Wang Mang (王莽) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wang Mang was an Usurper of Han.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Bing	丙氏	Bǐng shì
Alternate name	Xin Mang	新莽
Epithet	doomed Xin	亡新

Life and dates

Birth

BC 45 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 250; Book of Han 70, passage 207

Death

AD 23 自發豬突豨勇後四年
Executed · Agent Han forces 漢兵
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 387
AD 23 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 250; Book of Han 70, passage 207
AD 23 傳子至曾孫，王莽敗乃絕。
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 48, passage 144
AD 23 卒潤鑊伏質
Executed/boiled and dismembered
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 125
AD 23 漢既誅莽
Executed
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 96
AD 23 to AD 23 王莽敗
Regime fell
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 157

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Executed · Han troops executed Mang
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 118, passage 23
dismembered; clan slaughtered
Execution
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 26
Perished with regime
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 309

Attested activity

AD 14 天鳳元年
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 370
AD 9 to AD 23 AD 9-23
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 85, passage 22
AD 9 to AD 23 narrative
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 127, passage 102
BC 45 to AD 23 Wang Mang (45 BC-AD 23)
Strongly inferred · zizhitongjian:159:s0133c
BC 45 to AD 23 Wang Mang
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passages 144, 256
AD 9 to AD 23 不急莽、卓之誅
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 6, passage 166

Show 73 more source-backed claims

BC 16 五月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 11, passage 176
AD 9 to AD 23 亡新/王莽
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passages 100, 142
AD 20 作貨布六年後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passage 380
AD 1 to AD 5 元始中
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 144
AD 2 元始二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 56, passage 76
AD 1 元始元年
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 165
BC 7 前以大司馬奉送先帝大行
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 244
AD 9 to AD 23 及王莽時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 104, passage 29
AD 9 to AD 23 及莽篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passages 186, 196
AD 9 周、漢...莽、卓之亂
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 150, passage 206
BC 1 哀帝崩，新都侯王莽為大司馬
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 188
BC 1 哀帝崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 105, passages 246-247
BC 7 to BC 1 哀帝時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passage 63
BC 1 哀帝晏駕
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 265
BC 7 to AD 5 哀帝至元始中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 93, passages 46, 71
AD 14 to AD 19 天凤中
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 118, passage 23
BC 1 to AD 5 平帝即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passages 280, 287
BC 1 to AD 6 平帝時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passages 6, 24
AD 9 後五歲，天鳳元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 360, 370
AD 9 to AD 23 新室
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 67, passage 1
AD 9 to AD 23 新朝
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 110
AD 23 新莽
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 30, passage 77
AD 20 to AD 23 末年
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 302
AD 9 to AD 23 漢末新莽
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 27, passage 115
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 101, passage 234; Book of Later Han 33, passages 67, 76; Book of Later Han 38, passages 154, 156
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passages 250, 269; Book of Later Han 24, passage 155; Book of Later Han 110, passage 88; Book of Later Han 126, passage 251; Book of Jin 101, passage 166
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 11, passage 260; Book of Later Han 33, passage 289
BC 45 to AD 23 王莽
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 207; Book of Later Han 108, passage 118
AD 9 王莽初
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passages 116-119
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽又征之
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 192
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽在位
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 183
AD 8 to AD 9 王莽坐取帝位
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 109, passage 225
BC 33 to BC 1 王莽少與穉兄弟同列
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 278
AD 6 to AD 9 王莽居攝，遂篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 285
AD 6 to AD 8 王莽居攝
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 283
AD 6 to AD 8 王莽居攝
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 104, passage 291; Book of Later Han 28, passage 44
AD 6 to AD 23 王莽居攝篡弑
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 23
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽居攝至新亡
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 24, passage 102
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽敗
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passages 92, 101
AD 23 王莽敗
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 197; Book of Han 82, passage 195; Book of Han 104, passage 211
AD 23 王莽敗
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 113
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽時; 莽敗
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 267
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽時
Directly stated · Book of Han 69, passage 191; Book of Han 103, passage 106; Book of Later Han 24, passage 56; Book of Later Han 34, passage 4; Book of Later Han 38, passage 5; Book of Later Han 40, passage 4; Book of Later Han 43, passage 2
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 77; Book of Later Han 33, passages 156, 168, 178
BC 45 to AD 23 王莽時
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 250
BC 9 to AD 23 王莽時
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 202
AD 9 王莽時
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 103, 169
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽時璽
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 202
AD 23 王莽末
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 104, passages 275-276; Book of Later Han 37, passage 16; Book of Later Han 38, passage 106; Book of Later Han 114, passage 178
BC 1 to AD 8 王莽為大司馬
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 92, passage 58
AD 1 to AD 8 王莽為宰衡
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 4
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽矯用符命
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 10
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽称黄
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 114, passage 175
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽移漢鼎
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 38, passages 309-310
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽篡位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 28, passages 305, 307-308
AD 9 王莽篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 152; Book of Later Han 94, passages 14, 301; Book of Later Han 96, passage 30
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽篡位及敗亡
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 108, passages 7, 13
AD 9 王莽篡漢
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 57, passage 5
BC 1 王莽聞之
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 105, passage 265
AD 23 自發豬突豨勇後四年
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 386-387
AD 9 to AD 23 至王莽乃絕
Directly stated · Book of Han 90, passage 105
BC 22 to AD 9 與王莽、劉歆並
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passages 183, 185
BC 45 to AD 23 莽
Strongly inferred · Book of Song 69, passage 195
AD 10 莽乃下詔
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 327-328
AD 9 莽即真
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 288
AD 6 to AD 8 莽居攝
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 149
AD 9 to AD 10 莽性躁擾
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passage 326
AD 9 to AD 10 莽患之，下詔
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 288, 322
AD 9 to AD 10 莽知民愁
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passage 325
AD 9 莽篡位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 5; Book of Later Han 33, passage 26
BC 8 莽遂代根為大司馬
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passages 138, 159
AD 9 莽遂篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 301
AD 9 to AD 23 讫于王莽
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 10

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Empress Wang (王皇后)
empress's elder brother's son 后兄子 · paternal line · Through Elder Brother of Empress Wang (后兄)
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 114, passage 265
Kin of Empress Dowager (皇太后)
paternal/maternal aunt 姑 · maternal line · Through Man (曼)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passage 176
Parent of Wang Yu (王宇)
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 144
Spouse of Lady Wei (魏氏)
honored consort 貴人 · Secondary marriage
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 38, passage 154
Child of Mother of Wang Mang (莽母)
Mang's mother 莽母
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 144
Child of Elder brother of Wang Gen (根兄)
son of Gen's elder brother 根兄子
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 138
Child of Elder Brother of Empress Wang (后兄)
son of the empress's elder brother 后兄子 · paternal line
son 子 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 114, passage 265
Child of Man (曼)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176
Parent of Wang Yu (宇)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passage 52

Kinship Role household-males · fathers, elder brothers, sons, younger brothers bound by frugality covenant · Count 4
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 97

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 93 Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi 10 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 85 Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji 1 passage
Book of Later Han, Chapter 33 Volume 29: Biographies of Shentu Gang; Bao Yong; Zhi Yun 17 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 104 Volume 92: Youxias 16 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 15 passages

Career and standing

iron smelter and merchant 鐵冶
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 96
Grand Marshal 大司馬
BC 1 哀帝崩，新都侯王莽為大司馬 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 188
grand marshal 大司馬
BC 1 哀帝晏駕 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 265
six assistant ministers under the Minister of Agriculture 大司農六部丞
Established
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 42
Grand Marshal 大司馬
BC 7 前以大司馬奉送先帝大行 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 244
controller of court government 專政
BC 1 to AD 6 平帝時 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passage 6

Show 39 more source-backed claims

Attendant at the Palace 侍中
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176
Cavalry Commandant 騎都尉
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176
Grand Marshal 大司馬
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 177; Book of Later Han 92, passage 58
Guanglu Grandee 光祿大夫
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176
one of the Three Dukes 三公
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 185
regent 居攝
AD 6 to AD 8 居攝 · Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 283
grand marshal 大司馬
BC 8 莽遂代根為大司馬 · Succeeded to
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 159
Grand Marshal 大司馬
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 214
Marquis of Xindu 新都侯
BC 16 五月 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176
Marquis Zhen / Marquis of Integrity 貞侯
Bestowed posthumously · With Fu Xi (傅喜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 78
Duke of Anhan 安漢公
AD 1 to AD 5 元始中 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 46
Lord of Anhan 安漢公
AD 1 to AD 5 元始中 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 144
Marquis of Xindu 新都侯
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 188; Book of Han 105, passages 138, 244
Marquis of Xindu 新都侯
Received
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176
Duke of Anhan 安漢公
Directly stated · Book of Han 94, passage 161
Marquis of Xindu 新都侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 214
seized sole power 秉政專權
BC 1 秉政專權 · Monopolized power · Entered
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 188
Entered
Regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 285
Entered
Retired to yield to Emperor Ai's maternal relatives
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 177
Entered
Usurper
Directly stated · History of Liao 57, passage 5
Held power
AD 6 to AD 8 王莽居攝 · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passages 42, 44
Held
AD 1 to AD 5 元始中 · Monopolized government
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 144
Held
AD 6 to AD 8 莽居攝 · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 149
Held
Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 13, 118
Seized throne
Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 30
Seized title and mandate
Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 100
confiscation and one year of county labor for false or omitted occupational self-registration 盡沒入所采取，而作縣官一歲
AD 10 又以周官稅民 · Decreed
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 338
exile to the four frontiers for criticizing well-fields or keeping wuzhu coins 投諸四裔
AD 9 to AD 10 莽患之，下詔 · Decreed
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 322
one year of labor for commoners obstructing precious currencies; dismissal for officials 非沮寶貨，民罰作一歲，吏免官
Imposed
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 378
death for private coin casting 私鑄錢死
Death penalty · Previously imposed
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 376
exile to the four frontiers for obstructing precious currencies 非沮寶貨投四裔
Exile · Previously imposed
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 376
confiscation of offender, wife, and children as government slaves for private minting 私鑄作泉布者，與妻子沒入為官奴婢
Enslavement · Reduced to
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 376
Acceded
AD 9 即真 · formally took the throne (即真)
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 288
Usurped throne
AD 9 莽篡位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passage 26
Usurped throne
AD 9 王莽篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 152
Usurped
AD 9 王莽篡位
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 30
Emperor 真
AD 9 即真之後
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 101
usurped the throne
AD 9 及莽篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 186
AD 9 遂篡位
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 285

Places and affiliations

AD 9 即真
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 288
AD 6 to AD 8 居攝
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served as regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 283
BC 1 to AD 6 平帝時
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Controlled
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passage 6
AD 9 莽篡位
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 33, passage 26
Xin 新
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 69, passage 191
Xin 新
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 67

Show 18 more source-backed claims

Polity Western Han · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 285
Polity Xin · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 285
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 244; Book of Jin 109, passage 225
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Usurped
Directly stated · History of Liao 57, passage 5
Polity Wang Mang's regime 王莽 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 267
Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 188
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 301
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Attested in
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 138
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 176; Book of Han 104, passage 144
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 278; Book of Later Han 114, passage 265
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 301; Book of Han 27, passages 360, 393; Book of Han 104, passages 152, 183, 211, 275, 291; Book of Later Han 24, passages 56, 155; Book of Later Han 30, passages 5, 77, 113, 192; Book of Later Han 33, passage 156; Book of Later Han 38, passages 5, 106, 154; Book of Later Han 40, passage 4; Book of Later Han 96, passage 116
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 250; Book of Han 104, passage 29; Book of Han 117, passages 100-101; Book of Later Han 11, passage 260; Book of Later Han 33, passages 67, 76, 289; Book of Later Han 114, passage 175; Book of Later Han 125, passage 10; Draft History of Qing 319, passage 110
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 104, passage 250
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Usurped
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 30
Polity Xin 新 · Relation Usurped
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 108, passages 13, 118
Polity Xin · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passages 100, 142
At Lu 魯
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 96
AD 10 遂於長安及五都立五均官
At Chang'an 長安 · Relation Established offices at
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 330

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author · Direct quotation · Extent Unit Ids s0360, s0361, s0362, s0363, s0364, s0365, s0366, s0367, s0368
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 360-368
Edict · Author · With Lian Dan (廉丹)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 31, passages 92-93
Edict · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 322, 328-329
Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 293-296, 298, 307-308
Rescript · Author · With Peng Xuan (彭宣)
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passages 191-192
Speech · Speaker · With Wang Gen (王根) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passages 139-140, 142

Events and relationships

Abolished inlaid knife contract knife and wuzhu
AD 9 即真 · Monetary · Reformer · Reason claimed the graph Liu contained metal and knife
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 288
Abolished large and small coins and made huo bu and huo quan
AD 14 天鳳元年 · Economic · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 371-373
Altered Han institutions
AD 6 to AD 8 居攝 · Institutional reform · Reformer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 283
Appointed
Political · Ruler · With Zhang Changshu (張長叔)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 107
Appointed
Political · Ruler · With Xue Zicu (薛子促)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 107
Appointed
Political · Ruler · With Wangsun Daqing (王孫大卿)
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 124

Show 89 more source-backed claims

Cast contract and inlaid knives
AD 6 to AD 8 居攝 · Monetary · Issuer
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 283-287
Cast large coin fifty
AD 6 to AD 8 居攝 · Monetary · Issuer · Item Large Coin Fifty 大錢五十
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 283
Cited as usurper analogue whom Yuan should have punished urgently
Political · Exemplar · Mode historical-example Speaker Wei Zheng (魏徵)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 6, passage 166
Cited by Zhi Shou as a warning to the state against arrogance like Dou Xian's
Political · Exemplum
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 289
Created precious currencies
AD 9 即真 · Monetary · Issuer · Item Precious Currencies 寶貨
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 288-316
Currency failed and private wuzhu trade persisted
AD 9 to AD 10 即真 · Economic · Ruler
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 320-322
Demoted gouting king
Diplomatic · Actor · With King of Gouting (鉤町王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 289
Enraged, jailed Zhi Yun for great rebellion, delayed execution, and had Yellow Gate attendants coerce a madness plea
Legal · Authority
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passages 178-179
Escorted Chengdi catafalque
BC 7 前以大司馬奉送先帝大行 · Ritual · Director · With Emperor Cheng (成帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 244
Exchanged chanyu seal
Diplomatic · Actor · With Chanyu (單于)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 289
Executed those who would not support him
AD 1 to AD 5 元始中 · Political purge
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 46
Executed by han forces
AD 23 自發豬突豨勇後四年 · Political · Victim
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 387
Executed
AD 9 莽誅豐父子 · Legal · Authority · With Zhen Feng (甄豐)
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 197
Executed
Legal · Authority · With Zhu Xu (硃詡)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 265
Extinguished house
Political · Authority · With Liu Yong (劉永)
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 169
Extirpated fierce knights and sought by name
AD 6 to AD 8 王莽居攝 · Purge · Authority · With Cao Zhongshu (漕中叔)
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 291
Farmers and merchants lost livelihoods and mass convictions
AD 9 to AD 10 莽患之，下詔 · Economic · Ruler
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 322-324
Fell from power
AD 23 王莽敗 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 211
Fell from power
AD 23 王莽敗 · Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 92
Fell
AD 23 王莽敗 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 195
Fell
AD 23 王莽末 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 38, passage 106
Fell
AD 23 莽敗 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 267
Held power and sought Great Peace
Political · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 280
Held regency
AD 6 to AD 8 王莽居攝 · Regency · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 168
Impeached and dismissed Dong Xian
Legal · Prosecutor · With Dong Xian (董賢)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passages 247, 249
Imposed one in thirty property levy
AD 20 作貨布六年後 · Economic · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 380
Imposed Zhou style idle land and occupation taxes and self registration
AD 10 又以周官稅民 · Fiscal · Taxer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 333-338
Issued edict on six controls
AD 9 後五歲，天鳳元年 · Political · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 360-368
Issued huoquan
Economic · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 260
Killed Pu and exiled household
Legal · Executioner · With Chunyu Pu (酺)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 161
Killed
Legal · Executioner · With Bao Xuan (鮑宣)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 63
Mobilized against xiongnu
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 291-292
Mobilized Koguryo against Xiongnu
AD 9 王莽初 · Military · Authority
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 116
Monopolized government and barred Feng and Wei maternal clans from office
BC 1 to AD 6 平帝時 · Political · Regent
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passage 6
Moved the tripod of Han / shifted the Han throne
Usurpation · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Liang 38, passage 310
Opened granaries and taught wood gruel
Disaster relief · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 304-305
Opened lending five equalizations and balancing offices
AD 10 莽乃下詔 · Economic · Reformer · At Chang'an and the five capitals 長安及五都
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passages 328-331
Ordered Grand Empress Dowager to issue edict dismissing Shentu Gang
BC 1 to AD 6 平帝時 · Political · Instigator · With Grand Empress Dowager Wang (元後)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passages 24-25
Ordered arrest of impostor
Legal · Issuer of edict
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 76
Ordered officials to rear military horses
AD 20 作貨布六年後 · Military · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 381
Ordered six year parallel circulation of large coin and huo quan
AD 14 天鳳元年 · Economic · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 374
Ordered strike
AD 9 王莽初 · Military · Authority · With Yan You (严尤)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 118
Persuaded the empress dowager to recall and reward Fu Xi
Imperial recommendation · With Fu Xi (傅喜)
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passages 72, 76
Raised Chen Zun to Henan governor
Political · Patron · With Chen Zun (陳遵)
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 183
Received Empress Yuan's trust
Court usurpation · Power holder · Mode historical-example Speaker Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝)
Directly stated · zizhitongjian:159:s0133c
Received Zhi Yun's memorial demanding he yield the throne
Political · Addressee
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 168
Recruited prisoners and slaves as boar rushing braves
AD 20 作貨布六年後 · Military · Recruiter
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 380
Regime fell
AD 23 王莽敗 · Political · Subject
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 113
Renamed kings fields banned sale
Fiscal · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 295
named tiger-rank after Meng Ben 以古有勇士孟贲，故名焉
Administrative · Ruler · Renamed tiger guard · With Meng Ben (孟賁)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 251
Renamed title
AD 9 王莽初 · Administrative · Ruler · From Title King of Koguryŏ 高句驪王 · To Title Marquis of Lower Gouli 下句驪侯
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 119
Reported Chang to empress dowager
Political · Accuser · With Chunyu Chang (淳于長)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 144
Reported to the sovereign
Political · Accuser · With Chunyu Chang (淳于長)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 147
Repromulgated gold silver turtle cowry currencies
AD 14 天鳳元年 · Economic · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 370
Restored land slave sales
Fiscal · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 298
Restricted circulation to small coin one and large coin fifty
AD 9 to AD 10 莽知民愁 · Monetary · Reformer
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 325
Rise led to disorder
Political · Grand marshal
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 265
Seized the throne
AD 9 莽篡位 · Political · Usurper
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 33, passage 26
Seized throne
Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Han 56, passages 77, 178
Seized Han throne
AD 9 王莽篡漢 · Political · Usurper
Directly stated · History of Liao 57, passage 5
Seized sole power
BC 1 秉政專權 · Political · Power holder
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 188
Seized throne
Political · Usurper · With Emperor Cheng of Han (成帝)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 225
Seized throne
Usurpation · Usurper · With Liu Ying (劉嬰)
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 95
Seized throne
Usurpation · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passages 10, 67
Set bao huo material and size rules
AD 9 即真 · Monetary · Regulator
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 27, passages 288, 317-319
Sought to destroy descendants
Political · Ruler · With Bao Xuan (鮑宣)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 67
Stripped the Fu clan of palace ranks and titles
Political purge
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 71
Summoned rebuked pardoned and appointed
Legal · Authority · With Yuan She (原涉)
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 276
Summoned
Political · Summoner · With Guo Dan (郭丹)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 192
Suspected and questioned about hiding
Investigation · Authority · With Sun Jian (孫建)
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 292
Usurped the throne and invited Kong Xiu to become National Teacher
Political · Usurper · With Kong Xiu (孔休)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 308
Usurped throne
Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 26
Usurped Han
Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 40, passages 5, 19; Book of Later Han 89, passages 100-101; Book of Jin 101, passage 166
Usurped the throne
AD 9 王莽篡位 · Usurpation · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passage 301
Usurped the throne
AD 9 莽遂篡位 · Political · Usurper · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Ban Gu (班固)
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 301
Usurped the throne
Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 30
Usurped throne
Political · Usurper
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 285; Book of Later Han 108, passages 13, 118
Withheld retirement gifts
BC 1 莽恨宣求退 · Political · Resentful superior · With Peng Xuan (彭宣)
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 193
Wore hemp and gave funeral gifts
Ritual · Mourner · With Ban You (班斿)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 279
Relation Prompted memorial from · Person Kong Guang (孔光)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 254
Relation Rival of · Person Chunyu Chang (淳于長)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 138
Relation Successor of · Person Wang Gen (王根)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 159
Relation Consulted · Person Liu Xin (劉歆)
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 327
Type sought-friendship-with · Person Wujiang Long (毌將隆)
Directly stated · Book of Han 88, passage 248
Relation Treated as elder brother · Person Ban You (班斿)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 278
Relation Reported to · Person Empress Dowager (太后)
Directly stated · Book of Han 82, passage 191
Relation Superior of · Person Yan You (严尤)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 118
Relation Valued · Person Sun Jian (孫建)
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 294
Relation Treated as younger brother · Person Ban Zhi (班穉)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 278

Assessments and attributes

Assessment accomplished in seizing power yet ended in the cauldron and on the block · Mode named-speech Speaker Ban Biao (班彪)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 125
Assessment agitated and restless, unable to remain inactive; insisted on classical textual warrant for every innovation · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 326
Assessment ashamed-to-admit-governance-caused-disaster · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 307
Assessment belonged to the Wang house whose power ultimately overturned the dynasty · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passages 81-82
Assessment cited as a usurper whose disaster should be remembered · Mode quoted-historical-exemplum Speaker Zhou Xu (周䊸)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 149
Assessment greatly pleased · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 96, passage 119

Show 8 more source-backed claims

Assessment had always marveled at Chen Zun's talent · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 183
Assessment his regime was called the yellow phase · Mode hearsay
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 175
Assessment institutions lost the middle way; officials and people were exhausted; the worst case · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 393
Assessment knew the people suffered under the equalization-control agents · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 360
Assessment power and fortune came gradually from Wang clan dominance since Jianshi · Mode historian-judgment Speaker Ban Gu (班固)
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 301
Assessment ruthless and intolerant, yet valued Sun Jian and dropped the probe · With Sun Jian (孫建) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 294
Assessment source of consort-kin calamity under Han · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Liao 67, passage 1
Assessment versed in funeral precedent · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Grand Empress Dowager (太皇太后)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 244

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 301; Book of Han 27, passages 283, 360, 393; Book of Han 104, passages 144, 275; Book of Han 105, passages 138, 244; Book of Han 117, passage 75; Book of Later Han 24, passages 56, 102, 142; Book of Later Han 30, passages 3, 77; Book of Later Han 33, passages 6, 289; Book of Later Han 38, passages 106, 154; Book of Later Han 40, passage 2; Book of Later Han 85, passage 22; Book of Later Han 114, passages 175, 178; Draft History of Qing 319, passage 110
Value historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 156; Book of Later Han 96, passages 30, 116
even before he was killed, household registers of the empire had fallen by half through war, captivity, punishment, famine, epidemic, and cannibalism
Directly stated · Book of Han 27, passage 386
usurpation lasted eighteen years before punishment from the capital
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 101

References in the histories

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History

232 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 11Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng · 2 passages

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五月，封舅曼子侍中騎都尉光祿大夫王莽為新都侯。 In the fifth month, maternal uncle Man's son Wang Mang, Attendant at the Palace and Cavalry Commandant Guanglu Grandee, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xindu.

建始以來，王氏始執國命，哀、平短祚，莽遂篡位，蓋其威福所由來者漸矣！ Since Jianshi, the Wang clan began to grasp the state's fate. Ai and Ping had short reigns, Mang then usurped the throne—indeed the source of his power and fortune was gradual!

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 8 passages

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平帝崩，王莽居攝，遂篡位。 After Ping's death, Wang Mang moved from regency to usurpation.

王莽因漢承平之業，匈奴稱藩，百蠻賓服，舟車所通，盡為臣妾，府庫百官之富，天下晏然。 He inherited a highly favorable geopolitical and fiscal baseline.

莽一朝有之，其心意未滿，骥小漢家制度，以為疏闊。 Though he seized this inheritance in a morning, he was not satisfied and regarded Han institutions as lax and overbroad.

莽乃遣使易單于印，貶鉤町王為侯。 Mang then sent envoys to replace the Chanyu's seal and demoted the King of Gouting to marquis.

莽遂興師，發三十萬眾，欲同時十道並出，一舉滅匈奴； He planned a massive multi-column campaign for decisive destruction of the Xiongnu.

後三年，莽知民愁，下詔諸食王田及私屬皆得賣買，勿拘以法。 After three years of resistance, he partially reversed the prohibition and restored transactions.

莽遣三公將軍開東方諸倉振貸窮乏，又分遣大夫謁者教民煮木為酪； Wang Mang ordered high officials to open eastern granaries for relief and sent envoys to instruct people in making emergency food from boiled wood.

莽恥為政所致，乃下詔曰：「予遭陽九之阨，百六之會，枯旱霜蝗，饑饉荐臻，蠻夷猾夏，寇賊姦軌，百姓流離。 Ashamed to admit that his own rule had produced the disaster, Wang Mang issued an edict: "I have encountered the crisis of Yang-Nine and the conjunction of Hundred-Six. Withering drought, frost, and locusts, famine upon famine, barbarians troubling China, and brigands and rebels in disorder have driven the people from their homes.

Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 13 passages

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王莽居攝，變漢制，以周錢有子母相權，於是更造大錢，徑寸二分，重十二銖，文曰「大錢五十」。 When Wang Mang served as regent, he altered Han institutions. Because Zhou coinage had mother-and-child denominations balancing one another, he newly cast a large coin, one cun and two fen in diameter and twelve zhu in weight, inscribed 'Large Coin Fifty.'

莽即真，以為書「劉」字有金刀，乃罷錯刀、契刀及五銖錢，而更作金、銀、龜、貝、錢、布之品，名曰「寶貨」。 When Mang formally took the throne, he claimed that the graph for 'Liu' contained the elements for 'metal' and 'knife,' and so abolished the Inlaid Knife, Contract Knife, and wuzhu coins. He then created categories of gold, silver, turtle shell, cowries, coin, and spade money, calling them 'Precious Currencies.'

莽患之，下詔：「敢非井田挾五銖錢者為惑眾，投諸四裔以御魑魅。」 Wang Mang worried over this and issued an edict: 'Anyone who dares to criticize the well-field system or keep wuzhu coins is misleading the masses; cast them to the four frontiers to ward off demons and spirits.'

莽知民愁，乃但行小錢直一，與大錢五十，二品並行，龜貝布屬且寢。 Mang knew the people were distressed, so he allowed only Small Coin One and Large Coin Fifty to circulate as two types, while turtle, cowry, and spade currencies were suspended.

莽性躁擾，不能無為，每有所興造，必欲依古得經文。 Mang was by nature agitated and restless, unable to let things be; whenever he launched something new, he always wanted classical textual proof.

莽乃下詔曰：「夫周禮有賒貸，樂語有五均，傳記各有斡焉。 Mang then issued an edict: 'The Rites of Zhou contains lending, the music traditions contain the Five Equalizations, and the transmitted records each contain balancing mechanisms.

莽知民苦之，復下詔曰：「夫鹽，食肴之將； Mang knew the people suffered and again issued an edict: 'Salt is the commander of flavors in food;

莽以私鑄錢死，及非沮寶貨投四裔，犯法者多，不可勝行，乃更輕其法：私鑄作泉布者，與妻子沒入為官奴婢； Mang had previously imposed death for private coin casting and exile to the four frontiers for criticizing or obstructing the precious currencies. Because offenders became too numerous to punish fully, he reduced the law: private minting of Huo Quan or Huo Bu brought confiscation of the offender, wife, and children as government slaves.

作貨布六年後，匈奴侵寇甚，莽大募天下囚徒人奴，名曰豬突豨勇，壹切稅吏民，訾三十而取一。 After the Huo Bu had been in use for six years, Xiongnu raids grew severe. Mang massively recruited prisoners and privately held slaves from across the realm, calling them 'Boar-Rushing Braves,' and imposed a blanket levy on officials and people alike, taking one part in thirty of assessed property.

吏用苛暴立威，旁緣莽禁，侵刻小民。 Officials used harsh violence to establish authority and, taking advantage of Mang's prohibitions, squeezed and carved up the common people.

戰鬥死亡，緣邊四夷所係虜，陷罪，飢疫，人相食，及莽未誅，而天下戶口減半矣。 Through deaths in battle, captures by the Four Barbarians along the frontiers, punishment for crimes, famine, epidemic, and cannibalism, the empire had lost half its households and population even before Wang Mang was killed.

自發豬突豨勇後四年，而漢兵誅莽。 Four years after the Boar-Rushing Braves were first raised, Han forces executed Mang.

至于王莽，制度失中，姦軌弄權，官民俱竭，亡次矣。 By Wang Mang's time, institutions had lost the middle way, treacherous men manipulated power, and officials and people were both exhausted. That was the worst case.

Book of Han, Chapter 38Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 2 passages

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王莽時，徵能治河者以百數，其大略異者，長水校尉平陵關並言：「河決率常於平原、東郡左右，其地形下而土疏惡。 During Wang Mang's rule, more than a hundred "river experts" were recruited. Among the distinct proposals, Guan Bing of Pingling argued that breaches consistently occurred around Pingyuan and Dong Commandery because terrain was low and soils loose.

王莽時，但崇空語，無施行者。 Under Wang Mang, however, empty theorizing was prized and none of these plans were implemented.

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

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王莽敗，乃絕。 When Wang Mang fell, the line was extinguished.

Book of Han, Chapter 47Volume 38: The Five Sons of Emperor Gao · 2 passages

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成帝復立雲兄俚為城陽王，王莽時絕。 Emperor Cheng revived the title for Liu Li, Prince Yun's elder brother, but the line died out under Wang Mang.

子永嗣，王莽時絕。 His son Liu Yong inherited the title until Wang Mang extinguished the house.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 2 passages

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傳子至曾孫，王莽敗乃絕。 The title passed to his son and eventually to his great-grandson; the line ended only when Wang Mang fell.

至哀帝時，乃封參玄孫之孫本始為平陽侯，二千戶，王莽時薨。 Under Emperor Ai, Benshi, a grandson of Cao Shen’s great-great-grandson, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingyang with two thousand households; he died in Wang Mang’s time.

Book of Han, Chapter 56Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen · 5 passages

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元始二年，新都侯王莽興滅繼絕，白太皇太后，立年弟子如意為廣宗王，奉代孝王后。 In Yuanshi 2, Wang Mang, Marquis of Xindu, petitioned the Grand Empress Dowager to restore the extinct line. Nian's nephew Ruyi was enfeoffed as King of Guangzong to continue King Xiao of Dai's line.

莽篡位，國絕。 When Wang Mang seized the throne the line ended again.

元始中，立坐與平帝外家中山衛氏交通，新都侯王莽奏廢立為庶人，徙漢中。 Under Yuanshi, Li was convicted of dealing with the Wei family of Zhongshan, in-laws of Emperor Ping; Wang Mang of Xindu had him reduced to commoner rank and banished to Hanzhong.

後二歲，莽白太皇太后立孝王玄孫之曾孫沛郡卒史音為梁王，奉孝王后。 Two years later Wang Mang persuaded the Grand Empress Dowager to install Yin, a registrar from Pei Commandery and a remote descendant of King Xiao, as king of Liang so that King Xiao's line would continue.

莽篡，國絕。 When Wang Mang seized the throne the line was extinguished again.

Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 1 passage

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王莽時不失爵，建武中歷位至大司空，更封富平之別鄉為武始侯。 He kept his title even under Wang Mang, and in the Jianwu era rose step by step to grand minister of works; he was re-enfeoffed with a detached village of Fuping as marquis of Wushi.

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

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哀帝崩，王莽秉政，諸前議立廟尊號者皆免，徙合浦。 After Emperor Ai died and Wang Mang took charge, everyone who had backed the temple and title controversy was removed from office and banished to Hepu.

業以前罷黜，故見闊略，憂恐，發病死。 Because Du Ye had already been disgraced earlier, Mang let him off lightly; still, Ye lived in such dread that he sickened and died.

Book of Han, Chapter 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 4 passages

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會哀帝崩，新都侯王莽為大司馬，秉政專權。 When Emperor Ai died, Wang Mang of Xindu became grand marshal and seized sole power.

莽白太后，策宣曰：「惟君視事日寡，功德未效，迫於老眊昏亂，非所以輔國家、綏海內也。 Wang Mang informed the Empress Dowager and issued a rescript: "You have held office briefly and shown little merit; age and infirmity unfit you to steady the state within the four seas.

莽恨宣求退，故不賜黃金、安車駟馬。 Mang resented his asking to withdraw and withheld the usual gift of gold, carriage, and four horses.

傳子至孫，王莽敗，乃絕。 The title passed to his son and grandson until Wang Mang fell and the line ended.

Book of Han, Chapter 85Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji · 1 passage

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昌傳子至孫，王莽時乃絕。 Chang passed the title to his son and grandson until Wang Mang’s usurpation ended the line.

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 7 passages

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哀帝崩，王莽白王太后徵寶以為光祿大夫，與王舜等俱迎中山王。 Wang Mang recalled him to greet the boy emperor.

會越巂郡上黃龍游江中，太師孔光、大司徒馬宮等咸稱莽功德比周公，宜告祠宗廟。 A yellow-dragon omen set ministers praising Wang Mang as another Duke of Zhou.

王莽少時，慕與隆交，隆不甚附。 Young Wang Mang courted him; Long kept his distance.

哀帝崩，莽秉政，使大司徒孔光奏隆前為冀州牧治中山馮太后獄冤陷無辜，不宜處位在中土。 When Emperor Ai died and Wang Mang took control of the government, he had Grand Minister over the Masses Kong Guang memorialize that, as former Shepherd of Ji Province, Long had mishandled the case of Empress Dowager Feng of Zhongshan and entrapped innocent people, and therefore should not serve in the central government.

史立時為中太僕，丁玄奏山太守，及尚書令趙昌譖鄭崇者為河內太守，皆免官，徙合浦。 Mang cashiered Shi Li, Ding Xuan, and Zhao Chang to Hepu.

郡中亂，王莽遣使徵詡，官屬數百人為設祖道，詡據地哭。 When Mang recalled Yan Xu, hundreds of clerks wept at his leaving.

王莽擢恢為關都尉。 Mang made the son a frontier colonel.

Book of Han, Chapter 90Volume 79: Feng Fengshi · 1 passage

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子孫傳國，至王莽乃絕云。 The line held the marquisate until Wang Mang ended it.

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 9 passages

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子縯嗣，王莽時絕。 His son Yan inherited the title; the line ended under Wang Mang.

二十一年薨，子紆嗣，王莽時絕。 He died in the twenty-first year of his reign; his son Yu inherited, and the line ended under Wang Mang.

平帝崩，無子，王莽立顯子嬰為孺子，奉平帝后。 When Emperor Ping died childless, Wang Mang set Xian’s son Ying on the throne as the infant heir to carry on Ping’s line.

莽篡位，以嬰為定安公。 When Mang seized the throne he demoted Ying to duke of Ding’an.

漢既誅莽，更始時嬰在長安，平陵方望等頗知天文，以為更始必敗，嬰本統當立者也，共起兵將嬰至臨涇，立為天子。 After Han destroyed Wang Mang, Ying was still in Chang’an under the Gengshi regime. Fang Wang of Pingling and others, versed in the stars, believed Gengshi would fall and that Ying was the rightful heir; they rose in arms, escorted him to Linjing, and proclaimed him emperor.

元始元年，王莽欲反哀帝政，白太皇太后，立雲太子開明為東平王，又立思王孫成都為中山王。 In Yuanshi 1, Wang Mang, undoing Ai’s policies, persuaded the grand empress dowager to make Yun’s heir Kai Ming king of Dongping and to enfeoff Chengdu, grandson of the Prince of Dongping, as king of Zhongshan.

王莽居攝，東郡太守翟義與嚴鄉侯信謀舉兵誅莽，立信為天子。 Under Mang’s regency the eastern governor Zhai Yi conspired with Marquis Xin to march against Mang and proclaimed Xin emperor.

兵敗，皆為莽所滅。 Their forces were crushed and Mang wiped them out.

王莽時絕。 The line ended under Wang Mang.

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 10 passages

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至元始中，王莽為安漢公，誅不附己者，樂昌侯安見被以罪，自殺，國除。 In the Yuanshi years Wang Mang, as Duke of Anhan, purged everyone who would not bend to him. Lechang Marquis Wang An was framed, took his own life, and his marquisate was extinguished.

史氏凡四人侯，至卿、大夫、二千石者十餘人，皆訖王莽乃絶，唯將陵侯曾無子，絶於身云。 Four members of the Shi clan became marquises, and more than a dozen reached ministerial or two-thousand-shi rank; the line ended only under Wang Mang, except Marquis of Jiangling Zeng, who died without heirs.

是時，王莽爲大司馬，乞骸骨，避帝外家。 At that time Wang Mang served as Grand Marshal but asked to retire in order to step aside before the new emperor's maternal relatives.

上既聽莽退，眾庶歸望於喜。 Once the emperor accepted Wang Mang's retirement, public expectation turned to Fu Xi.

上於是用左將軍師丹代王莽爲大司馬，賜喜黃金百斤、上將軍印綬，以光祿大夫養病。 The emperor then replaced Wang Mang with General of the Left Shi Dan as Grand Marshal, gave Fu Xi one hundred jin of gold and the seal and sash of Upper General, and allowed him to convalesce with the rank of Grand Master of the Household.

喜在國三歲余，哀帝崩，平帝即位，王莽用事，免傅氏宮爵歸故郡，晏將妻子徙合浦。 Fu Xi spent three years in his fief. After Emperor Ai died and the child Emperor Ping ascended, Wang Mang took charge, stripped the Fu clan of their titles, and sent them home; Fu Yan removed his wife and children to Hepu on the southern coast.

莽白太后下詔曰：「高武侯喜姿性端愨，論議忠直。 Wang Mang persuaded the empress dowager to issue an edict: "Marquis of Gaowu Fu Xi is sober, steady, and outspoken in loyalty.

莽賜謚曰貞侯。 Wang Mang gave him the posthumous title Marquis of Integrity.

子嗣，莽敗乃絕。 His son inherited the line, which ended when Wang Mang fell.

然至於莽，亦以覆國。 Yet it was that same house that produced Wang Mang and overturned the dynasty.

Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 4 passages

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元始中，莽自尊為安漢公，主又出言非莽。 During Yuanshi, Wang Mang styled himself Duke of Anhan, and the princess openly criticized him.

而況與呂寬相善，及寬事覺時，莽並治況，發揚其罪，使使者以太皇太后詔賜主藥。 Kuang was close to Lü Kuan; when Lü's plot came to light, Wang Mang prosecuted Kuang, publicized his guilt, and sent agents with an edict from the grand empress dowager ordering the princess to take poison.

白太后云主暴病薨。 Wang Mang told the empress dowager she had died of a sudden illness.

太后欲臨其喪，莽固爭，乃止。 She wished to attend the obsequies, but Wang Mang blocked her until she gave up the idea.

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage

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前大司馬新都侯莽退伏弟家，以詔策決，復遣就國。 Wang Mang of Xindu once retired to his brother's house until an edict sent him back to his fief.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 6 passages

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初，雄年四十餘，自蜀來至游京師，大司馬車騎將軍王音奇其文雅，召以為門下史，薦雄待詔，歲餘，奏《羽獵賦》，除為郎，給事黃門，與王莽、劉歆並。 In his forties Yang Xiong left Shu for the capital. Wang Yin, commander-in-chief and chariot general, admired his polish, took him on as a gate clerk, and recommended him as an expectant scholar. A year later his 《Rhapsody on the Imperial Hunt》 won him a gentleman’s post at the Yellow Gate, where he served alongside Wang Mang and Liu Xin.

當成、哀、平間，莽、賢皆為三公，權傾人主，所薦莫不拔擢，而雄三世不徙官。 Through Emperors Cheng, Ai, and Ping, Wang Mang and Dong Xian rose to the three highest posts and bent the throne to their will; every protégé they named leapt up the ladder, yet Yang Xiong never moved rank for three reigns.

及莽篡位，談說之士用符命稱功德獲封爵者甚眾，雄復不侯，以耆老久次轉為大夫，恬於勢利乃如是。 When Wang Mang seized the throne, crowds of rhetoricians won titles by brandishing forged portents—Yang Xiong still took no marquisate, slid sideways by seniority to grandee, and remained indifferent to power and profit.

王莽時，劉歆、甄豐皆為上公，莽既以符命自立，即位之後，欲絕其原以神前事，而豐子尋、歆子棻復獻之。 Under Wang Mang, Liu Xin and Zhen Feng stood among the highest nobles. Mang had risen on forged portents and, once enthroned, tried to bury their origin and cast the earlier events as divine, yet Zhen Feng's son Xun and Liu Xin's son Fen again submitted such documents.

莽誅豐父子，投□四裔，辭所連及，便收不請。 Mang executed the Zhens and banished their kin to the frontiers; anyone named in the indictments was seized without warrant.

莽聞之曰：「雄素不與事，何故在此？」 Wang Mang said, "Yang Xiong never meddled in politics—why is his name here?"

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 1 passage

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薨，子忠嗣侯，訖王莽乃絕。 When he died, his son Zhong inherited the marquisate; the line ended only under Wang Mang.

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 5 passages

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魯人俗儉嗇，而丙氏尤甚，以鐵冶起，富至巨萬。 Lu natives were born tight-fisted, yet the Bings out-misered them all, smelting iron until their fortune hit eight figures.

師史既衰，至成、哀、王莽時，雒陽張長叔、薛子促訾亦十千萬。 When Shi's house waned, Luoyang partners Zhang Changshu and Xue Zicu—through Cheng, Ai, and into Wang Mang's day—matched his nine-figure hoard.

莽皆以為納言士，欲法武帝，然不能得其利。 Wang Mang named them court remonstrance officers and tried to copy Emperor Wu's patronage of merchants, but the treasury never saw a copper of their skill.

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.

王孫卿以財養士，與雄桀交，王莽以為京司市師，漢司東市令也。 Wangsun Qing bankrolled swordsmen and courted bold spirits until Wang Mang named him Capital Market Master, the old Han post of Director of the Eastern Market.

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 16 passages

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及王莽時，諸公之間陳遵為雄，閭里之俠原涉為魁。 By Wang Mang's day Chen Zun lorded it among the great ministers, while Yuan She ruled the back-alley swordsmen.

元始中，王莽為安漢公，專政，莽長子宇與妻兄呂寬謀以血塗莽第門，欲懼莽令歸政。 In the Yuan shi years Wang Mang ruled as Lord of Anhan while his heir Wang Yu and brother-in-law Lü Kuan smeared blood on the mansion gate hoping to scare him into yielding power.

發覺，莽大怒，殺宇，而呂寬亡。 The plot surfaced; Mang executed his own son while Lü Kuan ran.

莽大喜，徵護入為前煇光，封息鄉侯，列於九卿。 Wang Mang was delighted, recalled Lou Hu to govern Qianhuiguang Commandery, enfeoffed him as Marquis of Xixiang, and ranked him among the Nine Ministers.

莽居攝，槐里大賊趙朋、霍鴻等群起，延入前煇光界，護坐免為庶人。 During Mang's regency, the Huaili rebels Zhao Peng and Huo Hong rose in force and spread into Qianhuiguang Commandery; Lou Hu was held responsible, dismissed, and reduced to commoner status.

至王莽篡位，以舊恩召見護，封為樓舊裡附城。 When Wang Mang seized the throne he remembered old ties, summoned Lou Hu, and enfeoffed him as a minor attached-city noble at Loujiuli.

王莽素奇遵材，在位多稱譽者，由是起為河南太守。 Wang Mang admired his gifts; enough officials sang his praise that he was named governor of Henan.

及王莽敗，二人俱客於池陽，竦為賊兵所殺。 When Wang Mang fell they fled to Chiyang, where bandits cut down Zhang Song.

王莽數收系欲殺，輒復赦出之。 Wang Mang jailed him again and again, then pardoned him every time.

尹公如其計，莽果以為真令。 Yin followed the advice; Wang Mang gave him the full prefecture.

王莽末，東方兵起，諸王子弟多薦涉能得士死，可用。 Late in Wang Mang's reign eastern rebels rose; princelings urged hiring Yuan She for his suicide squads.

莽乃召見，責以罪惡，赦貰，拜鎮戎大尹天水太守。 Wang Mang summoned him, rebuked him for his crimes, then pardoned him and appointed him grand administrator of Zhenrong, Wang Mang's name for Tianshui Commandery.

時莽州牧使者依附涉者皆得活。 At the time, all of Wang Mang's provincial governors and envoys who attached themselves to Yuan She were spared.

王莽居懾，誅鋤豪俠，名捕漕中叔，不能得。 Wang Mang's purge named Cao Zhongshu, who vanished.

素善強弩將軍孫建，莽疑建藏匿，泛以問建。 He was tight with General Sun Jian; Wang Mang suspected Jian of hiding him and pressed the general.

莽性果賊，無所容忍，然重建，不竟問，遂不得也。 Wang Mang was vicious but prized Sun Jian, dropped the probe, and never caught Cao.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 15 passages

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根兄子新都侯王莽心害長寵，私聞長取許靡，受長定宮賂遺。 Wang Mang of Xindu, Wang Gen's nephew, envied Chang's rise and quietly confirmed his affair with Xu Mi and the bribes from Changding.

莽侍曲陽侯疾，因言：「長見將軍久病，意喜，自以當代輔政，至對衣冠議語署置。」 At Wang Gen's sickbed Mang said, "Chang sees the general has been ill a long time. He's pleased at heart, thinks he'll replace you as regent, and is even discussing appointments with men in caps and robes in the yamen."

莽曰：「未知將軍意，故未敢言。」 "I was not sure where you stood," Mang replied.

莽求見太后，具言長驕佚，欲代曲陽侯，對莽母上車，私與長定貴人姊通，受取其衣物。 Mang told the empress dowager everything: Chang's arrogance, his designs on Wang Gen's post, his brazen familiarity with Mang's mother at the carriage step, his affair with the Changding noblewoman's sister, and the gifts he took from her.

莽白上，上乃免長官，遣就國。 Mang carried the word to Chengdi, who stripped Chang of his posts and ordered him to his fief.

莽遂代根為大司馬。 Wang Mang stepped into Wang Gen's place as grand marshal.

後酺有罪，莽復殺之，徙其家屬歸故郡。 When Pu offended the law, Mang had him executed and exiled the rest of the family again.

太后曰：「新都侯莽前以大司馬奉送先帝大行，曉習故事，吾令莽佐君。」 She said, "Wang Mang of Xindu once ran the late emperor's obsequies as grand marshal; he knows the rites. Let him help you."

太后遣使者召莽。 She sent for Wang Mang at once.

既至，以太后指使尚書劾賢帝病不親醫藥，禁止賢不得入出宮殿司馬中。 When Wang Mang arrived, at the empress dowager’s instruction he had the Masters of Writing impeach Dong Xian for failing to oversee the emperor’s medicines personally during his illness, and forbade Xian to enter or leave the palace compound.

莽使謁者以太后詔即闕下冊賢曰：「間者以來，陰陽不調，災害並臻，元元蒙辜。 Wang Mang had an usher intone a rescript at the foot of the wall: "Heaven and earth are out of joint; calamities pile up and the people bear the cost.

莽疑其詐死，有司奏請發賢棺，至獄診視。 Wang Mang suspected a ruse and had officials demand that the coffin be opened and the body examined in jail.

莽復風大司徒光奏：「賢質性巧佞，翼奸以獲封侯，父子專朝，兄弟並寵，多受賞賜，治第宅，造塚壙，放效無極，不異王制，費以萬萬計，國家為空虛。 Wang Mang also prompted Kong Guang, Grand Minister over the Masses, to memorialize: "Dong Xian was by nature crafty and fawning. He assisted treachery and thereby won a marquisate; father and son monopolized the court, and brothers shared favor side by side. They received lavish gifts, built mansions and tomb chambers, and imitated royal scale without limit, no differently from the institutions of kings. Their expenses ran into the hundreds of millions and emptied the state.

王莽聞之而大怒，以它罪擊殺詡。 Wang Mang, enraged, found another pretext and had Zhu Xu beaten to death.

而王閎王莽時為牧守，所居見紀，莽敗乃去官。 Wang Hong became a provincial governor under Mang and left a good record; he quit when Mang fell.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 7 passages

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王莽少與穉兄弟同列友善，兄事斿而弟畜穉。 While young, Wang Mang was friendly with Ban Zhi and his brothers, who served alongside him. He treated Ban You as an elder brother and Ban Zhi as a younger one.

斿之卒也，修緦麻，賻賵甚厚。 When Ban You died, Wang Mang donned mourning hemp and gave lavish funeral gifts.

平帝即位，太后臨朝，莽秉政，方欲文致太平，使使者分行風俗，采頌聲，而穉無所上。 After Emperor Ping took the throne, the Dowager regent and Wang Mang in power sought to polish the age into Great Peace, dispatching envoys to survey local customs and collect praise songs, but Ban Zhi sent nothing up.

由是班氏不顯莽朝，亦不罹咎。 Thereafter the Ban house kept out of Wang Mang's limelight and escaped punishment as well.

年二十，遭王莽敗，世祖即位於冀州。 At twenty he lived through Wang Mang's fall and watched Liu Xiu raise the Han banner in Ji.

是以即真之後，天下莫不引領而歎，十餘年間，外內騷擾，遠近俱發，假號雲合，咸稱劉氏，不謀而同辭。 Once Wang Mang mounted the throne as emperor, the realm looked on with clenched throats; within a decade rebellion boiled inside the borders and out, every quarter flew false Liu banners, and men who had never conspired used the same slogan.

故雖遭罹阨會，竊其權柄，勇如信、布，彊如梁、籍，成如王莽，然卒潤鑊伏質，亨醢分裂，又況幺{麻骨}，尚不及數子，而欲闇奸天位者虖！ Though men may seize power in a moment of crisis, even those as brave as Han Xin and Ying Bu, as strong as Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu, or as successful as Wang Mang ended boiled in cauldrons, laid on the block, pickled, or torn apart. How much less should petty men beneath them covertly covet the throne?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 11Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Xiaoxian · 1 passage

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光武中興，除王莽貨泉，更用五銖錢。 After Guangwu restored the Han, he abolished Wang Mang’s huoquan coins and again used five-zhu coins.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 24Volume 21: Biographies of Ren, Li, Wan, Pi, Liu, Geng · 5 passages

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王莽時為新博屬長，郡中鹹敬信之。 Under Wang Mang he served as chief of the Xinbo dependency office, and the whole commandery respected and trusted him.

彤初為王莽和成卒正。 Pi Tong began his career as zuzheng of Hegcheng under Wang Mang.

父艾，為王莽濟平尹。 His father Geng Ai had served Wang Mang as Jiping intendant.

純學於長安，因除為納言士。 Geng Chun studied at the capital and received appointment as a reception gentleman under Wang Mang.

王莽敗，更始立，使舞陰王李軼降諸郡國，純父艾降，還為濟南太守。 After Wang Mang fell and the Gengshi Emperor took power, Prince Li Yi of Wuyin toured the provinces to accept surrenders; Geng Ai submitted and was sent back as governor of Jinan.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 28Volume 25: Biography of Zhuo, Lu, Wei, Liu · 7 passages

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是時，王莽秉政，置大司農六部丞，勸課農桑。 Wang Mang was then in charge; he added six assistant ministers under the Minister of Agriculture to promote farming and silk production.

及莽居攝，以病免歸郡，常為門下掾祭酒，不肯作職吏。 When Wang Mang ruled as regent, Mao pleaded illness and returned home, acting only as a scholar-adviser among local retainers and refusing substantive office.

初，茂與同縣孔休、陳留蔡勛、安眾劉宣、楚國龔勝、上黨鮑宣六人同志，不仕王莽時，並名重當時。 Earlier Zhuo Mao and five like-minded men from his county and beyond—Kong Xiu, Cai Xun, Liu Xuan, Gong Sheng, and Bao Xuan—refused office under Wang Mang and were all famed in their day.

後王莽秉權，休去官歸家。 When Wang Mang seized power, Kong Xiu resigned and went home.

及莽篡位，遣使賫玄纁、束帛，請為國師，遂歐血託病，杜門自絕。 When Mang usurped the throne he sent envoys with ceremonial silks inviting Kong Xiu to serve as National Teacher; Xiu spat blood, feigned illness, shut his gate, and cut himself off.

劉宣字子高，安眾侯崇之從弟，知王莽當篡，乃變名姓，抱經書隱避林藪。 Liu Xuan, styled Zigao, a cousin of Marquis Chong of Anzhong, foresaw Wang Mang's usurpation, changed his name, and hid in the wilds with his classics.

祖父匡，王莽時，為羲和，有權數，號曰『智囊』。 His grandfather Kuang served Wang Mang as Director of Harmonizing the Seasons—clever with policy and nicknamed 'the wisdom satchel.'

Book of Later Han, Chapter 30Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao · 7 passages

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王莽為宰衡，辟命不應。 When Wang Mang held the title of supreme minister and summoned him to office, he refused the appointment.

及莽篡位，又遣使者征之，秉固稱疾病。 After Wang Mang seized the throne and again sent envoys for him, Xuan Bing insisted he was too ill to come.

王莽時，歷太守、都尉。 During Wang Mang's reign he successively held the posts of grand administrator and chief commandant.

王莽時，連征不至。 Wang Mang summoned him repeatedly, but he never answered the call.

王莽時，寢病不仕，教授諸生千餘人。 Under Wang Mang he stayed in bed and refused office, while instructing over a thousand pupils.

王莽敗，盜賊起，林與弟成及同郡範逡、孟冀等，將細弱俱客河西。 When Wang Mang fell and banditry flared, Du Lin fled west of the Yellow River with his brother Du Cheng, Fan Qun, Meng Ji, and others from the commandery, taking women and children along.

王莽又征之，遂與諸生逃於北地。 Wang Mang summoned him again, so he fled north into Beidi with a band of students.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 7 passages

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當王莽居攝篡弑之際，天下之士，莫不竟褒稱德美，作符命以求容媚，譚獨自守，默然無言。 While Wang Mang acted as regent and seized the throne, every scholar vied to flatter him with forged prophecies; Huan Tan alone stayed silent and kept his integrity.

莽時為掌樂大夫，更始立，召拜太中大夫。 Under Wang Mang he served as grandee for music; the Gengshi Emperor named him grandee of the palace.

王莽時，諸公多薦舉之者，衍辭不肯仕。 Wang Mang's high ministers recommended him repeatedly; he refused office.

時，天下兵起，莽遣更始將軍廉丹討伐山東。 When rebellion flared, Wang Mang sent General Gengshi Lian Dan east of the Taihang range.

莽追詔丹曰：“倉廩盡矣，府庫空矣，可以怒矣，可以戰矣。 Wang Mang's follow-up edict read, "Granaries are bare and treasuries empty—anger is due, battle is due.

新室之興，英俊不附。 When Wang Mang founded Xin, no true talent rallied to him.

伏念天上離王莽之害久矣。 All under heaven has suffered Wang Mang's scourge long enough.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 33Volume 29: Biographies of Shentu Gang; Bao Yong; Zhi Yun · 17 passages

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平帝時，王莽專政，朝多猜忌，遂隔絕帝外家馮、衛二族，不得交宦，剛常疾之。 Under Emperor Ping, Wang Mang controlled the court and bred suspicion everywhere; he barred the emperor's maternal relatives of the Feng and Wei houses from office—something Gang bitterly resented.

書奏，莽令元後下詔曰：『剛聽言僻經妄說，違背大義。 When the memorial went up, Wang Mang made Grand Empress Dowager Wang issue an edict: "Shentu Gang spouts twisted learning and wild doctrine; he offends the great norm.

後莽篡位，剛遂避地河西，轉入巴、蜀，往來二十許年。 After Wang Mang seized the throne Gang withdrew west of the river, then moved between Ba and Shu for some twenty years.

父宣，哀帝時任司隸校尉，為王莽所殺。 His father Bao Xuan had been metropolitan superintendent under Emperor Ai until Wang Mang had him executed.

莽以宣不附己，欲不其子孫。 Because Bao Xuan had defied him, Wang Mang meant to destroy his descendants.

都尉路平承望風旨，規欲害永。 Commandant Lu Ping, catching Wang Mang's drift, plotted against Yong.

永疑其詐，諫不聽而出，興遂駕往，永乃拔佩刀截馬當匈，乃止，後數日，莽詔書果下捕矯稱者，永由是知名。 Yong doubted the impostor; Zhao Xing rode out anyway until Yong slashed the horse's breast-strap with his sword; days later Wang Mang's warrant proved Yong right and made his name.

王莽時，寇賊群發，惲乃仰占玄象，嘆謂友人曰：『方今鎮、歲、熒惑並在漢分翼、軫之域，去而復來，漢必再受命，福歸有德。 Under Wang Mang, Yun read the stars and told friends: "Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars stand together in the Wings and Chariot—the Han asterism; they left and returned—Han will receive the mandate again and fortune will favor the worthy.

西至長安，乃上書王莽曰： In Chang'an he submitted a memorial to Wang Mang:

上天垂戒，欲悟陛下，令就臣位，轉禍為福。 Heaven warns you to step down from usurped rank and turn doom into blessing.

劉氏享天永命，陛下順節盛衰，取之以天，還之以天，可謂知命矣。 The house of Liu holds Heaven's long decree; you took power when fate waned—take it from Heaven and return it to Heaven and you may be called wise to destiny.

且堯、舜不以天顯自與，故禪天下，陛下何貪非天顯以自累也？ Yao and Shun did not monopolize celestial omens but yielded the realm—why cling to a stolen sign and ruin yourself?

天為陛下嚴父，臣為陛下孝子。 Heaven is your stern father; your servant is your dutiful son.

父教不可廢，子諫不可拒，惟陛下留神。 A father's lesson stands; a son's warning must be heard—think on this.

莽大怒，即收系詔獄，劾以大逆。 Wang Mang flew into a rage, jailed him under the edict prison, and charged him with high treason.

猶以惲據經讖，難即害之，使黃門近臣脅惲，令自告狂病恍忽，不覺所言。 Because Yun cited omens, Mang hesitated to kill him and had eunuchs pressure him to plead madness.

前後上書陳憲驕恣，引王莽以誡國家。 He repeatedly memorialized against Dou's arrogance, citing Wang Mang as a warning.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

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王莽時，與劉歆等共典校書，拜代郡中尉。 Under Wang Mang he joined Liu Xin and others in overseeing editorial work on the palace books and received appointment as commandant of Dai commandery.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 1 passage

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王莽末，義兵起，劉伯升與族兄賜俱將兵攻湖陽，城守不下。 Late in Wang Mang's reign, Liu Yan (Bosheng) and his cousin Liu Ci besieged Huyang without taking it.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 38Volume 33: Biographies of Zhu, Feng, Yu, Zheng, Zhou · 4 passages

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浮年少有才能，頗欲厲風跡，收士心，辟召州中名宿涿郡王岑之屬，以為從事，及王莽時故吏二千石，皆引置幕府，乃多發諸郡倉谷，稟贍其妻子。 Still young and talented, Zhu Fu sought to burnish his name and rally local elite support: he recruited notable figures such as Wang Cen of Zhuojun as staff officers and drew former Wang Mang–era commandery governors into his headquarters, then drew heavily on commandery granaries to provision their families.

王莽末，四方潰畔，魴乃聚賓客，招豪桀，作營塹，以待所歸。 When Wang Mang fell and chaos spread, Feng Fang gathered clients and bold spirits, threw up fortified camps, and waited to see which banner would prevail.

時王莽貴人魏氏賓客放從，延率吏卒突入其家捕之，以此見怨，故位不升。 When favorites of Wang Mang's Wei consort ran riot, Yu Yan stormed their house with his men and made arrests—earning enemies that stalled his career.

王莽末，天下大亂，延常嬰甲胄，擁衛親族，扞禦抄盜，賴其全者甚眾。 When Wang Mang fell and chaos spread, Yu Yan kept his armor on, shielded his kin from pillagers, and saved many lives.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 40Volume 35: Biographies of Zhang, Cao, Zheng · 2 passages

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純少襲爵士，哀、平間為侍中，王莽時至列卿。 Zhang Chun succeeded to the title while still young; during the Ai and Ping reigns he became attendant-in-chief, and under Wang Mang he advanced to senior ministerial rank.

今禘祫高廟，陳序昭穆，而舂陵四世，君臣並列，以卑廁尊，不合禮意，設不遭王莽，而國嗣無寄，推求宗室，以陛下繼統者，安得復顧私親，違禮制乎？ At the great di and xia rites in the high temple the generations are ordered, yet the four Chunling generations appear as lord and subject together—base beside exalted—which breaks ritual. Had Wang Mang never seized power and the throne lacked an heir, and a clansman had been chosen for you to succeed, would private kin still override the code?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 43Volume 38: Biographies of Zhang, Fa, Teng, Feng, Du, Yang · 2 passages

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王莽時，為縣陽泉鄉佐。 Under Wang Mang he held the post of township aide at Yangquan in his home county.

會莽敗，義兵起，宗乃率陽泉民三四百人起兵略地，西至長安，更始以宗為偏將軍。 After Wang Mang fell and loyal forces rose, Zong rallied three or four hundred men from Yangquan, took the field to seize ground, and marched west to Chang'an, where the Gengshi Emperor named him lieutenant general.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 85Volume 77: Biographies of Cruel Officials · 2 passages

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宣以丹前附王莽、虑交通海贼，乃悉收系剧狱，使门下书佐水丘岑尽杀之。 Dong Xuan, recalling that Gongsun Dan had once served Wang Mang and fearing he might be in league with pirates, jailed the lot in the prison for capital cases and ordered his clerk Shuiqiu Cen to slaughter them all.

宜寻吕产专窃之乱，永惟王莽篡逆之祸，上安社稷之计，下解万夫之惑。” Recall the turmoil when Lü Chan monopolized power, remember Wang Mang’s usurpation, steady the altars on high, and quiet the fears of the common people below.”

Book of Later Han, Chapter 89Volume 80a: Biographies of Writers 1 · 4 passages

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逮及亡新，时汉之衰，偷忍渊囿，篡器慢违，徒以势便，莫能卒危。 When Xin fell and Han tottered, Wang Mang lurked in that same fertile basin, stole the regalia and mocked Heaven's charge, trusting only convenience—yet even he could not finish the ruin he began.

王莽时，以父任为郎，后避难河西，为窦融左护军。 In Wang Mang's day he became a gentleman cadet by hereditary privilege; when turmoil rose he escaped to Hexi and served Dou Rong as left protector general.

初，王莽末，沛国史岑子孝亦以文章显，莽以为谒者，著颂、诔、《复神》、《说疾》凡四篇。 Near Wang Mang's fall, Shi Cen of Pei—style Zixiao—won notice as a writer; Mang named him court usher, and he produced hymns, laments, 《Return of the Spirits》, and 《On Illness》—four compositions.

王莽末，盗贼从横，攻没郡县。 When Wang Mang collapsed, bandits swarmed and seized county seats.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 92Volume 82a: Biographies of Alchemists 1 · 10 passages

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後王莽矯用符命，及光武尤信讖言，士之赴趣時宜者，皆騁馳穿鑿，爭談之也。 Wang Mang then twisted the chenwei oracles to his ends, and Emperor Guangwu believed the apocrypha with unusual fervor, so opportunists raced to wrench texts into shape and outdid one another in expounding them.

王莽篡後，文公推數，知當大亂，乃課家人負物百斤，環舍趨走，日數十，時人莫知其故。 After Wang Mang seized power he foresaw turmoil and made his family shoulder hundred-jin packs and trot laps around the compound daily while neighbors wondered what game he was playing.

時，王莽為大司馬，召仲子。 Wang Mang, then Grand Marshal, summoned Zhongzi.

莽問：「君來何遲？」 Mang asked, 'Why have you come so late?'

仲子具以憲言對，莽陰奇之。 Zhongzi repeated Guo Xian's words, and Mang quietly marked the young man.

及後篡位，拜憲郎中，賜以衣服。 After usurping the throne Mang named him a palace gentleman and sent robes as gifts.

莽深忿恚，討逐不知所在。 Mang raged and hunted him without success.

王莽輔政，召為郎，稍遷酒泉都尉。 Wang Mang, as regent, called him to court as a gentleman and later promoted him to Jiuquan commandant.

及莽篡位，楊乃變姓名為巫醫，逃匿它界。 When Mang seized the throne Xu Yang changed his name, posed as a witch-doctor, and hid in another province.

莽敗，方還鄉里。 After Mang fell he came home.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits · 9 passages

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汉室中微，王莽篡位，士之蕴藉义愤甚矣。 Mid-Han faltered, Wang Mang seized the throne, and every scholar's breast burned with loyal rage.

王莽大司空王邑辟之，连年乃至，欲荐之于莽，固辞乃止。 Wang Mang's grand minister Wang Yi summoned him; he dragged his feet for years, and when Yi tried to push him at court he refused point-blank.

时王莽杀其子宇，萌谓友人曰：“三纲绝矣！ When Wang Mang murdered his own son Yu, Feng told a friend, "The three cardinal ties are cut!

萌素明阴阳，知莽将败，有顷，乃首戴瓦盎，哭于市曰：“新乎新乎！” Feng read the omens: seeing Mang's fall, he soon walked the market with an earthen bowl on his head, wailing, "New! New!"

及王莽窃位，托疾杜门。 When Wang Mang seized the throne, Zhou feigned sickness and barred his gate.

初，党与同郡谭贤伯升、雁门殷谟君长，俱守节不仕王莽世。 Zhou, together with Tan Xian, styled Bosheng, of his commandery and Yin Mo, styled Junzhang, of Yanmen, all kept their integrity and refused office under Wang Mang.

及王莽篡位，弃冠带，绝交宦。 When Wang Mang seized the throne he shed cap and sash and broke with every official tie.

父让，王莽时为城门校尉，封脩远伯，使奉少昊后，寓于北地而卒。 His father Liang Rang, under Wang Mang, was colonel of the gates, enfeoffed Baron Xiuyuan to sacrifice to Shaohao, then moved to Beidi and died there.

王莽篡位，称病归乡里。 Wang Mang's coup sent him home feigning sickness.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Treatise on the Dongyi · 4 passages

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王莽篡位，貊人寇邊。 Wang Mang's usurpation brought Mo tribes down on the border.

王莽初，发句驪兵以伐匈奴，其人不欲行，强迫遣之，皆亡出塞為寇盗。 Wang Mang drafted Koguryŏ troops against the Xiongnu; when forced to march they deserted beyond the frontier and turned bandit.

莽令其將严尤擊之，誘句驪侯驺入塞，斬之，傳首長安。 Wang Mang sent Yan You to lure the Koguryŏ lord Zou inside the border, execute him, and ship the head to Chang'an.

莽大說，更名高句驪王為下句驪侯，於是貊人寇邊愈甚。 Delighted, Wang Mang degraded the Koguryŏ king to "Marquis of Inferior Gouli"—after which Mo raids along the frontier intensified.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 3 passages

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自古以來王公所爲羣祀，至於王莽，《漢書·郊祀志》既著矣，故今但列自中興以來所修用者，以爲《祭祀志》。 The great state sacrifices of kings and nobles down through Wang Mang are already recorded in the Book of Han’s “Suburban Sacrifices”; this treatise therefore confines itself to what has been established and practiced since the dynasty’s revival.

咸曰王莽篡弑竊位，秀發憤興義兵，破王邑百萬眾於昆陽，誅王郎、銅馬、赤眉、青犢賊，平定天下，海内蒙恩，上當天心，下爲元元所歸。 They declared that Wang Mang had seized the throne by murder and usurpation; that Xiu, roused to action, had raised a loyal army, shattered Wang Yi’s host of a million at Kunyang, put down Wang Lang and the Bronze Horse, Red Eyebrows, and Green Calf rebels, restored peace to the realm, and won the gratitude of every shore—that Heaven above approved him and the people below rallied to him.

王莽以舅后之家、三司鼎足冢宰之权势，依托周公、霍光辅幼歸政之義，遂以篡叛，僭号自立。 Wang Mang, wielding the power of the empress's clan, the Three Excellencies, and the chancellor, invoked the precedent of the Duke of Zhou and Huo Guang assisting a young ruler and returning power—then usurped the throne and rebelled.

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

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《汉书·郊祀志》著自秦以来迄于王莽，典祀或有未修，而爰居之类众焉。 The Western Han treatise shows how irregular cults piled up from Qin through Wang Mang.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 114Volume 103: Five Elements Part One · 3 passages

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至哀帝晏駕，后攝政，王莽以后兄子爲大司馬，由是爲亂。 When Emperor Ai died, the empress held the regency; Wang Mang, the empress's elder brother's son, became grand marshal—and chaos followed.

是時，公孙述僭號於蜀，時人窃言王莽称黄，述欲继之，故称白； Gongsun Shu had declared himself emperor in Shu; gossips said Wang Mang's regime had been the "yellow" phase and Shu styled itself "white" as his successor;

王莽末，天水童謠曰：「出吳門，望缇羣。 Near Wang Mang's fall Tianshui children sang: "Out through Wu Gate, eyes on the Ti hills.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 118Volume 107: Five Elements Part Five · 1 passage

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天凤中，黄山宫有死龙，汉兵诛莽而世祖复兴，此易代之征也。 During Wang Mang's Tianfeng reign a dead dragon appeared at Huangshan Palace; Han armies overthrew Mang and Guangwu restored the house—such a corpse foretells the turning of the cosmic mandate.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 125Volume 114: Officials Part One · 1 passage

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唯班固著《百官公卿表》，记汉承秦置官本末，讫于王莽，差有条贯； Only Ban Gu's Table of Officials and Nobles traced how Han took over Qin offices from start to finish, down to Wang Mang, with something like a clear thread;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 126Volume 115: Officials Part Two · 1 passage

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又虎贲旧作「虎奔」，言如虎之奔也，王莽以古有勇士孟贲，故名焉。 The name was once written "tiger-run" for swiftness; Wang Mang linked it to the ancient warrior Meng Ben.

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 2 passages

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而元成多僻，哀平短祚，賊臣王莽，滔天篡逆。 Later emperors slipped; Ai and Ping died young; Wang Mang usurped the throne.

汾水中得玉璽，文曰「有新保之」，蓋王莽時璽也。 Dredging the Fen yielded a jade seal inscribed, "You have Xin to protect it"; it was evidently a seal from Wang Mang's time.

Book of Jin, Chapter 109Volume 109 Records 9: Murong Huang · 1 passage

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成帝暗弱，不能自立，內惑豔妻，外恣五舅，卒令王莽坐取帝位。 Emperor Cheng was weak and could not stand alone; beguiled within by a beautiful consort and indulging the five maternal uncles without, he finally let Wang Mang seize the throne.

Book of Jin, Chapter 127Volume 12 Records 27: Murong De · 1 passage

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思雖無申胥哭秦之效，猶慕君賓不生莽世。」 Though I, Si, lack Shen Baoxu’s effect of weeping at Qin, I still admire Junbin for refusing to live in Wang Mang’s age.”

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 30Volume 30 Book of Later Tang 6: Zhuangzong Annals 4 · 1 passage

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纘業承基，光武所以滅新莽。 succeeding to the enterprise, Guangwu destroyed Xin Mang.

Book of Liang, Chapter 6Volume 6: Emperor Jing · 1 passage

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不急莽、卓之誅，先行昆弟之戮。 He did not urgently punish Wang Mang and Zhuo—first he slaughtered his brothers.

Book of Liang, Chapter 38Volume 38: Zhu Yi; He Chen · 2 passages

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猶二世之委趙高，元後之付王莽。 Think of Er Shi handing everything to Zhao Gao, or Empress Yuan giving the realm to Wang Mang.

呼鹿爲馬，卒有閻樂望夷之禍，王莽亦終移漢鼎。 Call a deer a horse, and in the end Yan Le brings ruin at Wangyi; Wang Mang too shifts the Han throne from its base.

History of Liao, Chapter 57Volume 57 Treatises 27: Ceremonial Guards 3 · 1 passage

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王莽篡漢，平皇后投璽殿階，螭角微玷。 When Wang Mang seized the Han throne, Empress Ping hurled the seal down the palace steps, chipping the chilong horn slightly.

History of Liao, Chapter 67Volume 67 Tables 5: Families of Imperial Consorts · 1 passage

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◎外戚表漢外戚有新室之患，晉宗室有八王之難。 ◎Families of Imperial Consorts Table. Han history warns of the danger consort families posed when Wang Mang seized power; Jin history records the catastrophe of the Rebellion of the Eight Princes.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 319Volume 319 Biographies 106: Yu Minzhong, He Shen Son: Feng Shenyinde, Younger Brother: He Lin, Su Linga · 1 passage

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諸劾和珅者比於操、莽。 Those who impeached He Shen compared him to Cao Cao and Wang Mang.

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

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罪百浞、豷，過十玄、莽，開闢以來，未聞斯比。 His crimes exceed those of Han Zhuo and Yi a hundredfold, his excesses surpass those of Huan Xuan and Wang Mang tenfold—since the beginning of history, nothing like this has been heard.

Book of Wei, Chapter 27Volume 22: Emperor Xiaowen's Five Princes · 1 passage

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昔王莽頭禿，亦藉渭陽之資，遂篡漢室，今君曲形見矣，恐復終成亂階。」 Wang Mang was bald yet rode empress-kin ties to seize the Han throne; your crooked shape is plain already—I fear you will be disorder's stair again."

Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 159Volume 159 Liang Records 15 · 1 passage

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二世之委趙高，元後之付王莽，呼鹿為馬，又可法歟？ The Second Emperor entrusted Zhao Gao; Empress Yuan entrusted Wang Mang—calling a deer a horse—is that law?