auspicious

★Pursuing Yao and Shun, abdicating and proclaiming himself emperor, is Wang Mang the chosen lord or a sinner who usurped the Han Dynasty?

★The first historical non-fiction work of Zhang Xiangrong, a cutting-edge literary and historical writer and online celebrity book reviewer

★Highly recommended by Luo Xin, Liu Bo and Lu Dapeng

★Put aside conclusions, clarify the true face of Wang Mang, and reveal the truth of imperial power in the Han Dynasty

Rich details, reproduce the ups and downs of the political career, and inquire about the gains and losses of the Confucian mission

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★Traditional historiography relegates Xinmang to the throne, and smears this important moment in the late classical period in a grotesque and absurd manner. Zhang Xiangrong uses in-depth description and careful writing to let readers see a turning era full of vitality and possibility.

——Roxin

★It is really well written, the first chapter briefly introduces the history of Han Dynasty, comprehensively integrates various cutting-edge achievements, and has a huge amount of information. Specifically speaking about Wang Mang, the existing research itself is relatively weak, and there are few achievements to rely on. The writing starts from the basic historical materials, which is soothing and meticulous, and common sense and insight are at ease.

——Liu Bo

★Auspiciousness written by Dr. Zhang Xiangrong is not only a biography of Wang Mang, but also clearly sorts out the great cause of "founding a country" and "building a government" in the Western Han Dynasty and how Confucianism became an imperial ideology, which is suddenly enlightening. This book is supported by profound academic background, moderate depth of writing, ingenious structure design, humorous and witty, and often has thought-provoking sharp comments. Readers who are interested in the three topics of Wang Mang, Western Han history and Confucianism may wish to read this book. I look forward to reading more such Chinese-themed history books for "well-educated, non-expert" readers.

—— Lu Dapeng

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★In the first month of spring in the first year of Yuanshi (1 BC), the Han Dynasty ushered in an auspicious auspiciousness that had not been seen in a thousand years. The barbarian "Yueshang clan" from far away came to Chang'an as a tribute, presenting a white pheasant and two black pheasants. The appearance of the white pheasant means that there is a king with morality spreading all over the world. Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty who had just ascended the throne was only 9 years old. The last time the Yueshang family offered pheasants to Zhongtu was when King Cheng of Zhou met Zhou Gong, who was assisting the young master. ——Could it be that the so-called "king" is Wang Mang, the great Sima who had just stabilized the political situation in the Western Han Dynasty? This is most likely a farce directed and acted by Wang Mang himself, but what do the subjects think of this powerful minister of foreign relatives with outstanding merits comparable to Duke Zhou? Surprised, shocked, or feel like the icing on the cake?

★In Chinese history, the Western Han Dynasty was different from the "one family, one surname" dynasties stereotyped in later generations. It is not only a dynasty, but also a new stage in which Chinese Confucian culture first realized legislation. At the same time, the Western Han Dynasty was also an era of superstitious belief in the relationship between heaven and man. In less than two hundred years of history, it was full of theories of prophecy. From the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, catastrophic changes and auspicious condemnations have been closely linked with real political movements.

★Wang Mang, who was born in the late Western Han Dynasty, lost his father when he was young, and did not receive preferential treatment as a member of his relatives. From a Confucian student, with his comprehensive way of dealing with the world, he has become a rising star that the family places high hopes on. With the help of the theory of "auspiciousness", he returned to the court; he was promoted step by step amidst the cheers of the crowd, and finally established a new dynasty legally. Then how did he change from a "philosopher king" who "returned his heart" to a usurper who "abandoned all heaven and man" in just fifteen years?

★Facing the increasingly severe crisis of political legitimacy, Wang Mang, a practitioner of Confucianism, worked diligently in the affairs of the king, established Yong, established rites and music, and restored well fields, which won the recognition of other Confucian scholars in the same period. So what is the real motivation for Wang Mang to proclaim himself emperor? Is Wang Mang an evil and senseless snatcher, or a retro-style reformer? Is it the decider of Confucianism to establish the country, or the political performer with superb acting skills?

★This book intercepts the historical fragment from Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty to Xinmang. From the perspective of "auspiciousness", it analyzes Wang Mang's personal, family and political events. , Confucian classics teachers, bureaucratic scholar-bureaucrats, etc. wrestled on the political stage in the late Western Han Dynasty, and then re-examined Wang Mang at the center of the vortex to get a glimpse of him and the true appearance of the times.