Qin and Han · Ruler

the Emperor 天子

Attested BC 128 - BC 127

Passages: 10
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

the Emperor was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 127 元朔二年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 227
BC 128 to BC 127 書奏天子
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 202

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Empress Wei (衛皇后)
empress 皇后
Sources vary in certainty · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 216

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 202, 227

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 202-203

Events and relationships

Adopted maoling relocation
Political · Ruler · With Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 214-215
Adopted pushen plan
Political · Ruler · With Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 213
Appointed three gentlemen
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 204
Appointed zhufu chancellor of qi
Political · Ruler · With Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 227
Established shuofang commandery
Political · Ruler · With Zhufu Yan (主父偃)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 226
Summoned three memorialists
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 202-204

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 202

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 10 passages

書奏天子，天子召見三人，謂曰：「公等皆安在？ When these memorials reached the Emperor, he summoned all three men and exclaimed: 'Where have you all been hiding?

於是上乃拜主父偃、徐樂、嚴安為郎中。 The Emperor then appointed Zhufu Yan, Xu Yue, and Yan An as Gentlemen of the Palace.

偃說上曰：「古者諸侯不過百里，彊弱之形易制。 Zhufu Yan advised the Emperor: 'In ancient times, a feudal lord's domain extended no more than a hundred li, and the balance of power between the strong and the weak was easy to control.

願陛下令諸侯得推恩分子弟，以地侯之。 I beg Your Majesty to decree that the feudal lords be permitted to extend their grace and divide their lands among all their sons, enfeoffing each with his own domain.

於是上從其計。 The Emperor adopted his plan.

又說上曰：「茂陵初立，天下豪桀并兼之家，亂眾之民，皆可徙茂陵，內實京師，外銷姦猾，此所謂不誅而害除。」 He further advised the Emperor: 'The Maoling estate has just been established. The powerful families and the land-engrossing houses across the empire, along with the troublemakers among the common people, could all be relocated there. This would strengthen the capital region from within and eliminate subversive elements from without—removing the danger without shedding a drop of blood.'

上又從其計。 Once again, the Emperor adopted his plan.

上覽其說，下公卿議，皆言不便。 The Emperor reviewed his proposal and referred it to the ministers for deliberation. They unanimously declared it impractical.

主父偃盛言其便，上竟用主父計，立朔方郡。 But Zhufu Yan argued forcefully for its merits, and in the end the Emperor adopted his plan and established the Shuofang Commandery.

元朔二年，主父言齊王內淫佚行僻，上拜主父為齊相。 In the second year of the Yuanshuo era, Zhufu Yan reported that the King of Qi was privately dissolute and of perverse conduct. The Emperor appointed Zhufu Yan as the Chancellor of Qi.