University of Virginia Library

Ho Kuang's lightening of the people's burdens

Although Ho Kuang spent almost all of his life, from his teens on, at
the court, first as Palace Attendant and finally as the actual ruler, he
came from the common people and knew their sufferings. He had been
trained by Emperor Wu and continued that Emperor's type of government.
But the impoverished and depopulated condition of the country
caused him, at the suggestion of Tu Yen-niena, to make one change after
another, each in the direction of returning to the practises customary
before the time of Emperor Wu, so that the collapse of the country, which
must have been impending, was averted and recuperation was possible.

The economic reforms of Ho Kuang covered a wide range. Loans
were made to poor people, payment of which was remitted; taxes
were remitted in bad years; payment of taxes in kind was permitted
when the price of grain became low. The forced contribution of horses
was stopped. Unnecessary commanderies, unnecessary government

offices, and unnecessary services required from the people were abolished.
The amount of grain transported to the capital was decreased; imperial
lands were distributed to the people. The poll-tax on children was
lightened. Most remarkable of all was the debate held in 81 B.C. when
outstanding persons from various parts of the empire were recommended
for office and sent to the capital. In their civil service examination,
they were asked about what the people suffered from and what the
government should do, and all replied that the government monopoly of
salt and iron, the monopoly of fermented liquors, and the bureau of
equalization and standards (through which the government speculated
in goods) should be abolished and the government should set an example
of economy (24 B: 20b). The Grandee Secretary, Sang Hung-yang,
who had previously established these monopolies, replied to their criticisms
in a series of court discussions. A generation later Huan K'uan
wrote a lively report of these discussions, the Discourses on Salt and Iron
(the name of the chief monopolies), which may very likely represent, to a
large extent, the principal arguments actually used, although his account
makes much of literary effects. The monopolies on salt and iron were
too productive of revenue to be eliminated, but the monopoly on fermented
liquor was abolished and brewing was permitted to private
persons upon the payment of a tax.