Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Wen of Han 漢文帝

Attested BC 180 - BC 157

Passages: 2
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Wen of Han was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 180 to BC 157 文帝
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 23

Events and relationships

Invoked as merit standard surpassed by Guangwu
Rhetorical comparison · Exemplar · Mode quotation Speaker Liang Tong (梁統)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 28
Removed mutilating punishments and linked guilt laws
Legal · Ruler · Mode named-source-report Speaker Liang Tong (梁統)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 23

References in the histories

Book of Later Han, Chapter 39Volume 34: Biography of Liang Tong · 2 passages

文帝寬惠柔克，遭世康平，惟除省肉刑、相坐之法，它皆率由，無革舊章。 Emperor Wen ruled gently in tranquil times, trimming only the mutilating punishments and clan liability—otherwise he followed Han precedent untouched.

伏惟陛下包元履德，權時撥亂，功逾文、武，德侔高皇，誠不宜因循季末衰微之軌。 Your Majesty embraces primal virtue and has acted as the times required to restore order; your achievements surpass those of Kings Wen and Wu, and your virtue matches that of the Exalted Emperor. You truly should not follow the declining precedents of the dynasty's final years.