Douluo: The Lower Realm of the Children of the King of God and the Lord God

Chapter 38: Iron Book of Alchemy

The so-called "Alchemy Book and Iron Coupon" refers to a kind of privilege certificate awarded by ancient emperors to heroes and important ministers. It is also called "Alchemy Book and Iron Coupon", which is also known as the "death-free card" and "death-free card" in folk narratives. The system of awarding "gold medals" and "iron certificates of alchemy" first began with Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Definition of term

Danshu Iron Coupon is commonly known as "Danshu Iron Coupon", also known as "Golden Book Iron Coupon", "Gold Coupon", "Silver Coupon", "World Coupon", etc. It is also called "Iron Coupon" in the province.Alchemy: written with cinnabar; Iron Deed: a certificate made of iron.Ancient emperors gave meritorious officials a certificate to enjoy preferential treatment or to be exempted from crime for generations.The diploma is written on the iron plate in red, hence the name.In order to gain trust and prevent counterfeiting, the iron scroll was cut open, and the court and the princes each kept half.

History

According to research, in order to consolidate his rule and win over the heroes, Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, awarded the heroes "iron certificates of alchemy" as a reward.After Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, he "ordered Xiao He to issue laws and regulations, Han Xin to apply for military laws, Zhang Cang to make regulations, and Shusun Tong to make etiquette. He also cut talismans and swore oaths with the heroes, and the alchemy books, iron deeds, golden chambers, and stone chambers were hidden in the ancestral temple."The "talisman" among them is what is commonly known as the "deed", which is the certificate of trust between the emperor and his heroes and important ministers. "Alchemy book, iron deed, golden chamber, stone chamber", that is, using iron as the deed, writing it in alchemy, writing the oaths between the emperor and the heroes and important ministers on the "iron coupon" with cinnabar, and putting it in the golden chamber for storage. Inside the ancestral temple built of stone to show solemnity and ensure the safety of the "iron coupons".However, the earliest "iron coupons" did not have privileges such as exemption from guilt and death, and were only used as a certificate for promotion to an official position and title.Among the heroes and their descendants who were awarded iron coupons, there were many who were convicted or even executed.

During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Emperor Xiaowen often awarded iron coupons to his relatives and close ministers, and there was even a phenomenon where ministers begged the emperor for iron coupons as amulets for protection. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, issuing "iron coupons" became a regular system, and everyone The founding fathers and heroes of the ZTE were all given "iron coupons", and even some favored eunuchs and eunuchs also received "iron coupons".Moreover, starting from the Sui Dynasty, the cinnabar characters on the "iron coupons" were gradually changed to the gold characters, so later generations also called them "gold books and iron coupons".The most famous "Qian Liu Iron Coupon" in the Tang Dynasty was awarded to Qian Liu, King of Wuyue, by Emperor Zhaozong of the Tang Dynasty in the fourth year of Qianning (897). It is still collected in the National Museum of China.

"Elixir Book Iron Coupon" has the authority to avoid death, which was first used in the Northern and Southern Dynasties.In the early days, the number of times iron coupons could avoid death was mostly less than 3 times.From the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the number of exemptions from death continued to increase. In the late Tang Dynasty, the descendants of those who were given iron coupons could even avoid death one to three times with the iron coupons.

During the Song Dynasty, Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin wore a "yellow robe" and obtained the throne from the Chai family of the Later Zhou Dynasty. In order to appease the people, he issued an order to treat the descendants of the Chai family favorably and gave the Chai family "iron certificates of alchemy". Even if the descendants of the Chai family commit crimes, they will not be punished .The "little whirlwind" Chai Jin's "iron book of alchemy" described in the well-known novel "Water Margin" does have its historical basis.

In the Ming Dynasty, the iron certificate system was further improved. Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, legally regulated the recipients of the "Elixir Book Iron Certificate" and limited them to honorable ministers who had achieved military merit and were named Duke, Hou or Bo.The gold book and iron coupons of the Ming Dynasty were divided into seven grades, among which dukes were divided into the first grade, marquises were divided into the second grade, and earls were divided into the third grade.Each grade of iron coupon is different in size. The largest Duke's first-class iron coupon is one foot high and one foot six inches wide.The other grades of iron coupons generally decrease by five points in both height and width.The smallest Earl's second-class iron coupon is seven inches high and one foot two inches wide.All iron certificates are in duplicate, one is awarded to the recipient, and the other is hidden in the inner palace.When it is necessary to check, just put them together to distinguish the authenticity.

In the third year of Hongwu (1370), Zhu Yuanzhang made a great official.Thirty-four people, including Li Shanchang, Xu Da, and Li Wenzhong, were awarded the title of Duke or Marquis, and were awarded the "Golden Book and Iron Certificate".When Zhu Di, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, came to the throne, 34 people including Qiu Fu, the hero of the "Jingnan" who helped him seize the throne, were also given iron certificates.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen also awarded an iron certificate to Wei Liangqing, the nephew of the great eunuch Wei Zhongxian.

Compared with the iron coupons of the Tang Dynasty, the text on the iron coupons of the Ming Dynasty has changed significantly.The first is that treason will not be forgiven, but other capital crimes will be forgiven; the second is that the number of exemptions from death is small, but the descendants will not be exempted from death.

(End of this chapter)