Homer H. Dubs, Shaw Professor of Chinese

Emperor Hsiao-hui was the Heir-apparent of [Emperor] Kao-tsu. His mother was called the Empress [née] Lü. When Emperor [Hsiao-hui] was in his fifth year, Kao-tsu first became King of Han(s). In [Kao-tsu's] second year [the future Emperor Hsiao-hui] was established as Heir-apparent; in the twelfth year, the fourth month, Kao-tsu died.

In the fifth month, on [the day] ping-yin (3), the Heir-apparent took the imperial throne. He honored the Empress, entitling her, the Empress Dowager. He granted to the common people one step in noble rank (4). The Gentlemen-of-the-Household and the Gentlemen-of-the-Palace [who had served] six full years [were granted] three steps in noble rank; [those who had served] four years [were granted] two steps. The Gentlemen-outside-the-Household [who had served] six full years [were granted] two steps. Gentlemen-of-the-Household who had not [served] a full year [were granted] one step. Gentlemen-outside-the-Household who had not [served] two full years were granted ten thousand cash. 5 Enunchs 6 and Masters of the Food [were treated] the same as Gentlemen-of-the-Palace. 7 Palace Internuncios, Guards, Spear-bearers, Men of War, and Grooms [were treated] the same as Gentlemen-outside-the-Household. The Heir-apparent's [Chariot-]driver and his Chariot-companion were granted the aristocratic rank of Fifth [Rank] Grandee; the members of his suite [who had served] five full years were given two steps. There were granted to those who had provided for the [imperial] burial ceremonies and [had positions ranking as] two thousand piculs, twenty thousand cash; [to those who had positions ranking as] six hundred piculs and over, ten thousand [cash]; to [those who had positions ranking as] five hundred piculs, two hundred piculs, and under, [down] to the Accessory Officials, five thousand [cash]. Of those who had superintended digging [the late Emperor's] grave, 8 the generals [were granted the equivalent 9 of] forty [catties] of gold, [those who had the rank of] two thousand piculs [were granted the equivalent of] twenty [catties of] gold, [those who had the rank of] six hundred piculs and above [were granted the equivalent of] six [catties of] gold, those [who had the rank of] five hundred piculs and less, down to the Accessory Officials [were granted the equivalent of] two [catties of] gold.

4. At the accession of an emperor, favors were generously bestowed. This was not the first time, as Shen Ch'in-han thought, that aristocratic ranks were given to the common people, for they had previously been bestowed in 206 B.C. Cf. 1A: 30b. These ranks were probably awarded to the heads of families. In 262 B.C., when Chao Shêng received his territory, according to the Chan-kuo Ts`e (iii cent. B.C.), section on Chao, chap. 21, he granted to all the officials an increase of three steps in rank and to the common people who could gather together, to each family he granted six catties of gold. (But SC 43: 35a, in repeating this story, tells that he granted to the officials and people three steps in rank and to the officials and people who were able to maintain peace among themselves six catties of gold. Cf. Mh V, 118.) Kao-tsu had given to all his soldiers at least the fifth rank (cf. 1B: 5a). The first rank was Official Patrician 公士, cf. Mh II, 528, 1°; Duyvendak, Book of Lord Shang, p. 62.

5. Very possibly the edict went on to award proportionate advancements in rank for other periods of service. At this time, according to this edict, 10,000 cash is counted as worth less than one step in rank, whereas in 18 B.C. a step in rank could be purchased for 1000 cash. Cf. HS 10: 10a.

9. Mr. Cheng (fl. dur. 265-317) says 四十金 that 四十斤金 means . Cf. p. 111, n. 3. Chin Shao (fl. ca. 275) remarks, "This speaks of . . . the equivalent of gold. In later [passages], whenever it says huang-chin 黃金, [it means] actual gold. When it does not say huang, it means cash. HS ch. 24 says that a catty of actual gold was worth 10,000 cash." Then a gift of huang-chin means actual gold, whereas a gift of chin means so many times 10,000 cash. Yen Shih-ku (581-645) agrees with the foregoing interpretation, but Liu Pin (10221088) says, "I say that whenever any book says so much chin, one chin is 10,000 cash; when there is [made] a grant of so many catties of chin, it is entirely of [actual] gold." We have adopted the earlier interpretation.