Su Wu (140 BC - 60 BC[citation needed]) was a diplomat and statesman during China's Han Dynasty, well-known in Chinese history for his faithfulness to his mission and his empire.
Mission to Xiongnu
Not much is known about Su's early life or career. The first reference to him was the incident that he is most well-known for—a mission to Xiongnu that would turn out to be drastically more trying and lengthy than anyone would have expected.
In 100 BC, there was a short-lived détente between long-term adversaries Han and Xiongnu. One year earlier, in 101 BC, there had been a new chanyu who came into power in Xiongnu—Chanyu Qiedihou , who had expressed interest in peace with Han and who, as a goodwill gesture, had allowed some Han diplomats who had been detained by Xiongnu to return to Han, along with gifts from the chanyu.
In response, in 100 BC, Emperor Wu commissioned Su, then the deputy commander of the imperial guards, to serve as an ambassador to Xiongnu. His deputy was fellow deputy commander Zhang Sheng , and the third in command was Chang Hui . However, once they arrived at the Xiongnu chanyu's headquarters, Chanyu Qiedihou was far more arrogant than expected, which angered Zhang. In response, Zhang plotted with two Xiongnu officials, the Prince of Gou and Yu Chang , to assassinate Chanyu Qiedihou's half-Chinese advisor Wei Lü and kidnap the chanyu's mother.
The Prince of Gou and Yu Chang carried out their plot while the chanyu was away on a hunt, but someone alerted the chanyu, who quickly returned and killed the Prince of Gou in battle and captured Yu. Yu admitted to plotting with Zhang. Zhang, alarmed, informed Su, who had been unaware of Zhang's plot. Aware that the chanyu was planning on forcing him to surrender to Xiongnu, Su tried to preserve his dignity by committing suicide with his sword. Wei, who had wanted Su to surrender and become an advisor to the chanyu as well, quickly summoned doctors and barely saved Su's life. Chanyu Qiedihou, impressed with Su's heroism, also sent messengers to care for Su's recovery, while putting Zhang and Chang under arrest.
After Su recovered, Chanyu Qiedihou decided to publicly executed Yu as an example and to force the entire Han mission to surrender. Zhang became apprehensive and surrendered. Su, however, was not shaken even when Wei put his sword onto Su's neck, and tried also to reason that as the chanyu's advisor, he would be greatly honored. Su rebuked him for his faithlessness to Han and refused to surrender.
Life in exile
Unable to force Su to surrender, Chanyu Qiedihou decided to try to torture him by starvation, and so put him in a cellar without food and drink. However, for several days, Su survived by consuming wool from his coat and the snow that fell into the cellar. The chanyu was further surprised and thought that the gods were protecting him. The chanyu then exiled him to Lake Baikal and ordered him to tend a flock of rams—telling him that he would be allowed to go home when the rams would produce milk. (It is conjectured, with some evidence based on correspondence later between Su and Li Ling that the chanyu gave Su a Xiongnu wife, and she bore him children.)
During exile, Su often lacked food, as the food supplies coming from the Xiongnu headquarters were not arriving steadily. He often had to resort to eating grass roots and wild rodents. Regardless of the difficulties, however, Su always held onto the imperial staff given to all imperial messengers, and he used it as the shepherd's rod—that the decorative hairs on the staff eventually all fell off.
Twice, during exile, the chanyu sent Li Ling, who had surrendered to Xiongnu after being defeated on the battlefield in 99 BC, to visit Su. The first time, Li informed Su that his two brothers had both been accused of crimes and committed suicide; that his mother had died; and that his wife had remarried. He tried to convince Su to surrender, but Su refused. On the second occasion, Li informed him of Emperor Wu's passing, and Su was so despondent that in mourning that he vomited blood.
Return to Han
In 81 BC, Han was again in a détente with Xiongnu, when Han ambassadors inquired of Su's fate. The Xiongnu government claimed that Su had long died. However, Su's old assistant Chang Hui secretly informed the ambassadors of Su's exile, and the ambassadors, under Chang's suggestion, told then-chanyu Huyandi that Emperor Zhao had killed a migratory bird while hunting, and that a letter from Su seeking help was found on the bird's foot. Surprised, Chanyu Huyandi admitted that Su was in fact still alive, recalled him and allowed him as well as Chang to go home. In all, he was in exile for 19 years.
Once Su returned to Han, he was given the position of Director of Colonization , a high-ranking official post. He remained in that post at least until the early years of Emperor Xuan's reign—late 70s BC. In 51 BC, when Emperor Xuan, in gratitude to 11 key officials who served him well, had their portraits painted onto the main gallery of the main imperial palace, Su was one of the 11 so portrayed.
Impact on Chinese history
Su was often regarded as the epitome of faithful service in light of great odds and trials. His story was often invoked when acts of great faith or courage were performed by officials. His story, as undetailed as it was in actual history, often became subjects of drama, poetry, and songs throughout Chinese history. Many people take him as a second Zhang Qian, who was also previously caught in the same situation, refused to surrender, and managed to escape back to Han.
Musical works
A traditional Chinese melody, "Su Wu Mu Yang" , is based on the story of Su Wu herding sheep. It is generally played on a Chinese flute.
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2008年4月23日星期三
2008年4月10日星期四
Kyoto
Kyoto
Japan's Kyoto Prefecture, Japan 1 Administrative Region, Kyoto Prefecture is the Kansai region of Japan is one of the prefecture. 4612.71 square km area, with a total population of 2646569 (February 1, 2004). House administration in Kyoto. Kyoto Prefecture in Japan's major islands - the Island of the Midwest, the east Mie and Shiga, Hyogo Prefecture, west,Osaka and Nara Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture northeast neighborhood, North Dying Sea of Japan. Kyoto Prefecture has a population of 2.6 million, more than 80 percent concentrated in the urban area of 4,613 square kilometers. Kyoto pleasant climate, beautiful scenery. In the southern part of the Kyoto Basin, the North for the Tanba, Tango mountain, the average altitude of about 600 metres. Aodan after prominent in the peninsula in the Sea of Japan, East Wakasa Bay. Settlement coast, Maizuru, Miyazu, such as port. Yodogawa river for larger stream and the main tributaries such as Yura River. 75 per cent of the forest area. The average annual temperature 14-15 ℃. 140 mm rainfall in southern and northern 1,600-2,600 mm, and the snowfall a long period. Guinea of the old mountain, mountain vaginal Tamba province and the majority of the Tango. This includes 11 city, the capital of Kyoto. 1868 home Kyoto Prefecture. To the electrical industry, textiles, foodstuffs, and other main transport machinery (shipbuilding), the chemical and general machinery also developed. Traditional industries High silk, dyeing, ceramics, lacquer ware, as well as liquor, such as arts and crafts fan Su renowned. 78% of arable land for paddy field. Southern Hills famous tea production. Breast meat livestock industry developed. Rich in fish, land and sea transport facilitation. More attractions and monuments, temples, the art of architecture and natural scenic areas. Kyoto major cities, Uji, such as Maizuru.713 years since Dan Tanba country after country at home 740, Sheng-wu Emperor capital relocation kuni Beijing 784-year-hwan Emperor capital relocation Nagaokakyo Beijing, the capital relocation Green 794 866 days, should be changed Gate 1156 Baoyuan of chaos 1183 Yoshinaka all sources in Beijing, Ping's exile For a long time the 1221 chaos, and that set Rokuhara Exploration 1337 Jianwu ZTE 1338 Muromachi Shogunate established 1392 Southern and Northern Dynasties unity 1467 Onin War Oda Nobunaga to Beijing 1568 1582 Honnoji Incident 1586 Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the construction-music section 1601 set by the Secretary for Kyoto 1863 new electoral group composed of 1864 clamshell doors of the Royal change Wang Zheng back in 1867, repealed pursued by the Kyoto Town 1868 Toba Fushimi war, the establishment of Kyoto Prefecture 1869 Mengchitianhuang, Edo trip fortunate. Tokyo Dian all. Kyoto set up in 1889. House concurrently governor of the mayor. Navy set up in Maizuru No. 4 guarding House (Maizuru guarding House) Ayabe 1892 in the creation of the Wallace 1897 Kyoto Dishi set Museum, Kyoto Imperial University 1898 Kyoto Prefecture and the Kyoto separation of the two organizations into 1907 Fukakusa set up in the first division and regiment 16 (4 separation of the division and regiment) 1932 Ogura pool began cause stem extension 1944 16 division and regiment, Leyte Island destruction of war army 1945 United States Army commander of section 6 of General Luo Krueger 1950 Ninagawa Torazo elected governor of Kyoto Prefecture, innovation House G (~ 1978) 1957 Ground Self-Defense Force base set up Okubo 1964 Tokaido Shinkansen opened The ancient capital of Kyoto in 1994 the Cultural Properties, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage 1997 Kyotanabe City set up Beijing 2004 to set up Dan
Japan's Kyoto Prefecture, Japan 1 Administrative Region, Kyoto Prefecture is the Kansai region of Japan is one of the prefecture. 4612.71 square km area, with a total population of 2646569 (February 1, 2004). House administration in Kyoto. Kyoto Prefecture in Japan's major islands - the Island of the Midwest, the east Mie and Shiga, Hyogo Prefecture, west,Osaka and Nara Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture northeast neighborhood, North Dying Sea of Japan. Kyoto Prefecture has a population of 2.6 million, more than 80 percent concentrated in the urban area of 4,613 square kilometers. Kyoto pleasant climate, beautiful scenery. In the southern part of the Kyoto Basin, the North for the Tanba, Tango mountain, the average altitude of about 600 metres. Aodan after prominent in the peninsula in the Sea of Japan, East Wakasa Bay. Settlement coast, Maizuru, Miyazu, such as port. Yodogawa river for larger stream and the main tributaries such as Yura River. 75 per cent of the forest area. The average annual temperature 14-15 ℃. 140 mm rainfall in southern and northern 1,600-2,600 mm, and the snowfall a long period. Guinea of the old mountain, mountain vaginal Tamba province and the majority of the Tango. This includes 11 city, the capital of Kyoto. 1868 home Kyoto Prefecture. To the electrical industry, textiles, foodstuffs, and other main transport machinery (shipbuilding), the chemical and general machinery also developed. Traditional industries High silk, dyeing, ceramics, lacquer ware, as well as liquor, such as arts and crafts fan Su renowned. 78% of arable land for paddy field. Southern Hills famous tea production. Breast meat livestock industry developed. Rich in fish, land and sea transport facilitation. More attractions and monuments, temples, the art of architecture and natural scenic areas. Kyoto major cities, Uji, such as Maizuru.713 years since Dan Tanba country after country at home 740, Sheng-wu Emperor capital relocation kuni Beijing 784-year-hwan Emperor capital relocation Nagaokakyo Beijing, the capital relocation Green 794 866 days, should be changed Gate 1156 Baoyuan of chaos 1183 Yoshinaka all sources in Beijing, Ping's exile For a long time the 1221 chaos, and that set Rokuhara Exploration 1337 Jianwu ZTE 1338 Muromachi Shogunate established 1392 Southern and Northern Dynasties unity 1467 Onin War Oda Nobunaga to Beijing 1568 1582 Honnoji Incident 1586 Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the construction-music section 1601 set by the Secretary for Kyoto 1863 new electoral group composed of 1864 clamshell doors of the Royal change Wang Zheng back in 1867, repealed pursued by the Kyoto Town 1868 Toba Fushimi war, the establishment of Kyoto Prefecture 1869 Mengchitianhuang, Edo trip fortunate. Tokyo Dian all. Kyoto set up in 1889. House concurrently governor of the mayor. Navy set up in Maizuru No. 4 guarding House (Maizuru guarding House) Ayabe 1892 in the creation of the Wallace 1897 Kyoto Dishi set Museum, Kyoto Imperial University 1898 Kyoto Prefecture and the Kyoto separation of the two organizations into 1907 Fukakusa set up in the first division and regiment 16 (4 separation of the division and regiment) 1932 Ogura pool began cause stem extension 1944 16 division and regiment, Leyte Island destruction of war army 1945 United States Army commander of section 6 of General Luo Krueger 1950 Ninagawa Torazo elected governor of Kyoto Prefecture, innovation House G (~ 1978) 1957 Ground Self-Defense Force base set up Okubo 1964 Tokaido Shinkansen opened The ancient capital of Kyoto in 1994 the Cultural Properties, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage 1997 Kyotanabe City set up Beijing 2004 to set up Dan
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