The “Divine Sword-Royal Authority” Narrative in Han-Tang China and Its Influence on Japan,Korea,and Vietnam

The “divine sword-royal authority” narrative is an important method developed through long-term political practice in Han-Tang China,aimed at deifying imperial power and establishing the legitimacy of dynastic rule.From the establishment of the narrative of the “divine sword founding the nation” through the snake slaying by Emperor Gaozu of Han,to the evolution of narratives linking the divine sword and royal authority during the medieval period,and the addition of religious elements such as the Celestial Master’s Sword,the “divine sword-royal authority” narrative has gradually solidified and spread.The influence of this narrative is evident in various examples,such as the Kusanagi sword in Japanese “Kojiki” myth and the mirror and sword seal used in the enthronement ceremony of the emperor,the three heavenly talismans and numerous traces of divine swords in the “Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms)” and the “Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)”,as well as the accounts related to the sword and seal of Emperor Lê L_x000e_?倗b_x000f_i of the Lê Dynasty in Vietnam,who rose to power with the endorsement of heaven.These examples demonstrate the lasting impact of the “divine sword-royal authority” narrative in Han -Tang culture.The cultural memory and circulation trajectory of the divine sword not only reveal the intrinsic characteristics of autocratic royal power in ancient East Asia but also exemplify a dimension of power transfer within the Chinese cultural circle.