Qin and Han · Ruler

Emperor Wu 武帝

Wudi

Attested BC 150 - BC 87

Passages: 12
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Emperor Wu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 150 其夏
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 56, passage 36
BC 141 to BC 87 孝武帝以下
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 206
BC 141 to BC 87 武帝時
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 274
BC 90 to BC 87 武帝末年
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 244

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 56 Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen 7 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 26 Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 4 passages
Book of Later Han, Chapter 126 Volume 115: Officials Part Two 1 passage

Career and standing

crown prince 太子
BC 150 其夏，上立膠東王為太子 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 56, passage 36

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 244
Polity Western Han 西汉 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 206

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passages 245-246
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Han 56, passages 110-111

Events and relationships

Appointed
Appointment · Appointer · With Zhao Guo (趙過)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 247
Enfeoffed
BC 90 to BC 87 武帝末年 · Enfeoffment · Grantor · With Marquis of Enriching the People (富民侯)
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 244
Established
BC 141 to BC 87 孝武帝以下 · Administrative · Initiator · Event establishment of twenty-six capital-office prisons 置中都官狱二十六所
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 206
Regretted campaigns
BC 90 to BC 87 武帝末年 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 244

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 126, passage 206

References in the histories

Search passages

History

12 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 4 passages

董仲舒說上曰：「春秋它穀不書，至於麥禾不成則書之，以此見聖人於五穀最重麥與禾也。 Dong Zhongshu said to the emperor, 'In the Spring and Autumn Annals other grains are not recorded, but when wheat and millet fail to ripen it is recorded—showing that the sage gave greatest weight among the five grains to wheat and millet.

願陛下幸詔大司農，使關中民益種宿麥，令毋後時。」 May Your Majesty command the Grand Minister of Agriculture to have the people of Guanzhong plant more winter wheat and not miss the season.'

武帝末年，悔征伐之事，乃封丞相為富民侯。 Late in Emperor Wu's reign, he regretted the campaigns and then enfeoffed the Chancellor as Marquis of Enriching the People.

長老皆言武帝時縣官嘗自漁，海魚不出，後復予民，魚乃出。 Elders all say that in Emperor Wu's time, when the county offices themselves fished, sea fish did not appear; later, when fishing was returned to the people, the fish then appeared.

Book of Han, Chapter 56Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen · 7 passages

其夏，上立膠東王為太子。 That summer the emperor named the prince of Jiaodong crown prince.

七年，坐射殺其中尉，有司請誅，武帝弗忍，廢為庶人，徙房陵，國除。 In his seventh year he was convicted of murdering his capital commandant with a crossbow; though officials demanded his death, Emperor Wu spared his life, stripped him of rank, banished him to Fangling, and abolished his kingdom.

所殺者子上書告言，有司請誅，武帝弗忍，廢為庶人，徙上庸，國除，為大河郡。 When a victim’s son petitioned the throne, officials again demanded his life; the emperor commuted the sentence to commoner status, exile to Shangyong, and annexation of the territory as Great River commandery.

天子下吏驗問，有之。 The emperor ordered an inquiry, and the charges proved true.

天子曰：「首惡失道，任後也。 The emperor said, “The principal evildoer who lost the Way was Consort Ren.

天子由是寢而不治。 On that plea the emperor shelved the case and took no further action.

天子遣廷尉賞、大鴻鼐由持節即訊。 The emperor sent Commandant of Justice Shang and Grand Herald You, rod of authority in hand, to take his deposition on site in Liang.

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

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.