What is the origin of the word "traitor"?

The word traitor is sometimes hard to say clearly

From the literal point of view, traitors should refer to the scum of the Han nationality, but when you think about it, it seems that this is not necessarily the case. The definition of "traitor" in Ci Hai is: it originally refers to the scum of the Han nationality; Now refers to the traitors of the Chinese nation. Therefore, the word "traitor" can be divided into ancient and modern and patent (only belonging to China people).

When the word traitor originated may not be verified, but it certainly did not appear before the Western Han Dynasty, because there was no "Han" at that time; Even after the Han Dynasty and before the Northern Song Dynasty, I'm afraid this word didn't exist, because among some national scum recorded in history, Qin Gui was called "scum" before, and the word "traitor" appeared after Qin Gui.

Not only is the meaning unclear, but it is sometimes confused in application. According to the definition, some people in history should be classified as traitors, but no one calls them traitors; Some traitors who have been calling names are really excusable.

Like Fan Wencheng. Manchu can destroy Li and Ming, and its role should not be underestimated; But he is Chinese, right? Moreover, the Manchu dynasty at that time was not a "Chinese nation". But did anyone call him a traitor? In addition, such as Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou, future generations saw nothing to scold except their moral integrity.

At the same time, Wu Sangui is a traitor whom everyone scolds. But looking at the history of traitors in Wu Sangui, some of them are really helpless. At that time, Daming, Dashun and Manchu were three pillars. In terms of strength, Li has the most, claiming to be a million; Ming is the second, but not enough to protect themselves; At least it's full, but there are also hundreds of thousands. Wu, however, had only 40,000 soldiers and horses, but he wanted to stand on his own feet and protect the Ming Dynasty. Without UNIFIL, it is not enough to resist Qing dynasty, and without Lian Qing dynasty, it is not single. But no matter which choice, he is subject to people and is not a satisfactory solution. Moreover, in honor, casting a clear vote is a betrayal and a traitor's curse; If you surrender Li, you are betraying the Lord and carrying the name of disloyalty.

Wu Sangui also chose Zhong Jun. After he was ordered, he went to Guanquan to stop the Qing Dynasty, but Ming was killed by Li and Chongzhen had hanged Jingshan Park. I want to protect Nanming Hong Guang, but there is nothing I can do. I still have no way out. He chose to vote for Li, but after the peasant army entered the city, it frantically arrested Ming officials, handcuffed them and plundered beautiful women. What's more, my father was tortured, my concubine was occupied and my relatives were humiliated. He chose to die, but was persuaded by the Ministry. It is by no means easy to make up his mind. For Taoists, he can keep his honor, but as commander-in-chief of the three armed forces, he has 40 thousand soldiers under his command, but he died himself. What can they do? This irresponsibility is not the work of a gentleman. I want to ask, what if other people are in the same situation? He has no choice but to choose. No matter how he chooses, he will not be a good man anyway. This kind of embarrassment, not the person who is in it, I am afraid I will never understand it.

More complicated, according to modern scholars' research, the purpose of Wu Sangui's surrender to the Qing Dynasty (originally intended to unite with the Qing Dynasty) was to exchange the Gyeonggi area, which actually no longer existed in the Ming Dynasty, for the Qing soldiers to destroy Dashun, so as to achieve the purpose of ruling the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty. This is also the fact that "class hatred" has surpassed "national hatred", which is basically consistent with the position that the Hong Guang regime in Nanming had to "guard inside" first and then "guard outside".

Judging from the above historical conditions, Wu Sangui was forced into a "traitor" by the "times", and compared with Fan Wencheng, Hong Chengchou and Zu Dashou, he was a little wronged.

But this grievance is not a reason, because the Han nationality was ravaged by different ethnic groups at that time, and finally it was because his cleansing played a key role. Wu Sangui should also be classified as a traitor (one of the top ten scum in China).

Let's take a look at Qin Gui, who has been scolded by us for the longest time and is synonymous with traitors. Even after hundreds or thousands of years, I'm afraid Qin Gui's treason charges can't be erased. But if you go deep into Qin Gui's environment at that time, I'm afraid he has many reasons to appeal.

There is a saying in many books that Qin Gui is a spy. But after all, the evidence is insufficient. Most people just infer from Qin Gui's actions that he may be a spy. And what Qin Gui did was really his fault? Is there no responsibility to others?

The answer is no.

Wen Zhiming once wrote such a poem "Red River": "If you don't read it, the Central Plains will frown? Don't hesitate, emblem, humiliation? However, since Hui and Qin have come back, where does this body belong? I never boasted about crossing the south, and I was afraid of the restoration of the Central Plains at that time. What can a smile do? Do what you want! " As can be seen from the words, Wen's understanding of Qin's death is more due to harmony. "What can you do with a smile? Do what you want! " In fact, it is also the case. If there is no connivance and consent, will you have the courage to hurt Yue and kneel down to Jin Qu to betray the national interests? If we think about the Gang of Four, maybe we can understand who should really bear the responsibility of the "Cultural Revolution".

From the known information, we know that Qin Gui is a very good mind reader. He guessed that Zhao Gou was afraid of the uncertainty of his throne after the emblem returned to Qin. Therefore, we should always be on guard against the embarrassing situation of sending back Hui and Qin after the defeat of Song Dynasty. Qin Gui's worry is not unnecessary. More than 300 years later, Ming Jing welcomed his younger brother Yingzong, but killed a generation of national hero Yu Qian. This is a fact.

There is another relationship. Qin Gui is Zhao Gou's prime minister. If a new owner is welcomed, not only will the old owner not help him, but the new owner may not use him again; From his personal interests, the advantages of choosing war and peace are self-evident.

This is a question of Qin Gui's personal morality. However, because of his immorality, he humiliated the whole nation and exchanged the long-term interests of the whole nation for personal temporary honor and disgrace. The sin is too heavy and too deep. So 50 years after his death, he was labeled as "absurd and ugly" and regarded as a great traitor in the Ming Dynasty. Even the printed characters we use every day have changed the characters that should have been "Qin" into "Song".

Writing here, I thought of another word opposite to traitors-"national hero".

The History Teaching Syllabus for Full-time Ordinary Senior High Schools (Experimental Revised Edition) published the year before last once said that we should scientifically analyze and treat the national wars in Chinese history from the viewpoint of historical materialism. This kind of domestic wars between ethnic groups are all "brothers looting their homes", so Yue Fei, Wen Tianxiang and others can only be regarded as outstanding figures of the Chinese nation, but not as "national heroes".

If this theory exists, then I think we should call Qin Gui and Wu Sangui not only traitors, but also heroes. Because Wu Sangui's switch is clear, it should be regarded as conforming to the trend of history; Qin Gui's rebellious pursuit of honor can also be counted as loyalty to the monarch and peace.

This is a big joke. But this joke has always existed. You think we're confused?

Some time ago, I also saw an article commenting on Wang Jingwei. Of course, we really can't look at the ancients with today's eyes. Wang Jingwei's early revolution can only represent his past, and his late mourning is his real result. What's more, Wang's willingness to be a traitor is not forced by anyone, nor is it as difficult as Wu Sangui's choice. This, even Wang Jingwei himself knows. Otherwise, why did he choose to be buried in Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum before his death in order to tell the world that he was still a follower of Sun Yat-sen, but he was afraid that future generations would destroy his coffin and whip his body, and cast a thick tomb shell with 5 tons of hard-broken steel bars mixed in concrete? But despite this, more than a year later, his grave was bombed by Chiang Kai-shek. How many people know that the soil in the pavilion on Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum has been polluted by traitors and traitors?

I'm afraid it's hard for Wang Jingwei and Zhou Fohai to be rehabilitated. One of the reasons is that the Japanese do not belong to the "Chinese nation". Although there are many historical twists and turns in the definition of traitors in Qin Gui and Wu Sangui, their masters who "betrayed" at that time are now members of the Chinese nation.

This may be the reason why the word "traitor" is complicated!