Abdication system
| Abdication system | |
|---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | Shán ràng zhì |
| Part of the Politics series |
| Monarchy |
|---|
.svg) |
 Politics portal |
The abdicational system (Chinese: 禪讓制; pinyin: Shán ràng zhì) was a historical Chinese political system.[1] According to Chinese mythology, it was the system used by the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors before the switch to hereditary rule in the Xia dynasty.[1] Emperor Yao abdicated and chose Emperor Shun as his successor.[2] Chinese archaeologist Feng Shi (冯時; 馮時) argues Qi of Xia had violently seized power and established a hereditary system after the death of his father Yu the Great, he argues this with traces of violence discovered around that time.[3] The idea was most influential in the 4th century BC and declined in later periods.[4]
According to Chinese mythology, following the rule of the Yellow Emperor, chieftains of different tribes in the Yellow River basin, including Yao, Shun, and Yu, came together to create a tribal alliance. Rather than engaging in warfare to establish dominance, these tribes opted for a more peaceful approach by selecting their leaders via an electoral process. This method drew its inspiration from the time-honored military democratic custom. In this system, the head of the tribal coalition was chosen through a democratic procedure involving representatives from each tribe.[5]
A well-known instance of this mechanism at work is the resignation of Emperor Yao. As he aged, Yao endeavored to identify a successor who could carry on his legacy. He called upon the chieftains of different tribes and inquired, "Who can assume my role?" A minister recommended the skilled and righteous Shun, who was subsequently assessed and promoted to the rank of Emperor Shun.[5]
This method facilitated a nonviolent transition of power, with the leader's role being transferred through dialogue and a democratic approach instead of through conflict and aggression. This system was widespread in ancient China, particularly during the advanced phases of primitive society.[5]
A resurgence of curiosity in the abdication system has been sparked by the discovery of four brief texts unearthed in recent Chinese archeological excavations.[4] Although the primary texts were lost in the burning of books and burying of scholars that took place between 213 and 212 BCE, the concept continued to be a part of political discussions throughout history.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Waksmunski, Valerie (August 2015). Yielding to the Worthy: The Chinese Abdication Myth as Discourse on Hereditary vs. Merit-based Leadership (Master of Arts in History thesis). Youngstown State University.
- Classic of History(書經), traditionally first compiled and edited by Confucius (孔夫子), in about Fifth to Sixth Century BC, in what is now China. (ISBN of original unavailable.)
- ^ Feng, Shi (2009) "A Study of the Pottery Inscription 'Wen Yi 文邑'". Chinese Archaeology, Vol. 9 (Issue 1), pp. 170-177. full text
- ^ a b Admin (2015-11-10). "Ancient Chinese thoughts on abdication, hereditary succession relevant today". Asia Times. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ a b c 网易 (2021-11-24). "历史真相：禅让制在上古时期真的存在吗？禅让制到底何"让"之有". www.163.com. Retrieved 2023-01-19.