She was born into a prime minister's family and was a rich lady, but she followed her mother to Ye Ting when she was still in her infancy. He was supposed to be a slave for the rest of his life, but because of his extraordinary talent, he became a popular figure around Wu Zetian

She was born into a prime minister's family and was a wealthy lady, but she followed her mother to Ye Ting when she was still in her infancy. He was supposed to be a slave for life, but because of his extraordinary talent, he became a celebrity around Wu Zetian , with power over everything. She played both sides, wandered between politics and power, and finally became a victim of political struggle.

She is the heroine--Shangguan Wan'er.

As the saying goes, accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. If you are not careful, you will be killed. Shangguan Wan'er worked beside Empress Wu Zetian, walking on the edge of a knife, and also developed excellent skills. But in the official history, her biography does not have much space. Most of our knowledge of her comes from film and television dramas, and most of them have negative images, and her merits and demerits are also quite controversial.

Some people think that she is a "little girl" who follows the trend of others, switches camps and has no firm stance; some think that she is cunning, evil-doing, and has a corrupt private life; some think that she is a strange woman, exquisite in all aspects, with extraordinary spirit...

The real Shangguan Wan What kind of woman is she, and what kind of legendary life does she have?

Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph

Shaanxi Archaeological Museum, my country's first archaeological subject museum, exhibited Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph for the first time. This epitaph subverts many records in history books and allows us to see a more realistic Shangguan Wan'er.

▍A generation of female prime ministers, no bones were found in the tomb

In 2013, an ancient tomb from the Tang Dynasty was discovered on a construction site not far from Xianyang Airport in Xi'an, Shaanxi. It is not a novel thing to find ancient tombs here. After all, this was an important high-level burial ground to the north of Chang'an City from the Northern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Shangguan Wan'er's tomb Excavation site

As the excavation progressed, this ancient tomb increasingly shocked the archaeological staff on site.

In the Tang Dynasty, patios were a standard feature for noble tombs. The higher the level of the tomb, the longer the tomb passage and the greater the number of patios. "Emperor Rang" Li Xian and Prince Yide's Tomb both have seven patios, Princess Yongtai's Tomb has six patios.

Excavation site of Shangguan Wan'er's Tomb

This ancient tomb is 36.5 meters long horizontally and consists of tomb passages, five patios, five passages, four niches, corridors, and tomb chambers. It can be seen that the tomb owner was of high rank. But the tomb is empty. Except for the small pottery figurines of a limited variety in the niches, there are no precious burial objects. The murals on both sides of the tomb have no discernible patterns.

Excavation site of Shangguan Wan'er's tomb

Experts speculated that this ancient tomb had been deliberately damaged on a large scale and was an "official tomb destruction". The stone coffin bed was also overturned, and even the coffin and remains were destroyed. No trace. When

was cleaning the tomb passage, he found an epitaph with the words " Great Tang Gu Zhaorong Shangguan's Inscription" written on the cover, which shocked people. You know, in the Tang Dynasty, only Shangguan Wan'er was named Zhaorong and had the surname Shangguan.

Epitaph of Shangguan Wan'er

The tomb of Shangguan Wan'er, the "female prime minister", appeared in public view. There were no luxurious burial objects and no bones, only a cold epitaph.

▍Five patios, one epitaph, leaving endless reveries

The epitaph is made of bluestone, square, with a height and width of 75 cm. It is a large-scale epitaph from the Tang Dynasty. The epitaph cover and the ground lines on the four sides are engraved with peonies, four temples, twelve zodiac signs, and honeysuckle, which are finely carved.

The pattern carved on Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph

The epitaph consists of a preface and an inscription, with a total of 982 words. The preface records Shangguan Wan'er's birthplace, lineage, official experience, as well as the cause of death, age, time and place of burial, and ancestors. wait. The inscription praises her achievements and expresses condolences for her.

Part of the rubbing from Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph

According to the epitaph record, Shangguan Wan'er's ancestral home is Shangbang, Longxi (now Tianshui, Gansu). Hence the surname Shangguan.The Western Han Dynasty family gave birth to a Han Zhao Emperor 's queen, and the family's outstanding achievements have been passed down continuously since then.

Epitaph of Shangguan Wan'er

Shangguan Wan'er was named Tang Gaozong talented person at the age of thirteen, and at the age of 42, she was canonized as Tang Zhongzong Zhaorong. The epitaph also records in detail Shangguan Wan'er's dissuasion from Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty in making Princess Anle the "Crown Princess", and she even died to dissuade her.

This epitaph also instantly brings our thoughts back to the night of June 20th, the fourth year of Jinglong in the Tang Dynasty (710). Li Longji launched the Tang Long Coup and eradicated Empress Wei and her party members. The 47-year-old Shangguan Wan'er was also beheaded, ending her life. The "official tomb destruction" should also be done by Li Longji. Only five patios and an epitaph are left, leaving endless reveries for future generations.

▍ Shangguan Wan'er's legendary life

Shangguan Wan'er was born in the Prime Minister's Mansion of the current dynasty in the first year of Tang Linde (664). According to legend, when her mother was pregnant, she dreamed of a god holding a large scale and said to her: "The child you are carrying will weigh the world in the future."

In the same year, Shangguan Wan'er's grandfather Shangguan Yi, as prime minister, drafted an edict to abolish Wu Zetian for Emperor Li Zhi. As a result, he was killed together with his father Shangguan Tingzhi, leaving the newly born Shangguan. Wan'er and her mother. Therefore, Shangguan Wan'er, who was still in her infancy, followed her mother into Yeting and became a slave for life.

Epitaph of Shangguan Wan'er

Shangguan Wan'er's mother was also a lady, the sister of Taichang Shaoqing Zheng Xiuyuan. Under the guidance of her mother Zheng, Shangguan Wan'er grew up day by day and showed extraordinary talents at a young age. She also successfully attracted Wu Zetian's attention, so she was recruited by Wu Zetian and gained respect. She was only thirteen years old this year.

Since then, Shangguan Wan'er's fate has undergone a major turning point, from the daughter of a guilty minister to a popular person around Wu Zetian. She stayed with Wu Zetian for nearly thirty years, wielding power and controlling secrets. She is extremely smart, has both sides, and turns a bad hand into a king.

Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph

According to the epitaph, like Wu Zetian, she married two emperors, father and son. She was named a talented person when she was thirteen, and later became Zhaorong of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty. Some people analyze that the identity of Cai Ren should be a status specially arranged by Wu Zetian in order to free her from being the daughter of a guilty minister. This shows that Wu Zetian attaches great importance to and loves Shangguan Wan'er.

The epitaph only records the two political marriages of Shangguan Wan'er, and there is no promiscuous harem as recorded in the history books. Shangguan Wan'er has lived in a repressed palace all year round, and she also longs for a beautiful and pure love. However, her status also determines that she cannot get true love. This is too luxurious for her.

Rubbings of Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph Partial

Shenlong coup , Wu Zetian abdicated and Tang Zhongzong succeeded. Tang Zhongzong trusted Shangguan Wan'er very much and admired her talent, so he ordered her to assist him in handling government affairs. During the Tang Zhongzong period, Shangguan Wan'er's status also reached its peak.

Epitaph of Shangguan Wan'er

Because she did not draw a clear line between herself and Empress Wei's party in the palace in time, after the death of Tang Zhongzong, she was still killed in the coup even though she kept the edict saying Li Dan assisted the government. He became a victim of the palace coup between Princess Taiping.

A generation of female prime ministers ended their lives. Shangguan Wan'er, who was once all-powerful, ended up in a miserable state.

Shangguan Wan'er never got a lover who loved her wholeheartedly, but she got a sincere friendship. After her death, Princess Taiping buried her lavishly, presented her with five hundred pieces of silk, and wrote "Long live a thousand years, the song of pepper flowers".

▍The friendship between Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er

Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er did not seem to have much intersection in history, and their relationship was not very good. However, the unearthing of the epitaph allowed us to see clearly the relationship between the two. friendship.

Princess Taiping is Wu Zetian's youngest daughter and is much loved. Shangguan Wan'er was Wu Zetian's most favored minister. The two are similar in age and grew up together in the palace. They are sisters who love each other closely.

Shangguan Wan'er was killed when Li Longji and Princess Taiping launched the Tang Long coup. This is something Princess Taiping never expected.

In many film and television dramas, Shangguan Wan'er is in the camp of Queen Wei, but the unearthed epitaph has subverted our understanding. Shangguan Wan'er did not collude with Empress Wei. Her epitaph clearly records that Shangguan Wan'er repeatedly advised Li Xian to prevent Princess Anle from being named the "Crown Princess".

Part of the rubbing of Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph

"With Webster's insult to the power of the country, shaking the emperor's pole, the treacherous ministers wanted to establish the beloved daughter as the heir; the beloved daughter secretly plotted, wanting to use the treacherous ministers as the party. Zhaorong wept bitterly Remonstrate sincerely and sincerely, and the words will be removed. The late emperor was generous in order to cover up his flaws. Zhaorong felt that things were not working and there was nothing he could do. Please be patient and do not follow his words. In the middle, please resign and retreat without restraint; in the second, please go out with your hair down, and die with a setback; in the lower, please drink the dove and die, almost falling to the ground. "

Shangguan Wan'er cried to death and remonstrated. , begged Li Xian to quickly give birth to get rid of Empress Wei's rebellious party, and threatened to die. He drank poison and almost died. In the end, he sought out famous doctors to save his life from the gate of hell. Later, Shangguan Wan'er volunteered to be demoted to Jieyu.

After Li Xian died suddenly, Empress Wei learned from Wu Zetian to take charge of the government. Shangguan Wan'er could only accompany Empress Wei in the palace and serve as Princess Taiping's internal correspondent. Although she is in danger, she remains calm and composed.

When Li Longji led the imperial army into the palace, Princess Taiping originally thought that Li Longji would pardon Shangguan Wan'er, but unexpectedly she was killed in the chaos.

Is it true that Shangguan Wan'er was killed in the chaos as stated in the epitaph? Li Longji did not do it deliberately. Li Longji was worried that Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er would join forces and pose a threat to him in the future, so he took the opportunity to kill him. ? Princess Taiping should be very clear about Li Longji's purpose of killing Shangguan Wan'er.

Part of the rubbing of Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph

After Shangguan Wan'er's death, Princess Taiping was extremely sad. She requested that Shangguan Wan'er be given an official posthumous posthumous title, and she carved an epitaph for her in the name of Tang Ruizong, and gave her the posthumous title "Hui Wen". He was buried in his family cemetery, next to his husband and daughter, and collected Shangguan Wan'er's poems into twenty volumes.

Rubbings of Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph Partial

In the cold palace, it is rare to have such friendship.

Princess Taiping stood in front of Shangguan Wan'er's grave and recounted her longing for her. "Since you left, the world has changed, the mountains and rivers have lost their color, and things and people have changed. I stood quietly in front of your tomb, looking up at the pine and oak trees, as if I heard your voice again. I hope that after thousands of years, there will still be someone Like me, I remember the talented you."

She will also think of every moment with Shangguan Wan'er, and think of the words Shangguan Wan'er wrote, "Every year, I will be happy and peaceful for a long time."

Princess Taiping gave Shangguan Wan'er a grand burial. She originally thought that she could be buried with her friends and family after her death, but her bones and grave are still unknown.

▍ Conclusion

"The water of Xiaoxiang is broken, and the mountains are tilted. Pearls are round and broken, and jade is shattered across the city. Just looking at the pine trees, listening to the tombs. Long live the thousand years, the singing of pepper flowers."

An epitaph, 982 words. It has told us many historical truths and also told us about the sincere friendship from thousands of years ago.

History has always left us with many mysteries, but archaeological excavations have solved these mysteries for us layer by layer.

As a woman born in a patriarchal society under feudal rule, Shangguan Wan'er put aside her family hatred and became an outstanding female official. No matter how future generations evaluate Shangguan Wan'er, she should be very clear about the purpose of everything she did.

Just like a person drinking water, he knows whether it is warm or cold.