Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Xuan of Han 漢宣帝

Attested BC 74 - BC 49

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Xuan of Han was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Xiaoxuan	孝宣

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 74 to BC 49 宣帝
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 25

Assessments and attributes

Assessment astute and upright; realm called well ordered · Mode named-source-report Speaker Liang Tong (梁統)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 39, passage 25

References in the histories

Book of Later Han, Chapter 39Volume 34: Biography of Liang Tong · 3 passages

宣帝聰明正直，總禦海內，臣下奉憲，無所失墜，因循先典，天下稱理。 Emperor Xuan was astute and upright: officials obeyed the code, precedent held, and the realm was deemed well governed.

竊謂高帝以後，至乎孝宣，其所施行，多合經傳，宜比方今事，驗之往古，聿遵前典，事無難改，不勝至願。 From Gaozu through Xuandi the code matched the classics; compare present cases to antiquity, restore sound precedent—such reform is no great hurdle and would fulfill my deepest hope.

自高祖之興，至於孝宣，君明臣忠，謨謀深博，猶因循舊章，不輕改革，海內稱理，斷獄益少。 From Gaozu to Xuandi, wise rulers and loyal ministers kept established law and seldom altered it—the realm was deemed orderly and lawsuits dwindled.