Emperor Cheng of Han (漢成帝)

Overview

Emperor Cheng of Han was a Twelfth emperor of the Western Han dynasty, born Liu Ao.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Liu Ao	劉驁	Liu Ao
Posthumous name	Filial Emperor Cheng	孝成皇帝	Xiao Cheng Huangdi
Temple name	Emperor Cheng	孝成帝	Xiaochengdi

Life and dates

Birth

BC 51 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 128; Book of Han 70, passages 81, 262

Death

BC 7 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 128; Book of Han 70, passages 81, 262
BC 7 綏和二年三月
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 26
Emperor Cheng died (崩)
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 262

Attested activity

BC 8 成帝绥和元年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 80
BC 51 to BC 7 Emperor Cheng
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 143
BC 9 元延四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 12, passages 4-5
BC 33 to BC 7 孝成帝時
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 57
BC 51 to BC 7 帝
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 81
BC 33 to BC 7 成、哀間
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 23

Show 18 more source-backed claims

BC 33 to BC 7 成
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 185; Book of Later Han 89, passage 67
BC 33 to BC 7 成
Strongly inferred · History of Song 197, passage 70
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passages 14, 18
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 30, passage 110; Book of Later Han 127, passage 140; Book of Later Han 128, passages 64, 157
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 35, passage 33
BC 32 to BC 7 成帝世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Wei 110, passage 2
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 127, passage 145
BC 51 to BC 7 成帝初
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 128
BC 51 to BC 7 成帝崩
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 262
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝時
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 195
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 2
BC 11 明年…秋…長楊
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passage 2
BC 33 to BC 7 漢元成
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 142
BC 33 to BC 7 漢成帝
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 115, passage 133
BC 33 to BC 7 漢成帝時
Directly stated · History of Jin 130, passage 2
BC 7 綏和二年三月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 12, passage 26
BC 33 to BC 7 至成、哀間
Directly stated · Book of Han 103, passage 87
BC 33 to BC 7 至於成帝
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 99

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Princess Yingyi (穎邑公主)
emperor's younger sister 帝妹 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 209
Spouse of Zhao Feiyan (趙)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 39
Spouse of Empress Xu (許皇后)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage · Ended
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 39
Parent of Liu Ziyu (劉子輿)
father 父 · Claimed parentage
son 子 · Claimed parentage
Directly stated · Book of Liang 35, passage 33
Spouse of Paternal Aunt of Ban Gu (班婕妤)
honored lady 婕妤 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 14
Spouse of Li Ping (李平)
honored lady 婕妤 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 39
Spouse of Zhao Hede (趙合德)
honored lady 昭儀 · Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 130
Child of Wang Zhengjun (王政君)
mother 帝舅
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 81
Sibling of King Xiao of Zhongshan (中山孝王)
younger brother 少弟 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 5

Kinship Role sons · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 17

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Emperor Cheng 成帝
Emperor · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 128, passages 64, 157
Emperor 帝
Emperor · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passages 140, 145
just took the throne 初即位
Directly stated · Book of Han 94, passage 10

Places and affiliations

Western Han 漢
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 57
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 128
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 14; New Book of Tang 178, passage 142; History of Yuan 115, passage 133
Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 99
Polity Western Han 西汉 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 125, passage 80
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 110

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Polity Western Han · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 89, passage 67

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Extent s0047
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 47
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Extent s0051
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 51

Events and relationships

abolished the colonel director of retainers 成帝省
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝 · Administrative · Actor · Abolished office
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 128, passage 157
abolished the superintendent of the heir and merged its duties into the grand prolonger of autumn 省之，以其职并长秋
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝 · Administrative · Actor · Abolished office
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 128, passage 64
Bestowed grand marshal insignia and abolished general office
BC 8 成帝绥和元年 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 125, passage 80
Did not cut across imperial carriage road
Ritual administrative · Actor
Directly stated · History of Yuan 115, passage 133
at first appointed four masters of writing divided into four bureaus 初署尚书四人，分为四曹
Administrative · Ruler · Established four secretariat bureaus
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passage 145
Favored Dingtao over Zhongshan as capable
BC 9 元延四年 · Political · Decision maker · With Emperor Ai (孝哀皇帝), King Xiao of Zhongshan (中山孝王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 15

Show 7 more source-backed claims

Lent power to outer families
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 99
Questioned Ban Bo on Zhou painting
Court · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passages 44, 47, 51
used literati and restored the old Secretariat directorship 用士人，复故
Administrative · Ruler · Restored civil secretariat
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 127, passage 140
Suburban sacrifice Sweet Springs and Fenyin
Ritual · Sovereign
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passages 57-58, 134
Wished to govern like Tang and Yu and resemble Yao and Shun but perished
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 142
Type maternal-uncle · Person Wang Feng (王鳳)
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 50
Relation Successor of · Person Emperor Yuan of Han (漢元帝)
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 178, passage 142

Assessments and attributes

Assessment failed with Yuan by not seeing the pivot of security and danger and not distancing flatterers · Mode quotation Speaker Liu Fen (劉蕡)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 178, passage 142
Item painted screen of Zhou and Daji 畫紂醉踞妲己屏風 · Relation Displayed
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 43

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passages 3, 110; Book of Later Han 128, passage 64; New Book of Tang 178, passage 142; History of Yuan 115, passage 133

References in the histories

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History

121 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 12Volume 11: Annals of Emperor Ai · 7 passages

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時成帝少弟中山孝王亦來朝，獨從傅。 At the same time, Emperor Cheng's younger brother, King Xiao of Zhongshan, also came to court but brought only his tutor.

成帝由此以為不能，而賢定陶王，數稱其材。 From this, Emperor Cheng concluded that the King of Zhongshan was incompetent, but he came to admire the King of Dingtao and often praised his talents.

成帝亦自美其材，為加元服而遣之，時年十七矣。 Emperor Cheng himself admired the young man's talents, performed the coming-of-age capping ceremony for him, and sent him back home. He was seventeen at the time.

明年，使執金吾任宏守大鴻臚，持節徵定陶王，立為皇太子。 The following year, Emperor Cheng sent Colonel Ren Hong, temporarily serving as Grand Herald, to summon the King of Dingtao with imperial credentials and establish him as Crown Prince.

書奏，天子報聞。 The memorial was submitted, and the emperor acknowledged it.

綏和二年三月，成帝崩。 In the third month of the second year of the Suihe era (7 BCE), Emperor Cheng died.

睹孝成世祿去王室，權柄外移，是故臨朝婁誅大臣，欲彊主威，以則武、宣。 Witnessing how in Emperor Cheng's era, hereditary stipends left the imperial family and power shifted to outsiders, he frequently executed ministers upon ascending the throne, seeking to strengthen imperial authority and emulate Emperors Wu and Xuan.

Book of Han, Chapter 38Volume 29: Treatise on Rivers and Canals · 1 passage

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成帝初，清河都尉馮逡奏言：「郡承河下流，與兗州東郡分水為界，城郭所居尤卑下，土壤輕脆易傷。 Early in Emperor Cheng's reign, Qinghe commandant Feng Jun reported: "Our commandery lies in the downstream path and shares watershed boundaries with Yan and Dong. Our settlements are particularly low, with friable soils that are easily damaged.

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

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成帝時，繼功臣後，封增兄子岑為龍額侯。 During Emperor Cheng's reign, to continue the line of meritorious officials, Han enfeoffed Zeng's elder brother's son Cen as Marquis of Long'e.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 1 passage

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成帝時，復封何玄孫之子南讀長喜為酇侯。 Under Emperor Cheng, Xi, a sixth-generation descendant of Xiao He and chief of Nanluan, was again named Marquis of Zan.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 23 passages

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時，帝舅大將軍王鳳以外戚輔政，求賢知自助。 Meanwhile the emperor's uncle, Grand General Wang Feng, ruled as regent through his maternal connection and cast about for able men to strengthen his hand.

今聖主富於春秋，未有適嗣，方鄉術入學，未親后妃之議。 Now the sage ruler is still in the fullness of youth, has no heir apparent, is only beginning to turn toward study, and has not yet personally considered the question of empress and consorts.

欽上對曰：「陛下畏天命，悼變異，延見公卿，舉直言之士，將以求天心，跡得失也。 Du Qin answered the rescript: "Your Majesty stands in awe of Heaven, mourns these omens, has opened the court to ministers, and summoned blunt speakers because you wish to read the mind of Heaven and learn where government has erred.

其夜地震未央宮殿中，此必適妾將有爭寵相害而為患者，唯陛下深戒之。 That very night the earth shook inside Weiyang Palace. The omen points to rival concubines contending for your favor and doing one another harm. I beg Your Majesty to take it to heart.

以陛下聖明，內推至誠，深思天變，何應而不感？ Your Majesty is wise enough to search your heart, ponder these signs in utmost good faith, and move Heaven itself.

唯陛下正後妾，抑女寵，防奢泰，去佚游，躬節儉，親萬事，數御安車，由輦道，親二宮之饔膳，致晨昏之定省。 Set the harem in proper order, curb excessive favoritism, shun luxury and idle excursions, practice frugality, and attend personally to government. Ride often by the palace carriageways to oversee the meals in both senior palaces and perform the morning and evening courtesies owed to your elders.

唯陛下忍無益之欲，以全眾庶之命。 I beg you to renounce pleasures that profit nothing and so preserve the lives of your people.

臣欽愚戇，言不足采。」 Your foolish servant has said more than his deserts; whether any of it merits heed is for Your Majesty alone to judge."

其夏，上盡召直言之士詣白虎殿對策，策曰：「天地之道何貴？ That summer the emperor convened every outspoken scholar at the White Tiger Hall for the policy examination. The question read: "What does the Way of Heaven and earth honor above all?

臣竊有所憂，言之則拂心逆指，不言則漸日長，為禍不細，然小臣不敢廢道而求從，違忠而耦意。 I have a further worry: to voice it offends Your Majesty, yet silence lets the evil grow day by day into no small harm. Still, a petty official may not abandon the right path to curry favor or choose treachery over loyalty.

唯陛下純德普施，無慾是從，此則眾庶咸說，繼嗣日廣，而海內長安。 Spread your pure virtue evenly, master your desires, and the people will rejoice, the imperial line will flourish, and the realm will know lasting peace.

於是天子感悟，召見章，與議，欲退鳳。 The emperor was stirred, received Wang Zhang in audience, and began to consider dismissing Feng.

上少而親倚鳳，亦不忍廢，復起鳳就位。 The emperor, who had leaned on Feng since boyhood, could not bear to cast him off and restored him to power.

夫欲天下治安變異之意，莫有將軍，主上照然知之，故攀援不遣，《書》稱『公毋困我！』 No one cares more than you for the realm's peace or for ending these portents, and the emperor knows it. That is why he holds on to you and refuses to let you go. In the Documents, King Cheng pleads, "Duke, do not leave me in distress!"

上令尚書劾奏京兆尹章，章死詔獄。 The emperor then ordered the Masters of Writing to impeach Wang Zhang, who died in the imperial prison.

欽兄緩前免太常，以列侯奉朝請，成帝時乃薨，子業嗣。 His elder brother Du Huan had earlier been removed as Grand Master of ceremonies but kept his column marquis title with permission to attend court; he died under Emperor Cheng, and his son Du Ye inherited.

其春，丞相方進薨，業上書言：「方進本與長深結厚，更相稱薦，長陷大惡，獨得不坐，苟慾障塞前過，不為陛下廣持平例，又無恐懼之心，反因時信其邪辟，報睚眥怨。 That spring Chancellor Zhai Fangjin died. Du Ye submitted a memorial saying, "Fangjin had been deeply bound in friendship with Chang and repeatedly recommended each other. Chang fell into great wickedness yet alone escaped punishment. Fangjin wished to cover his former faults, did not extend evenhanded standards for Your Majesty, and lacked fear; instead he seized the moment to trust Chang's perverse ways and repay a grudge for a trifle.

又方進為京兆尹時，陳咸為少府，在九卿高弟，陛下所自知也。 Moreover, when Fangjin was metropolitan governor, Chen Xian served as Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues, occupying one of the highest places among the Nine Ministers; Your Majesty knows this personally.

幸賴陛下至明，遣使者毛莫如先考驗，卒得其奸，皆坐死。 Fortunately, through Your Majesty's utmost discernment, the envoy Mao Moru was first sent to examine the matter. In the end their fraud was uncovered, and all were condemned to death.

今聞方進卒病死，不以尉示天下，反覆賞賜厚葬，唯陛下深思往事，以戒來今。」 Now I hear that Fangjin suddenly died of illness, yet he was not exposed as a warning to reassure the realm; instead, repeated rewards and a lavish burial were granted. May Your Majesty think deeply on past events and use them to admonish the future."

會成帝崩，哀帝即位，業復上書言：「王氏世權日久，朝無骨鯁之臣，宗室諸侯微弱，與系囚無異，自佐史以上至於大吏皆權臣之黨。 It happened that Emperor Cheng died and Emperor Ai took the throne. Du Ye again submitted a memorial saying, "The Wang clan has held power for generations. The court has no blunt-spoken ministers. Imperial clansmen and feudal lords are weak, no different from bound prisoners. From clerks upward to great officials, all are partisans of the power-holders.

高陽侯薛宣有不養母之名，安昌侯張禹奸人之雄，惑亂朝廷，使先帝負謗於海內，尤不可不慎。 Xue Xuan, marquis of Gaoyang, bore the name of one who did not support his mother; Zhang Yu, marquis of Anchang, was a chief among wicked men, confusing and disordering the court and causing the late emperor to bear slander within the seas—this above all must not be treated lightly.

業成帝初尚帝妹穎邑公主，主無子，薨，業家上書求還京師與主合葬，不許，而賜謚曰荒侯，傳子至孫絕。 Early in Emperor Cheng's reign Du Ye had married Princess Yingyi, the emperor's sister. She died without issue, and his family petitioned to bring his remains to the capital for burial beside hers. The court refused but bestowed the posthumous epithet Dissolute Marquis. The marquisate passed to his son and then his grandson before the line failed.

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 5 passages

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會成帝欲立趙婕妤為皇后，先下詔封婕妤父臨為列侯。 It happened that Emperor Cheng wished to establish Honorable Lady Zhao as empress and first issued an edict enfeoffing her father Lin as a full marquis.

書奏，上使侍御史收縛輔，系掖庭秘獄，群臣莫知其故。 Chengdi jailed him in the harem's secret jail without telling the ministers why.

上乃徙繫輔共工獄，減死罪一等，論爲鬼薪。 Chengdi shifted him to a lesser jail and commuted the sentence to convict logging.

久之，上欲封祖母傅太后從弟商，崇諫曰：「孝成皇帝封親舅五侯，天為赤黃晝昏，日中有黑氣。 After some time, the emperor wished to enfeoff Shang, the cousin of his grandmother Empress Dowager Fu. Chong remonstrated, saying: "When Emperor Cheng enfeoffed his five maternal uncles as marquises, Heaven turned red-yellow and the daylight darkened; at noon, black vapor appeared in the sun.

成帝末，隆奏封事言：「古老選諸侯入為公卿，以褒功德，宜徵定陶王使在國邸，以填萬方。」 Near the end of Emperor Cheng's reign, Long submitted a sealed memorial saying, "In ancient times, feudal lords were selected to enter court as dukes and ministers, in order to honor merit and virtue. The King of Dingtao should be summoned and made to stay in the state residence, thereby stabilizing all quarters."

Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 7 passages

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是時，成帝初即位，宣為中丞，執法殿中，外總部刺史，上疏曰：「陛下至德仁厚，哀閔元元，躬有日仄之勞，而亡佚豫之樂，允執聖道，刑罰惟中，然而嘉氣尚凝，陰陽不和，是臣下未稱，而聖化獨有不洽者也。 Emperor Cheng had only just taken the throne. As vice-imperial secretary, Xue Xuan upheld the law inside the halls and coordinated the regional inspectors outside. He wrote: "Your Majesty's kindness is boundless: you grieve for the people, labor past sunset without thought of rest, and hold true to the sage's path so penalties stay even—yet good omens remain scarce and yin and yang stay out of tune. The fault lies with officials who fall short of your example, not with your own transforming power.

方刺史奏事時，宜明申敕，使昭然知本朝之要務。 When inspectors come to report, Your Majesty should spell out your orders so they understand what the dynasty expects first of all.

宣無私黨遊說之助，臣恐陛下忽於《羔羊》之詩，捨公實之臣，任華虛之譽，是用越職，陳宣行能，唯陛下留神考察。 He has no clique to tout him. I fear Your Majesty might neglect the lesson of "The Lamb" and set aside a man of proven weight for one with hollow fame—so I overstep my rank to commend Xue Xuan's record and beg you to examine it closely.

時天子好儒雅，宣經術又淺，上亦輕焉。 The emperor favored literary Confucians, and Xue Xuan's scholarship was thin, so the throne cooled toward him as well.

久之，成帝即位，大將軍王鳳秉政，奏請陳咸為長史。 Some time later Emperor Cheng came to the throne. Grand General Wang Feng held power and recommended Chen Xian as chief clerk.

及成帝時，何武為九卿，建言：「古者民樸事約，國之輔佐必得賢聖，然猶則天三光，備三公官，各有分職。 Under Emperor Cheng, Minister He Wu argued: "In high antiquity life was simple and government lean; even sage assistants modeled the three lights of heaven, so the three dukes each had a clear portfolio.

博馳聘進取，不思道德，已亡可言，又見孝成之世委任大臣，假借用權。 Zhu Bo chased power without scruple and, seeing how Emperor Cheng's great ministers had wielded borrowed authority, mistook the lesson.

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 34 passages

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對曰：陛下秉至聖之純德，懼天地之戒異，飭身修政，納問公卿，又下明詔，帥舉直言，燕見紬繹，以求咎愆，使臣等得造明朝，承聖問。 He answered: Your Majesty bears pure sage virtue, fears Heaven's warnings, reforms government, questions the ministers, and summons blunt counsel at leisure to seek your faults, so that we may reach this court and answer your inquiry.

乃十二月朔戊申，日食婺女之分，地震蕭牆之內，二者同日俱發，以丁寧陛下，厥咎不遠，宜厚求諸身。 On the first day of the twelfth month, day wushen, an eclipse struck the Maiden asterism and an earthquake shook within the palace walls—both on the same day, admonishing you that the fault is near and you should search deeply within yourself.

意豈陛下志在閨門，未卹政事，不慎舉錯，婁失中與？ Could your heart rest in the inner chambers while you neglect government, act carelessly, and repeatedly miss the mean?

陛下踐至尊之祚為天下主，奉帝王之職以統群生，方內之治亂，在陛下所執。 You occupy the throne and bear the charge of shepherding every life; whether the realm stands firm or falters rests in your hands alone.

南面之急務，唯陛下留神。 They are the urgent business of the throne; I beg you to weigh them with care.

對奏，天子異焉，特召見永。 The emperor was struck by the memorial and summoned Gu Yong for a private audience.

書陳於前，陛下委棄不納，而更使方正對策，背可懼之大異，問不急之常論，廢承天之至言，角無用之虛文，欲末殺災異，滿讕誣天，是故皇天勃然發怒，甲己之間暴風三溱，拔樹折木，此天至明不可欺之效也。」 The writing was set before you, but Your Majesty cast it aside and did not accept it; instead you again had upright men answer policy questions, turning your back on terrifying great anomalies and asking about ordinary arguments that were not urgent, discarding the utmost words that receive Heaven’s charge and competing in useless empty rhetoric. You wished to minimize and kill off the disasters and anomalies, fully deceiving and slandering Heaven; therefore High Heaven burst out in anger, and between the jia and ji days violent winds came three times, uprooting trees and snapping timber. This is the clearest proof that Heaven cannot be deceived."

竊恐陛下捨昭昭之白過，忽天地之明戒，聽暗昧之□說，歸咎乎無辜，倚異乎政事，重失天心，不可之大者也。 I fear you may ignore your own clear faults, spurn Heaven's plain warnings, heed shadowy slander, punish the innocent, read strange meanings into routine policy, and doubly forfeit the Mandate—that would be intolerable.

陛下即位，委任遵舊，未有過政。 Since your accession you have followed established usage in appointments; you have not misgoverned.

各有占應，相為表裡，百官庶事無所歸倚，陛下獨不怪與？ They answer one another as inner and outer signs; no official can tell where to stand—is this not strange to you alone?

陛下誠深察愚臣之言，致懼天地之異，長思宗廟之計，改往反過，抗湛溺之意，解偏駁之愛，奮乾剛之威，平天覆之施，使列妾得人人更進，猶尚未足也，急復益納宜子婦人，毋擇好醜，毋避嘗字，毋論年齒。 If you heed this counsel, dread Heaven's signs, think long on the ancestral shrines, mend past errors, shake off sensual obsession and lopsided favor, show the firmness of the sovereign's will, and spread your favor evenly so every consort may in turn attend you—even that would not suffice: you must urgently take in more women likely to bear sons, without regard to looks, taboo homonyms, or age.

推法言之，陛下得繼嗣於微賤之間，乃反為福。 By every principle of state, an heir born to a humble mother would prove a blessing.

陛下則不深察愚臣之言，忽於天地之戒，咎根不除，水雨之災，山石之異，將發不久； If you ignore this counsel and slight Heaven's warning, the root of evil remains—flood and strange stones will soon follow;

語不可露，願具書所言，因待中奏陛下，以示腹心大臣。 These things cannot be spoken in the open: let me set them down in writing for a chamber attendant to present to you and to your closest ministers.

唯陛下省察熟念，厚為宗廟計。 I beg you to reflect long and hard for the sake of the ancestral temple.

陛下誠垂寬明之聽，無忌諱之誅，使芻蕘之臣得盡所聞於前，不懼於後患，直言之路開，則四方眾賢不遠千里，輻湊陳忠，群臣之上願，社稷之長福也。 Grant a candid hearing, punish no man for plain speech, and let the humblest clerk speak his mind without fear—then worthies will flock from every quarter, and that is both the ministers' dearest hope and the lasting good of the altars.

二者陛下兼而有之，臣請略陳其效。 Your Majesty has both of these faults; let me briefly show their effects.

陛下棄萬乘之至貴，樂家人之賤事，厭高美之尊號，好匹夫之卑字，崇聚□輕無義小人以為私客，數離深宮之固，挺身晨夜，與群小相隨，烏集雜會，飲醉吏民之家，亂服共坐，流面媟嫚，混淆無別，閔免遁樂，晝夜在路。 You abandon imperial dignity for the pleasures of the street, spurn your rightful style for a low nickname, pack your retinue with riffraff, slip the palace night and day, carouse in commoners' houses, sit in disheveled company, smear your face in debauch, and spend your nights on the road like a vagabond.

典門戶奉宿衛之臣執干戈而守空宮，公卿百僚不知陛下所在，積數年矣。 Your guards stand at empty gates while the high ministers have no idea where you are—and this has gone on for years.

今陛下輕奪民財，不愛民力，聽邪臣之計，去高敞初陵，捐十年功緒，改作昌陵，反天地之性，因下為高，積土為山，發徒起邑，並治宮館，大興繇役，重增賦斂，征發如雨，役百乾溪，費疑驪山，靡敝天下，五年不成而後反故。 You heed evil counsel, abandon the first mausoleum site, waste a decade of labor to raise Changling against nature—piling hills, dragging conscripts from town to town, throwing up palaces, doubling taxes, drafting men like rain until the burden recalls King Chu's Qianxi or the First Emperor's Lishan—exhausting the empire, and after five fruitless years you fell back to the old plan.

願陛下追觀夏、商、周、秦所以失之，以鏡考己行。 Look back at how Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin fell, and hold that mirror to your own acts.

至於陛下，獨違道縱欲，輕身妄行，當盛壯之隆，無繼嗣之福，有危亡之憂，積失君道，不合天意，亦已多矣。 You alone defy the Way and follow appetite; in your prime you lack an heir and court disaster; your lapses as sovereign have mounted until they no longer match Heaven's mind.

方今社稷宗廟禍福安危之機在於陛下，陛下誠肯發明聖之德，昭然遠寤，畏此上天之威怒，深懼危亡之徵兆，蕩滌邪辟之惡志，厲精緻政，專心反道，絕群小之私客，免不正之詔除，悉罷北宮私奴車馬□出之具，克己復禮，毋二微行出飲之過，以防迫切之禍，深惟日食再既之意，抑損椒房玉堂之盛寵，毋聽後宮之請謁，除掖庭之亂獄，出砲格之陷阱，誅戮邪佞之臣及左右執左道以事上者以塞天下之望，且寢初陵之作，止諸繕治宮室，闕更減賦，盡休力役，存恤振救困乏之人以弭遠方，厲崇忠直，放退殘賊，無使素餐之吏久屍厚祿，以次貫行，固執無違，夙夜孳孳，屢省無怠，舊愆畢改，新德既章，纖介之邪不復載心，則赫赫大異庶幾可銷，天命去就庶幾可復，社稷宗廟庶幾可保。 At present, the turning point for the altars of state and ancestral temples, for disaster or blessing, safety or danger, lies with Your Majesty. If Your Majesty will truly bring forth enlightened and sagely virtue, awaken clearly from afar, fear Heaven's anger, deeply dread the signs of peril and ruin, wash away perverse intentions, govern with concentrated vigor, turn wholly back to the Way, cut off the private retainers among petty men, revoke improper appointments, strip the Northern Palace of its private slaves, carriages, horses, and outing equipment, restrain yourself and return to ritual, and end the repeated fault of going out incognito to drink, then urgent disaster may be prevented. Ponder deeply the meaning of the two total solar eclipses, curb the harem's lavish favor, refuse palace petitions, clear out the disorderly cases in the Yeeting, remove the burning-pillar torture pits, execute corrupt favorites and those around you who serve you by heterodox arts, suspend the initial mausoleum works, stop palace repairs, reduce taxes and corvee, rest the laboring people, aid the poor, honor the loyal and upright, dismiss the cruel, and do not let idle officials long hold rich salaries. Carry these out in order, hold firmly to them without deviation, inspect yourself day and night without slackening, correct all old faults, let new virtue shine, and allow no tiny perversity to lodge again in your heart. Then the great anomalies may perhaps be dispelled, Heaven's Mandate may perhaps return, and the altars of state and ancestral temples may perhaps be preserved.

唯陛下留神反覆，熟省臣言。 I beg you to turn these words over in your mind again and again.

成帝性寬而好文辭，又久無繼嗣，數為微行，多近幸小臣，趙、李從微賤專寵，皆皇太后與諸舅夙夜所常憂。 Emperor Cheng was mild and loved letters, long lacked an heir, often slipped out among petty favorites, while Zhao Feiyan and Li Ping from humble rank seized his love—the empress dowager and her brothers lost sleep over it.

陛下聖德寬仁，不遺易忘之臣，垂周文之聽，下及芻蕘之愚，有詔使衛尉受臣永所欲言。 Your kindness does not forget the humble: like King Wen you listen even to woodcutters, and you ordered the commandant of the guards to hear me out.

陛下承八世之功業，當陽數之標季，涉三七之節紀，遭无妄之卦運，直百六之災阨。 Your Majesty inherits eight generations of achievement, stands at the yang number's marked season, crosses the three-seven node, meets the hexagram Wu Wang, and faces the hundred-six calamity pass.

願陛下正君臣之義，無復與群小媟黷燕飲； Set right the relation of lord and minister, and never again carouse in lewd company with petty men;

臣願陛下勿許加賦之奏，益減大官、導官、中御府、均官、掌畜、廩犧用度，止尚方、織室、京師郡國工服官發輸造作，以助大司農。 Reject higher taxes; slash spending on kitchens, workshops, the inner treasury, and imperial manufactories, and shift the savings to the minister of finance.

陛下天然之性，疏通聰敏，上主之姿也。 Your natural gifts are quick and clear—you have the makings of a supreme ruler.

竊恐陛下公志未專，私好頗存，尚愛群小，不肯為耳！ I fear your public resolve still wavers, private tastes linger, and you still cling to petty men and will not act!

對奏，天子甚感其言。 The emperor was deeply moved by the memorial.

平阿侯譚不受城門職，後薨，上閔悔之，乃復令譚弟成都侯商位特進，領城門兵，得舉吏如將軍府。 Marquis of Ping'a Tan refused the gate command; after he died the emperor regretted it and made Tan's younger brother Marquis of Chengdu Shang special advancement commanding gate troops, with power to recommend clerks like a general's headquarters.

贊曰：孝成之世，委政外家，諸舅持權，重於丁、傅在孝哀時。 The summation: Chengdi handed the realm to in-laws whose grip exceeded the Ding and Fu clans under Aidi.

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 6 passages

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孝成帝時，客有薦雄文似相如者，上方郊祠甘泉泰畤、汾陰后土，以求繼嗣，召雄待詔承明之庭。 Under Emperor Cheng a visitor praised Xiong's prose as rivaling Sima Xiangru's. The emperor was preparing suburban sacrifices at the Grand Altar of Sweet Springs and at the earth shrine of Fenyin to win a successor, and summoned Xiong as expectant scholar in the Chenming hall.

於是事變物化，目駭耳回，蓋天子穆然珍台閒館璇題玉英□蜎蠖濩之中，惟夫所以澄心清魂，儲精垂思，感動天地，逆釐三神者。 Things shifted and the senses reeled; the emperor sat withdrawn in jade-decked halls, purifying mind and soul, gathering spirit in meditation, to move Heaven and earth and draw down the favor of the Three Powers.

且其為已久矣，非成帝所造，欲諫則非時，欲默則不能已，故遂推而隆之，乃上比於帝室紫宮，若曰此非人力之所為，黨鬼神可也。 The complex was old, not Cheng's creation— ill-timed to attack, impossible to ignore— so Xiong praised it as rival to the celestial Purple Palace, hinting it was beyond mortal craft, almost the work of ghosts and spirits.

賦成，奏之，天子異焉。 When he submitted the piece the emperor was struck with wonder.

其三月，將祭后土，上乃帥群臣橫大河，湊汾陰。 In the third month came the earth sacrifice; the emperor led the court across the Yellow River to Fenyin.

於是天子乃以陽□始出乎玄宮，撞鴻鐘，建九旒，六白虎，載靈輿，蚩尤並轂，蒙公先驅。 Then the emperor, yang force leaving the dark hall, strikes the great bell, raises nine banners, six white tigers pull the sacred car, Chiyou at the hub, Meng Tian as forerunner.

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 3 passages

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明年，上將大誇胡人以多禽獸，秋，命右扶風發民入南山，西自褒斜，東至弘農，南驅漢中，張羅罔羆罘，捕熊羆、豪豬、虎豹、□、狐菟、麋鹿，載以檻車，輸長楊射熊館。 The following year the emperor meant to dazzle the nomads with the empire’s teeming game. That autumn he had the governor of Right Fufeng press commoners into the Qinling range from Baoxie in the west to Hongnong in the east and south into Hanzhong, stringing nets and traps for bears, boars, tigers, leopards, lynxes, foxes, hares, and deer, then hauling the catch in barred wagons up to the Changyang hunting park.

以罔為周□，縱禽獸其中，令胡人手搏之，自取其獲，上親臨觀焉。 The nets formed a vast pen; the animals were turned loose inside, and the nomads were told to wrestle their prey bare-handed and keep what they killed, while the sovereign looked on from his seat.

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

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 4 passages

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程、卓既衰，至成、哀間，成都羅裒訾至巨萬。 Long after the Cheng and Zhuo fortunes faded, during Chengdi and Aidi a Chengdu broker named Luo Pou piled up tens of millions.

刀間既衰，至成、哀間，臨淄姓偉訾五千萬。 When Dao Jian's star faded, a Linzi magnate surnamed Wei, in the reigns of Cheng and Ai, sat on fifty million cash.

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

前富者既衰，自元、成訖王莽，京師富人杜陵樊嘉，茂陵摯網，平陵如氏、苴氏，長安丹王君房，豉樊少翁、王孫大卿，為天下高訾。 Once the old houses faded, from Yuandi through Chengdi into Wang Mang's coup, Chang'an's wealthiest were Fan Jia of Duling, Zhi Gang of Maoling, the Ru and Ju families of Pingling, the cinnabar magnate Wang Junfang, the pickle king Fan Shaoweng, and Wangsun Daqing—each counted among the empire's heaviest purses.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 10 passages

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成帝之初，女為婕妤，致仕就第，貲累千金，徙昌陵。 Early in Cheng's reign Kuang's daughter entered the harem as an honored lady; he resigned and went home, amassed wealth reckoned in thousands of gold, and was relocated to the new Changling site.

時上方鄉學，鄭寬中、張禹朝夕入說尚書、論語於金華殿中，詔伯受焉。 Cheng was bent on scholarship, so Zheng Kuanzhong and Zhang Yu lectured each day on the Documents and the Analects in the Jinhua Palace while Ban Bo was told to join the class.

河平中，單于來朝，上使伯持節迎於塞下。 During the Heping reign the Chanyu visited the capital, and the emperor dispatched Ban Bo with an imperial staff to greet him just inside the frontier.

上遣侍中中郎將王舜馳傳代伯護單于，并奉璽書印綬，即拜伯為定襄太守。 The court therefore sent Wang Shun galloping with the imperial insignia to relieve Ban Bo of the reception duty and invest him on the spot as governor of Dingxiang.

歲餘，上徵伯。 A little over a year later the emperor recalled Ban Bo to court.

久之，上出過臨候伯，伯惶恐，起視事。 Months later Cheng called on him while touring nearby estates; terrified of seeming disloyal, Ban Bo roused himself and went back on duty.

上以伯新起，數目禮之，因顧指畫而問伯：「紂為無道，至於是虖？」 Noting that Ban Bo had lately returned to favor, the emperor kept glancing at him politely, then jerked his chin at the scene and asked Ban Bo, "Was wicked King Zhou really as bad as this?"

上曰：「苟不若此，此圖何戒？」 The emperor said, "If it was not like this, what warning does this picture carry?"

上乃謂然歎曰：「吾久不見班生，今日復聞讜言！」 The emperor thereupon sighed as if agreeing and said, "I have not seen Ban for a long time; today I have again heard blunt straight speech!"

漢家承秦之制，並立郡縣，主有專己之威，臣無百年之柄，至於成帝，假借外家，哀、平短祚，國嗣三絕，危自上起，傷不及下。 Han copied Qin's commandery system so the emperor kept iron control while ministers lacked hereditary leverage; down to Cheng the consort clans borrowed authority, Ai and Ping died young, the succession failed thrice, yet the rot started in the palace, not among the people.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 30Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao · 2 passages

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成、哀間，為二千石。 Under Emperors Cheng and Ai he served in posts of two thousand piculs.

父鄴，成、哀間為涼州刺史。 His father Du Ye served as inspector of Liang province under Emperors Cheng and Ai.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 1 passage

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父成帝時為太樂令。 His father had been director of grand music under Emperor Cheng.

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

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故创业于高祖，嗣传于孝惠，德隆于太宗，财衍于孝景，威盛于圣武，政行于宣、元，侈极于成、哀、祚缺于孝平。 The line began with Gaozu, flowed through Emperor Hui, rose in virtue with Emperor Wen, spread wealth with Emperor Jing, blazed in might with Emperor Wu, ran smoothly under Emperors Xuan and Yuan, burned brightest in excess under Cheng and Ai, and shattered under young Emperor Ping.

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

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成帝绥和元年，赐大司马印绶，罢将军官。 In Suhe 1 (8 BCE) Emperor Cheng granted the Grand Marshal insignia and dropped the separate general's title.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 127Volume 116: Officials Part Three · 2 passages

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本注曰：承秦所置，武帝用宦者，更为中书谒者令，成帝用士人，复故。 The office dated to Qin; Emperor Wu had put eunuchs in charge under the title of palace secretary and usher; Emperor Cheng returned it to civil officials under the old name.

本注曰：成帝初署尚书四人，分为四曹：常侍曹尚书主公卿事，二千石曹尚书主郡国二千石事，民曹尚书主凡吏上书事，客曹尚书主外国夷狄事。 Emperor Cheng had first set four bureau chiefs: one for nobles and ministers, one for commandery and kingdom officials at two thousand piculs, one for commoners' petitions, and one for foreign envoys and frontier peoples.

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

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成帝省之，以其职并长秋。 Emperor Cheng abolished it and folded its functions into the grand prolonger of autumn.

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.

History of Jin, Chapter 130Volume 130 Biographies 68: Exemplary Women: The Wife of A Lin; The Wife of Li Baoxin; The Wife of Han Qingmin; Lei Fu, née Shi; Kang Zhuzhu; The Wife of Li Wen; The Wife of Li Ying; The Wife of Xiang Qi; A Luzhen; The Wife of Sahe Nian; The Wife of Xu Gu; Feng Miaozhen; Lady Pucha; Lady Wugulun; The Wife of Su Lan; The Wife of Mang Ge; Lady Yin; Lady Bai; Nie Xiaonü; The Wife of Zhong De; Lady Li of Baofu; Zhang Fengnu · 1 passage

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漢成帝時，劉向始述三代賢妃淑女，及淫泆奢僭、興亡盛衰之所由，匯分類別，號《列女傳》，因以諷諫。 Under Emperor Cheng of Han, Liu Xiang first compiled accounts of worthy consorts and virtuous ladies from the Three Dynasties, together with the causes of licentious excess, extravagance, and usurpation—and of dynastic rise and fall—arranged by category in the Biographies of Exemplary Women as a work of moral admonition.

Book of Liang, Chapter 35Volume 35: Xiao Zike; Xiao Zifan; Xiao Zixian; Xiao Ziyun · 1 passage

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昔劉子輿自稱成帝子，光武言『假使成帝更生，天下亦不復可得，況子輿乎』。 In former times Liu Ziyu styled himself a son of Emperor Cheng; Emperor Guangwu said, "Suppose even Emperor Cheng were reborn—the realm could no longer be obtained; how much less Liu Ziyu?"

History of Song, Chapter 197Volume 197 Treatises 150: Military 11 · 1 passage

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王雱上疏曰：「漢宣帝號中興賢主，而史稱技巧工匠，獨精於元、成之時。 Wang Pang submitted a memorial: "Emperor Xuan of Han is hailed as a restorative ruler, yet histories say skilled artisans flourished only under Emperors Yuan and Cheng.

Book of Wei, Chapter 110Volume 104: Author's Preface · 5 passages

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彥子歆，字子胡，幼孤有志操，博洽經史，成帝世，位終鉅鹿太守，[2]仍家焉。 Yan's son Xin, styled Zihu, lost his father early but possessed strong character. Well read in the classics and histories, he served during Emperor Cheng's reign and ultimately became Administrator of Julu, [2] where the family established its home.

成帝世位終鉅鹿太守錢氏考異卷二八云：「此成帝謂漢成帝也。 Regarding "In the reign of Emperor Cheng he ended as Administrator of Julu"—Qian's Textual Variants, scroll 28, states: "This Emperor Cheng refers to Emperor Cheng of Han.