![]() | The history of the former Han dynasty | ![]() |
ix
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter XI. The Annals of Emperor Hsiao-ai. | |
Introduction to the Chapter | 1 |
Summary of the period. The intrigues of Emperor Ai's various maternal relatives. Emperor Ai's strong rule and his execution of Wang Chia1a. Supernatural revelations influence government policy. The popular cult of the Mother Queen of the West. Tung Hsien2a's meteoric rise and fall. The influence of Confucianism. A temporary rectification of high official titles, following classical models. |
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Text, Translation, and Notes | 15 |
Appendix I. The Custom of Mourning to the Third year | 40 |
Appendix II. Eclipses During the Reign of Emperor Ai | 43 |
Chapter XII. The Annals of Emperor Hsiao-p'ing. | |
Introduction to the Chapter | 44 |
Summary of the period. The nature of this "Annals." Wang Mang's orderly solution of a dynastic crisis. Wang Mang's revenge upon Emperor Ai's maternal relatives. The dynastic principle that there should be only one imperial line. The nature of Wang Mang's position and power. How Wang Mang established himself securely and obtained a following. How Wang Mang secured unprecedented honors and popularity. How Wang Mang secured the loyalty of Liu Hsin1a. Did Wang Mang murder Emperor P'ing? |
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Text, Translation, and Notes | 61 |
Appendix. Eclipses During the Reign of Emperor P'ing | 87 |
Chapter XCIX. The Memoir of Wang Mang. | |
Introduction to the Chapter | 88 |
Reason for its presentation here. Its form. Its sources. The sources for the account of Wang Mang's last days. Pan Piao's part in this chapter. The reliability of this account. The literary quality of this chapter. |
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Historical problems connected with Wang Mang. How Wang Mang secured general approval for his usurpation. Literary noble titles. The doctrine of the Five Powers. Reasons for Wang Mang's fall. |
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Text, Translation, and Notes. | |
Part A. The Rise of Wang Mang | 125 |
Wang Mang's clan. His education. His first positions. Ennoblement. His treatment of others. Care for his nephew. He refused to have any concubines. He supplants Shun-yü Chang. His self-denial. His wife's economy |
125 |
His resignation refused. He opposes the elevation of the Fu and Ting clans. He demotes the Queen Dowager nee Fu. He resigns again. He is sent away from the court. He executes his son |
130 |
Popular opinion leads to his recall. His advances to an unimportant official. He is put in control of the government. Demotion of Tung Hsien2a. Wang Mang is made Commander-in-chief. He summons Emperor P'ing to the throne. Wang Mang entrusted with the government. The Fu and Chao Empresses executed. He gets rid of his opponents. Wang Li5a sent away from the court. Wang Mang's clique |
134 |
His procedure. The white pheasant from the Yüeh-shang. He is likened to Ho Kuang. He is likened to the Duke of Chou. He is given a laudatory title. He refuses it. His followers honored first. He is awarded high honors. His charter. He refuses some grants. He has others honored. He is given plenary power. The Grand Empress Dowager imitates his humility. A great charity. He lauds the Grand Empress Dowager. The regency will terminate when the Emperor comes of age. He suffers with the people. The Shan-yü takes a single personal name |
140 |
The Emperor to be married. Wang Mang withholds his own daughter. The people memorialize that his daughter should be the Empress. She is selected. Confucian tradition awards him great grants. He returns Hsin-yeh. He distributes the dowry-money among the families of the imperial concubines-elect. He is given additional sums |
154 |
Chang Sung's laudatory memorial for Ch'en Ch'ung: [1] Wang Mang's self-discipline. [2] His revelation of his cousin's crime. [3] His opposition to the advancement of imperial maternal relatives. [4] His unjust dismissal. [5] His crushing of imperial favorites. [6] His selection of capable subordinates. [7] His refusal of honors. [8] His preliminary refusal of his daughter to be Empress. [9] His personal economy. [10] His generosity. [11] His industry. [12] His service to the state. Summary. Precedents for rewarding government servants: Hsiao Ho, Kung-sun Jung, Chou P'o, Wei Ch'ing, Ho Kuang. Wang Mang's superiority. He should be given the same rewards as the Duke of Chou. Other precedents. Conclusion: the honors recommended |
162 |
The affair of Lü K'uan. Wang Mang had denied Emperor P'ing's relatives a place at court. Wang Yü3 intrigues with them. Wang Mang is to be superstitiously terrified. Wang Yü3 is executed. Wang Mang is praised for his freedom from partiality. Hundreds more executed. Wang Mang's book added to the official curriculum. His daughter is made Empress. He should be further honored. A new title. He refuses most of the honors. He is not to be allowed to refuse everything. He reviews his honors. He requests a seal of office. A great gift. His train |
179 |
He enlarges the Imperial University. He gathers the learned. He distributes honors to the imperial clan. The people memorialize |
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that he should be rewarded. He proposes to institute rites and ceremonies in a humble memorial flattering the others in the government. The nine distinctions to be conferred upon him. His charter. The nine distinctions. The Tzu-wu Road |
191 |
A flattering report on the state of the empire. The Ch'iang are induced to surrender the Kokonor territory. Oceanic barbarians. Geographical arrangements to be rectified. Thousands exiled to Kokonor. It is suggested that he be made Regent |
212 |
A declaration stored in a metal-bound coffer. Emperor P'ing dies. The youngest descendant of Emperor Hsüan is selected to succeed to the throne. The first portent that Wang Mang should become Emperor. He is made Regent. He is given the rites of a Son of Heaven and the title of Acting Emperor. Court stenographers appointed. Liu Ying1a is made the Young Prince |
216 |
Liu Ch'ung2c's rebellion. Chang Sung's memorial for Liu Chia1s. Liu Chia1s and Chang Sung rewarded. Wang Mang's power increased. His residence is given the honors of an imperial palace. His associates' sons honored |
226 |
The Ch'iang rebel. Change of coinage. Chai Yi's rebellion. Wang Mang's fearfulness. Rebellion near the capital. Chai Yi defeated. A flattering memorial. The victory banquet. Five grades of nobility established. His sons ennobled. His mother dies. His mourning rites. Wang Mang's nephew's execution. Mourning rites for nobles ordered fixed |
234 |
More portents that he should become Emperor. He asks to be temporarily the Emperor. An abortive rebellion. Ai Chang's portent from Emperor Kao. Wang Mang takes the throne as Actual Emperor. His announcement |
249 |
Part B. Wang Mang at the Height of his Power | 260 |
The dynasty changed. An Heir-apparent appointed. The Han Young Prince is dismissed. The ministers are ennobled. His daughter. Liu Ying1a's rearing. Charters to the ministers |
260 |
Titles changed. Nobilities for the Wang clan. Kingly titles abolished. Ancestral sacrifices established to ancient rulers. Sacrifices established to ancestors of the Wang clan |
269 |
Change in the coinage. Liu K'uai's rebellion. The ching system restored. Sale of cultivated fields and slaves forbidden. Propaganda sent out; a summary of the book of propaganda. New seals distributed. The robes of the Generals of the Five Majestic Principles |
281 |
Revolts on the northern and western frontiers. Mandates to officials. The mad woman. Abortive rebellion. The Six Monopolies. The Five Equalizations. Hun raids. Rebellion in the Western Frontier Regions. A Han pretender. The Han ancestral temples abolished and the Han nobles dismissed. War declared against the Huns |
296 |
Five kinds of coins. The people oppose the new currency. Officials forced to carry spade-money |
306 |
New portents prohibited. Chen Feng discarded. Chen Hsün and associates executed. Wang Mang's terrifying appearance. The Han code continued. Trouble at the northern borders. Wang Shun4b dies. New officials. A heroic refusal. Ominous portents. Lüan-ti Teng executed |
307 |
A new capital ordered. An ordinance for noble ranks. The ching system abolished. Sale of land and slaves permitted. Trouble at the southwestern borders. Trouble at the northeastern borders. An imperial progress announced. Titles changed. The Empress Dowager nee Wang dies. The change of the capital postponed. Trouble at the northwestern frontiers. The prohibition of possessing copper and charcoal is abolished. An imperial progress announced. The capital to be changed. A solar eclipse. Disorderly officials. Ominous portents |
319 |
New titles for provincial officials. Names changed. The first day of the sexagenary cycle changed. Vengeance on traitors. Trouble at the northern border. Trouble at the southwestern borders. Rumor that a yellow dragon had died. The Shan-yü's son's corpse returned |
338 |
Officials take advantage of Wang Mang. The corruption of the bureaucracy. Delays in decisions. Banditry at the northern border. Wang Yi5's resignation refused. Regulations for salaries. Ominous portents. The southwestern borders. Human dissection. The silk route blocked |
354 |
Part C. Wang Mang's Fall | 367 |
Enfeoffments made. The six monopolies. A tax on slaves. Supervisors for commandery officials. Bandit bands. The majestic tou-measures. The monopolies upheld. Rich officials mulcted. An ambitious imperial grandson executed. Wang Ken's title changed |
367 |
The Red Eyebrows arise. The Hsin dynasty's music. A grand levy. A special taxation. Aviation. Hsü-pu Tang brought to Ch'ang-an. Chuang Yu dismissed. Double taxation. Chü-wa Pa, the giant. Executions permitted at all seasons. An ominous portent. Military regulations. An ominous portent. The Heir-apparent removed |
379 |
Another ominous portent. The Hsin dynasty's Nine Ancestral Temples begun. An abortive rebellion. Change in coinage. T'ang Tsun's pose. Bandit armies arise. Portents. Provincial Inspectors established |
392 |
Wang Mang's wife dies. Wang Lin1a's plot and execution. Wang Mang's last legitimate son dies. His children by concubines |
403 |
Li Yen's rebellion. Counterfeiters sentenced to the mint. Bandits attacked. A second marriage ordered. The Han spirits attacked. The flowery baldachin chariot. Bandits increase. Biting criticism of the ministers. Bandit extermination ordered. Unwise policies |
408 |
The Hsin ancestral temples dedicated. The Pa River Bridge burns. An expedition against the bandits. Famine relief. A monopoly revoked. An expedition against the bandits in the Yangtze valley. Locusts. Futile famine relief. Wang Mang deceived. A rebel city taken by storm. The Red Eyebrows defeat an imperial army. An ominous portent. More defeats. The economic measures to be repealed |
419 |
The Han army arises. A comet. The defeat of Chen Fou. The illiterate Red Eyebrows. The Keng-shih Emperor set up |
435 |
Wang Mang marries again. A price put upon the head of Liu Yin4a Po-sheng. Expeditions ordered against the rebels. Wei Ao flees. Wang Yi5's great army gathered. The defeat at K'un-yang. The metal-bound coffer opened. A clever augury. Pretended execution of the rebels |
437 |
An astrological portent and prophecy for Liu Hsin1a. Wang Shê's plot. The plot is revealed. Liu Hsin1a's ghost appears |
447 |
Wang Yi5 is made Heir-apparent. Magical defences. Rebellion in the west. Attack from the south. Wang Mang appeals to the gods and weeps. His stinginess. Kuan-chung invaded. Another defeat |
453 |
The Kuan-chung people welcome the invaders. Ch'ang-an attacked. Ch'ang-an entered. The Palace is burnt. Magical defences. Wang Mang flees to the Tower Bathed by Water. Wang Mang killed |
461 |
Wang Hsien4's fate. The fate of Wang Mang's officials. The Keng-shih Emperor reaches Ch'ang-an. The Red Eyebrows capture Ch'ang-an. Emperor Kuang-wu enthroned. The eulogy |
466 |
Appendix I. The Passages in "The Treatise on Food and Goods" dealing with Wang Mang. |
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Introduction | 476 |
Text, Translation, and Notes. | |
Part A. Agrarian matters, slavery, forced labor, famine relief | 476 |
Conditions at the end of the Former Han dynasty. Wang Mang changes titles and arouses resentment. Armies mobilized. Land and slaves not to be bought or sold. The order rescinded. The people suffer. His excuse. |
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Part B. Currency, monopolies, taxation | 482 |
Four denominations of money. Six kinds of money: cash, gold, silver, tortoise shells, cowries, spade-money. Penalties for using other coins. All but two denominations rescinded |
482 |
The Five Equalizations. The Yamen for Money. Unused land and idle people taxed. An income-tax on hunters, fishermen, sericulturalists, artisans, and professional men. Equalization of prices at the Five Markets. Government loans to the people. Liquor monopolized. The monopolies cause trouble. The edict fortifying them. Penalties for violation |
493 |
Two denominations of money. Penalties make the people suffer. Counterfeiters enslaved to the mint. A great levy and taxation. Private illicit taxation. Banditry. Depopulation |
500 |
Appendix II. Wang Mang's Economic Reforms | 506 |
Wang Mang's reasons for making these changes | 506 |
Currency reforms and nationalization of gold. Effects of the nationalization of gold. An unprecedented stock of gold. Effects of monetary depreciation |
507 |
Land tenure: the ching system. The nationalization of land. Slavery restricted. The nature of Chinese slavery. Reasons for the repeal of his enactment against slavery. Effects of the ching system. Reasons for the repeal of his agrarian measures |
519 |
The six monopolies. Salt and iron. Fermented liquor. Coinage. Products of the mountains and marshes. Their economic effects. The new taxes |
526 |
The Five Equalizations. Earlier attempts to stabilize the prices of staples. The nature of Wang Mang's enactment. Effects of the speculation in goods. Effects of government loans to the people. |
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Summary | 530 |
Appendix III. The Kang-mao Amulets | 537 |
Appendix IV. Eclipses During the Rule of Wang Mang | 544 |
Appendix V. Solar Eclipses During the Former Han Period | 546 |
![]() | The history of the former Han dynasty | ![]() |