Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Yuan 元帝

Yuán Dì

Attested BC 49 - BC 33

Passages: 55
Chapters: 14
Histories: 3

Overview

The translated histories identify Emperor Yuan as a ruler. This record brings together 55 passages from 14 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuán Dì
Title	crown prince	皇太子
Title	Emperor	帝
Temple	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuan di
Title	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuan Di
Regnal	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuan Di
Regnal name	Emperor Yuan	元帝
Personal	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuan Di
Posthumous	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuan Di
Regnal	Emperor Yuan	孝元帝	Yuan Di
Regnal	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuandi
Posthumous	Emperor Yuan	孝元	Xiàoyuán
Temple name	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuandi
Title	Emperor Yuan	元帝
Posthumous	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuándì
Temple	Emperor Yuan	元帝	Yuandi
Temple	Emperor Yuan of Han	漢元帝	Han Yuandi
Posthumous	Yuan	元	Yuán
Temple	Yuan	元	Yuan
Regnal	Yuan	元	Yuán
Posthumous	Yuan	元帝	Yuándì
Regnal	Yuan	元	Yuan
Title	Yuan	元
Temple name	Yuandi	元帝	Yuándì

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:011:s0302, hanshu:105:s0275, jiuwudaishi:145:s0099
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:070:s0263, hanshu:103:s0122, houhanshu:031:s0087, houhanshu:110:s0014, houhanshu:128:s0157
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:070:s0075, hanshu:105:s0008

Roles

Ruler

Life and dates

Death

Date: Text: 竟寧元年五月 · Resolved: false
Explicit · hanshu:011:s0313
Text: died before Emperor Cheng acceded
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0281

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 49 · End: BC 33
Explicit event contextual date · houhanshu:128:s0157
Source Date: Text: 元帝時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 48 · End: BC 33
Explicit event contextual date · houhanshu:031:s0087
Source Date: Text: 建武十九年 · Western Year: AD 43
Explicit event contextual date · houhanshu:110:s0014
Source Date: Text: 漢元帝時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 48 · End: BC 33
Explicit event contextual date · jiuwudaishi:145:s0099
Source Date: Text: 自元、成訖王莽 · Western Interval: Start: BC 48 · End: BC 33
Explicit · hanshu:103:s0122

Career and standing

Title: Crown Prince / 太子
Explicit · hanshu:011:s0303
Status: emperor · Label: Emperor Yuan / 元帝 · Action: held
Explicit · houhanshu:128:s0157
Title: Emperor · Date: Text: when Emperor Xiaocheng was three · Resolved: false
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:011:s0305
太子襲尊號，是為孝元帝
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0215

Places and affiliations

Polity: Han
Explicit · hanshu:027:s0275
Polity: Western Han / 漢 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:145:s0099

Events and relationships

Kind: administrative · Role: actor · Action: stripped-authority · Label: removed the credential baton from the colonel director of retainers / 元帝去節 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 49 · End: BC 33
Explicit · houhanshu:128:s0157
Type: father-of · Person: Emperor Xiaocheng (孝成皇帝)
Explicit · hanshu:011:s0302
Type: son · Person Local Id: Emperor Xuan (宣帝)
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0215

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · houhanshu:128:s0157

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 11Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng · 11 passages

孝成皇帝，元帝太子也。 Emperor Xiaocheng was Emperor Yuan's crown prince.

母曰王皇后，元帝在太子宮生甲觀畫堂，爲世嫡皇孫。 His mother was Empress Wang. He was born in the Painted Hall of the Jia Lodge while Emperor Yuan was still living in the Crown Prince's palace, and he became the legitimate imperial grandson.

年三歳而宣帝崩，元帝即位，帝爲太子。 When he was three, Emperor Xuan died. Emperor Yuan took the throne, and the future emperor became crown prince.

初居桂宮，上嘗急召，太子出龍樓門，不敢絶馳道，西至直城門，得絶乃度，還入作室門。 When he first lived in Gui Palace, the emperor once summoned him urgently. The crown prince left through Dragon Tower Gate but did not dare cross the imperial roadway; he went west to Straight City Gate, crossed only where it was permitted, and then came back in through Workshop Gate.

上遲之，問其故，以狀對。 The emperor thought he had been slow and asked why; the crown prince explained what had happened.

上大説，乃著令，令太子得絶馳道云。 The emperor was greatly pleased and issued an order allowing the crown prince to cross the imperial roadway.

其後幸酒，樂燕樂，上不以爲能。 Later he became fond of wine and enjoyed banquets and music, and the emperor did not regard him as capable.

而定陶恭王有材藝，母傅昭儀又愛幸，上以故常有意欲以恭王爲嗣。 King Gong of Dingtao, however, had talent and accomplishments, and his mother Consort Fu was much loved and favored, so the emperor often thought of making King Gong his heir.

賴侍中史丹護太子家，輔助有力，上亦以先帝尤愛太子，故得無廢。 Because Attendant Shi Dan strongly protected and supported the crown prince's household, and because the emperor remembered that the late emperor had especially loved the crown prince, the crown prince was not deposed.

竟寧元年五月，元帝崩。 In the fifth month of the first year of Jingning, Emperor Yuan died.

先帝劭農，薄其租稅，寵其彊力，令與孝弟同科。 The Former Emperor promoted agriculture, thinned their rents and taxes, favored their strong strength, and caused them to be in the same category as filial younger brothers.

Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 2 passages

宣、元、成、哀、平五世，亡所變改。 Across the five reigns of Xuan, Yuan, Cheng, Ai, and Ping, nothing was changed.

元帝時嘗罷鹽鐵官，三年而復之。 During Emperor Yuan's reign, the salt-and-iron offices were once abolished, but they were restored after three years.

Book of Han, Chapter 38Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 1 passage

元帝永光五年，河決清河靈鳴犢口，而屯氏河絕。 In Yongguang year five under Emperor Yuan, the river breached at Lingmingdukou in Qinghe, and the Tunshi branch was severed.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 3 passages

元帝初即位，谷貴民流，永光中西羌反，緩輒上書入錢、谷以助用，前後數百萬。 At the beginning of Emperor Yuan's reign grain prices soared and refugees filled the roads. When the western Qiang rose in Yongguang, Huan repeatedly donated cash and grain to the treasury—several million over the years.

跡三代之季世，覽宗、宣之饗國，察近屬之符驗，禍敗曷常不由女德？ Trace the last kings of the three ancient dynasties, read how the great affinal clans fared from Emperor Xuan through Emperor Yuan, then look at the omens among your own kin: has catastrophe ever come from anywhere but the inner quarters?

曲陽侯根前為三公輔政，知趙昭儀殺皇子，不輒白奏，反與趙氏比周，恣意妄行，譖訴故許後，被加以非罪，誅破諸許族，敗元帝外家。 Wang Gen, marquis of Quyang, had earlier assisted government as one of the Three Excellencies. He knew Consort Zhao Feiyi killed the imperial sons yet did not immediately report it; instead he colluded with the Zhao clan, acted willfully and recklessly, slandered the former Empress Xu, imposed wrongful charges, exterminated the Xu clan, and ruined the outer kin of Emperor Yuan.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 2 passages

元帝初即位，上疏言得失，召待詔金馬門。 Soon after Emperor Yuan took the throne, Jia Juanzhi presented a memorial on policy, and the court added him to the scholars awaiting summons at the Golden Horse Gate.

元帝初元元年，珠崖又反，發兵擊之。 In Emperor Yuan's first Chuyuan year Zhuya rebelled once more, and the court sent troops against it.

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 2 passages

元帝擢為司隸校尉，刺舉無所避，京師為之語曰：「間何闊，逢諸葛。」 Emperor Yuan promoted him to Metropolitan Commandant. When exposing and impeaching wrongdoing, he avoided no one, and people in the capital made a saying of it: "Why such distance? You have met Zhuge!"

初，傅太后與中山孝王母馮太后俱事元帝，有隙，傅太后使有司考馮太后，令自殺，眾庶冤之。 Fu's faction had forced Lady Feng of Zhongshan to suicide; opinion called it a frame.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 8 passages

為太傅，以《論語》、《禮服》授皇太子。 As grand tutor he lectured the crown prince on the Analects and the Mourning Dress classic.

及宣帝寢疾，選大臣可屬者，引外屬侍中樂陵侯史高、太子太傅望之、少傅周堪至禁中，拜高為大司馬車騎將軍，望之為前將軍光祿勳，堪為光祿大夫，皆受遺詔輔政，領尚書事。 When Emperor Xuan fell gravely ill, he chose ministers to whom he could entrust the realm, summoned his maternal kinsman Palace Attendant Yueling Marquis Shi Gao, crown-prince tutor Wangzhi, and junior tutor Zhou Kan to the inner palace, made Gao grand marshal and general of chariots and cavalry, Wangzhi forward general and superintendent of the household, and Kan grand master of the household; all received the deathbed edict to assist government and headed Secretariat affairs.

宣帝崩，太子襲尊號，是為孝元帝。 When Emperor Xuan died, the crown prince succeeded as Emperor Yuan.

望之、堪本以師傅見尊重，上即位，數宴見，言治亂，陳王事。 Wangzhi and Zhou Kan had long been honored as tutors; once Yuan took the throne he often received them at banquets to discuss order and disorder and royal policy.

四人同心謀議，勸道上以古制，多所欲匡正，上甚鄉納之。 The four counseled as one, urging the emperor toward ancient institutions and many reforms; Yuan greatly inclined to accept them.

天子追念望之，不忘每歲時遣使者祠祭望之塚，終元帝世。 For the rest of Emperor Yuan's reign the court sent offerings to his tomb every season.

育字次君，少以父任為太子庶子。 Yu, courtesy name Cijun, entered service young as palace attendant to the crown prince through his father's influence.

元帝即位，為郎，病免，後為御史。 When Emperor Yuan took the throne he became a court gentleman, retired on grounds of illness, and later served as an imperial clerk.

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 1 passage

前富者既衰，自元、成訖王莽，京師富人杜陵樊嘉，茂陵摯網，平陵如氏、苴氏，長安丹王君房，豉樊少翁、王孫大卿，為天下高訾。 Once the old houses faded, from Yuandi through Chengdi into Wang Mang's coup, Chang'an's wealthiest were Fan Jia of Duling, Zhi Gang of Maoling, the Ru and Ju families of Pingling, the cinnabar magnate Wang Junfang, the pickle king Fan Shaoweng, and Wangsun Daqing—each counted among the empire's heaviest purses.

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 1 passage

元帝時，徵遂為京兆尹，至廷尉。 Under Emperor Yuan, Sui was called up as Metropolitan Governor and rose to Commandant of Justice.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 17 passages

孝元時宦者則弘恭、石顯； under Emperor Yuan, the eunuchs Hong Gong and Shi Xian;

元帝即位數年，恭死，顯代為中書令。 A few years into Yuan's reign Hong Gong died and Shi Xian became chief of the secretariat.

是時，元帝被疾，不親政事，方隆好於音樂，以顯久典事，中人無外黨，精專可信任，遂委以政。 Yuan was often ill and left state business aside while he lost himself in music. Shi Xian, long trusted in the palace, had no outside clique and seemed safe—so power passed to him.

元帝不聽，由是大與顯忤。 Yuan refused, and Xiao Wangzhi made a bitter enemy of Shi Xian.

天子召見，欲以為侍中，逡請間言事。 The emperor summoned Jun for palace attendant; Jun asked for a private audience.

上聞逡言顯顓權，天子大怒，罷逡歸郎官。 Jun denounced Shi Xian's monopoly; the emperor, furious, demoted him back to ordinary gentleman.

其後御史大夫缺，群臣皆舉逡兄大鴻臚野王行能第一，天子以問顯，顯曰：「九卿無出野王者。 When the imperial counsellor's post fell open, the court ranked Ye Wang, Jun's brother and grand herald, first in talent; the emperor consulted Shi Xian, who said, "No nine minister outranks Ye Wang.

上曰：「善，吾不見是。」 "Well said," the emperor replied. "I had not seen that."

顯內自知擅權事柄在掌握，恐天子一旦納用左右耳目，有以間己，乃時歸誠，取一信以為驗。 Shi Xian knew he held the real strings of government and dreaded the day the emperor might listen to other intimates; he staged moments of contrition to manufacture proof of loyalty.

上許之。 The emperor agreed.

後果有上書告顯顓命矯詔開宮門，天子聞之，笑以其書示顯。 When a memorial later charged him with forging orders to force the gate, the emperor only laughed and handed Shi Xian the paper.

愚臣微賤，誠不能以一軀稱快萬眾，任天下之怨，臣願歸樞機職，受後宮掃除之役，死無所恨，唯陛下哀憐財幸，以此全活小臣。」 I am too humble to please the multitude or absorb the world's hatred. Let me surrender the secretariat and sweep the inner palace instead—I would die content if Your Majesty would pity me and let me live."

天子以為然而憐之，數勞勉顯，加厚賞賜，賞賜及賂遺訾一萬萬。 Yuan bought the performance: he comforted Shi Xian again and again, heaped gifts on him, and cash from stipends and kickbacks reportedly reached a hundred million.

顯因薦禹天子，歷位九卿，至御史大夫，禮事之甚備。 He pushed Gong Yu up the ladder to the nine ministers and even to imperial counsellor, honoring him with elaborate courtesy.

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 the favored choice, 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 shunted to Director of Palace Servants at Changxin Palace on a salary of two thousand shi.

漢世衰於元、成，壞於哀、平。 Han strength ebbed under Emperors Yuan and Cheng and shattered under Ai and Ping.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 1 passage

祖野王，元帝時為大鴻臚。 His grandfather Feng Yewang had been grand herald under Emperor Yuan.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 110Volume 99: Rituals and Worship Part Three · 4 passages

大司徒涉等议：「宜奉所代，立平帝、哀帝、成帝、元帝庙，代今亲庙。 Dai She and others argued: "You should honor those you have succeeded by establishing temples to Ping, Ai, Cheng, and Yuan in place of the present private shrines.

于是雒阳高庙四时加祭孝宣、孝元，凡五帝。 Luoyang’s High Temple then honored five sovereigns in the seasonal round, adding Xuan and Yuan.

太祖东面，惠、文、武、元帝为昭，景、宣帝为穆。 The founding ancestor faced east; Hui, Wen, Wu, and Yuan were zhao; Jing and Xuan were mu.

以元帝于光武为穆，故虽非宗，不毁也。 Yuan, though not a “numbered” exemplar, stayed on the mu side opposite Guangwu and so escaped abolition.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 128Volume 117: Officials Part Four · 1 passage

元帝去節，成帝省，建武中复置，并领一州。 Emperor Yuan stripped the baton; Emperor Cheng abolished the office; Emperor Guangwu restored it and added authority over one province.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 145Volume 145: Treatises 7 Music 2 · 1 passage

漢元帝時，京房善《易》、別音，探求古義，以《周官》均法，每月更用五音，乃立準調，旋相為宮，成六十調。 Under Emperor Yuan of Han, Jing Fang, skilled in the Changes and expert in pitch, sought the ancient meaning and, following the key method of the Offices of Zhou, rotated the five notes month by month; he established a pitch standard, set the circulating tonics, and produced sixty modes.