Research On The Succession Of Monarch During The Spring And Autumn Period

In the early and middle Shang Dynasty,there was an obvious phenomenon of passing on younger brothers,and then a important reform was carried out,making the system of passing on son a common practice,which was the historical origin of the system of succession to the throne in the Zhou Dynasty.The system of “trueborn and primogeniture” in the Western Zhou Dynasty had its own formation process and had also been tested in practice.It is by no means a political system designed out of thin air,but a rational choice with strict logic and solid basis.The marriage object of the monarch,the rank and inferiority order of the empress and imperial concubines,and the huge difference between the trueborn son and the concubine’s son all guarantee the implementation of the system of “trueborn and primogeniture”,which also proves the objective existence of the system of “trueborn and primogeniture”.The internal conflict of the system of “trueborn and primogeniture” is one of the important reasons for the "rites collapsed and music disappeared" in the Spring and Autumn Period,and is also an important background for the existence of the phenomenon of non trueborn and primogeniture inheritance.According to the identity of the successor and the way of getting the throne,the main forms of the succession of the throne in the Spring and Autumn Period can be divided into three categories.Among them,father son inheritance(including the inheritance from grandfather and grandchildren)is the most common and legal,and is the mainstream of the succession of the throne in the Spring and Autumn Period.Except for objective reasons such as childlessness,the elder brother and younger brother who follow the wishes of both parties should not be regarded as a change,but the proportion is extremely low.The Spring and Autumn Period is characterized by disorderly succession,which is not only an abnormal phenomenon of political power transfer,but also the best opportunity to gain insight into the internal contradictions,external environment,history and culture of the state.Since the Western Zhou Dynasty,the long-term practice of the system of “trueborn and primogeniture” has become the social consensus within the states.The monarch’s family structure has stipulated the scope of blood relationship of the successor.The close cooperation between the two has become the decisive factor for the succession of the throne.The political pattern of the state composed of monarch and aristocrat is a secondary factor affecting the succession of the throne.The monarch is an important guarantee for maintaining the system of “trueborn and primogeniture” of the state,and it may also become a potential threat to destroy the system.The aristocrat was a direct participant in most of the issues of succession of the throne,and dominated the situation in some states with weak monarchy.The hegemonic politics in the Spring and Autumn Period highlighted the importance of geographical location and became a significant factor influencing the succession of the throne.The historical significance of the succession of the throne in the Spring and Autumn Period is that later generations still regard the system of “trueborn and primogeniture” as the right path,but the conditions of successors will be comprehensively measured to achieve a smooth transfer of power.In the Spring and Autumn Period,the monarchical family was an important pillar of the state,but the civil strife centered on the struggle for the throne was also inseparable from them.The monarchical family policy that was constantly adjusted in later generations actually originated from this.The process of the aristocrat turning the family into the country is the important prototype of the later dynasties,and the "virtue" and "destiny" emphasized by the Zhou Dynasty become the theoretical basis.