History can't bear to look at the complete collection

Chapter 46 The Anecdote on the Dragon Chair 3
The Image Creation of Zhu Yuanzhang and Cixi

The Nanxun Hall of the Forbidden City has a collection of 75 portraits of emperors and empresses of all dynasties in China. Among them, Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, has the most portraits. He has 13 portraits.What is puzzling is that one of these portraits is handsome and the other is ugly.What does Zhu Yuanzhang look like?
Zhu Yuanzhang was born in a reckless family and was a monk. There are many versions of his appearance among the people.Legend has it that he has raised forehead and temples, prominent cheekbones, long chin, big nose, thick eyebrows, goldfish eyes, and pockmarked face.There are even rumors that he once summoned three painters for his portraits, the first two painters who were truthful portraits were all killed by him, and the third one won Zhu Yuanzhang's favor by deliberately beautifying the similar outline.

In the folk portraits of Zhu Yuanzhang, there are often big mouths that are wide, long and broad, and some even paint spots on his face inappropriately proportioned to highlight the folklore "36 red pockmarks".The lines of these images are rough, and some of the clothing crowns and belts do not conform to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty. They are obviously the graffiti works of folk artists.

The real Zhu Yuanzhang is very likely to have an ordinary appearance but some features are more unique, such as the big mouth, which is impressive.Folk portraits only exaggerate this feature, just like the caricature of modern people.

Although some scholars agree with the folklore that "the face is wrinkled and pimple-spotted, and the jaw is protruding", they also question the folk portraits of Zhu Yuanzhang, believing that those portraits are based on the artist's deliberate uglification, and propose that "Taizu and other Handsome as an emperor."

Judging from the looks of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty in the Forbidden City, the appearances of Emperor Chengzu to Chongzhen are roughly similar, and they are somewhat similar to the statue of Zhu Yuanzhang in the palace.Judging from the facial features handed down from the Ming Dynasty lineage, Zhu Yuanzhang was not so ugly that he was scary.

Rulers want to leave a good impression on future generations. Zhu Yuanzhang does not want to be an ugly emperor in the eyes of future generations. Although Cixi listens to politics behind the curtain and is recognized as a domineering and domineering person, she is not willing either. She is regarded as a cruel and domineering person by later generations, and some of Cixi's actions in front of her people illustrate her mentality.In the descriptions of some attendants, Cixi is not only an old lady with flesh and blood, but also takes great care of those around her.

Su Xuncheng, a native of Yongcheng, Henan, once stood guard in the imperial palace, and when Cixi and Guangxu went out, they also escorted them.He once recalled several things about Cixi:
One winter night, Su Xuncheng and another soldier were standing guard in the palace. It was around 11 o'clock at night, and it was time for Cixi to eat dinner.It was cold and windy, and they were tired and hungry.Unexpectedly, the two court ladies brought them steamed buns and meat under Cixi's order.

One day in the winter of 1903, soldiers from the Suwei camp carried the fresh peaches tributed by other provinces to the Longevity Palace and lined up to meet Cixi.At that time, soldiers all wore uniforms with large clips, and for the sake of appearance, they all tucked cotton jackets into the waistbands of their trousers.Cixi asked: "Zhang Xun, why didn't the soldiers wear small padded jackets?" Touch it, and it counts when you touch the padded jacket.

Once, Su Xuncheng and a soldier named Wang Baoqing were standing guard on the east side of the Huangji Hall. Cixi passed by, stood in front of Wang Baoqing, and asked the king's name, place of origin, and family population.After listening to the answer, Cixi said in a pitiful tone: "I have pity on you children. You have abandoned your family to protect our family. Do a good job and I will serve you as an official in the future."

When Empress Dowager Cixi and Guangxu left the palace, the guards of Luanyu took turns to change shifts. After carrying a sedan chair for a mile, they could ride a few miles of horses, while the soldiers often ran sweating profusely.But in order to hurry, Guangxu always patted the sedan chair and kept urging him. In the summer of 1902, when Cixi and Guangxu went to Dongling, the soldiers ran for too long, and some of them fainted one after another. Seeing this, Guangxu clapped his hands and laughed happily.After arriving in Dongling, Cixi reprimanded Guangxu, accusing him of not knowing the joys and sorrows of his servants.

Except for Zhu Yuanzhang and Cixi, the rulers of other dynasties hope to pass on a perfect and wise image to future generations, but history will remember everything they have done and give a fair evaluation.

(End of this chapter)