Why do so many people justify King Zhou? What was the real King Zhou like?
2024-05-04 18:26:30 中文版

In ancient Chinese history, the image of King Zhou has been portrayed as a tyrant. However, in recent years, more and more people have begun to justify King Zhou, attempting to reveal his true face. So, why do so many people justify King Zhou? What was the real King Zhou like?

Firstly, we need to understand King Zhou's historical background. King Zhou, whose name was Xin, was the last king of the Shang Dynasty. During his reign, the Shang Dynasty's national power declined, and the people suffered. According to the "Records of the Grand Historian", King Zhou was immoral, indulged in wine and women, and was cruel by nature. These negative images made King Zhou one of the famous tyrants in history.

However, with the deepening of historical research, increasing evidence suggests that King Zhou was not as cruel as legends portray. In fact, during his reign, the Shang Dynasty made certain achievements in politics, economy, and culture. For example, the bronze casting technology of the Shang Dynasty reached its peak during King Zhou's period, and many exquisite bronze wares were produced during this time. In addition, King Zhou also valued cultural education and once appointed wise and capable individuals to official positions, selecting talented individuals.

So, why do so many people justify King Zhou? There are several reasons:

1. King Zhou's image has been exaggerated and vilified by later scholars. In ancient literary works, King Zhou is often depicted as an immoral and tyrannical king. However, these works are often based on the authors' subjective speculation and one-sided understanding of history. Over time, these negative images gradually became ingrained in people's minds, obscuring King Zhou's true image.

2. King Zhou's negative image was influenced by political factors. In feudal society in China, the emperor was the supreme authority. To maintain the inviolability of imperial power, successive rulers often smeared and vilified the tyrants of the previous dynasty. As the last king of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou naturally could not escape this fate.

3. Modern society has a more tolerant and rational understanding of human nature. With the development of the times, people's evaluation of historical figures has become more objective and rational. Against this backdrop, people have begun to re-examine King Zhou, attempting to comprehensively understand his true face from multiple perspectives.

In summary, King Zhou was not as cruel as legends portray. To some extent, he promoted the political, economic, and cultural development of the Shang Dynasty. However, due to the exaggeration and vilification of later scholars, the influence of political factors, and changes in modern society's understanding of human nature, King Zhou's true image has gradually been revealed. We should approach historical figures with a more tolerant and rational attitude, in order to better understand and inherit the excellent culture of the Chinese nation.

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