Overview
Emperor Cheng was an emperor of Western Han.
IdentityHistorical · Male
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- Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled
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Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 12 passages
後上朝東宮，太后泣曰：「帝間顏色瘦黑，班侍中本大將軍所舉，宜寵異之，益求其比，以輔聖德。
Later, when the emperor came to court at the Eastern Palace, the Empress Dowager wept and said, "The emperor's complexion has lately grown thin and dark. Palace Attendant Ban was first recommended by the Grand General; he should receive exceptional favor. Seek out more men like him, so they may support your sagely virtue.
上曰：「諾。」
The emperor said, "Yes."
車騎將軍王音聞之，以風丞相御史奏富平侯罪過，上乃出放為邊都尉。
When General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Yin heard of this, he prompted the chancellor and the imperial counselor to memorialize the crimes of the Marquis of Fuping, Zhang Fang, and the emperor sent Fang out as a commandant on the frontier.
後復徵入，太后與上書曰：「前所道尚未效，富平侯反復來，其能默虖？」
Later, when he was summoned back again, the Empress Dowager wrote to the emperor, saying, "What I spoke of before has still not taken effect, and now the Marquis of Fuping has come back again. How can I remain silent?"
上謝曰：「請今奉詔。」
The emperor apologized and said, "From now on I shall obey the edict."
是時許商為少府，師丹為光祿勳，上於是引商、丹入為光祿大夫，伯遷水衡都尉，與兩師並侍中，皆秩中二千石。
At the time Xu Shang was Minister of the Lesser Treasury and Shi Dan was Chamberlain for Attendants. The emperor brought Shang and Dan into court as grand counselors of the household, promoted Ban Bo to chief commandant of waters and parks, and had him serve as Palace Attendant together with his two teachers; all held the salary rank of fully two thousand piculs.
每朝東宮，常從；
Ban Bo routinely escorted the emperor to the Dowager's audiences;
上亦稍厭游宴，復修經書之業，太后甚悅。
Cheng slowly lost his taste for pleasure trips and turned again to classical study, which delighted the Dowager.
每奏事，斿以選受詔進讀群書。
Whenever memorials reached the throne, Ban You was the reader the emperor picked to intone the palace collection.
上器其能，賜以祕書之副。
Cheng prized his skill enough to gift him facsimile sets of the rare books.
成帝季年，立定陶王為太子，數遣中盾請問近臣，穉獨不敢答。
Late in Cheng's reign, when the Prince of Dingtao was named heir, the heir's agents quizzed every intimate attendant, but Ban Zhi alone refused to reply.
初，成帝性寬，進入直言，是以王音、翟方進等繩法舉過，而劉向、杜鄴、王章、朱雲之徒肆意犯上，故自帝師安昌侯，諸舅大將軍兄弟及公卿大夫、後宮外屬史許之家有貴寵者，莫不被文傷詆。
Cheng's easy temper invited blunt speech, so ministers such as Wang Yin and Zhai Fangjin policed the law while scholars like Liu Xiang, Du Ye, Wang Zhang, and Zhu Yun flayed the throne; from the imperial tutor the marquis of Anchang through the Wang uncles and every powerful consort kin of the Shi and Xu lines, no favorite escaped their written attacks.