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Chapter XI. The Annals of Emperor Hsiao-ai. 
Introduction to the Chapter 
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. 
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? 
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. 
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. 
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 
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.
 
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. 
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. 
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