Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Cheng 成帝

Chengdi

Attested BC 33 - BC 7

Passages: 14
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Cheng was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 33 元帝晚節
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 280
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passages 121, 164
BC 33 成帝初即位
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 281

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Wang Gen (王根)
emperor's maternal uncle 帝舅 · maternal line
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 136
Child of Empress Dowager (太后)
empress dowager 太后 · maternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 105, passage 136

Career and standing

BC 33 成帝初即位
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 281

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Attested in
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 281

Works and attributed material

BC 16 趙皇后得立
Edict · Author · With Chunyu Chang (淳于長) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passages 124-126

Events and relationships

Ordered investigation
Legal · Authority
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 152
Shared bedchamber and incognito outings
Personal · Companion · With Zhang Fang (張放)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 164
Sought to install as empress
BC 16 趙皇后得立 · Ritual · Sovereign · With Zhao Feiyan (趙)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 122
Relation Successor of · Person Emperor Yuan (元帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 281

Assessments and attributes

Assessment praised Chang's devotion · With Chunyu Chang (淳于長) · Mode named-person-judgment Speaker Emperor Cheng (成帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 121

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 280

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 14 passages

元帝晚節寢疾，定陶恭王愛幸，顯擁祐太子頗有力。 Late in Yuan's reign the emperor fell ill; King Gong of Dingtao was beloved and favored, and Shi Xian's backing of the crown prince carried real weight.

元帝崩，成帝初即位，遷顯為長信中太僕，秩中二千石。 After Yuan died and Chengdi took the throne, Shi Xian was transferred to Director of Palace Servants at Changxin Palace, rank fully two thousand shi.

鳳且終，以長屬托太后及帝。 On his deathbed Wang Feng commended Chang to the empress dowager and the emperor.

帝嘉長義，拜為列校尉諸曹，遷水衡都尉侍中，至衛尉九卿。 Chengdi praised his loyalty, moved him through column commandant posts to chief commandant of waters and forests and palace attendant, then to defender of the capital.

久之，趙飛燕貴幸，上欲立以為皇后，太后以其所出微，難之。 When Zhao Feiyan rose high enough to aim at the empress's throne, the empress dowager balked at her low birth.

歲餘，趙皇后得立，上甚德之，乃追顯長前功，下詔曰：「前將作大匠解萬年奏請營作昌陵，罷弊海內，侍中衛尉長數白宜止徙家反故處，朕以長言下公卿，議者皆合長計。 More than a year later Empress Zhao was installed, and the emperor, deeply grateful, recalled Chunyu Chang's earlier service. He issued an edict: "Former Director of Works Xie Wannian memorialized requesting construction at Changling, exhausting the empire. Palace Attendant and Defender of the Capital Chunyu Chang repeatedly stated that the work should stop and that relocated households should be returned to their former homes. I referred Chang's words to the dukes and ministers, and all who deliberated agreed with his plan.

長受許后金錢乘輿服御物前後千餘萬，詐許為白上，立以為左皇后。 Chang pocketed more than ten million in coin, carriages, and wardrobe from her, promised to plead her case, and swore he would make her a "left empress."

是時，帝舅曲陽侯王根為大司馬票騎將軍，輔政數歲，久病，數乞骸骨。 The emperor's uncle Wang Gen, marquis of Quyang, had served as regent grand marshal and general of agile cavalry for years; chronic illness drove him to ask for retirement.

往白之帝！」 Tell the emperor immediately."

莽白上，上乃免長官，遣就國。 Mang carried the word to Chengdi, who stripped Chang of his posts and ordered him to his fief.

上知之。 The emperor knew the bad blood.

於是天子疑焉，下有司案驗。 The arrangement struck Chengdi as wrong; he handed the matter to the judiciary.

上愈疑其有大奸，遂逮長系洛陽詔獄窮治。 That only deepened the emperor's suspicion of a vast conspiracy; Chang was jailed under imperial warrant at Luoyang and interrogated without mercy.

放常與上臥起，俱為微行出入。 Zhang Fang shared the emperor's bedchamber and roamed the city incognito at his side.