The enigma of Kong Rongs yielding of pears and the accusation of unfilial conduct, leading to life or death.

2024-07-08 16:05:40 中文版 home page

The story of "Kong Rong Giving Up the Big Pear" is well-known in Chinese history, telling a virtue of filial piety and brotherly love. However, Kong Rong, a renowned litterateur and politician of the late Eastern Han Dynasty known for his politeness and concession, was ultimately executed by Cao Cao on the charge of "disobedience to one's parents." This transformation is thought-provoking, and what caused this tragedy?

Kong Rong, styled Wenju, was the twentieth-generation descendant of Confucius. He was exceptionally intelligent and renowned for his brilliant talent since childhood. His "Ode to Giving Up the Big Pear" has been handed down through the ages, serving as a model for educating future generations. However, Kong Rong had a strong and outspoken personality, which became a fatal weakness in his later political career.

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, political turmoil prevailed, and Cao Cao gradually emerged as a powerful figure. As an official in the imperial court, Kong Rong repeatedly petitioned the emperor to criticize Cao Cao's authoritarian behavior. His outspokenness offended Cao Cao, making his position in the court increasingly awkward. Under such circumstances, Cao Cao began to seek opportunities to eliminate Kong Rong.

In 208 AD, Kong Rong was arrested for opposing Cao Cao's proclamation as the Duke of Wei. Cao Cao accused Kong Rong of rebellion, but the deeper reason was Kong Rong's outspokenness that offended Cao Cao's interests. During the trial, Cao Cao surprisingly sentenced Kong Rong to death on the charge of "disobedience to one's parents." This charge was quite ironic, as Kong Rong was renowned for his filial piety since childhood, and his "Ode to Giving Up the Big Pear" was even a model for promoting filial piety.

However, in that era, political struggles were cruel and ruthless. Cao Cao executed Kong Rong on the charge of "disobedience to one's parents" in order to eliminate dissenters and consolidate his power. Kong Rong's death became a political sacrifice, reflecting the dark side of society at that time.

Kong Rong's life, from a young boy giving up the big pear to a politician outspoken against tyranny, ended tragically. His story tells us that in complex political struggles, talent and integrity often fail to withstand the cruelty of reality. However, Kong Rong's literary works and noble qualities have become eternal treasures in the long history, inspiring later generations to pursue truth and justice.

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