The edicts of the emperor were absolute commands, representing a form of power that was supreme and inviolable; violating them often led to tragic consequences.
During the feudal era in China, the emperor held the ultimate power, often referred to as the “Son of Heaven.” The emperor had the authority to judge anyone, wielding life and death in his hands. Every action or even a word spoken by the emperor could determine the fate of others. Thus, each command or edict from the emperor carried significant weight. Whenever a major decision was to be made or an important viewpoint expressed, the emperor would issue an edict rather than simply speaking.
Imperial orders were typically communicated through edicts. In historical films, one often sees eunuchs delivering these edicts. Upon hearing the phrase “The edict has arrived,” everyone present would immediately kneel to listen. From royal family members, nobles, officials to commoners, once they heard “The edict has arrived,” they had to receive it with utmost respect.
Imperial edicts could change the fate of a family, take lives, or bestow blessings upon the people, ensuring a lifetime of peace and prosperity for both rulers and subjects. This illustrates the immense power that imperial edicts held. They carried the supreme command of the emperor. So why did officials and ministers never dare to forge them?
Imperial edicts are created using various colored silk threads. (Illustrative image).
In every dynasty, emperors placed great emphasis on issuing edicts, dedicating significant time and effort to the process.
These edicts were crafted using multiple colored silk threads, with the number of colors possibly reaching up to six.
The length of an edict was also considerable, approximately five meters, necessitating 2 to 3 individuals to deliver it properly.
The edict was the emperor’s word, and only the emperor could inscribe it. Could the emperor’s seal be forged? Yes, but doing so would be considered treason. In ancient times, forging an edict was seen as a serious crime, punishable by extermination of the entire family.
Though it may sound simple, forging an edict was nearly impossible due to the extensive safety measures in place to prevent such acts. Any error during this process could lead to punishment not only for one person but for everyone involved.
Furthermore, the delivery of the edict was not just accompanied by eunuchs but also a formidable military escort to prevent any tampering or alteration of the edict. Thus, the probability of forging an edict was almost zero.
The likelihood of forging an imperial edict is nearly zero. (Illustrative image).
Finally, the seal of the edict was the imperial jade seal. This unique artifact was intricately designed by a master engraver, featuring the eight characters “Receive the mandate from Heaven, grant longevity and prosperity”, crafted according to the wishes of the first emperor in Chinese history.
The jade seal was incredibly difficult to forge; if someone attempted to do so, they would likely be discovered, leading to death or severe punishment, including the extermination of their entire family and eternal disgrace.
All these reasons serve to demonstrate one clear fact: even the most powerful individuals dared not forge an imperial edict!
