Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Jing 景帝

Jǐng Dì

Attested BC 157 - BC 154

Passages: 21
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Jing was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 154 吳楚七國反
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 181
BC 157 孝景帝即位
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 100

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Emperor Wen (文帝)
heir apparent 太子
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 100, 156

References in the histories

Search passages

History

21 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 21 passages

及孝文帝崩，孝景帝即位，鼂錯為御史大夫，使吏案袁盎受吳王財物，抵罪，詔赦以為庶人。 When Emperor Wen died and Emperor Jing came to the throne, Chao Cuo was appointed Imperial Secretary. He sent officials to investigate Yuan Ang for accepting gifts from the King of Wu, and Ang was convicted. By imperial edict he was pardoned but reduced to a commoner.

人有告袁盎者，袁盎恐，夜見竇嬰，為言吳所以反者，願至上前口對狀。 Someone warned Yuan Ang. Alarmed, Ang went to see Dou Ying that night. He explained the reasons for Wu's rebellion and expressed his wish to present his case in person before the Emperor.

竇嬰入言上，上乃召袁盎入見。 Dou Ying went in and spoke to the Emperor, who summoned Yuan Ang for an audience.

吳楚已破，上更以元王子平陸侯禮為楚王，袁盎為楚相。 After Wu and Chu were defeated, the Emperor installed the Marquis of Pinglu, Li, a son of the former King Yuan, as the new King of Chu, and Yuan Ang was appointed Chancellor of Chu.

袁盎雖家居，景帝時時使人問籌策。 Although Yuan Ang was living in retirement, Emperor Jing would from time to time send someone to consult him on matters of policy.

詔以為太子舍人、門大夫、家令。 By imperial edict, he was successively appointed Retainer of the Heir Apparent, Gentleman of the Gate, and Steward of the Household.

以其辯得幸太子，太子家號曰「智囊」。 Through his eloquence he won the favor of the Heir Apparent, and the household dubbed him the 'Bag of Wisdom.'

當是時，太子善錯計策，袁盎諸大功臣多不好錯。 At that time, the Heir Apparent approved of Cuo's plans and strategies, but Yuan Ang and many of the senior meritorious ministers disliked him.

景帝即位，以錯為內史。 When Emperor Jing came to the throne, he appointed Cuo as Prefect of the Capital.

錯常數請閒言事，輒聽，寵幸傾九卿，法令多所更定。 Cuo frequently requested private audiences to discuss affairs, and the Emperor always listened. His favor eclipsed that of the Nine Ministers, and many laws and regulations were revised at his behest.

錯聞之，即夜請閒，具為上言之。 When Cuo learned of the Chancellor's plan, he immediately sought a private audience that night and laid the whole matter before the Emperor.

上曰：「此非廟垣，乃壖中垣，不致於法。」 The Emperor replied, 'That is not the temple wall itself but merely the precinct wall. No law applies.'

奏上，上令公卿列侯宗室集議，莫敢難，獨竇嬰爭之，由此與錯有卻。 When the memorial was submitted, the Emperor ordered the senior officials, marquises, and members of the imperial clan to deliberate. None dared object, except Dou Ying, who contested it. From this a rift grew between him and Cuo.

錯父聞之，從潁川來，謂錯曰：「上初即位，公為政用事，侵削諸侯，別疏人骨肉，人口議多怨公者，何也？」 When Cuo's father heard of this, he came from Yingchuan and said to Cuo, 'The Emperor has only just come to the throne, and you are the one directing affairs of state. You encroach upon the feudal lords, reduce their lands, and drive a wedge between the Emperor's own kin. People everywhere are speaking against you with resentment. Why?'

及竇嬰、袁盎進說，上令鼂錯衣朝衣斬東市。 When Dou Ying and Yuan Ang pressed their case, the Emperor ordered Chao Cuo beheaded in his court robes at the Eastern Market.

還，上書言軍事，謁見上。 Upon his return, he submitted a memorial on military affairs and was granted an audience with the Emperor.

上問曰：「道軍所來，聞鼂錯死，吳楚罷不？」 The Emperor asked, 'On your way back from the front, did you hear whether Wu and Chu ceased hostilities after Chao Cuo's death?'

上曰：「何哉？」 The Emperor asked, 'Why?'

計畫始行，卒受大戮，內杜忠臣之口，外為諸侯報仇，臣竊為陛下不取也。」 His plans had barely begun when he met a terrible end. At home, this has sealed the mouths of loyal ministers. Abroad, it has served as the feudal lords' revenge. I venture to say that this was not a wise course for Your Majesty.'

於是景帝默然良久，曰：「公言善，吾亦恨之。」 Emperor Jing fell silent for a long while, then said, 'You speak well. I, too, regret it.'

建元中，上招賢良，公卿言鄧公，時鄧公免，起家為九卿。 During the Jianyuan period, when the Emperor sought worthy men, the senior officials recommended Deng Gong. At the time he was out of office, but he was recalled and appointed as one of the Nine Ministers.