During the transition between the Liu Song and Southern Qi dynasties, Wang Jingze played the role of forcing Emperor Shun of Song to abdicate in favor of Emperor Gao of Qi.
Wang Jingze came from humble beginnings—his mother was a shaman, so he never received a proper education and couldn't even read. From childhood, he hated being restrained, was carefree and undisciplined, loved playing with swords, and often ended up in quarrels and brawls.
Wang Jingze, though uneducated, was quick-witted and decisive. Seeing Emperor Gao of Qi's growing prestige, he immediately pledged allegiance and served him with utmost dedication, earning repeated promotions. The emperor appointed him "Supervisor of Palace Guard Affairs," responsible for the emperor's security.
When Emperor Qi Gao was about to take the throne from Emperor Song Shun, the latter clung to his imperial seat, refusing to leave the palace and abdicate. Finally, the day came when Qi Gao was to receive courtiers' congratulations on the platform before the Taiji Hall—how could Song Shun remain holed up in the palace any longer? Who would drive this clueless last emperor out? Wang Jingze took on the task, arriving at the palace with a wooden cart. Finding Song Shun, he read out Qi Gao's abdication order, then said, "Now, please get into the cart yourself."
Emperor Shun of the Song Dynasty still refused to board the carriage. Wiping away his tears, he asked Wang Jingze, "Are you taking me to be killed?" Wang Jingze replied, "You will be moved to another palace to live. When your Song ancestors replaced the Sima family of the Jin Dynasty, they did the same." Realizing his abdication was inevitable, the emperor wept and said, "I only hope that in life after life, I will never again be born into an imperial family!"
At his words, all the imperial consorts and palace maids joined in weeping, their cries so loud they could be heard beyond the palace gates.
Emperor Shun of Song had no choice but to board the carriage, and said to Wang Jingze with a hint of sarcasm, "Don't worry that I won't leave the palace; Emperor Gao of Qi should reward you with a hundred thousand coins for your top merit!"
Even such a loyal turncoat official met a grim end. Wang Jingze eventually realized Emperor Ming of Qi no longer trusted him, so he rallied a group of his former generals to rebel. Within days, government troops hunted him down, beheaded him, and displayed his severed head.
"Life after life, generation after generation" was originally a Buddhist term, meaning each time one is born into the world. Later, it also came to refer to this life, the next life, and all eternity, akin to saying forever and ever, generation after generation.
Source: *History of the Southern Dynasties*, "Biography of Wang Jingze"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "生生世世" came to describe how each time one is born into the world, this life, the next life, and all eternity, akin to saying forever and ever, generation after generation.