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卷7 帝紀第7 宣帝

Volume 7 Annals 7: Emperor Xuan

Chapter 7 of 周書 · Book of Zhou
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1
Intercalary month, on yihai day, an edict granted one year of tax and corvée exemption to eastern refugees who had newly resumed farming, and likewise to households ruined by Turk raids and unable to support themselves. Consort Yang was installed as empress. On xinsi day Superior Pillar-of-State Yuwen Zhao, Prince of Zhao, was made grand preceptor; Yuwen Chun, Prince of Chen, grand tutor; and Pillar-of-State Yuwen Da, Prince of Dai, Yuwen You, Prince of Teng, Wei Chi Yun, Duke of Lu, and Changsun Lan, Duke of Xue, were all made superior pillars-of-state. Pillar-of-State Wang Yi, Duke of Pingyang Commandery, was promoted to Duke of Yang. That month Lu Changqi of You Province seized Fan Yang and rebelled; an edict ordered Pillar-of-State Yuwen Shenju, Duke of Dongping, to lead troops and put down the revolt.
2
Autumn, seventh month, on xinchou day, the moon encroached upon the star before the Heart. On yisi day he sacrificed at the Imperial Ancestors' Temple. On bingwu day he sacrificed at the Round Mound. On wushen day he sacrificed at the Square Mound. On gengxu day Junior Director of Ceremonies Hesi Zheng, Duke of Qi, was made grand director of ceremonies. On bingchen day Mars and Venus conjoined at the Seven Stars. On jiwei day Venus encroached upon the Great Star of Chariot-Pole. On renxu day Pillar-of-State Yang Jian, Duke of Sui and inspector-general of Southern Yan, was made superior pillar-of-state and grand marshal. On guihai day his birth mother Lady Li was honored as empress dowager.
3
西 使 使 椿
Eighth month, on bingyin day, the evening moon sacrifice was performed at the western suburb. Residents of Chang'an and Wannian counties living within the capital were granted three years of tax and corvée exemption. On renshen day he traveled to Tong Province. Grand envoys were dispatched to inspect the provinces. An edict established nine regulations and sent them down to the provinces and commanderies: First, in deciding cases and imposing penalties, all must follow the statutes. Second, when the maternal line is extinct, marriage is permitted with relatives outside the mourning grades on the mother's side. Third, all beatings as punishment must follow the law. Fourth, if bandits and robbers within a commandery or county's jurisdiction are not captured, all must be recorded and reported upward. Fifth, filial sons, obedient grandsons, righteous husbands, and chaste wives should have their households honored; if their talent fits employment, they should at once be recommended. Sixth, some once served the state but never attained rank, and some sank into poverty though civil and military talent could still be used—all should be sought out and reported by name. Seventh, former Northern Qi officials of seventh rank and above were already ordered to be employed; for eighth rank and below, including those outside the register, if they wish to enter service, all may pre-register and receive appointment two ranks lower. Eighth, provinces should recommend the highly talented and broadly learned as xiucai; commanderies should recommend those versed in the classics and upright in conduct as xiaolian; upper provinces and upper commanderies one per year, lower provinces and lower commanderies one every three years. Ninth, those aged seventy and above receive appointment according to regulation; widowers, widows, and those in hardship who cannot support themselves all receive added grain relief. Grand Minister of the Masses Liang, Duke of Qi, was made inspector-general of An Province; Superior Pillar-of-State Changsun Lan, Duke of Xue, was made grand minister of the masses; and Pillar-of-State Wang Yi, Duke of Yang, was made grand minister of works. On gengchen day Venus entered the Supreme Palace. On bingxu day Pillar-of-State Yuwen Chun, Duke of Yongchang, was made grand minister of justice.
4
Ninth month, on dingyou day, Mars entered the Supreme Palace. Pillar-of-State Yuwen Sheng, Wang Jie, Duke of Zhangye, Xin Wei, Duke of Baoquan, and Wei Xiaokuan, Duke of Yun, were all made superior pillars-of-state. On gengxu day the emperor's younger brother Yuwen Yuan was enfeoffed as Prince of Jing. An edict ordered that all who should perform obeisance complete the rite with three bows. Liu Shouluoqian, leader of the Ji Hu in Fen Province, raised troops in rebellion; an edict ordered Superior Pillar-of-State Yuwen Sheng, Prince of Yue, as campaign commander to lead troops and put down the revolt. On gengshen day Mars encroached upon the Left Law-Enforcer.
5
使
Tenth month of winter, on guiyou day, he returned from Tong Province. Grand Minister of Works Wang Yi, Duke of Yang, was made inspector-general of Xiang Province. On wuzi day Baekje sent envoys with tribute.
6
Eleventh month, on jihai day, a military review was held at Daohui Park; Emperor Xuan personally donned armor. That month the Turks raided the frontier, besieged Jiuquan, and killed and plundered officials and people.
7
Twelfth month, on jiazi day, Pillar-of-State Yuwen Xian, Prince of Bi, was made grand minister of works. On guiwei day Mars entered the Base asterism and remained there for a full month. On jichou day Superior Pillar-of-State Yuwen You, Prince of Teng and inspector-general of Heyang, was made campaign commander to lead troops against Chen. Prisoners held in the capital were pardoned and all ordered to join the army.
8
Second month, on guihai day, an edict said:
9
The lands of the Yellow and Luo rivers are called the court and market of the age. Above they align with Heaven, the meeting place of yin and yang; below they are marked on earth, where tribute routes converge. The sage, that the myriad things be abundant and secure, thereupon established royal states. Through five dynasties and a thousand reigns, its scale was vast and its dwellings majestic. Since the Wei house lost control, walls and gates became ruins; gentlemen longed for the old order, and common folk deeply yearned for their native soil.
10
Our Grand Progenitor Yuwen Tai received the mandate at Feng and Hao, set his capital at Xiaohan, pacified the four quarters, and cherished the ambition of Glorious Dwelling. The late Emperor Wu Yuwen Yong, with divine achievement and sage strategy, unified the realm; he toured the eastern lands, inspected the regions and observed customs, and issued government from this palace, thereby shifting the seasonal order. I, with my slight person, reverently received the precious succession; I look to continue the work of restoration and dare not forget the duty of nurturing those who come after. Yesterday I halted at the Golden Walled city and toured it in full; the institutions of the hundred kings, foundations and corners still remain—if we now repair upon them, the work will be easy to complete. It is fitting to charge the state with affairs and restore the former capital. Extravagance and frugality should be taken at the mean between ornament and substance; labor and corvée should follow the principle of willing popular service. Looking north to Henei, a short distance and not far; the former edict on construction should now be halted.
11
Thereupon troops from the eastern provinces were mobilized, one month's corvée was increased to forty-five days of service, and construction of the Luoyang palace was begun. Forty thousand corvée workers were permanently assigned, continuing until the emperor's death. The six offices of Xiang Province were also moved to Luoyang and called the Eastern Capital Six Offices. Pillar-of-State Wang Gui, Duke of Tan and inspector-general of Xu Province, was executed. The southern expedition armies were halted. Yuwen Zhao, Prince of Zhao, had his daughter made Princess Qianjin and married her to the Turks. On wuchen day Superior Pillar-of-State Wei Xiaokuan, Duke of Yun, was made inspector-general of Xu Province. On yihai day he traveled to Ye. On bingzi day it was first ordered that inspector-generals, provincial governors, and those leading troops receive the holding-seal; all others were abolished. On xinsi day an edict said:
12
The sage's great treasure is truly the weighty vessel; dark Heaven displays the mandate, human affairs accord with capacity; the hidden and manifest share one plan—firm and unchanging. Greatness within the realm is truly suspended in the obscure; All under Heaven is public—surely one does not avoid promoting from within. Our Great Zhou received the essence of azure Heaven and the gift of the He and Luo; martial achievement and civil virtue shine through the realm, founding the enterprise and bequeathing the lineage, with glory without end. I, being paltry and thin, reverently received the great succession; above I rely on the former court's achievement of unified rule, below I rely on the lords' undivided hearts. Tribute routes open like clouds and rain together; statutes and ordinances share radiance and extension. All who have round heads and square feet ascend to benevolent longevity; thinking to exalt the state's foundation, thereby extending Heaven's calendar.
13
祿
Crown Prince Yuwen Yan occupies the position of eldest successor; the legitimate succession returns to him. Far relying on accumulated virtue's blessing, he truly accords with boundless fortune. A ruler's measure, not yet solemnized but already fulfilled; Heaven's stipend's term, without scheming already arrived. I now transmit the throne to Yuwen Yan. Thus cherishing the four seas, deeply fitting the hope of songs of praise; letting me alone walk high above the dust of the world. Let the myriad regions and masses know my intent. A great amnesty is proclaimed for all under Heaven; Dacheng year 1 is changed to Daxiang year 1.
14
The emperor thereupon styled himself Tianyuan Emperor; his residence was called Celestial Terrace; his crown had twenty-four tassels, (Chamber) [Carriage] robes, banners and flags—all used twenty-four as the measure. The Inner Scribe and Central Rectifier offices each had a senior grandee appointed. Emperor Yuwen Yan styled his residence Zhengyang Palace; Nayan, Central Rectifier, Guard, and other offices were all modeled on the Celestial Terrace. The empress dowager was honored as Tianyuan Empress Dowager. Zheng Yi, senior grandee and Inner Scribe, was enfeoffed as Duke of Pei. On guiwei day, at the sun's first rising and as it was about to set, both showed dark spots as large as a chicken egg, persisting four days before vanishing. On wuzi day Superior Pillar-of-State Yuwen Sheng, Grand Left Mentor and Prince of Yue, was made grand guardian; Yuchi Jiong, Duke of Shu and grand right assistant, was made grand left mentor; and Yuwen Da, Prince of Dai, was made grand right assistant. On xinmao day an edict ordered the Ye city stone classics moved to Luoyang. Another edict said: "The old capital Luoyang, now that it has been restored, all households originally relocated may return to Luo Province. Other people who wish to go may likewise follow their intent. The seven inspector-generals of Heyang, You, Xiang, Yu, Bo, Qing, and Xu shall take orders from the Eastern Capital Six Offices."
15
Third month, on renyin day, Superior Pillar-of-State Changsun Lan, Duke of Xue, was made inspector-general of Jing Province. On gengshen day he returned from the eastern tour; the armies were arrayed in great formation; Emperor Xuan personally donned armor and entered through the Blue Gate. Emperor Xuan prepared the full imperial procession and entered with it. All officials welcomed him outside the Azure Gate. At that time a sudden downpour fell and the guard of honor lost formation. On xinyou day Prince Zhao Zhao's second son Guan was enfeoffed as Prince of Yongkang county.
16
殿
Summer, fourth month, on the first day, renxu, the responsible offices reported a solar eclipse and that court business would be suspended. When the eclipse hour had passed without eating, he then held audience at the front hall. Consort Zhu was installed as empress of the Heavenly Primordial Emperor. On guihai day Pillar-of-State Prince Bi Xian was made Grand Pillar-of-State. On jisi day he sacrificed at the Imperial Ancestors' Temple. On renwu day a great rite was held at the Hall of Correct Martialness. On wuzi day Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury conjoined in the Well.
17
使
Fifth month, on xinhai day, Xiangguo commandery of Ming Province was made the Zhao state, Jinan commandery of Qi Province the Chen state, Wudang and Anfu commanderies of Feng Province the Yue state, Shangdang commandery of Lu Province the Dai state, and Xinye commandery of Jing Province the Teng state, each with ten thousand households. Prince Zhao Zhao, Prince Chen Chun, Prince Yue Sheng, Prince Dai Da, and Prince Teng You were all sent to their states. On guichou day a meteor as large as a dipper emerged from Supreme Palace Enclosure and trailed down like scattered embers. That month, envoys were sent to select daughters of gentry and commoners in Jingzhao and the various provinces to fill the inner palace. The Turks raided Bing Province.
18
西
Sixth month, on dingmao day, a meteor as large as a chicken egg emerged from the Root, flowed northwest for a length of one zhang, and entered the moon. On jisi day the moon encroached upon the second star at the northern head of the Room. On yiyou day a meteor as large as a dipper emerged from Encampment and flowed into the eastern Wall. That month, pool water at Xianyang turned to blood. The people of the eastern provinces were mobilized to repair the Long Wall.
19
Autumn, seventh month, on gengyin day, Grand Minister of Works Prince Bi Xian was made governor of Yong Province, Grand Rear Chancellor Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, was made Grand Front Advisor, and Pillar-of-State Sima Xiaonan, Duke of Xingyang, was made Grand Rear Chancellor. On renchen day Mars masked the first star at the northern head of the Room. On bingshen day the daughter of Grand Rear Chancellor Sima Xiaonan was taken in as empress of the Zhengyang Palace. The Heavenly Primordial Emperor's dowager empress Lady Li was honored as Grand Heavenly Dowager Empress. On renzi day Empress Zhu of the Heavenly Primordial Emperor was retitled Grand Heavenly Empress. Consort Yuan was installed as Heavenly Right Empress and Consort Chen as Heavenly Left Empress.
20
殿
Eighth month, on gengshen day, he traveled to Tong Province. On renshen day he returned to the palace. On jiaxu day General Chen Shanti, father of the Heavenly Left Empress, and Opening-the-Feudatory Yuan Sheng, father of the Heavenly Right Empress, were both made Grand Pillar-of-State. Shanti was enfeoffed Duke of Yu and Sheng Duke of Yi. Opening-the-Feudatory Yang Xiong was made Duke of Han and Yifu Shi Duke of Dai. At first, High Ancestor had drawn up the Essentials of Punishment Law, applying the law with severity. When Emperor Xuan took the throne, because the realm had only just been pacified and he feared hearts were not yet won, he abolished it. By this time a great rite was held at the Hall of Correct Martialness and proclaimed to Heaven before being put into effect. On xinsi day Mars encroached upon the fifth star of the Southern Dipper. On renwu day Grand Pillar-of-State and Yong Province governor Prince Bi Xian was made Grand Preceptor, and Grand Pillar-of-State Han Jianye, Duke of Xun, was made Grand Left Assistant. That month, in various places ant colonies fought one another in masses four or five chi square; eight or nine tenths of them died.
21
使
Ninth month, on jiyou day Venus entered the Southern Dipper. On yimao day Prince Feng Zhen was made Grand Steward. Grand Pillar-of-State Wei Xiaokuan, Duke of Yun, was made campaigning marshal and led campaigning commanders-in-chief Yu Liang, Duke of Qi, and Liang Shiyan, Duke of Cheng, against Chen. Director of Correctness Du Guo and the Ministry of Rites' Xue Shu were sent as envoys to Chen.
22
殿
Tenth month of winter, on renxu day Jupiter encroached upon the great star of the Chariot Handle. That day the emperor visited Dao Assembly Park for a great rite, with High Ancestor Emperor Wu as associate spirit. When the rite concluded, deliberations were held in the traveling hall. That year Buddhist images and images of the Heavenly Worthy were first restored. By this time the emperor sat facing south together with both images, displayed a great array of mixed entertainments, and allowed the gentry and people of the capital to watch freely. On yiyou day Mars and Saturn conjoined in Emptiness. That month Duan Deju of Xiang Province plotted rebellion and was executed.
23
退
Eleventh month, on yiwei day, he visited the hot springs. On wuxu day he traveled to Tong Province. On renyin day he returned to the palace. On jiyou day a star as large as a dipper emerged from the Spread and flowed southeast, its brightness illuminating the ground. On dingsi day the Everlasting Circulation Ten Thousand States coin was first cast, valued at ten, and circulated together with the Five Elements Large Cloth coin. That month Wei Xiaokuan captured Shouyang, Yu Liang, Duke of Qi, captured Huangcheng, and Liang Shiyan captured Guangling. The Chen forces retreated. Thereupon the entire north of the Yangzi was pacified. Twelfth month, on wuwu day, because portents and anomalies had repeatedly appeared, the emperor held audience at the Road Hall and received the hundred officials. An edict declared:
24
祿 使
"The vaulted Heaven is above; understanding comes from below. Fortune and calamity depend on men; portents do not arise of themselves. I am of meager virtue yet rule the realm; the Great Way has not been practiced, and petty reliance on omens is not a blessing. From autumn until this deep winter, both seen and unseen have been earnest and have repeatedly sent severe warnings. There were Venus entering the Southern Dipper, Jupiter encroaching on the Chariot Handle, Mars interfering with the Room, then conjoining with Saturn; meteors lit the night flowing southeast. Now the Southern Dipper governs rank and stipend; the Chariot Handle pertains to the inner palace; the Room is called the Bright Hall, the seat of government; fire and earth together are omens of calamity and disorder; meteors are signs of military disaster. Could it be that officials are out of order, women still meddle in affairs, government runs contrary to the norm, and trouble is about to come? How clear and emphatic these signs are! Looking up and looking down, I am truly afraid. I shall leave the principal chamber, dwell in seclusion with disciplined thought, wear coarse clothes and reduce my meals, remove adornments and take down bells and chimes, show unreserved sincerity, and open a path for frank speech. I wish to ensure punishments do not spread indiscriminately, rewards do not exceed merit, selection be by talent, and the inner palace cultivate virtue. This should be proclaimed within and without, so that all may assist in harmony, accord with the people's hearts, and dispel Heaven's reproof.
25
殿 便
Thereupon he set aside his guards and went to the Tianxing Palace. The hundred officials submitted memorials urging him to resume normal residence and meals, and he assented. On jiazi day he returned to the palace. He sat at the Hall of Correct Martialness, gathered the hundred officials, inner-palace women, and wives of officials inside and out, arrayed a great display of singing girls and musicians, and also allowed foreigners to perform the begging-for-cold rite, splashing one another with water for amusement. On yichou day he traveled to Luoyang. The emperor himself rode relay horses, traveling three hundred li a day. The four empresses and several hundred civil and military attendants all rode relays to follow. He ordered the four empresses' chariots to drive abreast; if any fell ahead or behind he at once reprimanded them, and men and horses collapsed one after another in exhaustion. On jimao day he returned to the palace.
26
Second year, first month of spring, on dinghai day the emperor received court at Dao Assembly Park. On guisi day he sacrificed at the Imperial Ancestors' Temple; on yisi day two screens were made, painted with images of the sun and moon, and placed to left and right. On wushen day there was snow and rain. When the snow stopped, fine yellow dust rained down and continued for some time before ceasing. On yimao day an edict granted newly submitted people of the Jiangzuo provinces twenty years' relief from levies and for the first time taxed market entrants one coin per person.
27
使 禿殿
Second month, on dingsi day, the emperor visited Lumen Academy and performed the libation sacrifice to Confucius. On wuwu day the Turks sent envoys presenting local products and also escorting the Thousand Gold Princess. On yichou day imperial edicts were renamed Heavenly Decrees and orders were renamed Heavenly Commands. On renwu day the Heavenly Primordial Dowager Empress was honored as Supreme Heavenly Primordial Dowager Empress, and Grand Heavenly Dowager Empress Lady Li was styled Sacred Heavenly Primordial Dowager Empress. On guiwei day Heavenly Primordial Empress Lady Yang was installed as Grand Heavenly Primordial Empress, Grand Heavenly Empress Zhu as Grand Heavenly Empress, Heavenly Right Empress Yuan as Grand Heavenly Right Empress, and Heavenly Left Empress Chen as Grand Heavenly Left Empress. The empress of the Zhengyang Palace was simply styled Empress. That day at Luoyang bald ibises gathered before the newly built Hall of Supreme Polarity. At Ying Province a black dragon appeared and fought a red dragon beside the Bian River; the black dragon died.
28
椿
Third month, on dinghai day, a great communal feast was granted to officials and the people. An edict declared: "The line of a sage of flourishing virtue is said never to perish; merit shown to the people deserves clear place in the sacrificial canon. Confucius stored past virtue and embodied innate wisdom; with the talent of a great sage he belonged to the fortune of a thousand ages, broadly carried forward Confucian learning and set in order human relations. As for silently aiding the principle of Heaven and man and completing the work of rites and music, thus he became the model for a hundred kings and his influence extends through ten thousand generations. I reverently receive the precious succession and keep the teaching close to heart; speaking of Zhu and Si, my regard for the Way grows deeper. Though the enfeoffment at Baocheng restored the old title, the honoring of sacred merit still falls short. He may be posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Zou, with a fief commensurate with the old standard. A descendant shall be installed to receive succession in perpetuity. A separate temple shall be established in the capital and sacrifices offered at the proper seasons." On wuzi day Yu Liang, Duke of Qi and campaigning commander-in-chief, raised troops in rebellion and attacked campaigning marshal Wei Xiaokuan, Duke of Yun, at Yu Province. Liang did not prevail; Xiaokuan captured and killed him. On xinmao day Duke of Yongchang Chun was made Duke of Qi to continue the line of Duke of Jian Lian. He traveled to Tong Province. The number of advance scouts was increased, and outriders cleared the road in three hundred and sixty ranks; from the Responding Gate to Red Bank Marsh, over several tens of li, banners hid one another and drums and music sounded together. He also ordered armored guards to carry halberds on horseback and call out the imperial progress, all the way to Tong Province. On yiwei day the Tong Province palace was renamed Tiancheng Palace. On gengzi day he returned from Tong Province. An edict ordered that officials of the Heavenly Terrace guard all wear five-colored and red, purple, and green garments, with mixed colors as trim, called graded-color robes. On great occasions they were worn alternately with formal and semi-formal court dress. An edict ordered that all wives of officials inside and out carry tablets; in bowing at the Imperial Ancestors' Temple and the Heavenly Terrace they all prostrated themselves. The Heavenly Central Grand Empress was first established. Grand Heavenly Left Empress Chen was installed as Heavenly Central Grand Empress, and Consort Yuchi was installed as Grand Heavenly Left Empress.
29
使調 西
Summer, fourth month, on yichou day, a star as large as a dipper emerged from the Celestial Kitchen, flowed into the Purple Palace, reached the Hooked Array, and vanished. On jisi day he sacrificed at the Imperial Ancestors' Temple. An edict declared: "I am of meager endowment and ignorant of the way to govern; I cannot make Heaven and earth harmonious or yin and yang properly ordered. From spring through summer sweet rain has not been abundant; I already grieve for the western suburbs, and the southern fields' work is about to suffer loss. Reflecting at night with vigilance, I do not forget this warning from darkness. Truly it is because virtue and transformation have not spread and government and punishments have often gone wrong; if the myriad regions have guilt, the blame lies on my person. I think to extend broad kindness and spread it over all the land. All prisoners facing death shall have their sentences reduced one degree to exile; exile shall become penal servitude; punishments of five years and below shall all be pardoned. Those guilty of rebellion, wickedness, and inhumanity, and those whom regular amnesties cannot exempt, are not within the scope of reduction." On renwu day he visited (Zhong) Mountain to pray for rain. When he reached Xianyang Palace, rain fell. On jiashen day he returned to the palace. He ordered the gentry and women of the capital to perform music in the streets to welcome him.
30
殿
Fifth month, on jichou day, Grand Pillar-of-State and Grand Front Advisor Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, was made governor-general of Yang Province. At midnight on jiazi day the emperor prepared the full imperial procession and visited the Tianxing Palace. On yiwei day the emperor fell ill and returned to the palace. An edict ordered Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, to enter and attend his illness. On jiachen day a star as large as three dippers emerged from the End Gate of Supreme Palace Enclosure, flowed into the Wings, and sounded like wind beating banners and drums. On dingwei day the princes of Zhao, Chen, Yue, Dai, and Teng were summoned to court. On jiyou day his illness became extreme. Director of Correctness Subordinate Grandee Liu Fang and Inner Scribe Senior Grandee Zheng Yi forged an edict appointing Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, to receive the testamentary charge and assist in government. That day Emperor Xuan died in the Tiande Hall. He was then twenty-two years old; his posthumous title was Emperor Xuan.
31
Seventh month, on bingshen day, he was buried at Dingling.
32
When Emperor Xuan was in the Eastern Palace, High Ancestor feared he could not bear the succession and treated him with great severity. In attending court and in advancing or withdrawing he was no different from the other ministers; even in deep cold or blazing heat he was not allowed rest. His nature being fond of wine, High Ancestor therefore forbade ale and sweet wine from reaching the Eastern Palace. Whenever Emperor Xuan had faults, blows were at once added. High Ancestor once said to him: "Through the ages, how many crown princes have been deposed? Are my other sons unfit to be installed?" Thereupon Eastern Palace officials and staff were sent to record Emperor Xuan's words and actions and report them monthly. Emperor Xuan feared High Ancestor's majesty, feigned feeling and adorned himself, and so his faults and wickedness did not reach the outside.
33
便 殿耀
At the beginning of his succession he at once gave free rein to his desires. While the late emperor lay in the coffin he showed not the least grief; he at once inspected the late emperor's palace women and forced them into licentious disorder. Hardly more than a year had passed before he indulged freely in music and song and selected daughters from throughout the realm to fill the inner palace. He loved to boast of himself and cover faults while rejecting remonstrance. After abdicating the throne he became even more arrogant and extravagant, drowning himself in drink in the inner palace, sometimes not emerging for ten days at a stretch. When close ministers and high officials came to request business, all submitted through eunuch officials. The halls where he dwelt and their curtains and canopies were all adorned with gold, jade, and jewels, dazzling in brilliance, reaching the utmost splendor and extravagance. When the Luoyang palace was built, though it was not yet finished, its scale and magnificence far surpassed Han and Wei.
34
殿 西
He honored himself alone and feared nothing. State institutions and court ritual he altered according to whim. The titles and ranks of the inner palace cannot be fully recorded. Whenever he faced his ministers he called himself Heaven. He had the five-colored earths smeared on the Tiande Hall where he sat, each according to its directional color. He also in the inner palace sat in a row with the empresses and others, using ancestral temple ritual vessels such as goblets, libation cups, and jade scepters for eating and drinking. He also ordered that all who attended court at the Heavenly Terrace observe fasting for three days and purify the body for one day. Carriages, banners, seals, and robes were double the number of former kings. Since he compared himself to the Supreme God, he did not wish others to be like himself. Once, seeing the gold cicada on his own sash and on his Tongtian crown, and the gold cicadas on attending ministers' martial caps, and sashes on kings and dukes, he ordered them all removed. He also forbade anyone to use lofty titles; those surnamed Gao were changed to Jiang; the nine kin who called the great-grandfather "high ancestor" called him "chief ancestor," and the grandfather "second chief ancestor"; official titles that used "supreme" or "grand" were changed to "chief," and those with "Heaven" were also changed. He also ordered that all carriages in the realm use wheels of whole-formed wood, forbade all women in the realm to apply powder and rouge, and allowed only palace women to ride spoke-wheeled carriages and apply powder and rouge. Duke of Xiyang Wen was the son of Yu Liang, Duke of Qi, and the emperor's cousin once removed. His wife Lady Yuchi was beautiful in appearance; because she entered court, the emperor gave her wine to drink and forced her into licentiousness. When Liang heard of it he feared execution and therefore rebelled. Hardly had Wen been executed when Lady Yuchi was summoned into the palace; at first she was made consort, and soon afterward was installed as empress.
35
殿
Whenever he summoned attending ministers to discuss affairs, he wished only to undertake construction and change; he never spoke of governing the state. Thereafter his pleasures knew no constancy; going out and coming in he showed no (restraint) [decorum]; with guard of honor he went out at dawn and returned at night. Sometimes he visited the Tianxing Palace or roamed Dao Assembly Park; the officials who accompanied him could not endure the strain. Miscellaneous music, mixed entertainments, and fish-dragon pageantry were constantly before his eyes. He loved to have youths of the capital dress in women's clothes, enter the hall to sing and dance, and watch with the inner palace as entertainment.
36
He pushed away close ministers and was much given to suspicion. He was also stingy with wealth and almost never gave rewards. Fearing that ministers would remonstrate and he could not carry out his wishes, he constantly sent attendants to spy on them in secret; their movements and actions were all copied down, and the slightest transgression brought punishment. From high officials downward all were beaten with the cudgel; among them those executed, beaten to death, dismissed, or removed cannot be fully told. Whenever he beat people, one hundred and twenty strokes was the standard, called the Heaven Rod. Palace women and inner attendants were treated the same way. Consorts, imperial concubines, and palace ladies, though favored, were also often beaten on the back. Thereupon inside and outside were filled with fear; men did not feel secure and all sought merely to escape; none had firm resolve; walking on tiptoe and holding their breath, they reached the end.
37
使
The historian writes: High Ancestor knew the heir lacked talent yet regarded the ancestral temple as supremely weighty; lingering affection was like Jin Emperor Wu, but discernment differed from Song Emperor Xuan. He only wished to awe him with the birch rod and expect reform through stern discipline—was the teaching of upright principle really like this? In the end a benighted and cruel ruler held the throne; wicked men ran rampant; good, however small, was always cast aside; evil, however great, was never left undone. Exhaust the bamboo of the Southern Mountains and it would not suffice to record his faults; Use up all the brushes of the Eastern Pavilion and they could not record his crimes. Yet he still kept his head intact and died leaving a son—fortunate indeed.
38
The entire text has been collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Zhou, November 1971.
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