han7
漢
THE MARTIAL EMPEROR WU
141 – 87 Hàn Shìzōng Xiào Wǔ-huángdì Liú Chè (漢 世宗 孝 武皇帝 劉 徹), Seventh Emperor of Han, the Martial Emperor. Born in 157, he was King of Jiāodōng from 153 until 150, when, thanks to the machinations of his mother he became Imperial Heir. He became Emperor in 141, and enjoyed a reign of nearly sixty years, one of the longest reigns in Chinese history. China, apparently, did not enjoy this reign as much as he did. Reportedly, he was cruel, reintroducing violent punishments which had allegedly been abolished earlier. He was regularly fooled by charlatans claiming spiritual powers, repeatedly spending enormous sums in the hope of gaining enormous wealth, immortality or the resurrection of dead favourites. He also invested enormous effort in order to perform the legendary Feng and Shan sacrifices, which supposedly would ensure great prosperity for the Empire (if only someone could remember how they were performed). Wǔdì expended enormous amounts of money and time travelling around the realm attempting to do so. The picture that emerges is of a vain, foolish, despot, who was easily manipulated by those around him. Or at least, that is how Sīmǎ Qiān, the Grand Historian, related it - He had been Wǔdì's Chancellor, but was castrated and reduced to a palace slave as the result of an intrigue, and he bore a fierce grudge against the Emperor who had failed to save him.
Wǔdì followed a more aggressive foreign policy than his predecessors, launching a campaign against Nan Yue (in southwest China & the north of modern Vietnam) in 112, Korea in the northeast, several against the Xiongnu in the north, particularly in 127 and 119, and against the Dayuan in the northwest after 121. These last led to the establishment of a string of Chinese forts stretching across the desert all the way to modern Tajikistan. Having pacified the foreigners somewhat, China was also able to send merchants on distant journeys, founding the famous Silk Road, which allowed overland trade with Persia, the Middle East and Europe. Internal policy was also much more aggressive than previously; the feudal kingdoms which had been essentially independent under his predecessors now found themselves much more tightly controlled. No less than twelve of the kingdoms were abolished in his reign, and most of the rest received territorial reductions. Marquises were given the power to divide their lands between their children; causing them to gradually reduce their own influence. He also actively worked to centralise power, by standardising the Chinese state, establishing government control over the minting of coins, the production of iron and salt, and the cost of produce at market. As he grew older he grew increasingly suspicious of his subjects and relatives, but also increasingly disinterested in government, turning authority over to chancellors and officials, who happily exploited his suspicions for their own gain. This culminated in 91, when his son, the Imperial Heir, and others were implicated in a witchcraft plot, which lead to pitched battle on the streets of Cháng'ān, the Capital, between forces of the Emperor and forces of the Heir. Ultimately his Heir was executed and the succession was left unclear. Two days before his death he nominated his youngest, still infant, son as Heir. He died in 87, and was buried at Maoling, northwest of Cháng'ān. He left the realm twice the size he had found it, but also nearly bankrupt from his military and religious expenses. Perhaps his ultimate legacy was the definitive selection of Confucianism as the Chinese state ideology. He eventually received the posthumous title of Shìzōng (世宗), Patriarch of the Era
He married (first) his cousin, Chén-huánghòu Ājiāo (陳皇后 阿嬌), daughter of Chén-zhánggōngzhǔ Liú Piáo (陳長公主 劉 嫖), herself daughter of Wén-dì Liú Héng (文帝 劉 恆), Fifth Emperor of Han (see above). She was declared Empress in 141, but was arrogant, scheming and employed black magic to try and bear a child. As a result she was therefore dismissed in 130.
He married (second), Sī-huánghòu Wèi Zǐfū (思皇后 衛 子夫), originally a singer in the household of the Emperor’s eldest sister, the Emperor took her into his household and made her Empress in 128. In 90 she was involved in the Wugu witchcraft case/purge and committed suicide.
He took as a concubine (first) Wáng-fūrén (王夫人).
He took as a concubine (second) Lǐ-jī (李姬).
He took as a concubine (third) Xiàowǔ-huánghòu Lǐ (孝武皇后 李), sister of Hǎixī-hóu Lǐ Guǎnglì (海西侯 李 廣利), Marquis of Hǎixī. the Chinese General who had conquered much of Central Asia, and had repeatedly defeated the Xiongnu in battle; she was a singer with whom the Emperor was deeply in love. She died before 122, and the Emperor was distraught, lavishing riches on a charlatan who claimed to be able to cause her spirit to appear, she was posthumously given the title of Empress in 85.
He took as a concubine (fourth) Gōuyì-fūrén Zhào-jiéyú (鉤弋夫人 趙婕妤), whom the Emperor favoured because strange portents surrounded her; she was later sent away for a small crime and died of grief, posthumously raised to Empress Dowager in 87.
He took as a concubine (fifth) Xìng-fūrén Yǐn-jiéyú (幸夫人 尹婕妤), a singer.
He took as a concubine (sixth) Xíng-fūrén Xíngé (邢夫人 娙娥), usually known as Xínghé (娙何).
1) Lì-tàizǐ Liú Jù (戾太子 劉 據), Crown Prince Lì (son of Wèi). He was made Imperial Heir in 122. However, he quarrelled with Jiāng Chōng (江 充), one of father's favourites and, in 91, Chōng implicated him in a witchcraft plot while his father was absent from the capital. Lì tried to have Chōng killed, and the Capital collapsed into anarchy. The Emperor was unwilling to act personally, so the Chancellor invaded the Capital to restore order. After days of confused fighting the Crown Prince fled into the countryside. Discovered, he attempted to commit suicide, was prevented, but died in subsequent fighting. No new Heir was appointed until just before Wǔdì’s death in 87. He married Shǐ-liángdì (史良娣), who was executed in 80. He had issue:
a) Huángcéngzǔ Dào Liú Jìn (皇曾祖 悼 劉 進) (son of Shǐ). Born in 113, he was titled in life, Shǐ-huángsūn (史皇孫). He married Shǐ-huángsūn-fūrén Wáng Wēngxū (史皇孫夫人 王 翁須), who had been trained as a dancer and sold into his household. She was posthumously titled Dào-hòu (悼后). Both died in 80, but had issue:
i) Hàn Xiào Xuān-huángdì Liú Bìngyǐ (漢 孝 宣皇帝 劉 病已), Tenth Emperor of Han (son of Wáng) (see below).
2) Qí Huái-wáng Liú Hóng (齊 懷王 劉 閎), King of Qí (son of Wang). He was made king in 117, at his sick mother’s request, and died in 113. As he was childless, his kingdom was abolished.
3) Yàn La-wáng Liú Dàn (燕 剌王 劉 旦), King of Yàn (son of Lǐ-jī). He became king in 117. After the deaths of his older brothers he began to consider himself heir to the throne. His father Wǔdì strongly opposed this, and reduced the size of his kingdom as punishment in 91. Nevertheless Dàn still expected to receive the Imperial throne & was deeply angered when, in 87, it went instead to his youngest brother, Zhāodì, who was still a child. In 86, therefore, he attempted a coup, which failed. In 80 he planned a revolt in conjunction with that of the Zhāodì’s elder sister and in-laws, but his plans were leaked before he was ready and he was frightened into inaction by a variety of strange portents. He committed suicide, and his kingdom was abolished.
He married Wáng Wénxìn-gōngzhǔ (王 文信 公主). He took as a concubine Huarong-furen ().
a) Guǎngyáng Qǐng-wáng Liú Jiàn (廣陽 頃王 劉 建), King of Guǎngyáng (son of Wénxìn). He was demoted to commoner for his involvement in his father’s revolt, but in 73 he was pardoned and made King of Guǎngyáng. He died in 44, but had issue:
i) Guǎngyáng Sī-wáng Liú Huáng (廣陽 思王 劉 璜), King of Guǎngyáng. He became king in 23 and died in 3 BC. He had issue:
(1) Guǎngyáng-gōng Liú Jiā (廣陽公 劉 嘉), Duke of Guǎngyáng. He became King of Guǎngyáng in 3 BC, but was demoted to Duke in AD 9 by Wang Mang, who was in the process of seizing power from the Han Dynasty.
(2) Fāngxiāng-hóu Liú Chángdé (方鄉侯 劉 常得), Marquis of Fāngxiāng. He became Marquis in 8 BC and was demoted to commoner by the usurper Wang Mang in AD 9.
(3) Dāngyáng-hóu Liú Yì (當陽侯 劉 益), Marquis of Dāngyáng from AD 2 until he was demoted to commoner by the usurper Wang Mang in AD 9.
(4) Guǎngchéng-hóu Liú Jié (廣城侯 劉 疌), Marquis of Guǎngchéng from AD until he was demoted to commoner by the usurper Wang Mang in AD 9.
ii) Línxiāng Qǐng-hóu Liú Yún (臨鄉 頃侯 劉 雲), Marquis of Línxiāng from 44 until his death. He had issue:
(1) Línxiāng-hóu Liú Jiāo (臨鄉侯 劉 交), Marquis of Línxiāng. He was demoted to commoner at an unknown date.
iii) Xīxiāng Qǐng-hóu Liú Róng (西鄉 頃侯 劉 容), Marquis of Xīxiāng from 48 until his death. He had issue:
(1) Xīxiāng-hóu Liú Jǐng (西鄉侯 劉 景), Marquis of Xīxiāng. He was demoted to commoner at an unknown date.
iv) Yángxiāng Sī-hóu Liú Fā (陽 鄉 思 侯劉 發), Marquis of Yángxiāng. He was Marquis from 44 until his death. He had issue:
(1) Yángxiāng-hóu Liú Dù (陽 鄉侯劉度), Marquis of Yángxiāng.
v) Yìchāng Qǐng-hóu Liú Yīng (益昌 頃侯 劉 嬰), Marquis of Yìchāng from 41 until his death. He had issue:
(1) Yìchāng Gòng-hóu Liú Zhèng (益昌 共侯 劉 政), Marquis of Yìchāng. He had issue:
(a) Yìchāng-hóu Liú Fú (益昌侯 劉 福), Marquis of Yìchāng.
b) Āndìng Lì-hóu Liú Xián (安定 戾侯 劉 賢), Marquis of Āndìng. He was Marquis from 73 until his death. He had issue:
i) Āndìng Qǐng-hóu Liú Yánnián (安定 頃侯 劉 延年), Marquis of Āndìng. He had issue:
(1) Āndìng-hóu Liú Yù (安定侯 劉 昱), Marquis of Āndìng.
c) Xīnchāng Jié-hóu Liú Qìng (新昌 節侯 劉 慶), Marquis of Xīnchāng. He was Marquis from 70 until his death.
i) Xīnchāng Qǐng-hóu Liú Chèn (新昌 頃侯 劉 稱), Marquis of Xīnchāng. He had issue:
(1) Xīnchāng Āi-hóu Liú Wèiyāng (新昌 哀侯 劉 未央), Marquis of Xīnchāng. He died childless and his Marquisate was abolished.
(2) Xīnchāng Lí-hóu Liú Niǎoyǐ (新昌 釐侯 劉 嫋以), Marquis of Xīnchāng. The Marquisate was restored for him to fill in 12 BC. He had issue:
(a) Xīnchāng-hóu Liú Jìn (新昌侯 劉 晉), Marquis of Xīnchāng.
4) Guǎnglíng Lì-wáng Liú Xū (廣陵 厲王 劉 胥), King of Guǎnglíng (son of Lǐ-jī). He became king in 117. He felt he had a better claim to the Imperial throne than Zhaodi, the Eighth Emperor, and Xuāndì, the Tenth, and was involved in vague conspiracies and witchcraft directed against both, in the hope of becoming Emperor instead. He was several times pardoned, but in 54, yet another scheme was discovered, and he committed suicide and his kingdom was abolished. He took as a concubine Zuǒxiū (左俢), who had an adulterous relationship with her stepson. He had issue:
a) Guǎnglíng Xiào-wáng Liú Bà (廣陵 孝王 劉 霸), King of Guǎnglíng. He became king of the revived Kingdom of Guǎnglíng in 47 and died in 34. He had issue:
i) Guǎnglíng Gòng-wáng Liú Yì (廣陵 共王 劉 意), King of Guǎnglíng. He became king in 34 and died in 31. He had issue:
(1) Guǎnglíng Āi-wáng Liú Hù (廣陵 哀王 劉 護), King of Guǎnglíng. He became king in 31and died in 16. As he was childless his kingdom was abolished.
ii) Lánlíng Jié-hóu Liú Yí (蘭陵 節侯 劉 宜), Marquis of Lánlíng. He had issue:
(1) Lánlíng Gòng-hóu Liú Tán (蘭陵 共侯 劉 譚), Marquis of Lánlíng. He had issue:
(a) Lánlíng-hóu Liú Biànqiang (蘭陵侯 劉 便強), Marquis of Lánlíng. He was demoted to commoner for an unknown reason.
iii) Guǎngpíng Jié-hóu Liú Dé (廣平 節侯 劉 德), Marquis of Guǎngpíng. He became Marquis in 34. He might have had issue:
(1) Guǎngpíng-hóu Liú Dé (廣平侯 劉 德), Marquis of Guǎngpíng. He was supposedly demoted to commoner, but is probably a copyist’s error for his father.
iv) Guǎnglíng Jìng-wáng Liú Shǒu (廣陵 靖王 劉 守), King of Guǎnglíng. He became king of the restored kingdom of Guǎnglíng in 11 BC and died in AD 7. He had issue:
(1) Guǎnglíng-gōng Liú Hóng (廣陵公 劉 宏), Duke of Guǎnglíng. He became king in AD 7 but was shortly after demoted to Duke by Wang Mang, who was in the process of seizing power from the Han Dynasty. In AD 9 Wang Mang further demoted him to the rank of commoner.
(2) Fānglè-hóu Liú Jiā (方樂侯 劉 嘉), Marquis of Fānglè. Placement uncertain.
(3) Fāngchéng-hóu Liú Xuān (方城侯 劉 宣), Marquis of Fāngchéng. Placement highly uncertain.
b) Cháoyáng Huāng-hóu Liú Shèng (朝陽 荒侯 劉 聖), Marquis of Cháoyáng. He was Marquis from 73 until his death. He had issue:
i) Cháoyáng Sī-hóu Liú Guǎngdé (朝陽 思侯 劉 廣德), Marquis of Cháoyáng. He had issue:
(1) Cháoyáng-hóu Liú Ānguó (朝陽侯 劉 安國), Marquis of Cháoyáng. At some point he was demoted to commoner.
c) Píngqū Jié-hóu Liú Zēng (平曲 節侯 劉 曾), Marquis of Píngqū. He became Marquis in 73. In 54 he was demoted to commoner in the aftermath of his father’s final fall from grace and suicide. However, he was later restored to his Marquisate, and continued to hold the position until his death. He had issue:
i) Píngqū Lí-hóu Liú Lín (平曲 釐侯 劉 臨), Marquis of Píngqū. He had issue:
(1) Píngqū-hóu Liú Nóng (平曲侯 劉 農), Marquis of Píngqū.
d) Nánlì-hóu Liú Chāng (南利侯 劉 昌), Marquis of Nánlì. He was Marquis from 73 until 68, when he was demoted to commoner after being charged with murder.
e) Xiāngpíng-hóu Liú Xìn (襄平侯 劉 舋), Marquis of Xiāngpíng from 39 until AD 9 when he was demoted to commoner by the usurper Wang Mang.
f) Liú Bǎo (劉 寶). He was executed in the 50s for adultery with one of his father’s consorts.
g) Gāomì Āi-wáng Liú Hóng (高密 哀王 劉 弘), King of Gāomì. He became king in 73 and died in 65. He had issue:
i) Gāomì Qǐng-wáng Liú Zhāng (高密 頃王 劉 章), King of Gāomì. He became king in 65 and died in 31. He had issue:
(1) Gāomì Huái-wáng Liú Kuān (高密 懷王 劉 寬), King of Gāomì. He became king in 31 and died in 20. He had issue:
(a) Gāomì-gōng Liú Shèn (高密公 劉 慎), Duke of Gāomì. He became king in 20 and was demoted to Duke in AD 9 by Wang Mang, who was in the process of seizing power from the Han Dynasty.
(2) Bēiliáng-hóu Liú Dū (卑梁侯 劉 都), Marquis of Bēiliáng. He was Marquis from 32 until he was demoted to commoner by the usurper Wang Mang in AD 9.
(3) Jiāoyáng-hóu Liú Nín (膠陽侯 劉 恁), Marquis of Jiāoyáng. He was Marquis from 32 until he was demoted to commoner by the usurper Wang Mang in AD 9.
(4) Wǔxiāng-hóu Liú Qìng (武鄉侯 劉 慶), Marquis of Wǔxiāng from 31 until his death.
(a) Wǔxiāng-hóu Liú Jìng (武鄉侯 劉 勁), Marquis of Wǔxiāng. He was demoted to commoner at an unknown date.
(5) Chéngxiāng Lí-hóu Liú Ān (成鄉 釐侯 劉 安), Marquis of Chéngxiāng. He was Marquis from 31 until his death.
(a) Chéngxiāng-hóu Liú Dé (成鄉侯 劉 德), Marquis of Chéngxiāng. He was demoted to commoner at an unknown date.
(6) Lìzī Gòng-hóu Liú Cì (麗茲 共侯 劉 賜), Marquis of Lìzī. He was Marquis from 31 until his death. He had issue:
(a) Lìzī-hóu Liú Fàng (麗茲侯 劉 放), Marquis of Lìzī. He was demoted to commoner at an unknown date.
(7) Ānqiū-hóu Liú Cháng (安丘侯 劉 常), Marquis of Ānqiū. He became Marquis in 20 and was Superintendent of Ceremonial from 7 to 3 BC. In AD 9 the usurper Wang Mang demoted him to commoner.
ii) Jiāoxiāng Jìng-hóu Liú Hàn (膠鄉 敬侯 劉 漢), Marquis of Jiāoxiāng from 48 until his death. He had issue:
(1) Jiāoxiāng Jié-hóu Liú Chéng (膠鄉 節侯 劉 成), Marquis of Jiāoxiāng. He died childless in 21 BC.
a) a daughter, who married Zhào Héqí (趙 何齊) the brother of the queen of Chǔ-wáng Liú Yánshòu (楚王 劉 延壽), King of Chu (100-69) (see HAN 1).
b) Liú Dìxù (劉 地绪).
c) Liú Húshēng (劉 胡生).
5) Chāngyì Āi-Wáng Liú Bó (昌邑 哀王 劉 髆), King of Chāngyì (son of Xiàowǔ-huánghòu Lǐ). He became king in 97. He was briefly floated as a candidate to be Imperial Heir in 91, a suggestion that came to nothing and led to the death of the ministers who proposed it. He died in 86 but had issue:
a) Hǎihūn-hóu Liú He (海昏侯 劉 賀), Ninth Emperor of Han (see below).
a – d) Four daughters, who were granted small estates in 74.
6) Hàn Xiào Zhāo-huángdì Liú Fúlíng (漢 孝 昭皇帝 劉 弗陵), Eighth Emperor of Han (son of Zhào) (see below).
1). Zháng-gōngzhǔ (長公主) (daughter of Wèi). During her father’s reign, she was titled Èyì-gōngzhǔ (鄂邑公主). At her eight year old brother’s accession as Emperor Zhāodì, she was put in charge of the child Emperor’s well-being and promoted to Eldest Princess. For her efforts she was repeatedly rewarded with estates and treasure. However, she clashed with the Regent Huo Guang, and as the Emperor aged her influence declined. She married Kě-hóu (盍侯), Marquis of Kě, who died after being demoted to commoner in 112. She had an affair with Dīng Wàirén (丁 外人), a man of low status. She strove to secure a marquisate for him, so that she might marry him, but was repeatedly thwarted, and he was executed in 80. In 80 she launched a major rebellion, with the aid of the Shàngguān military family and her brother, the King of Yan. This was a failure and she was executed. She had issue:
a) Wáng Wénxìn (王 文信) (son of the Marquis of Kě), Marquis of Kě, was demoted to commoner in 80.
2) Dānglì-gōngzhǔ Liú Wèicháng (當利公主 劉 衛長) (daughter of Wèi). She married Lètōng-hóu Luán Dà (樂通侯 欒 大), a servant of the King of Jiaodong, possibly a eunuch, who claimed to have been educated in magic. He was introduced to Wǔdì, the Seventh Emperor, in 120, and told the Emperor that he could transmute gold, prevent the Huang He from flooding, make the Emperor immortal, and allow the Emperor to meet the gods. He was rapidly promoted through the court hierarchy to General of the Earthly Practitioners and in 113 additionally made Marquis of Lètōng. He failed to produce any results and was executed in 112.
3) Yíān-gōngzhǔ (夷安公主), who married Zhāopíng-jūn (昭平君), maternal grandson of Jǐngdì, the Sixth Emperor (see HAN 6).
4) Yángshí-gōngzhǔ (陽石公主), imprisoned for witchcraft and died in prison in 92 (daughter of Wèi).
5) Zhūyì-gōngzhǔ (諸邑公主), imprisoned for witchcraft and died in prison in 92 (daughter of Wèi).
?) A daughter of Wèi, possibly the same as one of the two above. She married Píngyáng Gòng-hóu Cáo Xiāng (平陽 共侯 曹 襄), Marquis of Píngyáng, son of Princess Píngyáng-zhánggōngzhǔ (平陽長公主), herself a daughter of Jǐngdì the Sixth Emperor of Han. She had issue (see HAN 6)
?) Chén Chǔfú (陳 楚服), she was executed for committing witchcraft on behalf of her mother (daughter of Chén).