1
孝惠皇帝，高祖太子也，母曰呂皇后。 帝年五歲，高祖初為漢王。 二年，立為太子。 十二年四月，高祖崩。 五月丙寅，太子即皇帝位，尊皇后曰皇太后。 賜民爵一級。 中郎、郎中滿六歲爵三級，四歲二級。 外郎滿六歲二級。 中郎不滿一歲一級。 外郎不滿二歲賜錢萬。 宦官尚食比郎中。 謁者、執楯、執戟、武士、騶比外郎。 太子御驂乘賜爵五大夫，舍人滿五歲二級。 賜給喪事者，二千石錢二萬，六百石以上萬，五百石、二百石以下至佐史五千。 視作斥上者，將軍四十金，二千石二十金，六百石以上六金，五百石以下至佐史二金。 減田租，復十五稅一。 爵五大夫、吏六百石以上及宦皇帝而知名者有罪當盜械者，皆頌繫。 上造以上及內外公孫耳孫有罪當刑及當為城旦舂者，皆耐為鬼薪白粲。 民年七十以上若不滿十歲有罪當刑者，皆完之。 又曰：「吏所以治民也，能盡其治則民賴之，故重其祿，所以為民也。 今吏六百石以上父母妻子與同居，及故吏嘗佩將軍都尉印將兵及佩二千石官印者，家唯給軍賦，他無有所與。
Emperor Hui was Gaozu's crown prince. His mother was Empress Lü. The emperor was five years old when Gaozu first became King of Han. In the second year, he was established as crown prince. In the twelfth year, fourth month, Gaozu passed away. In the fifth month on the day bingyin, the crown prince ascended the imperial throne. He honored the empress as empress dowager. He granted the people one rank each. Attendants-in-ordinary and palace gentlemen who completed six years received three ranks, four years received two ranks. Outer gentlemen who completed six years received two ranks. Attendants-in-ordinary who did not complete one year received one rank. Outer gentlemen who did not complete two years were granted ten thousand cash. Eunuchs and food officials ranked equal to palace gentlemen. Usher attendants, shield bearers, halberd bearers, warriors, and grooms ranked equal to outer gentlemen. The crown prince's carriage attendants were granted the rank of Grand Master, retainers who completed five years received two ranks. Those assigned to provide for the funeral rites were granted cash by rank: officials at two thousand bushels received twenty thousand coins, those at six hundred bushels or above received ten thousand, and those from five hundred or two hundred bushels down to assistant clerks received five thousand. For those who supervised the construction work and reported upward, generals received forty units of gold, two-thousand-bushel officials received twenty, those at six hundred bushels or above received six, and those from five hundred bushels down to assistant clerks received two. He reduced land taxes, restoring the fifteen percent tax. Holders of the noble rank of Fifth Grandee, officials at six hundred bushels or above, and named palace attendants who served the emperor, if guilty of crimes that would ordinarily require fettered custody, were all to be held under privileged restraint instead. Those ranked Upper Maker or above, together with imperial grandsons and more distant descendants of both inner and outer branches, if guilty of crimes calling for corporal punishment or labor as wall-builders and grain-pounders, were all to have their sentences commuted to the shaved-head labor penalties of ghost-firewood gatherer or white-grain pounder. People aged seventy and above or below ten who had crimes deserving punishment were all spared. He also said, "Officials are appointed to govern the people. If they perform that work fully, the people depend on them; therefore their stipends are made generous, and this too is for the people's sake. Now, for officials of six hundred bushels or above whose parents, wives, and children live with them, and for former officials who once bore the seals of generals or commandants and led troops, or bore the seals of two-thousand-bushel offices, their households shall provide only the military levy and shall not be charged with anything else.
2
令郡諸侯王立高廟。
He commanded the commanderies and feudal lords to establish high temples.
3
元年冬十二月，趙隱王如意薨。 民有罪，得買爵三十級以免死罪。 賜民爵，戶一級。
In the first year, winter, twelfth month, King Yin of Zhao Ruyi passed away. People who had crimes could purchase thirty ranks to be exempted from death penalty. He granted the people ranks, one rank per household.
4
六年冬十月辛丑，齊王肥薨。
In winter, in the tenth month of the sixth year, on xinchou, King Fei of Qi died.
5
春正月，城長安。
In spring, first month, he walled Chang'an.
6
二年冬十月，齊悼惠王來朝，獻城陽郡以益魯元公主邑，尊公主為太后。
In the second year, in winter, in the tenth month, King Daohui of Qi came to court and presented Chengyang Commandery to enlarge the fief of Princess Yuan of Lu, honoring the princess as queen dowager.
7
春正月癸酉，有兩龍見蘭陵家人井中，乙亥夕而不見。 隴西地震。
In spring, first month, on the day guiyou, two dragons appeared in a Lanling commoner's well. On the day yihai evening they disappeared. Longxi had an earthquake.
8
夏旱。 郃陽侯仲薨。 秋七月辛未，相國何薨。
Summer drought. Marquis Zhong of Heyang passed away. In autumn, seventh month, on the day xinhai, Chancellor He passed away.
9
三年春，發長安六百里內男女十四萬六千人城長安，三十日罷。
In the third year, in spring, he mobilized 146,000 men and women from within six hundred li of Chang'an to build the city walls. The work was halted after thirty days.
10
以宗室女為公主，嫁匈奴單于。
He made a princess from the imperial clan and married her to the Xiongnu Chanyu.
11
夏五月，立閩越君搖為東海王。
In summer, fifth month, he established Lord Yao of Minyue as King of Donghai.
12
六月，發諸侯王、列侯徒隸二萬人城長安。
In the sixth month, he mobilized 20,000 convict laborers from the feudal lords and marquises to wall Chang'an.
13
秋七月，都廄災。 南越王趙佗稱臣奉貢。
In autumn, seventh month, the imperial stables suffered disaster. King Zhao Tuo of Nanyue called himself subject and presented tribute.
14
四年冬十月壬寅，立皇后張氏。
In the fourth year, winter, tenth month, on the day renyin, he established Empress Zhang.
15
春正月，舉民孝弟力田者復其身。
In spring, first month, he selected filial, fraternal, and diligent farmers among the people and exempted them.
16
三月甲子，皇帝冠，赦天下。 省法令妨吏民者； 除挾書律。 長樂宮鴻臺災。 宜陽雨血。
In the third month on the day jiashen, the emperor was capped. He pardoned the world. He reduced laws and commands that hindered officials and people. He abolished the law against possessing books. Changlegong's Hongtai suffered disaster. Yiyang rained blood.
17
秋七月乙亥，未央宮凌室災； 丙子，織室災。
In autumn, seventh month, on the day yihai, Weiyang Palace's ice room suffered disaster. On the day bingzi, the weaving room suffered disaster.
18
五年冬十月，剨； 桃李華，棗實。
In the fifth year, winter, tenth month, it frosted. Peach and plum trees flowered, dates bore fruit.
19
春正月，復發長安六百里內男女十四萬五千人城長安，三十日罷。
In spring, in the first month, he again mobilized 145,000 men and women from within six hundred li of Chang'an to build the city walls. The work was halted after thirty days.
20
夏，大旱。
Summer great drought.
21
秋八月己丑，相國參薨。
In autumn, eighth month, on the day jichou, Chancellor Shen passed away.
22
九月，長安城成。 賜民爵，戶一級。
In the ninth month, Chang'an's city walls were completed. He granted the people ranks, one rank per household.
23
令民得賣爵。 女子年十五以上至三十不嫁，五算。
He commanded the people to be allowed to sell ranks. Women aged fifteen and above to thirty who did not marry were assessed five shares.
24
夏六月，舞陽侯噲薨。
In summer, sixth month, Marquis Kuai of Wuyang passed away.
25
起長安西巿，修敖倉。
He built Chang'an's western market and repaired the Ao granary.
26
七年冬十月，發車騎、材官詣滎陽，太尉灌嬰將。
In the seventh year, winter, tenth month, he dispatched chariots, cavalry, and foresters to Xingyang. Grand marshal Guan Ying led them.
27
春正月辛丑朔，日有蝕之。 夏五月丁卯，日有蝕之，既。
In spring, first month, on the day xinchou, new moon, the sun was eclipsed. In summer, fifth month, on the day dingmao, the sun was eclipsed, completely.
28
秋八月戊寅，帝崩于未央宮。 九月辛丑，葬安陵。
In autumn, eighth month, on the day wuyin, the emperor passed away in Weiyang Palace. In the ninth month, on the day xinchou, he was buried at Anling.
29
贊曰：孝惠內修親親，外禮宰相，優寵齊悼、趙隱，恩敬篤矣。 聞叔孫通之諫則懼然，納曹相國之對而心說，可謂寬仁之主。 遭呂太后虧損至德，悲夫！」
The appraisal says: Emperor Hui cultivated affection for his kin at home and showed ritual respect to the chancellor abroad. His favor toward King Dao of Qi and King Yin of Zhao was generous, and his kindness and respect were deeply sincere. When he heard Shusun Tong's admonition he was fearful, when he accepted Chancellor Cao's response his heart was pleased. He can be called a lenient and benevolent ruler. He encountered Empress Lü who damaged his perfect virtue. How sad!”