that the giant gave her a big weight. The dreamer said that you would give birth to your son to take charge of state affairs. I didn't expect Zheng Tiansheng to be a girl, so she became a joke of others. No one expected that Shangguan Waner later really became the "female prime minister" as the fortune teller said.

Shangguan Waner was smart, studious and polite since childhood, and gradually gained the reuse of Wu Zetian, becoming a close female official of the man who killed his father, and even in charge of the imperial edict of the palace. Later, Tang Zhongzong succeeded to the throne, Shangguan Waner was also registered as Zhao Rong, and Grandpa Shangguan Yi was finally rehabilitated.

Second, why did she suffer "ink punishment"?

Both the new Tang book and the old Tang book say that Shangguan Waner "wants to punish", but they are both vague. Cai Dongfan (1877-1945) said in The Romance of Tang Shi that Shangguan Waner had an affair with Zhang Changzong, the founder of Wu Zetian, which caused the wrath of Wu Zetian:

Wan'er in Seeds of Love can't help but be moved by him, and Changzong's appearance is also very beautiful, which makes him particularly lewd. One day, when he was flirting with Changzong, Wu Shi looked at him. He pulled out a golden knife and inserted it into Wan'er's front bun, hurting his left forehead. He glared and said, "If you dare to come near me, you should be put to death." Thanks to Chang Zong's kneeling, she was pardoned. Romance in Tang Shi

Cai Dongfan's historical novels are more loyal to historical facts, and the stories in the book come from many sources. About this passage, it comes from a mysterious "The Secret of Crane Control":

In Wan'er's biography, only Wan'er's instructions are contained. This matter is described in detail in the Secret Book of Crane Control, but the language is too obscene, so it is excerpted. Romance in Tang Shi

Wu Zetian set up a crane management office for the convenience of her physiological needs, with Zhang Yizhi as the supervisor of the crane management office and Zhang Changzong as the secretary supervisor. The Secret Book of Crane Control is a novel similar to Jin Ping Mei, which is about the secret things that are not suitable for children in Wu Zetian's palace, so Cai Dongfan said, "But the language is too obscene, so I deliberately extracted it." "

About this passage of Shangguan Waner, the original text of "The Secret of Crane Control" is written like this:

Wan'er's heart moved ... He flew into a rage when he approached Changzong. He took a golden knife, put it in his bun and said, "If you dare to go near the forbidden area, you will die." Liulang excused himself, but he had a mark on his forehead, so he often wore flowers in the palace.

The Secret Record of Crane Control was compiled by Zhang Ge in the Tang Dynasty. Zhang Ge is the second son of Prime Minister Zhang Yue and the son-in-law of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. This book is too explicit, so it is likely that later generations compiled it in his name.

The Secret of Crane Control is a novel by unofficial history, but it is not true or false. Wu Zetian discovered Shangguan Waner's behavior, and when she was angry, she cut her face with a knife, which was not the so-called "ink punishment". However, the new and old Tang books only said that Shangguan Waner "stopped killing her because she cherished her talents", but refused to explain the reasons, which naturally made people suspicious.

Third, the death of Shangguan Waner.

Shangguan family is a tragic family in Tang Dynasty. Grandfather and father died at the hands of Wu Zetian, and Shangguan Waner himself died at the hands of Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty.

Shangguan Yi and Shangguan Waner are both outstanding poets in the early Tang Dynasty, and they are also high-powered political figures. In order to keep her position, Wu Zetian must get rid of Shangguan Yi as an example. Sadly, after the change of Tang Long, Li Longji had to get rid of the threat of Shangguan Waner for the safety of his father and son.

In September 20 13, archaeologists discovered Shangguan Waner cemetery in Xianyang, and its epitaph records:

Jieyu Yi Shu was brilliant and wise. Poetry and calligraphy are gardens, taking its essence; Calligraphy is a loom, and it is organized into its splendid beauty. Thirteen years old, he is a talented person. He should be prepared for dragons and snakes. He is more than sparks. The first emperor set things right, tore down the old cloth and made new ones, which saved the people's sufferings and lives. The Year of the Loong, the book is Zhao Rong.

Shangguan Waner became a talented person in Tang Gaozong at the age of 13, and was named Zhao Rong, Tang Zhongzong at the age of 42. He served his father and son successively, and at the same time had high political influence, very similar to Wu Zetian.

Before Yin Jian, the promising young Li Longji decided to exterminate the roots, bestow death on Shangguan Waner, and get rid of Princess Taiping after he ascended the throne. After sweeping away all hidden dangers, the young emperor made great efforts to create a prosperous Tang Dynasty and became a generation of English masters.