From the establishment of People's Republic of China (PRC) in 206 BC to the abolition of Emperor Xi 'an in 220 AD, the Han Dynasty lasted for more than 400 years. It is a relatively stable and powerful dynasty in the history of China, which is related to the fact that the rulers inherited the book collection system of the Western Zhou Dynasty and attached importance to investigation and research.
In the early Han Dynasty, due to the influence of civil war and border war, the economy was ruined and the people were poor. In order to consolidate the rule, ease contradictions, inherit the collection system of the Western Zhou Dynasty, and strengthen investigation, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty once "sent people around the world to ask for political gifts". In the sixth year of Yuanshou, he "sent six people, including doctors, to travel around the world and ask about widows" (History of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty). According to the biography of Sima Qian in Han Dynasty, Sima Qian served as the attendant secretary (doctor) of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty when he was in his twenties. In addition to accompanying Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty many times, he also "entrusted" many times to study in remote areas in southwest China. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had a deep understanding of the people's sufferings through investigation, so he adopted a policy of easing taxes and relaxing. Later, Yuan Di and Ping Di also sent twelve people, including Dr. Guanglu, to follow the world ... Because of customs, "Twenty-one people, including Dr. Jane, were sent with the world" (History of Han Yuan Di), and "eight people, including Wang Yun, were sent to hold festivals, share the world and observe customs" (Han Ping Di Ji).
The father and son of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty "started from the people" and paid more attention to the investigation of local conditions and customs, rather than just "soliciting people's feelings and observing the wind and rumors" (Biography of Officials in the Later Han Dynasty). And the emperor acceded to the throne, and "all the envoys were incognito, and each went to the county to visit" ("The Biography of Li He in the Later Han Dynasty"). This situation continued until the end of the Han Dynasty, and it was not abolished.
Similar to the Book of Songs left by the Western Zhou Dynasty, many Yuefu poems were left by the Han Dynasty. Among the existing Yuefu poems, the famous long poem Peacock Flying Southeast reflects a folk marriage tragedy. The nursery rhyme "Ju Xiucai" satirizes the disadvantages of the inspection system in the Eastern Han Dynasty. His song says, "A scholar gathers, but he doesn't know books; If you have a dutiful son, you will not live with your father. Cold elements are as pure as mud, and high soldiers are as afraid as donkeys. " This means that the recommended "scholar" doesn't even know the words; The "filial piety" of tea house does not allow fathers to live together; Civil servants who claim to be innocent are muddy, while officers who claim to be "good generals" are as timid as frogs. High-level rulers can learn a lot about the real situation of society through such folk songs.
Second, all aspects of ancient research.
1. Management and investigation
Outstanding politicians in ancient times attached great importance to investigation and research. For example, Guan Wen Zi is said to have been written by Guan Zhong in the Spring and Autumn Period, which is a special investigation and study. At the beginning, it was put forward that "every court should have its own history", and then more than 60 questions to be investigated were put forward in one breath, involving all aspects of social life such as economy and politics. Some people say that it is "the oldest and most comprehensive social survey outline rarely seen in the world". Another example is Shang Yang, a reformer of Qin State during the Warring States Period, who paid special attention to quantitative research. The Book of Shang Jun's Deqiang said: "The number of powerful countries is thirteen: the number of granaries in China, the number of able-bodied men and women, the number of the old and the weak, the number of officials and officials, the number of grain-fetching, the number of businessmen, and the number of cattle and horses (feed). I don't know the thirteenth country. Although the land is favorable and there are many people, the weaker the country, the smaller it will be. " It can be seen that Shang Yang regards accurate statistical data as a necessary condition for Qiang Bing to become a rich country, and to "know" so many basic data, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive investigation and study.
2. Population census and research
China is the first country to conduct a census in the world, and the earliest demographic data of China can be found in the Western Jin Dynasty's General Code. It is said that in the summer of more than 4,000 years ago, the total population of China was13.5 million, which is not necessarily reliable. However, judging from Shang Yang's remarks that he attached importance to data investigation, it is credible that there was a census in the Qin Dynasty ruled by legalists. The "counting system" founded by Qin Shihuang is the statistical system of population, currency and grain. In the Han Dynasty, with the social stability, population statistics were on the right track. In the fifth year of Emperor Pingdi in the Western Han Dynasty (AD 5), there were 1, 222,062 households and 59,594,978 people, which was the first accurate census in China. In the Ming Dynasty, the "household post system" was implemented, and the population was registered door by door. The format and content of the registration form, that is, the "household post", are uniformly produced and distributed by the household department, and the court also sends personnel to various places to supervise the registration. Ming Taizu Hongwu twenty-four years (AD/KOOC-0/39/KOOC-0/year) statistics are/KOOC-0 10684435 households, 567745/KOOC-0/person.
3. Military command and investigation
The role of investigation and research in the military need not be emphasized, because both strategic analysis and tactical reconnaissance belong to investigation and research in a broad sense. Sun Tzu's Art of War has become a famous idiom: "Know yourself and know yourself, and fight every battle." In the ancient history books about war, there are many records about investigation and research. Take the familiar Battle of Red Cliffs as an example. Cao Cao wrote a letter to Sun Quan, saying, "Today, there are 800 water conservancy troops, and Fang and others will hunt in Wu." Sun Quan's men were "eclipsed" and demanded surrender. Zhou Yu said to Sun Quan alone: "These people" are no longer expecting the truth, so there is no point in holding this discussion. Today, the people in China are only 150,000 to 60,000 compared with reality. They have been tired for a long time ... They are not afraid. "Obviously, Zhou Yu has made a serious investigation and study on the actual situation in Cao Jun, so he is confident to win. Later, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang, two generals who are good at "knowing ourselves and knowing ourselves", commanded Sun Liulian to defeat Cao Jun with fewer, which is also reasonable. (According to Zi Jian)
4. Investigation and research
In ancient times, the legal system was not perfect, and the trial of cases emphasized confession. Extorting a confession by torture is a common interrogation method, and there are countless unjust, false and wrong cases caused by extorting a confession by torture. However, there are also a few "blue skies" that pay attention to evidence and judge cases fairly, such as De Renjie in the Tang Dynasty, Bao Zheng in the Song Dynasty and Hai Rui in the Ming Dynasty. If we examine their deeds carefully, we will find that they rarely make mistakes in solving crimes and breaking prisons. In addition to their own fairness and honesty, they attach importance to confessions and evidence, and attach importance to obtaining first-hand evidence through personal investigation and research, which is their common feature in handling cases.
Five, the emperor's patrol and incognito private visit
It is also an important form of investigation that the supreme ruler personally visits various places. Patrol has the function of inspector, but its main purpose is to know the situation.
In ancient times, emperors who made achievements paid more attention to personal investigation and study. Qin Shihuang, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Taizong, Wu Zetian and Ming Taizu, as well as Kangxi and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, visited Beijing many times. In the twelve years after Qin Shihuang unified China, he made five large-scale inspections, covering almost all the territory of Qin State. It is estimated that Qin Shihuang spent more than half his time on patrol. And some incompetent rulers rarely go out of Beijing. For example, during the Three Kingdoms period, Adou, the queen of Shu, was emperor for 40 years and basically stayed in the palace.