| Summary: | 博士 === 中國文化大學 === 史學系 === 104 === A Research on the Regicide of Liu Song Dynasty
Abstract
420 CE, amidst the chaos of Eastern Jin Dynasty, Liu Yu, King of Song, committed regicide on Emperor An of Jin and Emperor Gong of Jin before establishing his empire of “Liu Song”. At the same time, he overthrew the long lasting tradition that usurper will not kill the abdicated emperor. The author used “chaos theory” to explain why Emperor Wu of Song can successfully “commit regicide”. Secondly, not long after Emperor Wu of Song’s heir, Emperor Shao of Song succeeded the throne, he was abdicated and murdered by court officials, again breaking the long lasting tradition that court officials will not kill abdicated emperors. The author used “role theory” to explain the court officials doing and why they failed. Furthermore, 30 years after Emperor Wen of Song succeeded the throne, his biological heir committed regicide on him, again overthrowing the tradition that no heir had ever committed regicide on their own father before since the Qin Dynasty. For this part, the author used “game theory” to explain the “zero-sum game” between father and son. After the heir succeeded the throne, he was killed by his younger brother, the Third Prince. The Third Prince “committed regicide” on another emperor and it was another “game” between them. Finally, the royal descendants of the Liu Song started killing each other, giving Xiao Daocheng the opportunity to rise and established the empire of “Xiao Qi” by committing regicide on Emperor Shun of Song.
Although Liu Song Dynasty was founded through “regicide” and was also overthrown through “regicide”, it did establish some new systems. For example, after the royal princes are “kinged” (封王), they will become “Ci Shi” at states and simultaneously hold the position of “Du Du” on regional military affairs. With all these three positions held by one person, the royal family obtained great control over local “political, administrative and military affairs”. Especially the Ci Shi and Du Du of “Jingzhou” and “Yangzhou” are vital posts for protecting the royal family. Due to the youth of royal princes, official posts were established to act on behalf of the “Military Office” and “State Office”, and the status of “Dian Qian” was raised to exclusively serve as the eyes and ears of the emperor for controlling regional affairs. Also, nobility controlled “Ministry of Official Personnel” for selecting people into the government, and ensured the tradition of nobility-control on the bureaucratic system. After “the person who committed regicide” became emperor, to maintain political stability, he had to use “official posts” to exchange for the supports of the nobility. Due to political compromise, the nobility will then recognize “the person who committed regicide” as the legitimate emperor. Therefore, there was no emphasis on the “loyalty” of the country, only the “filial piety” on their family; there were no “martyred” court officials, only “family protecting” noblemen.
Both the royal family and nobility put great emphasis on literature, thus creating an atmosphere of “preferring pen to sword” in the society. Noblemen didn’t want to be military generals, nor do civilians want to be soldiers. The “belittling military” atmosphere resulted in the situation that the majority of soldiers originated from lower social classes, who eventually seized control on the military power of the empire and committed regicide on the emperor to establish a new kingdom. These are the blood-thirsty reasons why “regicide” continue to happen in the “Southern Dynasties” as a form of political change.
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