The Rise of the Fu Clan and the Making of a Monster

The story of Fu Sheng, the infamous one-eyed emperor of the Former Qin dynasty (351–394 CE), begins with the turbulent era of the Sixteen Kingdoms—a period of fragmentation following the collapse of China’s Western Jin dynasty. Amidst the chaos, the Di ethnic leader Fu Hong emerged as a formidable warlord, navigating shifting alliances with the Later Zhao and Eastern Jin before his son, Fu Jian, established the Former Qin state in the Guanzhong region.

Fu Sheng, Fu Jian’s third son, was born with a physical deformity: blindness in one eye. This defect, coupled with a deeply disturbed psyche, shaped his cruel and erratic behavior. Historical accounts describe him as a child who reveled in tormenting servants, deriving pleasure from their suffering. His grandfather, Fu Hong, once jested about his single tear—prompting the boy to stab his own blind eye in defiance, declaring, “See? Now there’s another tear!” This incident revealed a chilling blend of self-loathing and brutality that would define his reign.

A Reign of Terror: Blood and Madness in the Imperial Court

Fu Sheng ascended the throne in 355 CE after the death of his father, aided by a prophecy favoring a “one-eyed ruler.” What followed was one of history’s most grotesque tyrannies. His reign was marked by:

– Ritualized Cruelty: Fu Sheng kept an arsenal of torture tools—hammers, pliers, saws, and chisels—at court, using them to maim officials on whims. His victims included his own uncle, Strong Ping, whose skull he split open for daring to criticize him.
– Paranoid Massacres: After an astronomer warned of impending calamity, Fu Sheng interpreted it as a call to kill his queen, high-ranking ministers, and even their families.
– Twisted Spectacles: He forced drunk courtiers to vomit in halls, orchestrated incestuous marriages, and staged gladiatorial fights between prisoners and wild animals.

One notorious banquet saw him shoot the minister Xin Lao mid-feast for failing to intoxicate guests sufficiently. “Why are they still sober?” he roared before turning the gathering into a drunken bloodbath.

The Psychology of a Tyrant: Sadism and Self-Destruction

Fu Sheng’s behavior suggests severe psychological pathology. Modern historians speculate he suffered from:

– Antisocial Personality Disorder: His lack of empathy and penchant for violence align with classic sociopathic traits.
– Body Dysmorphia: His mutilation of his own eye and hatred of the able-bodied point to profound self-hatred.
– Delusional Paranoia: He saw insults in innocuous words, executing scribes for using terms like “lacking” or “incomplete,” which he associated with his disability.

His mother, Empress Dowager Qiang, died of grief after his atrocities, further isolating him. By 357 CE, the court was a graveyard of silenced dissenters.

The Fall: Revolt and Retribution

The tipping point came when Fu Sheng threatened his cousins Fu Fa and Fu Jian (later the renowned Emperor Fu Jian). Warned by a spy, the brothers stormed the palace with rebel troops. Deserted by his guards, Fu Sheng was captured mid-slumber.

Deposed and offered a final request, the tyrant demanded wine—downing gallons before being hacked to pieces by vengeful soldiers. His death in 357 CE ended two years of unchecked savagery.

Legacy: A Cautionary Tale of Power and Madness

Fu Sheng’s reign offers enduring lessons:

1. The Perils of Absolute Power: His unchecked authority enabled systemic cruelty, echoing Caligula or Nero in Roman history.
2. Disability and Despotism: His physical deformity became a lens for his tyranny, illustrating how personal trauma can warp governance.
3. The Limits of Prophecy: The “one-eyed ruler” omen, meant to legitimize him, instead became a curse.

Though the Former Qin later flourished under Fu Jian, Fu Sheng’s specter lingered as a warning against the marriage of madness and monarchy. His story remains a dark benchmark in China’s dynastic history—a reminder that the line between ruler and monster can vanish in a single, bloodstained reign.