Emperor Guangwu of Han (漢光武帝)

Overview

Emperor Guangwu of Han was a Founder and first emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Liu Xiu	劉秀	Liu Xiu
Posthumous name	Emperor Guangwu	光武皇帝	Guangwu
Temple name	Shizu	世祖	Shizu
Alternate name	Wenshu	文叔	Wenshu

Life and dates

Death

AD 57 后二年，宫车晏驾
Died
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 48
Died
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 48

Age

28
Reckoning Sui · Context raised troops
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 122
62
Reckoning Sui · Context at feng-shan; thirty-second year on throne
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 129

Attested activity

AD 37 建武十三年九月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 126, passage 272
AD 42 建武十八年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 62
AD 51 建武二十七年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 25
AD 25 to AD 57 AD 25-57
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 85, passage 27; Book of Southern Qi 48, passage 147
AD 57 三十三年正月辛未
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 109, passages 3, 5-6, 8
AD 25 to AD 57 世祖
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 127, passages 146, 179-180

Show 66 more source-backed claims

AD 25 to AD 57 世祖中兴
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 125, passage 6
AD 25 to AD 57 世祖中兴
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passages 48, 148, 206, 243
AD 25 世祖即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 37, passage 26
AD 25 世祖即位於冀州
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 92
AD 46 世祖建武二十二年九月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 117, passage 9
AD 29 世祖建武五年夏
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 114, passage 131
AD 56 中元元年十一月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 49
AD 25 to AD 57 光武…建武
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 43, passages 197-198
AD 25 to AD 57 光武
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 43, passage 20; Book of Later Han 92, passage 10; Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299; Book of Song 55, passage 13
AD 25 to AD 57 光武
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 143, passage 163
AD 25 光武
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 2, passage 167
AD 25 to AD 57 光武（東漢光武帝）
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 35, passage 110
AD 25 to AD 57 光武中興
Directly stated · History of Song 141, passage 369
AD 25 to AD 57 光武以馮衍才浮其實，故棄而不齒。
Directly stated · Book of Song 62, passage 111
AD 25 光武先保河內
Directly stated · History of Song 359, passage 30
AD 25 光武初即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 28, passages 46, 309, 311
AD 25 to AD 56 光武即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 57
AD 25 光武即位
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 6; Book of Later Han 89, passage 150; Book of Later Han 94, passage 57
AD 26 光武帝建武二年正月甲子朔
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 3
AD 37 光武建武十三年
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 17, passage 5
AD 25 to AD 57 光武擊張步
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 16, passage 113
AD 25 to AD 57 光武皇帝
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 56
AD 57 光武皇帝崩，明帝即位
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 48
AD 44 光武诏诔吴汉
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 6
AD 32 八年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 70
AD 14 to AD 19 天凤中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 118, passage 23
AD 25 to AD 56 建武
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 32, passages 1, 200
AD 25 to AD 57 建武
Uncertain · Book of Liang 11, passage 24
AD 31 建武七年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 370
AD 31 建武七年三月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 21, 23
AD 31 建武七年五月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 37
AD 31 建武七年四月丙寅
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 197
AD 55 建武三十一年五月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 47
AD 56 建武三十二年二月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 85, 101, 131
AD 56 建武三十二年正月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 50
AD 54 建武三十年三月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 97
AD 54 建武三十年二月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 92-93
AD 27 建武三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 110, passage 6
AD 27 建武三年七月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 114, passage 300
AD 27 建武三年五月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 15, 17
AD 25 to AD 56 建武中
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passage 46
AD 25 to AD 56 建武中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 128, passage 157
AD 56 建武中元元年四月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 88
AD 53 建武二十九年二月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 41, 44
AD 46 建武二十二年五月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 33
AD 49 建武二十五年三月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 38, 40
AD 50 建武二十六年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 110, passage 28
AD 26 建武二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 24, passages 147, 150; Book of Later Han 110, passage 3
AD 26 建武二年正月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 18
AD 29 建武五年冬
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 7
AD 25 to AD 56 建武以来
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 128, passage 91
AD 25 建武元年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 7
AD 30 建武六年九月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 18
AD 41 建武十七年二月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 28, 32
AD 43 建武十九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 110, passage 8
AD 42 建武十八年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 37, passage 30
AD 42 建武十八年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 23
AD 40 建武十六年三月
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 25, 27
AD 25 to AD 56 建武時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 131, passage 73
AD 23 to AD 30 徇河北至建武初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 24, passages 103-106, 119-121, 236-237, 239
AD 23 to AD 25 更始時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 114, passages 170, 173
AD 25 to AD 57 東漢光武之世
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passage 82
AD 25 to AD 57 漢光武
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 24, passage 125
AD 25 漢光武中興
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 139
AD 23 to AD 24 聞世祖從薊還
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 143
AD 25 至世祖踐祚
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 131, passage 17

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Marquis Jieling of Chunling (舂陵节侯)
up to the Jieling marquis 以上至舂陵节侯 · paternal line · 4 generations
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 6
Sibling of Brother of Emperor Guangwu (漢光武兄)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 24, passage 125
Spouse of Empress Guo (郭后)
empress consort 后
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 145
Spouse of Empress Guo (郭皇后)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage · Divorced
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 32
Child of Lord of Nandun (南顿君)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 6
Kin of Fan Hong (樊宏)
maternal uncle 舅
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Later Han 37, passage 1
Parent of Emperor Ming (顯宗)
succeeded 即位
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 110, passage 48

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Grand Marshal 大司马
AD 25 世祖即位 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 24
Grand Minister of Education 大司徒
AD 25 世祖即位 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 58
Grand Minister of Works 大司空
AD 25 世祖即位 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 69
grand marshal 大司馬
AD 23 to AD 25 更始時 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 170
Emperor 帝
Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 43, passage 20
Shizu / World Exemplar temple title 世祖
Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 48

Show 11 more source-backed claims

Emperor Guangwu
Emperor · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 128, passages 91, 157
Emperor 帝
Emperor · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passages 146, 179-180
Held
Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 7, 129
Commuted death sentence and returned prisoner to jail
With Dong Xuan (董宣)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 27
general amnesty 大赦天下
AD 56 建武三十二年四月己卯 · Proclaimed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 88
Summoned and intended to club to death
With Dong Xuan (董宣)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 39
Acceded
AD 25 光武初即位
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 46
Ascended throne
AD 25
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 87
AD 25 世祖即位於冀州
At Ji Province 冀州
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 92
enthroned at Hao 即位于鄗
AD 25 建武元年 · At Hao 鄗
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 7
took the throne 即位
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 34, passage 6

Places and affiliations

Eastern Han 东汉
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 117, passage 9
Eastern Han 東漢
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 37, passage 26; Book of Later Han 92, passages 10, 369
Polity Han · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 17, passage 5
Polity Eastern Han 东汉 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 6; Book of Later Han 126, passage 206
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Restored
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 6, 122
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 143, 236-237; Book of Later Han 32, passages 1, 200; Book of Later Han 85, passage 27

Show 14 more source-backed claims

Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passages 131, 173
Polity Eastern Han 汉 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 3
Polity Eastern Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 24, passage 125; Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299
Polity Eastern Han · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passages 6, 23
Polity Gengshi regime 更始 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 170
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 92; Book of Later Han 108, passages 7, 37
At Gaoyi 高邑 · Relation Proclaimed at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 108
At Guangwu's shrine 世祖庙 · Relation Enshrined at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 48
At Hao 鄗 · Relation Enthroned at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 7
At Ji Province 冀州 · Relation Acceded at
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 92
At Luoyang 雒阳 · Relation Founded temple at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 3
At Luoyang 雒阳 · Relation Resided at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 17
At Luoyang 雒陽 · Relation Established suburban altar at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 18
At Mount Tai 泰山 · Relation Performed feng at
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 101, 131

Learning and skills

Belief chenwei apocrypha 讖言 · Relation Believer in
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 10

Works and attributed material

praised and rewarded Zhuo Mao
AD 25 光武初即位 · Edict · Issuer · With Zhuo Mao (卓茂)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passages 47-49
AD 31 建武七年五月
Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 37-38
AD 56 建武三十二年二月
Inscription · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 101-138
AD 54 建武三十年二月
Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 93-95
AD 25 建武元年
Prayer · Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 11-17
Annals of Guangwu 光武纪
Annals reference · Subject of annals
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 6

Show 7 more source-backed claims

Edict · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passages 32, 35
Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passages 95-97; Book of Later Han 110, passages 18-22
He asked Dong Xuan what he wished to say.
Speech · Speaker · With Dong Xuan (董宣) · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Emperor Guangwu of Han (漢光武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 41
He joked that one basket of cakes had earned Fan Ye a commandant's post.
Speech · Speaker · With Fan Ye (樊晔) · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Emperor Guangwu of Han (漢光武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 65
The Son of Heaven is not the same as a commoner.
Speech · Speaker · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Emperor Guangwu of Han (漢光武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 48
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode named-source-report Speaker Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 11, passage 24
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passages 75, 80

Events and relationships

abolished left and right Cao 世祖省
AD 25 to AD 57 世祖中兴 · Administrative · Ruler · Abolished left right cao
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 148
abolished left and right household captains of the heir 建武以来省之
AD 25 to AD 56 建武以来 · Administrative · Actor · Abolished office
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 128, passage 91
abolished the chief commandant of waters and balances and merged its duties into the Privy Treasurer 省之，并其职于少府
Administrative · Ruler · Abolished water balances commandant
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passage 180
Abolished
AD 25 to AD 57 世祖中兴 · Administrative · Abolisher · Event abolition of the twenty-six capital-office prisons at restoration 世祖中兴皆省
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 206
Accepted counsel and stayed
Political · Decision maker
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 119
Announced sacrifice as Shizu
AD 85 癸酉 · Ritual · Recipient · At Bright Hall 明堂
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 51

Show 42 more source-backed claims

Appointed zhuo mao grand tutor
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 16
Approved temple settlement
AD 43 建武十九年 · Ritual · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 18
Ascended throne
Political · Ruler · At central plain / Luoyang 土中
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 17
Campaigned through Hebei
Military · Commander · At Hebei 河北
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passages 103-104
Campaigned west
Military · Commander · With Wei Xiao (隗囂)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 92, passage 70
Captured treasure carriage
Military · Victor · With Gongsun Shu (公孫述)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 17, passage 5
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Wang Yi (王邑) · At Kunyang 昆陽
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 13
Established Gao temple
AD 26 建武二年正月 · Ritual · Founder · At Luoyang 雒阳
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 3
Established private ancestral shrines
AD 27 建武三年正月 · Ritual · Founder
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 6
Expanded suburban cult with gaodi
Ritual · Officiant
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 108, passage 43
Feasted Liu Yang at Guo residence in Qili
AD 23 to AD 24 置酒郭氏漆裏舍 · Social · Host · With Liu Yang (劉揚) · At Qili 漆裏
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 146
Feng and shan on mount tai
AD 56 建武三十二年二月 · Ritual · Officiant · At Mount Tai 泰山
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 87, 101, 131-132, 139
Feng sacrifice following Wu
Ritual · Performer
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passages 104, 106
Granted clothing
Diplomatic · Grantor · With Southern Chanyu (南單於)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 73
Invoked in praise of a Later Tang general
AD 888 文德初 · Historical comparison · Exemplar
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 16, passage 113
Laid out suburban altar
AD 26 建武二年正月 · Ritual · Officiant · At Luoyang 雒陽
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 18
Married Empress Guo at Zhending
AD 23 to AD 24 留真定 · Personal · Spouse · With Empress Guo (郭后) · At Zhending 真定
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 145
Met recluses
Encounter · Participant · With Elder of Yewang · At Yewang 野王
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passages 29, 38
Pacified Hebei
AD 23 to AD 25 更始時 · Military · Commander · At Hebei 河北
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passages 170, 173
Paired at Wen Bright Hall
AD 85 壬申 · Ritual · Correlative recipient · At Bright Hall above the Wen 汶上明堂 · With Emperor Zhang of Han (章帝)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 50
Paired with five thearchs in bright hall
AD 59 永平二年正月辛未 · Ritual · Correlative recipient · At Bright Hall 明堂
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passages 18, 21
Prayed for rain
AD 27 建武三年七月 · Ritual · Officiant · At southern suburban altar 南郊
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 300
Put down
Military · Commander · With Wang Lang (王郎)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 13
reassigned forbidden-cash revenues to the Minister of Finance, transferred the works of artificers to the grand coachman, and devolved capital waterworks to commanderies and kingdoms 改属司农，考工转属太仆，都水属郡国
Administrative · Ruler · Reassigned revenues and offices
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passage 179
Received Shizu temple
Ritual · Dedicatee
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 48
Renamed era to zhongyuan
AD 56 建武三十二年四月己卯 · Administrative · Principal
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 88
Renamed grand marshal to grand commandant
AD 51 建武二十七年 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 25
made them remonstrating grandees 以为谏议大夫
AD 25 to AD 57 世祖中兴 · Administrative · Ruler · Renamed remonstrating grandees
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 243
inherited the prior structure, then split the two-thousand-picul bureau and divided the guest bureau into southern and northern guest affairs, yielding six bureaus 承遵，后分二千石曹，又分客曹为南主客曹、北主客曹，凡六曹
Administrative · Ruler · Reorganized secretariat bureaus
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passage 146
Repaired three Yong and seven suburban altars
Ritual · Patron
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 131, passage 17
Reported accession to heaven and earth
AD 25 建武元年 · Ritual · Officiant · At Hao 鄗
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 7-8, 11
Restoration
Political · Actor
Directly stated · History of Song 141, passage 369
Restored Han with austerity
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 6
Restored Han
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passages 106, 108, 116
restored the colonel director of retainers and added authority over one province 建武中复置，并领一州
AD 25 to AD 56 建武中 · Administrative · Actor · Restored office
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 128, passage 157
Return report sacrifice
AD 85 庚申 · Ritual · Recipient
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 55
Sought and granted grain to descendants of Kong Xiu and Cai Xun
AD 25 光武即位 · Honor · Emperor · With Kong Xiu (孔休), Cai Xun (蔡勛)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 309
Sought Zhuo Mao and received him in audience at Heyang
Political · Emperor · With Zhuo Mao (卓茂)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 28, passage 46
Southern altar at Mount Tai restored
AD 85 元和二年 · Ritual · Founder · At Mount Tai 泰山
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 48
Visited lu and mount tai
AD 54 建武三十年三月 · Travel · Principal · At Mount Tai 泰山
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 97
Western inspection tour
AD 42 建武十八年 · Ritual · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passages 23, 25, 30-31
AD 29 世祖建武五年夏
Omen application · Reign subject
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 138

Assessments and attributes

Assessment diligent and reverent toward spirits; cared for the aged · Mode quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 130
Assessment Dong Xuan was incorruptible, recognized only after his death · With Dong Xuan (董宣) · Mode direct-quotation Speaker Emperor Guangwu of Han (漢光武帝)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 58
Assessment restored-proper-sacrifices · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 89
Assessment thrift and institutional restoration · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passages 6, 12
Item imperial food and wardrobe garments 御食、乘舆服物 · Relation Bestowed · With Fan Ye (樊晔)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 64

Source notes

Wang Guizhi dates the office to Guangwu; the chapter dates it to Feng She under Emperor Shun of Han
Field origin-of-inspector-military-overseeership · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299
Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 1; Book of Later Han 24, passages 103, 142; Book of Later Han 43, passage 197; Book of Later Han 85, passage 27; Book of Later Han 119, passage 3; Book of Later Han 126, passage 206; Book of Later Han 128, passage 91; History of Song 141, passage 369
enshrined as Later Han dynastic Shizu, not displaced from temple line
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 56

Later references and commemoration

Enshrined by Later Han as Shizu and declared permanently retained in the temple
AD 947 天福十二年閏七月 · Posthumous commemoration · Adopted dynastic ancestor
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 10, passage 56

References in the histories

Search passages

History

183 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 28Volume 28 Biographies 20: Yuan Tan (Eastern Wei); Yuan Bin; Yuan Xiaoyou; Yuan Huiye; Yuan Bi; Yuan Shao (Eastern Wei) · 1 passage

Open chapter

文宣謂韶曰：「漢光武何故中興？」 Gao Yang asked Shao, "Why did Emperor Guangwu of Han restore the dynasty?"

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

Open chapter

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.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 24Volume 21: Biographies of Ren, Li, Wan, Pi, Liu, Geng · 28 passages

Open chapter

世祖徇河北，至下曲陽，彤舉城降，復以為太守，留止數日。 When Emperor Guangwu advanced through Hebei and reached Xiaquyang, Pi Tong surrendered the city; Guangwu reappointed him governor and kept him there for a few days.

世祖北至薊，會王郎兵起，使其將徇地，所到縣莫不奉迎，唯和成、信都堅守不下。 Guangwu then rode north to Ji just as Wang Lang's rebellion erupted. Wang's officers swept the countryside, and county after county opened its gates—only Hegcheng and Xindu refused to submit.

彤聞世祖從薊還，失軍，欲至信都，乃先使五官掾張萬、督郵尹綏，選精騎二千餘匹，緣路迎世祖軍。 Hearing that Guangwu was retreating from Ji stripped of his main force and heading for Xindu, Pi Tong sent registrar Zhang Wan and touring investigator Yin Sui ahead with over two thousand picked cavalry to escort him along the route.

彤尋與世祖會信都。 Pi Tong soon joined Emperor Guangwu at Xindu.

世祖雖得二郡之助，而兵眾未合，議者多言可因信都兵自送，西還長安。 Even with two loyal commanderies behind him, Guangwu's army was still scattered; many advisers urged him to use Xindu's men as an escort and withdraw west to Chang'an.

況明公奮二郡之兵，揚響應之威，以攻則何城不克，以戰則何軍不服！ How much more may you, my lord, rouse two loyal commanderies and the prestige of a nation that still answers Han—what wall could stand against you, what army refuse you!

若明公無復征伐之意，則雖信都之兵猶難會也。 If you show the world you will not fight on, even the men of Xindu may not rally again.

明公既西，則邯鄲城民不肯捐父母、背城主，而千里送公，其離散亡逃可必也。 Once you turn west, the people of Handan will not leave parents and lords to follow you a thousand li; your following would melt away for certain.

世祖善其言而止。 Emperor Guangwu judged the argument sound and abandoned the plan to withdraw.

比至堂陽，堂陽已反屬王郎，彤使張萬、尹綏先曉譬吏民，世祖夜至，即開門出迎。 By the time they reached Tangyang, the town had gone over to Wang Lang. Pi Tong sent Zhang Wan and Yin Sui to reason with the people; Guangwu arrived after dark, and the gates flew open in welcome.

自此常從戰攻。 After that he fought at Guangwu's side in every major action.

彤親屬所以至今得安於信都者，劉公之恩也。 My family has stayed safe in Xindu only because of Lord Liu's protection.

公方爭國事，彤不得復念私也。』 You are fighting for the realm; I cannot weigh private ties."

帝入洛陽，拜彤太常，月餘日轉少府，是年免。 When the emperor entered Luoyang, Pi Tong was named Minister of Ceremonies; after a little more than a month he was moved to Minister Steward, and that year was dismissed.

初，張萬，尹綏與彤俱迎世祖，皆拜偏將軍，亦從征伐。 Zhang Wan and Yin Sui had ridden out with Pi Tong to receive Guangwu; each was named lieutenant general and saw action in the wars.

若乃議者欲因二郡之眾，建入關之策，委成業，臨不測，而世主未悟，謀夫景同，邳彤之廷對，其為幾乎！ Consider the advisers who would have marched two loyal commanderies west through the Pass, abandoning a winning position for an unknown—while their lord still hesitated. Pi Tong's speech in council was perilously close to the truth of the moment!

聞世祖從薊還，乃開門迎世祖，以植為驍騎將軍，喜、歆偏將軍，皆為列侯。 Learning that Guangwu was marching back from Ji, they opened the gates to him. Liu Zhi became general of nimble cavalry, Liu Xi and Liu Xin lieutenant generals, each enfeoffed at full marquis rank.

時真定王劉揚起兵以附王郎，眾十餘萬，世祖遣植說揚，揚乃降。 The Prince of Zhending, Liu Yang, had thrown in with Wang Lang at the head of more than a hundred thousand men; Guangwu sent Liu Zhi to parley, and Liu Yang yielded.

世祖因留真定，納郭后，後即揚之甥也，故以此結之。 Guangwu lingered at Zhending and married the future Empress Guo—Liu Yang's niece—thereby cementing the alliance.

乃與揚及諸將置酒郭氏漆裏舍，揚擊築為歡，因得進兵拔邯鄲，從平河北。 Guangwu then feasted Liu Yang and the generals at the Guo residence in Qili. Liu Yang played the zhu in celebration; Guangwu was thereby able to advance and capture Handan, and Liu Zhi accompanied him in pacifying Hebei.

帝使喜代將植營，復為驍騎將軍，封觀津侯。 The emperor put Liu Xi in command of his brother's troops as general of nimble cavalry and enfeoffed him as marquis of Guanjin.

會世祖度河至邯鄲，純即謁見，世祖深接之。 When Emperor Guangwu crossed the Yellow River to Handan, Geng Chun presented himself and was welcomed with unusual warmth.

純退，見官屬將兵法度不與它將同，遂求自結納，獻馬及縑帛數百匹。 Geng Chun withdrew, noticed that Guangwu's staff ran tighter than other commands, and returned with horses and hundreds of bolts of silk to cement his allegiance.

世祖北至中山，留純邯鄲。 When Guangwu marched north into Zhongshan, he left Geng Chun behind at Handan.

會王郎反，世祖自薊東南馳，純與從昆弟訢、宿、植共率宗族賓客二千餘人，老病者皆載木自隨，奉迎於育。 Wang Lang's revolt broke out while Guangwu was racing southeast from Ji; Geng Chun and his cousins Geng Xin, Geng Su, and Geng Zhi brought more than two thousand kinsmen and clients—even the elderly carried firewood as provisions—to meet him at Yu.

世祖問純故，對曰：『竊見明公單車臨河北，非有府臧之蓄，重賞甘餌，可以聚人者也，徒以恩德懷之，是故士眾樂附。 Guangwu asked why. Geng Chun answered, "You came north almost alone, with no treasury of gold to buy men—only your virtue drew them. That is why they follow.

世祖漢息。 Emperor Guangwu drew a long breath at that.

及至鄗，世祖止傳舍，鄗大姓蘇公反城開門內王郎將李惲。 At Hao, Guangwu halted at the post station. A local magnate named Su betrayed the town to Wang Lang's officer Li Yun.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 28Volume 25: Biography of Zhuo, Lu, Wei, Liu · 4 passages

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時，光武初即位，先訪求茂，茂詣河陽謁見。 Guangwu had scarcely taken the throne when he sent for Zhuo Mao; Mao traveled to Heyang for his audience.

光武即位，求休、勛子孫，賜穀以旌顯之。 When Guangwu took the throne he sought descendants of Kong Xiu and Cai Xun and granted grain to honor them.

建武初乃出，光武以宣襲封安眾侯。 Early in Jianwu he emerged, and Guangwu had him inherit the marquisate of Anzhong.

卓茂斷斷小宰，無它庸能，時已七十餘矣，而首加聘命，優辭重禮，其與周、燕之君表閭立館何異哉？ Zhuo Mao was only an honest county officer without dazzling talent—past seventy—yet Guangwu singled him out first with lavish honors; how was that any less than ancient kings honoring virtuous commoners with inscribed gates and endowed halls?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 13 passages

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是時，帝方信讖，多以決定嫌疑。 The emperor was trusting apocryphal prophecies to settle every doubt.

臣譚伏聞陛下窮折方士黃白之術，甚為明矣； Your servant hears that Your Majesty has exposed the alchemists' gold-and-silver fraud—most enlightened;

帝省奏，愈不悅。 The emperor read it and liked him even less.

其後，有詔會議靈台所處，帝謂譚曰：“吾欲以讖決之，何如？” Later, debating where to build the Ling Terrace, the emperor asked Huan Tan, "Shall I let the prophecies decide?"

帝問其故，譚複極言讖之非經。 Asked why, he said flatly that such books are not classical.

帝大怒曰：“桓譚非聖無法，將下斬之！” The emperor roared, "Huan Tan rejects the sages and spurns the law—off with his head!"

初，譚著書言當世行事二十九篇，號曰《新論》，上書獻之，世祖善焉。 He had written twenty-nine essays on his own times, the New Discussions, which Emperor Guangwu praised.

及世祖即位，遣宗正劉延攻天井關，與田邑連戰十餘合，延不得進。 When Emperor Guangwu took the throne, he sent Liu Yan, director of the imperial clan, to attack Tianjing Pass; after more than ten clashes with Tian Yi, Yan could not break through.

誠知故朝為兵所害，新帝司徒已定三輔，隴西、北地從風回應。 But I saw the old regime crushed, the new emperor's minister secure the capital region, Longxi and Beidi rallying to him.

帝怨衍等不時至，永以立功得贖罪，遂任用之，而衍獨見黜。 Emperor Guangwu resented their late arrival; Bao Yong bought pardon with merit and kept office, but Feng Yan alone was cast aside.

頃之，帝以衍為曲陽令，誅斬劇賊郭勝等，降五千餘人，論功當封，以讒毀，故賞不行。 Soon the emperor named him magistrate of Quyang; he executed bandits like Guo Sheng and took five thousand surrenders—merit enough for a fief, but slander blocked any reward.

書奏，帝將召見。 The emperor read it and meant to receive him at court.

帝懲西京外戚賓客，故皆以法繩之，大者抵死徙，其餘至貶黜。 Guangwu tightened the law on in-laws and their clients as Western Han had not: the worst died or were exiled, the rest stripped of rank.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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光武雖得之於鮑永，猶失之於馮衍。 Thus Guangwu gained Bao Yong but lost Feng Yan.

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

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光武即位，就拜代郡太守，使固塞以拒匈奴。 When Emperor Guangwu took the throne, Su Jing was confirmed as administrator of Dai commandery and tasked with fortifying the frontier against the Xiongnu.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 7 passages

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樊宏字靡卿，南陽湖陽人也，世祖之舅。 Fan Hong, courtesy name Miqing, came from Huyang in Nanyang and was Emperor Guangwu's maternal uncle.

世祖即位，拜光祿大夫，位特進，次三公。 Emperor Guangwu named him minister of the household with specially advanced rank, standing just below the three dukes.

事後母至孝，及母卒，哀思過禮，毀病不自支，世祖常遣中黃門朝暮送饘粥。 He mourned his stepmother past the bounds of ritual until he fell ill; Emperor Guangwu sent eunuchs morning and evening with gruel.

及光武皇帝受命中興，群雄崩擾，旌旗亂野，東西誅戰，不遑啟處，然猶投戈講藝，息馬論道。 Emperor Guangwu raised the Han amid chaos and war, yet still laid down arms to teach the classics and dismounted to discuss the Way.

建武元年，光武遣使迎陰貴人於新野，並徵識。 In Jianwu 1 Guangwu sent for Lady Yin from Xinye and summoned Yin Shi as well.

光武所幸之處，輒先入清宮，甚見親信。 He always entered first to secure whatever lodging Guangwu chose and won deep trust.

明年夏，帝風眩疾甚，後以興領侍中，受顧命於雲臺廣室。 The next summer Guangwu's vertigo grew severe; Yin Xing was named chief palace attendant and received the deathbed charge in the Cloud Terrace hall.

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

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及鄧禹徵還，光武以宗為京輔都尉，將突騎與征西大將軍馮異共擊關中諸營保，破之，遷河南都尉。 After Deng Yu was withdrawn, Emperor Guangwu named Zong commandant of the capital districts; with Feng Yi, the western expedition commander, he rode against the fortified camps of Guanzhong, broke them, and was promoted to commandant of Henan.

高祖父茂，本河東人，從光武征伐，為威寇將軍，封烏傷新陽鄉侯。 His great-grandfather Yang Mao was a Hedong man who campaigned with Emperor Guangwu as General Who Subdues Raiders and received the marquisate of Xinyang township in Wushang.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 85Volume 77: Biographies of Cruel Officials · 14 passages

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时，同刑九人，次应及宣，光武驰使驺骑特原宣刑，且令还狱。 Nine others were condemned with him, and when the roll call would next have fallen on Dong Xuan, Emperor Guangwu sent relay riders at a gallop to commute his sentence and had him sent back to jail.

主即还宫诉帝，帝大怒，召宣，欲箠杀之。 She hurried to the palace to denounce him; the emperor flew into a rage, summoned Dong Xuan, and meant to club him to death.

帝曰：“欲何言？” The emperor asked, “What is it?”

宣曰：“陛下圣德中兴，而从奴杀良人，将何以理天下乎？ Dong Xuan replied, “Your Majesty’s sagely power brought the house back from ruin; if a slave may slaughter the guiltless, how are you to govern all under Heaven?

帝令小黄门持之，使宣叩头谢主，宣不从，强使顿之，宣两手据地，终不肯俯。 The emperor told a young eunuch to hold him back and ordered Dong Xuan to bow in apology to the princess; he would not. They tried to press his head down, but he planted both hands on the floor and never lowered his brow.

主曰：“文叔为白衣时，臧主匿死，吏不敢至门。 The princess cried, “When Wenshu was still a commoner, he concealed fugitives for me, and no bailiff dared knock at my door.

今为天子，威不能行一令乎？” Now that he is Son of Heaven, can his power not reach a single county magistrate?”

帝笑曰：“天子不与白衣同。”」 The emperor smiled and said, “The Son of Heaven is not a commoner.”

帝伤之，曰：“董宣廉洁，死乃知之！” The emperor was stricken and said, “Dong Xuan was honest—I learned it only when he was gone!"

与光武少游旧。 In his younger days he had been Guangwu’s companion on the road.

初，光武微时，尝以事拘于新野，晔为市吏，餽饵一笥，帝德之不忘，仍赐晔御食，及乘舆服物。 Long before, when Guangwu was still unknown, he had been held at Xinye over some matter; Fan Ye, then a market inspector, sent a hamper of food, and the emperor cherished the deed ever after, later presenting him with dishes from the palace kitchen and clothing from the imperial wardrobe.

光武为大司马，平定河北，召章置江曹属，数从征伐。 While Guangwu served as grand marshal and was bringing Hebei to heel, he called Li Zhang to his staff in charge of river works, and Zhang rode with him on many expeditions.

光武即位，拜阳平令。 After Guangwu mounted the throne, Li Zhang became magistrate of Yangping.

兴归郡，以状上帝，悉以所得班劳吏士。 When Chu Xing was back in his yamen, he memorialized the whole affair; the emperor had every prize shared out to reward the officers and men.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 89Volume 80a: Biographies of Writers 1 · 5 passages

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会大司马吴汉薨，光武诏诸儒诔之，笃于狱中为诔，辞最高，美帝之，赐帛免刑。 Just then Grand Marshal Wu Han died, and Emperor Guangwu summoned the literati to mourn him in verse. From his cell Du Du submitted a dirge that surpassed the rest; the emperor admired it, rewarded him with silk, and released him without sentence.

皇帝以建武十八年二月甲辰，升舆洛邑，巡于西岳。 In Jianwu 18, on the day jiachen of the second month, the Son of Heaven rode out from Luoyang to inspect the Western Marchmount.

于时圣帝，赫然申威，荷天人之符，兼不世之姿。 Then our sage lord revealed awe-inspiring might, shouldered the mandate of Heaven and humanity, and embodied a presence beyond common kings.

徒垂意于持平守实，务在爱育元元，苟有便于王政者，圣主纳焉。 Its aim is steady fairness and tangible good for the black-haired masses; any measure that truly helps the throne, the sage accepts.

光武即位，嘉其忠果，召拜郎中，再迁太山都尉。 Emperor Guangwu admired his steadfast courage, called him to court as a gentleman, and twice raised him to Taishan commandant.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 92Volume 82a: Biographies of Alchemists 1 · 3 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.

光武即位，求天下有道之人，乃徵憲拜博士。 When Guangwu took the throne he searched the realm for men of the Way and summoned Xian as Erudite.

少游學京師，與光武有舊。 As a young scholar in the capital he had known Emperor Guangwu long before.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits · 12 passages

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光武侧席幽人，求之若不及，旌帛蒲车之所征贲，相望于岩中矣。 Guangwu turned his mat for hidden men and hunted them as if always a step behind—silk summons and rush-wheeled coaches thickly threaded the cliffs.

初，光武贰于更始，会关中扰乱，遣前将军邓禹西征，送之于道。 When Guangwu still hedged toward Gengshi and Guanzhong boiled, he sent Forward General Deng Yu west and escorted him along the road.

光武问曰：“禽何向？” Guangwu asked, "Which way lies the quarry?"

光武曰：“苟有其备，虎亦何患。” Guangwu said, "With proper precautions, what fear of tigers?"

光武悟其旨，顾左右曰：“此隐者也。” Guangwu understood and murmured to his attendants, "These are hidden sages."

及光武即位，乃之琅邪劳山，养志修道，人皆化其德。 When Guangwu rose, Feng withdrew to Mount Lao in Langye, nursed his purpose, and won every neighbor by his virtue.

及光武引见，党伏而不谒，自陈愿守所志，帝乃许焉。 Before Guangwu he lay flat and refused the court bow, begging to keep his reclusive vow; the emperor allowed it.

少有高名，与光武同游学。 In youth he was already famous and studied abroad with the future Guangwu.

及光武即位，乃变名姓，隐身不见。 When his friend became emperor, Yan changed his name and vanished from sight.

帝疑其光，乃备安车玄纁，遣使聘之。 Guangwu guessed it was Yan Guang and sent a cushioned coach and black silk to fetch him.

光卧不起，帝即其卧所，抚光腹曰：“咄咄子陵，不可相助为理邪？” Yan feigned sleep; Guangwu sat on his couch, patted his belly, and said, "Ziling, Ziling—will you not help me rule?"

帝曰：“子陵，我竟不能下汝邪？” Guangwu sighed, "So even I cannot bend you?"

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 21 passages

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光武即位告天郊封禅 Guangwu’s accession: reporting to Heaven, the suburban rites, and the feng and shan sacrifices on Mount Tai.

建武元年，光武即位于鄗，爲壇營於鄗之陽。 In Jianwu 1 (25 CE), Guangwu was enthroned at Hao, where he raised an altar on the sunny slope south of the town.

其文曰：「皇天上帝，后土神祇，睠顧降命，屬秀黎元，爲民父母，秀不敢當。 The prayer read: “August Heaven and High God, Sovereign Earth and the spirits—you have looked down and issued your mandate, setting Xiu over the common people as their parent; Xiu dares not presume to accept such a burden.

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.

讖記曰：『劉秀發兵捕不道，卯金修德爲天子。』 The apocrypha ran: “Liu Xiu takes up arms against the wicked; the Liu house, refining its virtue, is destined for the throne.”

秀猶固辭，至於再，至於三。 Yet Xiu still refused—once, twice, and yet again.

上從之。 The emperor accepted his advice.

三月，上幸鲁，过泰山，告太守以上过，故承詔祭山及梁父。 In the third month the emperor visited Lu, passed Mount Tai, informed the governor of his route, and in accordance with the edict sacrificed at the mountain and at Liangfu.

三十二年正月，上齋，夜讀《河圖會昌符》曰：「赤劉之九，會命岱宗。 In the first month of Jianwu 32 (56 CE), while observing the fast, he read by lamplight the River Chart’s Talisman of Flourishing Accord: “The ninth generation of the Red Liu will receive its charge on the Eastern Marchmount.

松等列奏，乃許焉。 Liang Song and the others laid their findings before the throne, and the emperor gave his assent.

上許梁松等奏，乃求元封時封禅故事，议封禅所施用。 The emperor approved the memorial from Liang Song and his colleagues, ordered a search for Western Han precedents from the Yuanfeng performance, and convened discussion of the equipment and ritual program.

上以用石功难，又欲及二月封，故詔松欲因故封石空檢，更加封而已。 Because quarrying new stone would be slow and he hoped to perform the feng in the second month, he initially told Liang Song to reuse the old Western Han block, hollow out a new cavity in its seal, and simply reseal it.

二月，上至奉高，遣侍御史与蘭臺令史，將工先上山刻石。 In the second month the emperor reached Fenggao and sent an attendant censor and a palace clerk to lead workmen up the mountain ahead of him to cut the stele.

文曰：維建武三十有二年二月，皇帝東巡狩，至於岱宗，柴，望秩于山川，班于羣神，遂觐東后。 The inscription read: In the second month of Jianwu 32 (56 CE), the emperor made an eastern tour of inspection, reached the Eastern Marchmount, performed the firewood rite, ranked offerings to mountains and rivers, distributed them among the host of spirits, and then received the Eastern Lord.

《河圖赤伏符》曰：「劉秀發兵捕不道，四夷云集龙斗野，四七之际火爲主。」 The River Chart's Red Talisman of Hidden Submission said: "Liu Xiu takes up arms against the wicked; the four barbarians gather like clouds at Longdou Field; at the juncture of four and seven, Fire is master."

《河圖合古篇》曰：「帝劉之秀，九名之世，帝行德，封刻政。」 The River Chart's "Conforming to Antiquity" said: "The Thearch Liu's Xiu, the generation of the ninth name; the Thearch practices virtue, feng and carving establish governance."

《孝經钩命决》曰：「予谁行，赤劉用帝，三建孝，九會修，专兹竭行封岱青。」 The Classic of Filial Piety's "Hooked Mandate Verdict" said: "To whom is the grant—who will act? The Red Liu uses the Thearch; thrice establishing filial piety, nine meetings repairing; exclusively here exhaust effort to perform feng at Dai and Qing."

皇天睠顧皇帝，以匹庶受命中興，年二十八载興兵，以次誅讨，十有餘年，罪人斯得。 August Heaven turned its gaze and favored the emperor; as a common man he received the mandate and restored the dynasty; at age twenty-eight he raised troops and in sequence suppressed the rebels; for more than ten years, the guilty were brought to justice.

皇帝唯慎《河圖》、《雒書》正文，是月辛卯，柴，登封泰山。 The emperor alone carefully verified the orthodox text of the River Chart and Luo River Writing; in this month on xinmao, he performed the firewood rite and ascended to perform the feng on Mount Tai.

尚書令奉玉牒檢，皇帝以寸二分璽亲封之，訖，太常命人发壇上石，尚書令藏玉牒已，复石覆讫，尚書令以五寸印封石檢。 The Director of the Masters of Writing bore the jade slip and cover-plate; the emperor personally sealed it with the one-cun-two-fen seal; when finished, the Grand Master of Ceremonies ordered men to open the stone on the mound; after the Director of the Masters of Writing stored the jade slip, the stone was covered again; the Director of the Masters of Writing sealed the stone cover-plate with the five-cun seal.

事毕，皇帝再拜，羣臣稱萬岁。 When the rites were finished, the emperor bowed twice; the ministers proclaimed "Ten thousand years!"

Book of Later Han, Chapter 109Volume 98: Rituals and Worship Part Two · 7 passages

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语在《光武纪》。 The details appear in the annals of Emperor Guangwu.

明帝即位，永平二年正月辛未，初祀五帝于明堂，光武帝配。 After Emperor Ming’s accession, on the xinwei day of the first month of Yongping 2 (59 CE), the court first offered to the Five Thearchs in the Bright Hall, with Emperor Guangwu as joint recipient.

光武帝位在青帝之南少退，西面。 Emperor Guangwu’s seat stood just south of the Green Thearch, set slightly behind it, facing west.

上至泰山，修光武山南坛兆。 Upon reaching Mount Tai he restored the southern-altar site that Guangwu had established.

壬申，宗祀五帝于孝武所作汶上明堂，光武帝配，如雒阳明堂礼。 On renshen he offered the lineal sacrifice to the Five Thearchs in the Bright Hall above the Wen River built by Emperor Wu, pairing Guangwu as at the Luoyang Bright Hall.

癸酉，更告祀高祖、太宗、世宗、中宗、世祖、显宗于明堂，各一太牢。 On guiyou he reported separately to Gaozu, Taizong, Shizong, Zhongzong, Shizu, and Xianzong in the Bright Hall, each with a full tailao.

庚申，告至，祠高庙、世祖，各一特牛。 On gengshen he reported his return and offered a specially raised bull each at the shrines to Emperor Gao and Shizu.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 110Volume 99: Rituals and Worship Part Three · 11 passages

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光武帝建武二年正月，立高庙于雒阳。 In the first month of Jianwu 2 (26 CE), Guangwu founded the High Ancestor’s temple in Luoyang.

愿下有司议先帝四庙当代亲庙者及皇考庙事。」 They asked the court to decide which four earlier Han shrines should substitute for Guangwu's private halls, and how to treat the "imperial father" shrine."

上难复立庙，遂以合祭高庙为常。 Guangwu kept rebuilding separate halls impracticable, so the collective offering at the High Temple became the norm.

光武皇帝崩，明帝即位，以光武帝拨乱中兴，更为起庙，尊号曰世祖庙。 Mingdi, crediting Guangwu with restoring the house, raised a new temple titled Shrine of the World Exemplar.

以元帝于光武为穆，故虽非宗，不毁也。 Yuan, though not a “numbered” exemplar, stayed on the mu side opposite Guangwu and so escaped abolition.

明帝临终遗诏，遵俭无起寝庙，藏主于世祖庙更衣。 Mingdi’s final edict ordered frugal rites and forbade a separate resting temple; his tablet was housed in the robing chamber of the Shizu shrine.

孝章即位，不敢违，以更衣有小别，上尊号曰显宗庙，间祠于更衣，四时合祭于世祖庙。 Zhangdi obeyed; because the robing hall stood apart, he gave it the temple name Xianzong, held minor rites there, and merged the four seasonal offerings at the Shizu temple.

后帝承尊，皆藏主于世祖庙，积多无别，是后显宗但为陵寝之号。 Later sovereigns all stored tablets in the Shizu shrine until the titles piled up indistinguishably; Xianzong then became merely the mausoleum name.

灵帝时，京都四时所祭高庙五主，世祖庙七主，少帝三陵，追尊后三陵，凡牲用十八太牢，皆有副倅。 Under Lingdi the capital’s seasonal round required eighteen tai-lao victims—with duplicates—for five High Temple tablets, seven Shizu tablets, three child-emperor tombs, and three honored empresses’ tombs.

世祖中兴，蠲除非常，修复旧祀，方之前事邈殊矣。 Guangwu’s restoration scrapped the exotic and revived the old rites—a world away from the past.

世祖欲因孝武故封，实继祖宗之道也。 Guangwu meant to repeat Wudi’s climb in spirit, inheriting the founders’ path.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 114Volume 103: Five Elements Part One · 4 passages

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世祖建武五年夏，旱。 A drought struck in the summer of Emperor Guangwu's fifth Jianwu year.

世祖古今注曰：「建武三年七月，雒陽大旱，帝至南郊求雨，即日雨。」 The Founder's Ancient and Modern Notes record: "In the seventh month of Jianwu 3 Luoyang baked; the emperor prayed at the southern altar and rain came the same day."

是時，更始在長安，世祖爲大司馬平定河北。 Gengshi held Chang'an while Liu Xiu, as grand marshal, was pacifying the north.

世祖自河北興。 Liu Xiu rose to power from the Hebei plain.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 117Volume 106: Five Elements Part Four · 1 passage

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世祖建武二十二年九月，郡国四十二地震，南阳尤甚，地裂压杀人。 Jianwu 22 (46 CE), ninth month: forty-two jurisdictions shook; Nanyang worst, with fissures that swallowed lives.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 118Volume 107: Five Elements Part Five · 2 passages

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恒阴，中兴以来无录者。 Cases of prolonged unbroken overcast have not been entered in the record since Guangwu restored the dynasty.

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 119Volume 108: Five Elements Part Six · 9 passages

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光武帝建武二年正月甲子朔，日有蚀之，在危八度。 On the new moon, jiazi, in the first month of Jianwu 2 (26 CE), a solar eclipse occurred at eight degrees within the lodge Wei.

是时，世祖初兴，天下贼乱未除。 Guangwu had only just restored the dynasty; rebels still roamed the empire.

时，世祖在雒阳，赤眉降贼樊崇谋作乱，其七月发觉，皆伏诛。 The emperor was at Luoyang when Fan Chong of the surrendered Red Eyebrows plotted a coup; the plot surfaced in the seventh month and the conspirators were put to death.

时诸郡太守坐度田不实，世祖怒，杀十余人，然后深悔之。 Several commandery governors had falsified their land surveys; Guangwu flew into a rage and executed more than a dozen, then bitterly repented.

于是上怒，诏捕诸王客，皆被以苛法，死者甚多。 Enraged, Guangwu ordered a sweep of the princes' retainers; harsh statutes were applied and many died.

世祖不早为明设刑禁，一时治之过差，故天示象。 Because he had not laid down clear rules in advance, the purge overshot its mark—so Heaven sent a sign.

世祖于是改悔，遣使悉理侵枉也。 He then relented and dispatched agents to redress every wrongful conviction.

自二十一年示象至此十年，后二年，宫车晏驾。 Ten years had passed since the omen of Jianwu 21; two years after this eclipse, Guangwu died.

光武建武七年四月丙寅，日有晕抱，白虹贯晕，在毕八度。 On bingyin in the fourth month of Jianwu 7 (31), the sun wore a double halo pierced by a white rainbow at eight degrees in Bi.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 125Volume 114: Officials Part One · 8 passages

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世祖中兴，务从节约，并官省职，费减亿计，所以补复残缺，及身未改，而四海从风，中国安乐者也。 When Guangwu restored the Han, he enforced austerity, merged bureaus and cut posts, and saved sums on the order of hundreds of millions of cash, mending what the wars had shattered. He held that course for life, and the realm fell into step; the heartland knew peace again.

世祖节约之制，宜为常宪，故依其官簿，粗注职分，以为《百官志》。 Guangwu's lean institutions deserve to stand as the enduring norm; this treatise follows his official register and sketches each post's remit—hence this Treatise on Officials.

世祖以卓茂为太傅，薨，因省。 Guangwu named Zhuo Mao Grand Tutor; when Zhuo died, the title lapsed.

世祖即位，为大司马。 Guangwu took power as Grand Marshal.

世祖即位，为大司徒，建武二十七年，去「大」。 Guangwu began as Grand Minister of Education; Jianwu 27 dropped the prefix "grand."

本注曰：世祖即位，以武帝故事置司直，居丞相府，助督录诸州，建武十八年省也。 Guangwu revived Emperor Wu's office of the Straightener in the chancellor's compound to help supervise the provinces; it was cut in Jianwu 18.

世祖即位，为大司空，建武二十七年，去「大」。 The Founding Ancestor, when ascending the throne, was Grand Minister of Works; in the twenty-seventh year of Jianwu the word "grand" was removed.

世祖中兴，吴汉以大将军为大司马，景丹为骠骑大将军，位在公下，及前、后、左、右杂号将军众多，皆主征伐，事讫皆罢。 At Guangwu's restoration Wu Han held Grand General merged with Grand Marshal; Jing Dan was Charging Cavalry Grand General, still below ducal rank; many Front, Rear, Left, Right, and miscellaneous generals led field armies only to be disbanded when the fighting ended.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 126Volume 115: Officials Part Two · 4 passages

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世祖庙令一人，六百石。 One keeper of Guangwu’s shrine at six hundred bushels.

胡广曰：「光禄大夫，本为中大夫，武帝元狩五年置谏大夫为光禄大夫，世祖中兴，以为谏议大夫。 Hu Guang said: "The Household Grandee was originally the Middle Grandee; in the fifth year of Yuanshou under Emperor Wu remonstrating grandees were made household grandees, and at Guangwu's restoration they became remonstrating grandees.

世祖省，使小黄门郎受事，车驾出，给黄门郎兼。 Guangwu abolished those posts and had petty Yellow Gate gentlemen handle intake; on imperial progresses those same gentlemen double as escort.

本注曰：孝武帝以下，置中都官狱二十六所，各令长名世祖中兴皆省，唯廷尉及雒阳有诏狱。 From Emperor Wu on the capital ran twenty-six separate prison bureaus, each with its own warden; Guangwu abolished them, leaving only the Minister of Justice’s jails and Luoyang’s imperial prison.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 127Volume 116: Officials Part Three · 3 passages

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世祖承遵，后分二千石曹，又分客曹为南主客曹、北主客曹，凡六曹。 Emperor Guangwu kept that structure, then split the two-thousand-picul bureau and divided the guest bureau into southern and northern guest affairs, for six bureaus in all.

世祖改属司农，考工转属太仆，都水属郡国。 Emperor Guangwu reassigned that income to the Minister of Finance, moved the directorate of works to the grand coachman, and devolved water conservancy to local government.

孝武帝初置水衡都尉，秩比二千石，别主上林苑有离官燕休之处，世祖省之，并其职于少府。 Emperor Wu had created the water-and-balances commandant at two thousand piculs to run Shanglin's lodges and resorts; Emperor Guangwu abolished the post and folded its duties back into the Privy Treasurer.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 128Volume 117: Officials Part Four · 2 passages

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旧有左右户将，别主左右户直郎，建武以来省之。 Formerly left and right household captains had commanded the door guards, but Emperor Guangwu abolished them.

元帝去節，成帝省，建武中复置，并领一州。 Emperor Yuan stripped the baton; Emperor Cheng abolished the office; Emperor Guangwu restored it and added authority over one province.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 131Volume 120: Treatise on Carriages and Dress, Part Two · 3 passages

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至世祖踐祚，都於土中，始修三雍，正兆七郊。 Only when Guangwu took the throne and fixed his capital at Luoyang did the court revive the three ritual enclosures and set the seven directional suburban shrines in order.

建武時，匈奴內屬，世祖賜南單於衣服，以中常侍惠文冠，中黃門童子佩刀云。 When the Southern Chanyu came in during Jianwu, Guangwu presented him with court dress that included the golden cicada cap and yellow-gate boys with ritual swords.

安帝立皇太子，太子謁高祖廟、世祖廟，門大夫從，冠兩梁進賢； When Emperor An named a crown prince, the prince’s visits to the shrines of Gaozu and Guangwu were escorted by gate stewards in the two-ridged advance-the-worthy cap.

History of Jin, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple · 1 passage

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其冊文雲：「昔我太祖武元皇帝，受天明命，掃遼季荒茀，成師以出，至於大江，浩浩洪流，不舟而濟，雖穆滿渡江面黿粱，光武濟河而水冰，自今觀之無足言矣！ The enfeoffment text reads: "In former days our Grand Ancestor, the Martial Origin Emperor, received Heaven's bright mandate, swept away the Liao dynasty's wild wasteland, and led his army forth to the great river—a vast torrent, yet he crossed without boats. Though King Mu of Zhou crossed the river on a turtle bridge and Emperor Guangwu crossed the Yellow River on ice, viewed from today these are hardly worth mentioning!

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 16Volume 16 Book of Later Liang 16: Biographies 6: Ge Congzhou, Xie Yanzhang, He Zhen, Zhang Guiba, Zhang Guihou, Zhang Guibian · 1 passage

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太祖召至，賞之曰：「昔耿弇不俟光武擊張步，言不以賊遺君父，弇之功，爾其二焉。」 The Founder summoned and rewarded him, saying, "Formerly Geng Yan did not wait for Guangwu to strike Zhang Bu, saying he would not leave bandits to lord and father—Yan's merit; yours is twice it."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 143Volume 143: Treatises 5 Rites 2 · 1 passage

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中興之追謚者孺子嬰，光武竟無追宗之典。 among those posthumously titled at dynastic revival, the Infant Lord Ying—Emperor Guangwu ultimately had no precedent of posthumous 'zong.'

Book of Liang, Chapter 11Volume 11: Zhang Hongce; Yu Yu; Zheng Shaoshu; Lü Sengzhen · 1 passage

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高祖笑曰：「光武有云：『安知非僕』。」 Gaozu laughed. "Guangwu said, 'How do you know it is not me?'"

Book of Liang, Chapter 24Volume 24: Xiao Jing; Xiao Chang; Xiao Ang; Xiao Yu · 1 passage

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昔漢光武兄子章、興二人，並有名宗室，就欲習吏事，不過章爲平陰令，興爲緱氏宰，政事有能，方遷郡守，非直政績見稱，卽是光武猶子。 In the past, Emperor Guangwu of Han's nephews Zhang and Xing were both eminent members of the imperial clan. When they wished to learn administration, Zhang was made only magistrate of Pingyin and Xing magistrate of Gou. Only when their governance showed ability were they promoted to commandery administrators. It was not merely that their achievements were praised—they were the emperor's own nephews.

History of Liao, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 3: Yelu Helu, Xiao Dilu, Yelu Xieniechi, Yelu Yuwen, Yelu Haili · 1 passage

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其君臣相得之誠，庶吳漢之於光武歟？ The sincerity with which ruler and minister found one another perhaps resembles Wu Han toward Emperor Guangwu?

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 2Volume 2 Annals 2: Emperor Gao of Southern Qi 2 · 1 passage

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光武聞少公之論讖，亦特一時之笑語； Guangwu, hearing Shaogong's prophecy, likewise laughed it off at first;

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 16Volume 16 Treatises 8: Official Posts · 1 passage

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魏、晉世州牧隆重，刺史任重者爲使持節都督，輕者爲持節督，起漢從帝時，御史中丞馮赦討九江賊，督揚、徐二州軍事，而何、徐《宋志》云起魏武遣諸州將督軍，王珪之《職儀》云起光武，竝非也。 Under Wei and Jin, provincial governors were honored posts; inspectors with heavy responsibility became commissioners bearing the staff of authority and military overseers, lighter ones commissioners bearing the staff and supervisors. The office began under Emperor Shun of Han, when Censor-in-chief Feng She campaigned against Jiujiang bandits and directed Yang and Xu military affairs; but He and Xu's Song Treatise dates it to Cao Cao's dispatch of provincial generals to oversee troops, and Wang Guizhi's Protocol of Offices dates it to Emperor Guangwu—all are mistaken.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 17Volume 17 Treatises 9: Caraiges and Dress · 1 passage

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光武建武十三年，得公孫述葆車，輿輦始具。 In Guangwu's Jianwu 13 he captured Gongsun Shu's treasure carriage; the full set of state litters was first assembled.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 48Volume 48 Biographies 29: Yuan Tuan, Kong Zhigui, Liu Hui · 1 passage

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光武卑辭厚禮，寒山無靄。 Emperor Guangwu used humble words and generous gifts, and the cold mountains knew no mist.

History of Song, Chapter 141Volume 141 Treatises 94: Music 16 · 1 passage

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正同符光武中興，擎天獨力扶傾。 Just like Guangwu's restoration—alone he held up heaven and righted the leaning realm.

History of Song, Chapter 359Volume 359 Biographies 118: Li Gang 2 · 2 passages

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光武先保河內，故能降赤眉、銅馬之屬。 Emperor Guangwu first secured Henei, and only then was able to subdue the Red Eyebrows, Bronze Horses, and their like.

'光武破隗囂，既平隴，復望蜀。 Emperor Guangwu, after defeating Wei Xiao and pacifying Long, turned his gaze toward Shu.

Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 1 passage

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唯光武追廢呂後，故以薄後配高祖廟。 Only under Guangwu, who posthumously deposed Empress Lü, was Empress Bo installed as consort in Gaozu's temple.

Book of Song, Chapter 62Volume 62 Biographies 22: Yang Xin, Zhang Fu, Wang Wei · 1 passage

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光武以馮衍才浮其實，故棄而不齒。 Emperor Guangwu found Feng Yan's talent greater than his substance and cast him aside without a place at court.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 10Volume 10 Later Jin Annals 1: Gaozu, Emperor Yin · 1 passage

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以漢高皇帝為高祖，光武皇帝為世祖，皆不祧。 The Han Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu were enshrined as the dynasty’s Gaozu and Shizu, neither displaced from the ancestral line.