The Shocking Truth Behind China’s Most Emotional Statues || Why People Spat on Them for 1000 Years скачать в хорошем качестве

The Shocking Truth Behind China’s Most Emotional Statues || Why People Spat on Them for 1000 Years

The Shocking Truth Behind China’s Most Emotional Statues || Why People Spat on Them for 1000 Years In Hangzhou, China, stands one of the most controversial and emotional monuments in the country: the kneeling statues of Qin Hui and Lady Wang at Yue Fei Temple. For over a thousand years, these iron statues have been the focal point of intense anger and disdain. Visitors to the temple have spat on them, struck them with sandals, and cursed them in public. But why? What is it about these statues that has sparked such strong reactions for centuries? To understand this, we need to look back to the Southern Song dynasty—a time when China was in turmoil due to the ongoing threat of the Jin dynasty from the north. The story of Yue Fei, a legendary general, and Qin Hui, a political figure associated with betrayal, lies at the heart of these emotional reactions. Yue Fei: The Heroic General Yue Fei is remembered as one of China’s greatest generals. During the Southern Song dynasty, he led military campaigns against the Jin forces, becoming a symbol of national pride and loyalty. His reputation wasn’t just based on his battlefield success but also his moral integrity. Yue Fei became famous for treating civilians with respect and enforcing strict discipline among his troops, famously stating that his soldiers would rather freeze than destroy people’s homes, and starve than steal. As his military victories mounted, Yue Fei became a beacon of hope for the Southern Song, a nation struggling to reclaim territory lost to the Jin. People saw in him not just a general, but a man who embodied the values of loyalty, honor, and sacrifice. His victories revived the hope of a nation that had been defeated and humiliated, and Yue Fei became a symbol of resistance, someone who fought for his country even when the odds were stacked against him. Qin Hui: Political Manipulation and Betrayal But not everyone shared Yue Fei’s vision. Qin Hui, a high-ranking official who rose to the position of chancellor, was a strong advocate for peace with the Jin. He believed that continuing the war would only result in more suffering and ultimately destroy the Southern Song. He argued that peace was necessary for the survival of the state, even if it meant accepting humiliating terms from the Jin. For Qin Hui and his supporters, peace was the only pragmatic solution. But for those who saw Yue Fei as a symbol of national pride, Qin Hui represented betrayal. To them, his willingness to sacrifice national dignity for political stability made him a villain. As Yue Fei’s popularity grew, so did the political tension at court. The emperor and his advisors saw Yue Fei’s success as a threat, not because of his military prowess, but because of his rising influence among the people. Qin Hui, in his position of power, saw Yue Fei as an obstacle to the peace process and eventually took steps to neutralize him. The Betrayal: Yue Fei’s Arrest and Death In a shocking turn of events, Yue Fei was arrested and imprisoned by his own government. Despite his loyalty to the emperor and his country, he was accused of crimes that many believe were politically motivated. The charges against him were vague and lacking evidence, and historians debate whether they were entirely fabricated. However, what’s clear is that Yue Fei’s downfall was a result of court politics rather than any failure on his part. Yue Fei’s death in prison in 1142 marked the tragic end of a man who had become the embodiment of loyalty to his country. His arrest and death were a public humiliation, not just for Yue Fei, but for the Southern Song as a whole. Shortly after his death, the Southern Song signed a peace treaty with the Jin, a move that many saw as a national disgrace. The Statues: A Symbol of Loyalty and Betrayal To honor Yue Fei’s legacy and condemn Qin Hui, the government later commissioned statues of Qin Hui and Lady Wang. These statues were not placed in positions of respect, but were instead forced into a kneeling posture in front of Yue Fei’s tomb. This unusual design choice was meant to symbolize their guilt and submission, with the kneeling figures representing their betrayal of Yue Fei and the Southern Song. The statues of Qin Hui and Lady Wang became more than just monuments; they became a symbol of the betrayal that had led to Yue Fei’s death. Over time, a tradition developed in which visitors to the Yue Fei Temple would show their anger toward the statues. Some would spit on them, others would strike them with sandals, and many would verbally insult them. This act of symbolic punishment became deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, with the statues serving as a constant reminder of the moral lessons surrounding loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of political manipulation.