Qin and Han · Emperor and Ruler

Emperor Yuan 元帝

Yuan Di

First attested BC 51; died BC 33

Passages: 10
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Yuan was an emperor and Ruler.

Life and dates

Death

BC 33 竟寧元年五月
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 313

Attested activity

BC 48 to BC 33 元帝即位…上不以爲能
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passages 305, 307, 310-311
BC 51 to BC 49 元帝太子也…元帝在太子宮
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passages 302-303
BC 33 竟寧元年五月，元帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 313

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Consort Fu (傅昭儀)
consort 昭儀 · Concubinage
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passage 311
Spouse of Empress Wang (王皇后)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passages 303, 315
Child of Emperor Xuan (宣帝)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passages 304-305
Parent of Emperor Xiaocheng (孝成皇帝)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 302
Parent of King Gong of Dingtao (定陶恭王)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passage 311

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled in
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passages 302, 313

Events and relationships

Considered making king gong heir
Political · Actor · With King Gong of Dingtao (定陶恭王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 311
Issued order allowing crown prince to cross roadway
Legal · Authority
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 309

Assessments and attributes

Assessment did not regard the crown prince as capable · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 310

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 302

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

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