1. Introduction to Zhao Gao in the classical Chinese text "Referring to a Deer as a Horse"
Zhao Gao was originally a distant branch of the Zhao family. His mother was serving a sentence in the Qin State, so several of his brothers were born in secluded palaces.
Zhao Gao was a servant of an internal official. Because he was shrewd, capable and proficient in the law, he was promoted by the King of Qin to the rank of Zhongche Mansion Order. In the thirty-seventh year of the First Emperor's reign (210 BC), Zhao Gao and Hu Hai accompanied the First Emperor of Qin on a trip to Kuaiji and returned to Pingyuanjin. The First Emperor was critically ill, so they gave a seal to his eldest son Fusu, ordering him to hand over the military power to Mengtian and return to Xianyang to preside over the funeral. .
Zhao Gao was wary that the Meng brothers would be disadvantageous to him, so he conspired with Hu Hai and Li Si to keep the funeral secret and fake the First Emperor's edict, making Hu Hai the crown prince and granting death to Fusu and Meng Tian. Hu Hai returned to Xianyang and was established as the second emperor. Zhao Gao was appointed as Lang Zhongling and lived in the palace to participate in decision-making.
He instructed Hu Hai to change the law and kill clan members and ministers. All ministers and princes who violated the will of Qin II were handed over to Zhao Gao for trial.
Zhao Gao was afraid that the ministers would go to the court to report him, so he also advised the second generation to live in seclusion and not see the ministers in court, so as to further specialize in government affairs. Later, he forced Hu Hai to commit suicide and established Ziying as emperor. Unexpectedly, after Ziying sat on the throne of emperor, he killed Zhao Gao and killed his three clans.
2. Referring to the Deer as a Horse
In the eighth month of Jihai, Zhao Gao wanted to cause chaos, but was afraid that the officials would not listen, so he set up a test in advance and presented a deer to the second generation, saying: "It's a horse." The second generation laughed and said, "The prime minister made a mistake? He called a deer a horse." When asked about the left and right, the left and right either remained silent, or said the horse followed Zhao Gao, or the deer. Gao Yin, those who talk about deer in the underworld, use the law. Later, all the ministers were afraid of heights.
In order to see who would obey him
Translation: On the day of Jihai in August, Zhao Gao wanted to cause chaos, but he was afraid that the officials would not listen to him, so he tried it first and led He presented a deer to the Second Emperor and said, "This is a horse." The Second Emperor smiled and said, "Did the Prime Minister make a mistake? Calling a deer a horse." Zhao Gao asked the ministers on the left and right. Some ministers remained silent and some did not express their opinions. Some said it was a horse that came to cater to Zhao Gao, some said it was a deer. Zhao Gao (later) secretly used legal means to frame those who said it was a deer. After that, the ministers were all afraid of Zhao Gao.
Idioms that are similar to referring to a deer as a horse: confuse right and wrong, confuse right and wrong, confuse right and wrong, and confuse right and wrong. Gao wanted to cause chaos and was afraid that the officials would not listen, so he set up a test in advance and presented a deer to the second generation, saying: "It's a horse." The second generation laughed and said, "The Prime Minister is mistaken?" Call a deer a horse. "When asked about the left and right, the left and right may be silent, or they may say horses to follow Zhao Gao. Or they may say deers, because those in the shadow who talk about deers will follow the law. Later, all the ministers were afraid of heights."
Translation: Zhao Gao wanted to rebel (to usurp the power of the Qin Dynasty), but he was afraid that the ministers would not listen to him, so he set up a trap to test him first. So he brought a deer and presented it to the Second Emperor and said, "This is a horse." The Second Emperor smiled and said, "Is the Prime Minister wrong? You said the deer was a horse." He asked the ministers around him if they had any questions. Some of them deliberately catered to Zhao Gao and said it was a horse, while others said it was a deer. Zhao Gao secretly used the law to slander (or frame) those who said it was a deer. From then on, all ministers were afraid of Zhao Gao. 4. Introduction to Zhao Gao in the classical Chinese text "Referring to Deer as Horses"
Zhao Gao---was originally a distant relative of the Qin clan [1] (one theory is that Zhao Gao is a distant relative of the Zhao clan), and he became an eunuch in the Qin Palace (one theory is that Zhao Gao was "Eunuch" is a misinterpretation by later generations), he served as the magistrate of Zhongche Mansion, and also served as the Fuxi magistrate, "in charge of affairs for more than twenty years." After the death of Qin Shihuang[2][3], he conspired with Prime Minister Li Si to forge an imperial edict, forcing Qin Shihuang's eldest son Fusu to commit suicide, and appointed Hu Hai, the youngest son of Qin Shihuang, as emperor. He was the second emperor of Qin and appointed himself Lang Zhongling. During his tenure, he monopolized power, formed cliques for personal gain, made conscription more onerous, and administered more harshly. In 208 BC, he designed to kill Li Si, who became the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty. The next year, he forced Qin II to commit suicide and established another son, Ying. Soon he was killed by Ziying, and the three Yi tribes were punished.
In addition, Zhao Gao was also a great calligrapher in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Xu Shen's "Shuowen Jie Zi Preface" of the Eastern Han Dynasty said: "Zhao Gao wrote the "Ai Li Pian", which was based on the large seal script of Shi Zeng, or it may have been modified quite a bit. "Wang Qing of the Northern Wei Dynasty's "Ancient and Modern Writings" lists fifty-nine calligraphers from the Qin, Han, and Wu dynasties, including Zhao Gao.
Yang Xin of the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties said that Zhao Gao was "good at seal script" in his "Ability to Write People's Names from Ancient Times". The "Dazhuan" on the volume of "Shujuan" written by Zhang Huaiguan of the Tang Dynasty states: "Zhao Gao was good at seal script. He taught Hu Nu, the youngest son of the First Emperor, to calligraphy." He wrote six chapters of "Ai Li Pian".
When Qin II was in power, Zhao Gao rode a deer and advanced slowly. The King of Qin asked: "Why is the Prime Minister riding a deer?" Zhao Gao said: "I am riding a horse." The King of Qin said: "The Prime Minister is wrong, (you) mistook the deer for a horse." Zhao Gao said: "Your Majesty thought that What I said is wrong, you can ask the ministers." Among all the ministers, half said deer and half said horse. At this time, the King of Qin had to believe the rebellious minister's statement 5. Introduction to Zhao Gao in the classical Chinese text "Referring to a Deer as a Horse"
Zhao Gao was originally a nobleman of the State of Zhao, and later entered the Qin Dynasty as an eunuch (one said that Zhao Gao was a "eunuch" "This is a misinterpretation by later generations). He was appointed as the magistrate of Zhongche Mansion and concurrently served as the Fuxi Magistrate, "in charge of affairs for more than twenty years."
After the death of Qin Shihuang, he conspired with Li Si to forge an edict, forcing Qin Shihuang's eldest son Fusu to commit suicide, and appointed Hu Hai as emperor, and appointed himself Lang Zhongling. During his tenure, he monopolized power, formed cliques for personal gain, made conscription more onerous, and administered more harshly.
In 207 BC, he designed to kill Li Si and became the prime minister of Qin. The next year, he forced the second son to commit suicide and established another son, Ying.
Soon after, Ziying killed him and punished the three Yi tribes. In addition, Zhao Gao was also a great calligrapher in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Xu Shen of the Eastern Han Dynasty said in "Shuowen Jie Zi Preface": "Zhao Gao wrote the "Ai Li Pian", which was based on Shi Zhen's large seal script, or it may have been modified very sparingly."
Wang Qing of the Northern Wei Dynasty's "Ancient and Modern Texts" lists fifty-nine people from Qin, Han and Wu, including Zhao Gao. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Yang Xin's "Ability to Write People's Names from Ancient Times" said that Zhao Gao was "good at seal script".
The "Big Seal Script" in the "Book Break" written by Zhang Huaiguan of the Tang Dynasty states: "Zhao Gao was good at seal script. He taught Hu Nu, the youngest son of the First Emperor, to calligraphy."
Author of six chapters of "Ai Li Pian". 6. The Second Emperor laughed and said: "The Prime Minister made a mistake.
Original text
Three years later, Zhang Han and others surrounded Julu with his soldiers. General Xiang Yu of Chu sent his soldiers to rescue Julu. . In the winter, Zhao Gao was the prime minister, and Li Si was killed. In the summer, Zhang Han and others were defeated.
The second emperor sent someone to Han, and Han was angry, so he asked the commander Shi Xin to ask for help. He was so frightened that he died, but Gao's messengers could not catch him. Xin saw Han and said, "If Zhao Gao is doing something, he will be punished if he has merit or if he has no merit." "Xiang Yu attacked the Qin army quickly and captured the king. Han and others then surrendered to the princes. In the eighth month of Jihai, Zhao Gao wanted to cause chaos, but was afraid that the officials would not listen.
So he set up a test first and held a deer. Dedicated to the second generation, he said: "Horse. The second generation laughed and said, "The Prime Minister is mistaken?" Call a deer a horse. "Ask the left and right. The left and right may talk about horses, and use Ashun
Zhao Gao. Or those who talk about deer, Gao is because those who talk about deer in the shadows are in law. Later, all the ministers were afraid of heights.
Translation
In the third year of the Second Emperor's reign (207 BC), Zhang Han and others led his troops to surround Julu. General Xiang Yu of Chu led the Chu troops to rescue Julu. In the winter, Zhao Gao served as prime minister. Finally, it was decided that Li Si should be killed. In the summer, Zhang Han and others were defeated many times. The Second Emperor sent people to condemn Zhang Han. Zhang Han was frightened and sent Chief Shi Simaxin back to Beijing to report the situation and ask for instructions. Zhao Gao refused to receive him. He didn't trust him either. Sima Xin was frightened and fled quickly. Zhao Gao sent people to chase him, but he couldn't catch him. When Sima Xin saw Zhang Han, he said: "Zhao Gao is in power in the court. If you have merit, you will be killed, but if you don't, you will be killed." kill. "At this time, Xiang Yu stepped up his attack on the Qin army and captured Wang Li. Zhang Han and others led their troops to surrender to the princes. On the day of Jihai in August, Zhao Gao wanted to rebel. He was afraid that the officials would not listen to him, so he devised a plan first Conducting an experiment, he brought a deer to offer to II, saying: “This is a horse. The Second Emperor smiled and said, "The Prime Minister was wrong. He said that the deer was a horse." "When I asked the ministers on the left and right, some were silent, some deliberately catered to Zhao Gao and said it was a horse, and some said it was a deer. Zhao Gao secretly used the law to frame those who said it was a deer. From then on, the ministers began to fear Zhao Gao. High.
Practical significance
Compliance is a quality of will that is opposite to independence. People with strong compliance tend to accept other people's opinions without analysis. This kind of obedience often occurs when someone is prompted or frightened by power or authority.
The play in which Zhao Gao "regards a deer as a horse" to test his ministers is an application of the psychological phenomenon of obedience. Although Qin II raised questions, he was still young after all and had to listen to the opinions of the officials. Among the ministers, some people avoided conflicts and remained silent. This attitude of keeping silent was tantamount to complicit and aiding the evil, and they were able to get out of the predicament. Many people say that Ma Lai obeys Zhao Gao. There are indeed some among them who flatter Zhao Gao and follow him to tell lies, but they are also indispensable for the "submissive" people mentioned above. They lack independent opinions and are easily suggestible in the process of thinking and implementing actions. Therefore, they accept other people's opinions without analysis and criticism, and follow others' opinions or agree with the opinions of the majority. This kind of "following the crowd" is called "herd phenomenon" in psychology, that is, obeying the opinions of the majority. In this way, some people are intimidated by power and do not take a stand, and some people flatter and tell lies, which in turn leads to some submissives and followers to also confuse right and wrong. In this way, Zhao Gao's lie of "calling a deer a horse" gained the upper hand. In the atmosphere at that time, people who spoke the truth under pressure had to have some courage, and they were "secretly punished" afterwards and suffered a lot.
The phenomenon of obedience is most obvious when people are in a hypnotic state. At this time, doctors often use the patient's unconditional obedience to eliminate their psychological conflicts, correct their misconceptions, and achieve the purpose of treatment. In the awake state, people still need to have more independent thinking and less obedience to achieve a healthy psychology.