Song Xianggong

Song Xianggong

Song Zifu? In the spring and Autumn period, he was the 20th monarch of the state of song. One of the five tyrants in the spring and Autumn period, he was the son of Duke Huan of Song Dynasty and the father of Duke Cheng of Song Dynasty. He was in power from 650 BC to 637 BC, and he was in power for 14 years.

After the death of Duke Huan of Qi, civil strife broke out in the state of Qi. Duke Xiang of song led the people of Wei, Cao and Ying to fight against the state of Qi. The people of Qi cooperated with each other and supported Duke Xiao of Qi. Therefore, Duke Xiang of song became famous.

Song Xianggong was ambitious and wanted to inherit the hegemony of Duke Huan of Qi and fight for hegemony with the state of Chu. In 638 BC, song Xianggong attacked Zheng State and launched a battle of Hongshui with Chu soldiers who saved Zheng. Chu soldiers were powerful, and song Xianggong emphasized "benevolence and righteousness". He had to wait for Chu soldiers to fight again after crossing the river. As a result, they were defeated and injured. The next year, they died of serious injuries and were buried in Xiangling.

Life of the characters

Early experience

Song Xianggong, surnamed Zi, surnamed song and named Zifu, was the second son of song HuanGong, the monarch of the state of song in the spring and Autumn period. He was born by song Huan's wife (the daughter of Wei Zhaobo and xuanjiang). Therefore, Zifu was his direct son.

Zifu also had an elder brother, Mu Yi, whose mother was only a concubine of general status. Therefore, Mu Yi was a common son, and Zi Fu was made a prince as a direct son.

Let the country be beautiful

In the first year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (652 BC), the father of Zifu, song HuanGong, was seriously ill. According to the eldest son inheritance system at that time, Zifu was supposed to be the successor to the throne, but Zifu pleaded in front of his father to give the throne of prince to my elder brother Muyi, and said: "Muyi is older than me, and he is loyal and righteous. Please make Muyi king."

Therefore, Duke Huan of Song told Mu Yi what Zifu thought. After hearing this, Mu Yi refused to accept the crown prince's position and said, "isn't it the greatest benevolence to be able to give up the country to me? No matter how kind I am, I can't catch up with my brother! Besides, it's not in accordance with the system to abolish the law and establish the common people.

In order to avoid his younger brother's resignation, Mu Yi fled to the state of Wei, and the crown prince of Zifu didn't let him out.

Donggong Tuzhi

In the spring of the second year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (651 BC), Duke Huan of Song Dynasty died, and Prince Zifu ascended the throne for Duke Xiang of Song Dynasty. He was in charge of military and political power and assisted himself in dealing with the government affairs.

Before Duke Huan of the Song Dynasty was buried, Duke Huan of the Qi asked all the princes to meet in kuiqiu to form an alliance, so Duke Xiang of the Song Dynasty went to meet. At the meeting of kuiqiu, song Xianggong accepted the covenant. Its main contents are: forbid to lead the water disaster to other countries; forbid not to sell grain because of the famine in other countries; forbid to change the prince; forbid to substitute concubines for wives; forbid women to participate in state affairs.

At the meeting of kuiqiu, song Xianggong accepted Qi Huan's entrustment to take care of Qi Prince Zhao (later Qi Xiaogong), and promised to take care of him in the future.

Calm down the chaos

In the ninth year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (643 BC), Duke Huan of Qi was seriously ill, and the five princes of Qi (Gongzi Wukui, Gongzi Zhao, Gongzi pan, Gongzi yuan, Gongzi businessman) led their party members to fight for the throne. On October 7 in winter, Duke Huan of Qi died of starvation. The five princes attacked each other, and the state of Qi was in chaos. Huan Gong climbed out of the bed. At the beginning of the next year, the newly established Qi Jun collected Duke Huan without any loss.

Prince Zhao of Qi fled to the state of song and asked for help from Duke Xiang of song. Although the state of song was very weak at that time, because Duke Huan of Qi had entrusted him to take care of the crown prince before his death, Duke Xiang of song made every effort to help Prince Zhao return to the state of Qi and ascend the throne.

In the 10th year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (642 BC), the princes of all countries received a notice from Duke Xiang of Song Dynasty, asking them to escort Prince Zhao to the state of Qi to take over the throne. However, the appeal of song Xianggong was not strong. Most of the princes put the notice of song aside. Only Wei, Cao and Ying sent some people. Song Xianggong led the armies of the four countries to the state of Qi. The nobles of the state of Qi sympathized with his son Zhao, and they didn't know the strength of the song army, so they killed Wu Kui and Li Diao, drove Yi Ya away, and welcomed him back to Linzi, the capital of the state. After his return to China, his son Zhao became the king of the country for the sake of the Duke of filial piety of Qi. Xianggong is famous for this.

Seek hegemony

After the death of Duke Huan of Qi, the position of overlord was vacant. Duke Xiang of song wanted to follow the example of Duke Huan of Qi, join the princes and establish the status of overlord. Muyi admonished him: "it's a disaster to join the princes with the power of a small country." Xianggong didn't listen.

In the 11th year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (641 BC), Duke Xiang of song seized Duke Xuan of Teng and invited Cao and Ying to form an alliance in Caonan. Later, Duke Wen of song ordered him to take the king as a sacrifice to the outskirts of suishui in order to threaten Dongyi's submission. In the autumn of the same year, because the state of Cao was not satisfied, song Xianggong sent troops to encircle the state of Cao. In the winter of the same year, Duke mu of Chen invited the princes to rebuild the friendship of Duke Huan of Qi, so Chen, Cai, Chu, Zheng and other countries formed an alliance in Qi. In this way, two groups were formed among the vassals. Chu, Qi, Zheng, Chen, CAI and other states were a big group, while song Xianggong's one party was only Wei, Ying, Cao, Hua and other small states.

Tuba failed

In the spring of the 13th year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (639 BC), Duke Xiang of song met with the princes for the first time in Ludi. The princes of Qi and Chu gathered together. Duke Xiang regarded himself as the leader of the alliance, which caused dissatisfaction between the princes of Qi and the king of Chu. Duke Xiang of song advocated that he would meet the princes again in Yudi in the autumn of that year without the consent of Qi and Chu.

Mu Yi, the elder brother and son of Duke Xiang of song, advised him that song was a small country. If a small country wanted to be the overlord, it would bring disaster, but Duke Xiang would not listen. Before arriving at Yudi, my son Mu Yi advised him to take the army with him in case of any change. The people of Chu were not trustworthy.

Song Xianggong said, "I proposed not to take the army. I have made an appointment with Chu people. How can I not keep my promise? "So song Xianggong didn't bring his army to the meeting.

On the appointed day, the kings of Chu, Chen, Cai, Xu, Cao and Zheng all came, and Chu had laid an ambush for the army. There was a dispute between Song Xianggong and King Cheng of Chu because they were fighting for supremacy. King Cheng of Chu suddenly ordered people to seize song Xianggong and take him back to the state of Chu to be imprisoned in order to capture the state of song. It was not until the winter of the same year, when the princes met in the thin land, under the mediation of Duke Lu that Xianggong was released.

The battle of Hongshui

After Song Xianggong returned home, he heard that the state of Zheng supported King Cheng of Chu as the overlord, so he decided to attack the state of Zheng. Muyi dissuades him, but Xianggong doesn't listen.

In the early winter of the fourteenth year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (638 BC), Duke Xiang of song led the army to attack the state of Zheng, who appealed to the state of Chu for help. The Chu sent Neng general Cheng Dechen to attack the capital of the song state. Song Xianggong was worried about the loss of his country, so he had to withdraw from the state of Zheng. The armies of the two sides met at Hongshui (the name of the ancient river, so the road was about northwest of Zhecheng County, Henan Province).

The Chu army began to cross the Hongshui River and rushed to the song army. Muyi said, "there are many soldiers in Chu, but few in our army. Take advantage of their opportunity to cross the river and destroy them." Song Xianggong said, "we are known as the teachers of benevolence and righteousness. How can we take advantage of others to cross the river to attack?" Chu army across the river, began to set up in the shore, Mu Yi said: can attack. Song Xianggong said, "wait for them to set up their positions." When the Chu army set up the battle, the Chu soldiers rushed up and defeated the song army. Song Xianggong was also shot in the thigh by the Chu soldiers.

The song army suffered a defeat and suffered heavy losses. They all complained that song Xianggong didn't listen to the opinions of young master Mu Yi. However, song Xianggong taught: "a gentleman with a benevolent heart doesn't attack the injured enemy when fighting, and doesn't attack the gray haired old people at the same time. In particular, when the ancients fought, they did not rely on fortresses and dangers to win. Although the few song state was about to perish, they still did not have the heart to attack the enemy who did not have a good array. "But Ziyu said:" war is for the purpose of victory. What's the way of a gentleman! If you really do what Xianggong says, just serve as a slave. Why fight? "

The death of Xianggong

After his defeat in the battle of Hongshui, song Xianggong retreated to the palace of Xiangyi, the state of song, to heal his wounds. In the 14th year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (638 BC), Chong'er, the son of the state of Jin, passed by the state of song. In order to get military assistance from the state of Jin, song Xianggong listened to Gong sungu's advice and gave Chong'er 80 horses.

In the summer of the 15th year of King Xiang of Zhou Dynasty (637 BC), Duke Xiang of Song Dynasty suffered from pain and died. He was buried in the Northeast palace of Xiangyi (now suixian County, Henan Province). His son Wang Chen ascended the throne for song Chenggong.

Main achievements

Politics

After Song Xianggong ascended the throne, he appointed Mu Yi as prime minister and sun Gu as Sima.

nation

According to Ban Gu's Hanshu geographic records, the state of song is one of the thirteen folk areas in the Zhou Dynasty, with independent folk customs and its own regional culture.

International Relations

Internationally, song Xianggong closely followed Duke Huan of Qi and actively safeguarded the hegemony of Qi.

After the death of Duke Huan of Qi, Duke Xiang of song helped the state of Qi to calm down the civil strife, supported Duke Xiao of Qi, and completed the entrustment of Duke Huan of Qi; Duke Xiang of song tried to unite the state of Chu, to seek hegemony with the help of the power of Chu, and to implement the diplomatic strategy of valuing Chu over Qi, so he held the alliance of Lu Shang, but he became the prisoner of King Cheng of Chu in the meeting of Yu.

Before Song Xianggong died in his later years, he was kind to Chonger, the prince of Jin who was wandering around the world.

military

After Song Xianggong was released by the state of Chu, he didn't know how to restrain himself and didn't listen to Muyi's advice, so he launched the battle of song Chuhong. In the battle, he didn't take Muyi's correct stand, which eventually led to his failure. He was also fatally injured and his hegemony became empty.

Character evaluation

General comments

Song Xianggong is a controversial figure in history. Admirers think that he is benevolent, righteous and trustworthy, and has noble spirit. Critics think that he is hypocritical and cruel, which is a typical example of Daoism.

Although song Xianggong was listed as one of the five tyrants in the spring and Autumn period by later generations, he did not really get the status of the overlord. The defeat of Hongshui made people laugh at Song Xianggong for thousands of years, but his benevolence, righteousness and morality are worthy of praise.

Historical evaluation

Cheng Dechen: "Song Jun's good name is not true, and he is credulous of usurpation."

Sima Qian: "Xiang"

Chinese PinYin : Song Xiang Gong