Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Zhao 孝昭皇帝

Xiào Zhāo Huángdì

Died BC 74

Passages: 51
Chapters: 18
Histories: 6

Overview

The translated histories identify Emperor Zhao as a royal family member and ruler. This record brings together 51 passages from 18 chapters across 6 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Emperor Zhao	孝昭皇帝	Xiào Zhāo Huángdì
Title	crown prince	太子
Regnal	Emperor Xiaozhao	孝昭皇帝
Personal name	Emperor Zhao	孝昭皇帝	Xiào Zhāo Huángdì
Temple name	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhaodi
Temple	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhao di
Temple	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhāo dì
Posthumous	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhaodi
Temple name	Emperor Zhao	昭帝
Title	Emperor Zhao	昭
Regnal	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhao Di
Personal	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhao Di
Posthumous	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhāodì
Temple name	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhao Di
Temple name	Emperor Zhao	孝昭
Regnal	Emperor Zhao	昭帝	Zhaodi
Title	Emperor Zhao	昭帝
Temple name	Emperor Zhao	孝昭	Xiào Zhāo
Temple	Emperor Zhao	昭	Zhāo
Title	Emperor Zhao of Han	漢昭帝	Hàn Zhāodì
Title	former emperor	先帝	xian di
Title	reigning young emperor	少主	shao zhu
Title	Son of Heaven	天子	Tiānzǐ
Title	young lord	幼主
Title	Zhao	昭	Zhāo
Temple name	Zhao
Title	Zhao	昭

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0001, hanshu:069:s0192, hanshu:082:s0200, hanshu:085:s0010, hanshu:101:s0022, jiuwudaishi:141:s0114, shiji:084:s0243
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:026:s0267, hanshu:090:s0003, houhanshu:110:s0047, xintangshu:121:s0123
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:070:s0026, hanshu:105:s0011

Roles

Royal Family Member
Ruler

Life and dates

Death

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元平元年夏四月癸未 · Western Year: BC 74 · Place: Weiyang Palace / 未央宮
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0142
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 昭帝崩 · Western Year: BC 74
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0209
the emperor died / 帝崩
Explicit · hanshu:070:s0217
Manner: died before burial
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0202
Explicit · hanshu:085:s0113

Age

Age: 14 · Reckoning: sui · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元鳳元年 · Western Year: BC 80
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0085
Age: 8 · Reckoning: sui · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 後元二年二月 · Western Year: BC 87
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0004

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元平元年夏四月癸未 · Western Year: BC 74
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:008:s0142
Source Date: Text: 元鳳元年 · Western Year: BC 80
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:008:s0071, hanshu:008:s0083
Source Date: Text: 始元五年 · Western Year: BC 82
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0017, hanshu:082:s0028
Source Date: Text: 始元元年 · Western Year: BC 86
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:008:s0017
Source Date: Text: 孝昭 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 74
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:101:s0010
Source Date: Text: 孝昭 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 74
Explicit · shiji:084:s0243
Source Date: Text: 建武二十六年 · Western Year: AD 50
Explicit event contextual date · houhanshu:110:s0047
Source Date: Text: 後元二年二月 · Western Year: BC 87
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:008:s0004
Source Date: Text: 昭…世 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 74
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192
Source Date: Text: 昭帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 74
Explicit · hanshu:085:s0113, xintangshu:121:s0123
Source Date: Text: 昭帝即位 · Western Year: BC 74
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0198
Source Date: Text: 昭帝即位 · Western Year: BC 87
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0200
Source Date: Text: 昭帝時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 74
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0267, hanshu:090:s0011
Source Date: Text: 漢昭帝時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 74
Explicit · jiuwudaishi:141:s0114

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Sibling of Princess Eyi (鄂邑公主)
Kinship Term: elder sister / 姊 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Shared Parentage: paternal-half
Kinship Term: elder sister / 帝姊 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Shared Parentage: paternal-half
Spouse of Empress Shangguan (上官皇后)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Relationship State: active
Child of Che (徹)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: youngest son / 少子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father · Line: paternal
Child of Emperor Wu (武帝)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Lady Zhao (趙婕妤)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: mother
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son

Kinship Role: heirs · Count: 0 · Negated: true
Explicit · hanshu:085:s0113

Career and standing

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 幼主新立 · Western Interval: Start: BC 87 · End: BC 86
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:085:s0010
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 後元二年 · Western Year: BC 87 · Place: High Temple / 高廟
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0007
Emperor Zhao took the throne
Explicit · hanshu:027:s0269
first came to the throne / 初立
Explicit · hanshu:070:s0026

Places and affiliations

Association: Han emperor
Explicit · songshu:069:s0088
Label: Han / 漢 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0192
Label: Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:085:s0010
Polity: Han · Relation: ruler-of
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0200
Polity: Western Han · Relation: ruled
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0267
Polity: Han / 漢
Explicit · hanshu:069:s0198
Polity: Western Han / 西漢 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0007
Place: Pingling / 平陵 · Relation: buried-at · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元平元年六月壬申 · Western Year: BC 74
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0143

Works and attributed material

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: sovereign · Action: detected Shangguan-Yan plot · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元鳳元年 · Western Year: BC 80
Explicit · hanshu:008:s0085

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 8Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao · 17 passages

孝昭皇帝，武帝少子也。 Emperor Zhao, the Filial, was Emperor Wu's youngest son.

武帝末，戾太子敗，燕王旦、廣陵王胥行驕嫚，後元二年二月上疾病，遂立昭帝為太子，年八歲。 Late in Emperor Wu's reign, after the defeat of Crown Prince Li, King Dan of Yan and King Xu of Guangling both acted with arrogance and contempt. In the second month of Houyuan 2, when Emperor Wu fell ill, he made the future Emperor Zhao crown prince; Zhao was eight years old.

戊辰，太子即皇帝位，謁高廟。 On the Wuchen day, the crown prince ascended the imperial throne and paid respects at the High Temple.

帝姊鄂邑公主益湯沐邑，為長公主，共養省中。 The emperor's elder sister, Princess Eyi, had her bath fief increased and was made Elder Princess; she and others jointly raised and cared for the emperor in the inner palace.

己亥，上耕于鉤盾弄田。 On jihai day, the emperor performed the plowing ceremony at the Gou Dun Nong field.

六月春正月，上耕于上林。 In the first month of spring of the sixth year, His Majesty performed the plowing ceremony at Shanglin Park.

後宮有遺腹子煖，相、內史不奏言，上聞而憐之，立煖為泗水王。 There was a posthumous son Nuan in the rear palace. The chancellor and interior minister did not report this. When the emperor heard of it, he pitied the child and established Nuan as King of Sishui.

時上年十四，覺其詐。 At that time the emperor was fourteen years old and perceived their deception.

後有譖光者，上輒怒曰：「大將軍國家忠臣，先帝所屬，敢有譖毀者，坐之。」 Later, when anyone slandered Guang, the emperor would always say angrily, 'The Grand General is a loyal minister of the state, entrusted with his charge by the late emperor. Anyone who dares slander him will be punished.'

二年夏四月，上自建章宮徙未央宮，大置酒。 In the fourth month of summer in the second year, His Majesty moved from Jianzhang Palace to Weiyang Palace and held a great banquet.

四年春正月丁亥，帝加元服，見于高廟。 In the first month of spring in the fourth year, on a Dinghai day, the Emperor underwent the capping ceremony and made an appearance at the Gao Temple.

五月丁丑，孝文廟正殿火，上及群臣皆素服。 On the dingchou day of the fifth month, the main hall of the Filial Wen Temple caught fire. The emperor and all ministers wore mourning clothes.

有司奏請減什三，上許之。 The officials memorialized requesting that it be reduced by one-third, and His Majesty approved.

夏四月癸未，帝崩于未央宮。 In the fourth month of summer, on a Guiwei day, the Emperor passed away in Weiyang Palace.

孝昭幼年即位，亦有燕、盍、上官逆亂之謀。 When Emperor Zhao the Filial ascended the throne in his youth, there were likewise conspiracies of rebellion involving King Yan, the Elder Princess, and the Shangguan faction.

成王不疑周公，孝昭委任霍光，各因其時以成名，大矣哉！ King Cheng did not doubt the Duke of Zhou; Emperor Zhao entrusted Huo Guang with power. Each, in his own time, achieved renown thereby. How great this was!

舉賢良文學，問民所疾苦，議鹽鐵而罷榷酤，尊號曰「昭」，不亦宜乎！ Worthy and good men and literary scholars were recommended, the people's grievances were investigated, the debates on salt and iron led to the abolition of the liquor monopoly, and the honored title "Zhao" was bestowed—is this not most fitting!

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 1 passage

至昭帝時，流民稍還，田野益闢，頗有畜積。 Under Zhao, population return and land reopening restored modest surplus capacity.

Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 1 passage

昭帝即位六年，詔郡國舉賢良文學之士，問以民所疾苦，教化之要。 In the sixth year after Emperor Zhao took the throne, an edict ordered the commanderies and kingdoms to recommend worthy and literary scholars, and asked them about the people's hardships and the essentials of moral transformation.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 1 passage

增少為郎，諸曹侍中光祿大夫，昭帝時至前將軍，與大將軍霍光定策立宣帝，益封千戶。 Zeng became a palace gentleman when young, passed through the various bureaus, and became Attendant-in-Ordinary and Grandee of Splendid Light. In Emperor Zhao's time he rose to Front General; together with Grand General Huo Guang he settled the plan and enthroned Emperor Xuan, and his fief was increased by one thousand households.

Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 6 passages

昭帝即位，大將軍霍光秉政，以安世篤行，光親重之。 When Emperor Zhao came to the throne, Grand General Huo Guang held power. Because Zhang Anshi was known for upright conduct, Huo Guang personally valued him.

久之，天子下詔曰：「右將軍光祿勳安世輔政宿衛，肅敬不怠，十有三年，咸以康寧。 After some time the emperor issued an edict: "General of the Right and superintendent of the masters of writing Anshi has assisted in government and guarded the palace with reverent diligence for thirteen years, and the realm has remained at peace.

明年，昭帝崩，未葬，大將軍光白太后，徙安世為車騎將軍，與共徵立昌邑王。 The next year Emperor Zhao died. Before the funeral, Huo Guang reported to the empress dowager, transferred Anshi to general of chariots and cavalry, and together they summoned and enthroned the King of Changyi.

安世輒絕止，以為少主在上，不宜稱述曾孫。 Anshi always cut him short, holding that with the reigning young emperor above, it was improper to speak openly of the great-grandson.

雖不能視事，折衝萬里，君先帝大臣，明於治亂，朕所不及，得數問焉，何感而上書歸衛將軍富平侯印？ Though you cannot attend to affairs, you still repel enemies a myriad li away. You are a minister of the former emperor, clear-sighted in order and chaos beyond my reach; I may still consult you—why feel moved to return the seal of general of the guard and Marquis of Fuping?

張湯本居杜陵，安世武、昭、宣世輒隨陵，凡三徙，復還杜陵。 Zhang Tang originally lived at Duling. During the reigns of Emperor Wu, Emperor Zhao, and Emperor Xuan, Anshi followed each new imperial mausoleum settlement—three relocations in all—before returning to Duling.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 2 passages

昭帝初立，大將軍霍光秉政，以延年三公子，吏材有餘，補軍司空。 When Emperor Zhao first came to the throne, Grand General Huo Guang dominated the government. Yannian, as a son of the highest ministers and a capable administrator, was appointed superintendent of works on the general's staff.

昭帝末，寢疾，征天下名醫，延年典領方藥。 Near the end of Emperor Zhao's reign he fell ill. Famous physicians were summoned from across the realm, and Du Yannian was placed in charge of prescriptions.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage

自初為郡至昭帝始元元年，二十餘年間，凡六反叛。 Between the founding of the commanderies and Emperor Zhao's first Shiyuan year—barely twenty years—there were six full-scale revolts.

Book of Han, Chapter 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 3 passages

久之，武帝崩，昭帝即位，而齊孝王孫劉澤交結郡國豪桀謀反，欲先殺青州刺史。 In time Emperor Wu died and Emperor Zhao succeeded him. Liu Ze, grandson of Prince Xiao of Qi, conspired with bold men across the commanderies and states to rebel and planned to strike first at the governor of Qing province.

天子與大將軍霍光聞而嘉之，曰：「公卿大臣當用經術明於大誼。」 When the Son of Heaven and Grand General Huo Guang heard of this, they praised him, saying, "The high ministers should use classical learning to illuminate the great principles."

會昭帝崩，昌邑王征即位，行淫亂，定國上書諫。 When Emperor Zhao died, the king of Changyi was summoned to the throne and behaved with dissolute disorder; Dingguo memorialized in remonstrance.

Book of Han, Chapter 85Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji · 3 passages

武庫令西至長安，大將軍霍光果以責過相曰：「幼主新立，以為函谷京師之固，武庫精兵所聚，故以丞相弟為關都尉，子為武庫令。 When the armory director reached Chang’an, Huo Guang rebuked Wei Xiang: ‘The boy emperor has just ascended the throne; we posted the chancellor’s brother at Hangu Pass and his son at the armory because the pass guards the capital and the depot holds the crack troops.

昭帝崩，無嗣，大將軍光遣吉迎昌邑王賀。 When Emperor Zhao died heirless, Huo Guang sent Bing Ji to escort Prince He of Changyi to the capital.

吉奏記光曰：「將軍事孝武皇帝，受襁褓之屬，任天下之寄，孝昭皇帝早崩亡嗣，海內憂懼，欲亟聞嗣主，發喪之日以大誼立後，所立非其人，復以大誼廢之，天下莫不服焉。 Bing Ji wrote Huo Guang: ‘General, you served Emperor Wu, received the charge of the swaddling-clothes regency, and bear the empire’s trust; when Emperor Zhao died without heir the realm was anxious; you established a successor on the day mourning was announced, and when he proved unworthy you deposed him again by great duty—none under Heaven failed to submit.

Book of Han, Chapter 90Volume 79: Feng Fengshi · 3 passages

昭帝時，以功次補武安長。 Under Emperor Zhao he earned appointment as magistrate of Wu'an by seniority of service.

初，昭帝末，西河屬國胡伊酋若王亦將眾數千人畔，奉世輒持節將兵追擊。 Near the end of Emperor Zhao's reign the Xihe dependent chieftain Yijiuoru had mutinied with thousands; Fengshi had seized the staff and run him down.

奮武將軍任千秋者，其父宮，昭帝時以丞相征事捕斬反者左將軍上官桀，封侯，宣帝時為太常，薨。 Ren Qianqiu's father Ren Gong had served Emperor Zhao's chancellor as investigator, cut down mutineer Shangguan Jie, taken a marquisate, and ended as Grand Master of ceremonies under Xuan.

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 3 passages

孝昭幼沖，霍光秉政，承奢侈師旅之後，海內虛耗，光因循守職，無所改作。 Emperor Zhao was still a child when Huo Guang took the reins. He stepped into power after years of costly wars and lavish spending had hollowed out the realm. Huo held the line and changed little.

昭帝立，幼，大將軍霍光秉政，大臣爭權，上官桀等與燕王謀作亂，光既誅之，遂遵武帝法度，以刑罰痛繩群下，由是俗吏上嚴酷以為能，而霸獨用寬和為名。 Emperor Zhao came to the throne as a child while Huo Guang held power. Court factions clashed until Huo executed Shangguan Jie and his allies in the plot with the Prince of Yan. Thereafter the regime clung to Emperor Wu's harsh precedents, and petty bureaucrats climbed by proving how cruel they could be—except Huang Ba, who made his name with lenience.

會昭帝崩，亡子，昌邑王賀嗣立，官屬皆征入。 Emperor Zhao died without an heir, Prince He of Changyi succeeded, and his entire staff was summoned to the capital.

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 3 passages

昭帝時，廣明將兵擊益州，還，賜爵關內侯，徙衛尉。 Under Emperor Zhao he campaigned in Yizhou, earned a marquisette, and became guard commandant.

會昭帝崩，昌邑王嗣位，淫亂，霍將軍憂懼，與公卿議廢之，莫敢發言。 At Emperor Zhao's death the licentious Prince of Changyi took the throne; Huo Guang consulted ministers about deposing him, but none dared speak up.

昭帝大行時，方上事暴起，用度未辦，延年奏言：「商賈或豫收方上不祥器物，冀其疾用，欲以求利，非民臣所當為。 When Emperor Zhao died, the imperial tomb works suddenly expanded before funds were ready. Tian Yannian memorialized, "Some merchants have stockpiled ominous burial goods in advance, hoping urgent need will let them profit. This is not conduct proper to subjects.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 2 passages

孝景、昭、宣時皆無寵臣。 Emperors Jing, Zhao, and Xuan had no true "favorites" of this kind.

昭帝時，駙馬都尉秺侯金賞嗣父車騎將軍日磾爵為侯，二人之寵取過庸，不篤。 Under Emperor Zhao, Jin Shang, marquis of Du and commandant of the imperial son-in-law, inherited his father Jin Midi's chariot-and-cavalry rank and marquisate; father and son were favored beyond the usual, though the affection was not deep.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 110Volume 99: Rituals and Worship Part Three · 1 passage

惠、景、昭三帝非殷祭时不祭。 Hui, Jing, and Zhao were omitted from ordinary seasonal cult and appeared only at the grand Yin.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 141Volume 141: Treatises 3 Five Elements · 1 passage

議者以漢昭帝時，上林仆木起生枝，時蟲蠹成文而宣帝興。 Commentators cited the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han, when a fallen tree in Shanglin Park rose and put forth branches while insects bored characters into its wood, presaging the rise of Emperor Xuan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 1 passage

至孝昭時，列為九卿。 By the time of Emperor Zhao, he had risen to the rank of one of the Nine Ministers.

Book of Song, Chapter 69Volume 69 Biographies 29: Liu Zhan, Fan Ye · 1 passage

昭、宣電斷，漢祚方延。 when Emperors Zhao and Xuan acted with lightning decisiveness, the Han mandate was thereby prolonged.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 121Volume 121 Biographies 46: Liu, Zhong, Cui, and the Two Kings · 1 passage

琚曰：「昔漢蓋主供養昭帝，其後與上官桀謀殺霍光，不及天子，而帝猶以大義去之。 Ju said, "Under Han, Princess Gai raised Emperor Zhao, then plotted with Shangguan Jie against Huo Guang; though she never touched the throne, the emperor removed her on principle.