Food is the paramount necessity of the people. For a long time, the price of rice has been an important criterion for evaluating the quality of a dynasty. The wars in the late Qin Dynasty caused serious damage to the social economy. In the early Han Dynasty, there was a great famine, and the price of Xiaomi rose from the usual one hundred and ten yuan per stone to five thousand yuan. There was a tragic situation of people eating each other, and starvation was everywhere, with devastation everywhere. In the early Han Dynasty, rulers highly praised Huang Lao’s governance skills, adopted a policy of light corv é e and light taxes, and rested with the people, vigorously developing the economy. After decades of hard work, public and private granaries were abundant, with rice prices reaching as low as tens of dollars per stone. Later historians praised this period, and Zhou called it Chengkang. Han Yun’s cultural scenery was beautiful, let’s enter the first recorded prosperous era in Chinese history together, and feel its wealth and peace.
Mawangdui No.3 Tomb Pit Site, Changsha City, Hunan Province
What we see now is the famous tomb site of Mawangdui No.3. In 1972, an archaeological discovery in Mawangdui Township, four kilometers east of Changsha City, Hunan Province, shocked the world. A large number of valuable and well preserved cultural relics were discovered on site, providing us with rich information on the history of the Han Dynasty. In addition to Tomb No.3, two subsequent tombs were excavated, named Tomb No.1 and Tomb No.2, and a large number of cultural relics were also unearthed. After excavation, these two tombs were backfilled. After expert research, it was confirmed that this is the family tomb of Marquis Li Cang of Dai. The owner of Tomb No.2, who was the first generation Marquis of Dai. Li Cang, who was then the Prime Minister of Changsha, was buried in the middle period of Empress Lv’s reign, around 184 BC. His wife was buried in the first tomb, while his son was buried in the third tomb. Li Cang’s wife and children were buried in the third tomb, Later than Li Cang for about twenty years, during the mid to late period of Emperor Wen’s rule, experts were surprised to find that it was precisely Li Cang, who had the most prestigious status. His tomb, in terms of coffin size and number of accompanying items, was far inferior to that of his wife and children.
40 years ago, Xiong Chuanxiu, former director of the Hunan Provincial Museum, presided over the excavation of the Mawangdui Han Tomb.
Xiong Chuanxu, former director of the Hunan Provincial Museum: Many silk books were unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tomb, mainly from Tomb No. 3 of Mawangdui. Tomb No. 2 is the Licang Tomb, which is a circular tomb. The size of the tomb is also relatively small, not very large, and it is buried shallow. The coffin is also two coffins and two coffins. As for his burial objects, from the excavation, there are not many, mainly three seals. Tomb No. 1 is the tomb of the old lady and her son, mainly filled with a lot of silk and silk fabrics, lacquered wooden objects, as well as pottery, bamboo, and silk books.
Lacquer Plate, Colored Terracotta Warriors, Lacquer Earrings, Hunan Provincial Museum
From the middle period of Empress L ü’s reign to the later period of Emperor Wen’s twenty years, the status of the Dai Marquis family did not change at all. However, the socio-economic situation has undergone earth shattering changes. The wealth of the Dai Marquis family also rapidly increased. Especially during the reign of Emperor Wen, the further prosperity of the Han Dynasty’s economy laid the social foundation for the extravagance of the Dai Marquis family. Therefore, the wives and children of the Marquis of Dai who were buried during this period were able to enjoy such luxurious and lavish burials. More than 3000 precious cultural relics, including over 500 lacquerware, a large number of rare silk fabrics, colored figurines, musical instruments, seals, and more, have been unearthed from three Han tombs in Mawangdui, each of which is breathtaking. The most dazzling among these treasures is this plain silk (dan) garment, which can be called an unparalleled masterpiece. The entire garment weighs only 49 grams and is the treasure of the Hunan Museum. The plain silk garment is made of yarn material, as thin as cicada wings, as light as smoke, and with exquisite craftsmanship, it is currently the lightest garment in the world. Although the plain silk robe has been seen again, its production method has been lost along with the skilled craftsmen who woven it, leaving no trace.
Wang Jisheng, a researcher specializing in ancient dyeing and weaving techniques at the Nanjing Yunjin Research Institute, attempted to unravel this eternal mystery. He explored the footprints of his predecessors from planting mulberry, extracting silk and cocoons, to weaving and cutting, from every step, being careful not to let any deviation ruin his previous achievements. The rulers of the early Han Dynasty were weaving the entire Han Dynasty with fine craftsmanship, just like making plain silk robes.
In the hometown of Han Gaozu Liu Bang, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, later generations created an eight meter tall statue for him, with ten founding officials and generals on either side. Nowadays, this place has been abandoned for several years and few people come to visit. Only on the first day of August every year, this gatekeeper will come here to clean up.
In 202 BC, Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor and established the Western Han Dynasty, which inherited the Qin system. The emerging Han Dynasty inherited the Qin Dynasty in many systems. However, in terms of political system, it did not fully inherit the county system of the Qin Dynasty, but adopted a parallel system of county system and enfeoffment system. Liu Bang divided most of his territory among seven feudal lords and kings. The feudal lords and kings enjoy a high degree of autonomy, collect taxes, and have armies. Only the fifteen counties in Guanzhong implement a county system directly managed by the central government.
Yang Zhenhong, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: During Liu Bang’s reign, its foundation was actually unstable. Seven princes with different surnames have always been a major concern for the dynasty. Within the first few months of his accession to the throne, Prince Yan Zang Tu rebelled, and Liu Bang personally quelled the rebellion. Subsequently, he spent several more years to quell the biggest threat to the dynasty, followed by Han Xin, Yingbu, and Peng Yue. At the same time as dismissing the feudal lords with different surnames, he distributed a large area of reclaimed land to the feudal lords with the same surname. He hopes to maintain and maintain the stability of the Western Han regime through such a blood relationship.
The political issues have been temporarily resolved, but the equally severe economic and social situation still lies before the rulers of the early Han Dynasty. The war at the end of the Qin Dynasty caused serious damage to the social and economic situation. In the early Han Dynasty, there was a great famine, and prices skyrocketed. The price of millet rose from the usual hundred and ten yuan per stone to five thousand yuan, or even tens of thousands of yuan. Many places have experienced cannibalism, with more than half of the population lost, especially in some famous big cities where only two-thirds remain, leaving a scene of ruins and withering everywhere. Even Emperor Liu Bang couldn’t gather four horses of the same color to drive, and some generals could only ride ox carts.
Faced with such a destitute and dilapidated mess, the rulers of the early Han Dynasty fully realized the need to appease the people and allow them to rest and recover, otherwise the country would be in danger. They have witnessed the devastating collapse of the immensely powerful Qin Empire overnight, and their hearts are still trembling. They hope to learn from the painful lessons of Qin’s rapid downfall and find a grand road to prosperity.
Professor Chen Xingang from the School of Economics at Shandong University: In my opinion, the policy of recuperation and recuperation in the early Han Dynasty was a rational choice. It is not a very arbitrary policy arrangement. Why did all the founding emperors and dynasties implement this policy? It’s not you, nor is it him. Basically, 99% of these pioneers have to do this. So since doing so indicates that it conforms to the law, then in my opinion, this law is a rational choice. He must do this, otherwise he has no other way out.
Shortly after Liu Bang ascended the throne, he ordered the disbandment of the army, demobilized the soldiers and returned to their hometowns, granted them titles, priority land grants, exemption from taxes and corv é e, and other preferential treatment. At the same time, those who fled to Shanze during the war were ordered to return to their homeland, restore their original titles and farmland, and officials were not allowed to discriminate or abuse. Those who sell themselves as slaves due to hunger are exempt from becoming commoners, while encouraging childbirth and rewarding agriculture. In the eleventh year of Emperor Gao (196 BC), Liu Bang prohibited counties and states from arbitrarily collecting tribute, and clearly stipulated that the central government would only collect 63 yuan per person per year.
Xiao He’s Tomb in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province
This is the tomb of Xiao He, located 37 miles northeast of Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. Xiao He’s talent has always been praised and admired by future generations. In order to protect his tombstone, the staff are building a windproof and rainproof building for it. In the early Han Dynasty, the emperor advocated thrift, and the ministers were also very frugal. As the prime minister, Xiao He bought farmland and houses specifically for impoverished areas, and the houses did not even have their walls repaired. He saw that there were more people and less land in Chang’an area, so he asked Liu Bang to open the Royal Garden Shanglin Yuan and let the people in to farm.
Changling, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province
In 195 BC, Liu Bang passed away in Changle Palace and was buried in Changling. This cloth clad emperor, who wielded a three foot sword to conquer the world, was deeply aware at the end of his life that the political and economic crisis was far from over. If he did not select good assistants for his descendants, the Han Dynasty would be in crisis.
Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Yang Zhenhong: Before Liu Bang’s death, Empress Lv once asked Liu Bang who would be better prime minister after Xiao He’s death. Then Liu Bang said Cao Shen. Empress Lv asked again, “Did Cao Can die?”? He said Wang Ling. Then Empress Lv asked, “Has the royal tomb died?”? He said that both you and I are gone.
After Liu Bang’s death, Crown Prince Liu Ying succeeded him as Emperor Hui of Han. In the second year of Emperor Hui’s reign, the Prime Minister Xiao He passed away, and Cao Can took over the position of Prime Minister. After Cao Can took office, he ordered everything to be handled according to the rules of Xiao Xiangguo. I drink with my subordinates and friends all day long. Emperor Hui was very dissatisfied with him, thinking to himself, was it bullying my youth? So, he blamed Cao Shen. Faced with Emperor Hui’s questioning, Cao Can asked in reverse, “Your Majesty, who is more holy and martial than Emperor Gao?” Emperor Hui said, “How dare I hope to see the previous emperor?” Cao Can asked again, “Your Majesty, who is more virtuous than Xiao He?” Emperor Hui said, “It seems that you are not as good as Xiao He.” Cao Can then said, “Emperor Gao and Xiao He have established a clear law, and now that Your Majesty is hanging down and arched, we should respect and not lose our duties. Isn’t that enough?” Xiao Guicao followed, and Emperor Hui pondered and thought that it was also reasonable.
Emperor Hui passed away after seven years of his reign. After his death, Empress Lv became known for her ruthlessness and ruthlessness in court. She persecuted Lady Qi, the favored concubine of Liu Bang, and killed four princes with the Liu surname by extremely cruel means. She openly violated Liu Bang’s oath and appointed the Lv family as king, almost endangering the Liu surname world. Therefore, people’s evaluation of Empress Lv has always been negative in history.
Yang Zhenhong, a researcher of the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: She was very jealous and cruel, especially for Liu Bang’s concubine, who was cruel at that time. But evaluating a historical figure is not just about her personal behavior or personality, but mainly about her influence on the development of history. The impact of a dynasty on a country.
Jingzhou Museum of Bamboo Slips for Recording Grains
The bamboo slips unearthed from the Zhangjiashan Han Tomb in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province in 1983, which recorded grains in the early Western Han Dynasty, are sufficient evidence to support this historical fact. During the reigns of Emperor Hui and Empress Lv, a series of policies were implemented to support the people in terms of rest. In the year of Emperor Hui’s accession to the throne, land rent was reduced from one tax per ten to one tax per fifteen. During his reign, he issued three edicts to reduce punishment, abolish the “law of coercion” established during the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, reward filial piety, strengthen the field, and encourage childbirth. During the reign of Empress L ü, the crimes of the three barbarians and the decree of witchcraft were abolished, restrictions on merchants were relaxed, and monetary reforms were implemented twice to promote economic development.
Yang Zhenhong, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: In fact, she did not make any changes in politics or policies, and their actions made the world at that time very calm and peaceful. The people’s food has also started to increase, and they have started to wear good clothes, so the signs of a prosperous era have begun to appear. They have already ushered in an era of cultural and cultural governance.
After the death of Empress Lv, ministers Zhou Bo and Chen Ping crowned Liu Bang’s son, Prince Dai Liu Heng, as Emperor Wen of Han. There are two important reasons why the ministers chose this way. Firstly, Emperor Wen was benevolent, filial, and magnanimous. Secondly, Emperor Wen’s mother, Lady Bo, was cautious, kind, and had little influence. It has been proven that the choice of ministers was very wise. When Emperor Wen first ascended the throne, he often hunted and indulged in banquets, claiming to go out three times a day. At that time, a cavalry attendant of a feudal lord named Jia Shan wrote a letter to advise him, saying that if this would lead to ineffective actions, the court would become lax, and officials would handle political affairs carelessly, thus cutting off the hope of the world. Emperor Wen was good at accepting advice and immediately reduced the number of hunting trips.
Emperor Wen was known for his benevolence and kindness in history. In the first year of his reign, he issued an edict to abolish the “imperial decree” and no longer impose consecutive sitting on the relatives of criminals, and no longer serve as officials or slaves. In the second year, the crimes of defamation and slander, as well as wishing to curse the emperor, were abolished, and a certain degree of freedom of speech was granted. In addition, Emperor Wen of Han also abolished the long-standing practice of corporal punishment. According to the “Criminal Law Annals” in the Book of Han, during the Western Zhou Dynasty, there were five punishments, namely Mo, Bi, Gong, Yue, and Da Pi. The Shang Yang Reform also added the punishments of chiseling the head, extracting the rib to death, and using a cauldron to cook and kill.
Actor Zhu Junhao of the Peking Opera “Ti Ying Saves Father”: And there is also this handcuff with hands inside. This is the elm shackle used when escorting him to Beijing at that time. It is pieced together like this, and then the head is placed inside.
The significant reform made by Emperor Wen in the field of criminal law was due to the rescue of his father by Ti Ying. This story is recorded in historical books and constantly brought to the stage. Today, “Ti Ying Saves Father” is still the most classic preserved song of Jiangsu Huai’an Changrong Peking Opera Theater. For decades, it has been passed down by word of mouth and has never declined. Now the new generation of actress Zhu Junhao is about to take the stage and play the brave young girl. The story of Ti Ying saving his father is about in May of the thirteenth year of Emperor Wen, when his father, Chun Yu Gong, was sentenced to corporal punishment for violating the law. Chun Yu Gong had no son and only had five daughters. When he was arrested, he angrily scolded his daughter, saying, “It’s useless to have a daughter but not a son.” Ti Ying’s heart was twisted like a knife. Her father escorted her to Beijing, and she followed her all the way. She wrote a letter to defend her father’s grievances, stating that the deceased cannot be resurrected. If a person is subjected to corporal punishment, they cannot be restored to their original state. Even if they want to reform themselves, there is no way. I am willing to have no official position to redeem my father’s sins for my servant.
(“Ti Ying Saves My Father” Peking Opera) “Ti Ying saves my father without fear, how could I be attacked by knives and axes? I am willing to be a slave and trample on, and protect my father from returning home safely.” Ti Ying’s filial and brave dedication deeply touched Emperor Wen, so he ordered the abolition of corporal punishment such as tattooing on his face, cutting his nose, and toe, and replaced it with whipping, hard labor, and changed the indefinite sentence to a fixed-term sentence. The abolition of corporal punishment by Emperor Wen was a great progress in the construction of ancient Chinese legal system and also a big step towards civilization.
Emperor Wen of Han’s lenient rule was not only reflected in the criminal law, but also in his great care for the people’s resources and implementation of light corv é e and light taxes. In the first year of his reign, a retirement order was issued, distributing rice, meat, cloth, and other items to elderly people over 80 years old, allowing local officials to comfort them on time. At the same time, it was ordered that the counties and states should not search for rare treasures to present to the court. In the second and twelfth years of Emperor Wen’s reign, he issued two edicts exempting the people from half of the land rent and reducing the tax rate from 15 to 30. Thirteen years later, it was ordered to waive all land rent, and the calculation of taxes was reduced from 120 yuan per person per year to 40 yuan per person per year. In times of famine, Emperor Wen also issued temporary policies to console the people. He also vigorously reduced corv é e, reducing the annual service for adult men to every three years.
Director of the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Bu Xianqun: According to Emperor Wen of Han, he opened up the convenience of commerce by passing through Liang, which was strictly prohibited during the reign of Empress Lv. Moreover, even in certain periods, they do not charge any money or rent taxes to the common people.
During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, the issue of lords with the same surname becoming increasingly prominent. In the third year of Emperor Wen, King Liu Xingju of Jibei rebelled by sending troops. Six years later, the Huainan King Liu Chang plotted a rebellion. The increasingly powerful feudal lords with the same surname also became a major concern for the Han Dynasty. Jia Yi proposed to abolish feudal domains in the public security policy, requesting Emperor Wen to seize the territory of the feudal lords in order to weaken their power.
Director of the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Bu Xianqun: Jia Yi is a talented scholar from Luoyang who once gave many ideas to Emperor Wen of Han. The Public Security Strategy is one of them. Emperor Wen of Han did not fully adopt Jia Yi’s suggestions, but it does not mean that he did not absorb any of his suggestions. He unsealed both the Huainan and Qi kings Emperor Wen did not fully adopt Jia Yi’s suggestions, mainly due to considerations of political stability. He has various concerns about the reduction of fiefdoms. Although this kind of appeasement ultimately led to the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion during the reign of Emperor Jing, it was clearly too early to cut off feudal domains at that time. During the reign of Emperor Wen, stability always came first, and the same was true for domestic and foreign affairs. The Xiongnu people repeatedly broke the treaty of peace and invaded the border. Emperor Wen was afraid that swords would rise again and the people would suffer from war, so he ordered to strictly guard the border and not send troops to pursue.
During the period of Liu Bang, the state of Nanyue submitted to the Han Dynasty. During the reign of Empress Lv, she ordered a ban on selling iron tools to Nanyue, and the export of cattle and horses could only be sold to the public, not to the mother. King Zhao Tuo of Nanyue was furious and simply claimed that Emperor Wu was fighting against the Han Dynasty. Empress Lv’s expedition was unsuccessful. As soon as Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he wrote a handwritten letter, sending Lu Jia to lead an envoy to South Vietnam. This is an important trip. As an envoy of the friendly relationship between the Han Dynasty and South Vietnam, Lu Jia traveled a long distance from Han to South Vietnam and handed over Emperor Wen’s handwritten letter to Zhao Tuo. After reading the letter, Zhao Tuo was both moved and ashamed, and immediately removed the emperor’s pretentious petition to declare his allegiance.
Bu Xianqun, Director of the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Emperor Wen of Han roughly meant, ‘You worked very hard.’ First of all, I would like to express my greetings to him, saying that you have worked very hard, and briefly explain to him the process of how he and Emperor Wen of Han succeeded to the throne. At the same time, I also mentioned that the tomb of his (Zhao Tuo) ancestors has been repaired and someone has been sent to take care of it. But at the same time, Emperor Wen of Han also said that if there were a war between Han and South Vietnam, the suffering that might come from it would be more for the common people. This letter expresses Emperor Wen of Han’s sincere advice to Zhao Tuo to give up the idea of proclaiming himself emperor.
Emperor Wen of Han was a generous emperor, but also a skilled politician, with all his measures aimed at consolidating political power. As soon as Emperor Wen ascended the throne from the Dai Dynasty and entered the Weiyang Palace, he appointed his confidant Song Chang as the General of Guard, in charge of the northern and southern armies and controlling military power in his own hands. He also bestowed great honors on his own meritorious officials, demonstrating his humble attitude and reassuring the group of meritorious officials. When the timing is right, let the vassals return to their own fiefdoms and dismiss Marquis Zhou Bo to suppress the power of the meritorious group. And successively quelled the rebellion of Liu Xingju, the King of Jibei, and Liu Chang, the King of Huainan.
Emperor Wen of Han was like a diligent and exquisite craftsman, diligently weaving this unprecedented plain silk robe during the prosperous era of the Han Dynasty. He is generous and benevolent, deeply realizing that agriculture is the foundation of the world, and that sufficient clothing and food can ensure the safety of the people. Multiple edicts have been issued to persuade students to learn about agriculture and mulberry cultivation, and to set an example in person. Thirteen years later, an edict was issued to restore the etiquette of ancient emperors personally cultivating their land and empresses personally cultivating mulberry trees, and this system was implemented for a long time. At that time, the people worked hard to cultivate in such a relaxed environment and gradually became prosperous. Together with Emperor Wen of Han, weave the most beautiful pattern on this plain silk robe.
Yang Zhenhong, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: During the Han Dynasty, it was necessary to restore its national strength, restore its economy, and enable the people to return to a normal state of life. This level of difficulty is no less than the production of this plain silk garment, which is several times or even dozens of times more difficult, or we cannot compare it.
The unparalleled plain silk robe of the world, although a masterpiece of skilled craftsmen during the reign of Emperor Wen, was always worn by Emperor Wen himself in black coarse silk clothes. His favorite consort, Lady Shen, did not wear the floor dragging long skirt popular among aristocratic women in order to save fabric. The curtains used were very simple, and he was determined to become a model for the world. The frugality of Emperor Wen of Han was very rare. During his reign for more than 20 years, there were no newly built palaces or gardens, and his clothes, carriages, and horses were not updated for a long time. Emperor Wen once wanted to build a terrace, which cost him a hundred coins. Therefore, he said, “A hundred coins is equivalent to the property of ten middle-class families. I was lucky enough to serve the late emperor’s palace, and I often worried about insulting the late emperor and what else to build a terrace.” So he suspended the plan.
In 157 BC, Emperor Wen passed away. In order to correct the prevailing practice of heavy burials at that time, he issued a posthumous edict for a thin burial before his death. “I have heard of it, and it covers the birth of all things in the world. There is no death in all things, and the principles of heaven and earth and the nature of things can be very sorrowful. In today’s world, it is good to live and evil to die, and thick burials are used to destroy business, and heavy clothing is used to harm life. I do not take it.” He first set the time for the national funeral to three days, during which the people were allowed to marry, worship, drink alcohol, and eat meat. Not only did he not want cloth clothes carts and weapons for burial, but he also ordered the concubines below his wife to be sent home and married casually. For two thousand years, few emperors have been able to show this kind of love for people.
Director of the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Bu Xianqun: In today’s words, he is more open-minded, for example, his attitude towards death is also the same. He was able to recognize that death is a natural law of all things, which is a remarkable realization.
Researcher Wu Wenling from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: He is indeed a diligent and frugal monarch, who is both honest and kind. So he advocates that a thin burial is indeed a thin burial, and he doesn’t have much accompanying burial. But Emperor Jing is indeed different. In fact, when he ascended the throne very young, he began to build his tomb. His tomb should be said to be more luxurious than Emperor Wen’s. Especially now, because the Mausoleum of Emperor Jing has not been fully excavated yet, but from the parts that have been excavated so far, especially large accompanying burial pits have been discovered.
The Yangling of Emperor Jing, the successor of Emperor Wen of Han, is 35 kilometers away from the Baoling. So far, only one eighth of the excavation has been carried out in the Han Yang tomb site. The Yangling Mausoleum covers an area of over 20 square kilometers. According to the concept advocated by the Han Dynasty people that death is like life, the entire tomb reproduces the life and social conditions of Emperor Jing of Han before his death.
In 157 BC, Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, ascended to the throne. The most famous event during the reign of Emperor Jing was the reduction of feudal domains and the suppression of the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion. He adopted Chao Cuo’s “The Strategy for Cutting Feudals”, which led to a rebellion by seven feudal lords. At the beginning of the rebellion, Emperor Jing, in order to appease the rebellious feudal lords, cut off Chao Cuo, who advocated for the abolition of the feudal domain. But the feudal lords continued to advance, and Emperor Jing no longer compromised, quickly quelling the rebellion.
Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Wu Wenling: On the surface, he may seem very generous, but in reality, he also has a relatively harsh side inside. He is somewhat unscrupulous in order to achieve his goals. In fact, some people believe that Emperor Jing, as a politician, didn’t he understand that the feudal lords wanted to clear the emperor’s side and punish Chao Cuo as an excuse? I just have some thoughts that he definitely knows, but I think Chao Cuo said he was tough, and he may also feel that it may pose a certain threat to his politics, so he took the opportunity to get rid of him.
After the pacification, the power of the Eastern feudal lords was greatly weakened, but Emperor Jing did not take it lightly. He strengthened the central control over the feudal lords, deprived them of the power of autonomy, and reclaimed the power to appoint and dismiss officials in the kingdom.
Researcher Wu Wenling from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: Through these series of measures, the strength of these feudal states has been greatly reduced, and in the end, their status is roughly equivalent to that of a county under the central government.
The staff of Hanyang Mausoleum are doing a repetitive task every day to restore the cultural relics unearthed from Hanyang Mausoleum. Although only one eighth of the tombs have been excavated, a wide variety of cultural relics have been unearthed, and these relics alone require workers to spend hundreds of years repairing. The person in charge of cultural relic restoration work is Hou Ningbin, the director of the Hanyang Mausoleum Museum.
Hou Ningbin, the director of the Hanyang Mausoleum Museum in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, said, “These two items are two agricultural tools unearthed from the burial pit in the southern area of Hanyang Mausoleum. This thing is called an iron plow. It is an iron tool used at the top of an iron plow. This thing is called an iron fork, which is a tool used at the top of a shovel. So, besides the burial pit, there are other accompanying burial cemeteries in the southern area of Hanyang Mausoleum. Many of these agricultural tools have been unearthed in the site, indicating that agriculture was highly valued during the cultural and scenic period.”.
Although the feudal lords Wang Jingdi adopted tough measures, he inherited his father’s policies in governing the country. Quiet and inactive, light corv é e and light taxes. When Emperor Jing ascended the throne, he exempted half of the land rent, implemented a 30% tax system, and became a custom inheritance for future generations. In the second year, it was ordered to raise the age of active service for men from 17 to 20 years old. When the year was not good, an edict was issued not to accept the contributions of the county and state, and to lower the palace’s dietary standards.
Hou Ningbin, Director of the Hanyang Mausoleum Museum in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province: These three cultural relics were unearthed from the tomb of Han Jingdi’s criminal in the 1970s. This big one is called a pair of iron pliers, which is worn around the neck. The two small ones called iron ingots were placed around the ankles, indicating that the criminals were carrying tools of torture during their labor. In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, there was a punishment called corporal punishment, which involved engraving characters on the face, cutting off the nose, and breaking the foot. So during the Wenjing period, this criminal law was alleviated. That is to say, if there is such corporal punishment, some criminals will lose their labor force and at the same time lose an opportunity for them to reform. During the Wenjing period, the reform of this criminal law not only increased the labor force in society, but also provided an opportunity for some criminals to reform themselves.
In terms of reducing criminal law, Emperor Jing did a lot of good deeds for the people. In the first year and sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Jing improved Emperor Wen’s policy of abolishing corporal punishment twice and reduced the punishment of flogging. The abolition of corporal punishment is truly beneficial to the people. He abolished the cruel punishment and replaced it with a more gentle abandonment of the city. In sentencing, Emperor Jing emphasized the principle of leniency for suspected crimes.
This is the “Zu Yan Shu” unearthed from the Han Tomb No. 247 Zhangjiashan in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province in 1983. It records some difficult cases during the Qin and early Han dynasties. As early as the Warring States period, there was already a system of reporting difficult cases or cases where the defendant was dissatisfied to the competent department for deliberation. Emperor Jing further improved this system by issuing an edict in the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Jing (145 BC), condemning officials who were not judges, bending the law for personal gain, and forming cliques for personal gain. He used harsh law enforcement as a clear observation, resulting in innocent people being wronged and guilty people being rampant. From then on, all cases with doubts must be reported for deliberation. In the following year, another edict was issued to further clarify that suspected cases should be submitted to the competent department for deliberation. If the competent department still cannot finalize the case, it should be transferred to the highest judicial institution – Tingwei, for final trial, emphasizing the importance of leniency for those in prison.
Professor Chen Xingang from the School of Economics of Shandong University: It is to try not to compete with the people for benefits and place wealth among the people. This is two main themes in Chinese economic history, one is to compete with the people for benefits; One is inaction, not competing for benefits with the people. The policies implemented by the two emperors of Wen and Jing still followed the policies of the early Han Dynasty, known as the policy of inaction. Try not to disturb farmers, reduce their burden as much as possible, and avoid conscription for more military service.
Hanyangling Museum, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province
A series of measures to benefit the people during the Wenjing period have won unanimous praise from future generations. According to statistics, a total of eight amnesty orders were issued during the Wenjing period. The posthumous titles of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing were determined based on their political achievements, and the posthumous law states: “Morality is known as literature, and righteousness is known as scenery.” From the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty to the death of Emperor Jing Liu Qi, the Han Dynasty had been established for 61 years. The dilapidated and desolate scene of the early Han Dynasty swept away, with both urban and rural granaries filled with grain, and government warehouses storing a large amount of wealth. Billions of money were spent on hardship, and the ropes that were not worn for a long time had decayed, making it impossible to count them. Taicang is filled with new and old grains, some of which have no place to be stored and have to be left outside, causing them to rot and become inedible. Horses are everywhere in the streets and alleys, and the fields are crowded. Those who ride on mares are looked down upon, and the lowly gatekeepers eat sorghum and meat. Those who serve as officials have nothing to do and are busy raising children. Everyone loves themselves, but when breaking the law, righteousness comes first.
It took Wang Jisheng thirteen years to make a plain silk robe, and it took several decades or generations to usher in a prosperous era. Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Hui, Empress Lv, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing worked together to weave the rule of Wen and Jing. This plain silk robe, which sets an example for future generations, weaves the first prosperous era in Chinese history with precise documentation.
(Researcher Wu Wenling from the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: During these decades of rule, their policies have had a continuity, and the continuity of this policy is actually the best manifestation of inaction, not constant change. The stability and continuity of this policy can also maintain social stability, increase wealth, economic development, and national prosperity and security to a certain extent. Of course, the more important thing is that the subjects and people are very satisfied with this society, that is, their recognition of this society is relatively high, for example, their recognition of the rulers is relatively high.)
The rule of Wen and Jing was a rare and prosperous era in Chinese history. However, behind the prosperous scene of governance, there are numerous crises hidden. After several generations of rulers in the early Han Dynasty remained silent and recuperated, it was indeed a sweep of the dilapidated state of the late Qin Dynasty, and a prosperous scene emerged with all industries thriving. However, the threat from the feudal lords and the Xiongnu has not been completely eliminated, especially since the Xiongnu in the north have always been a nightmare like enemy of the Han Dynasty. Since the era of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of Han, he has been constantly harassed and provoked from the north. The emerging Han Dynasty was unable to engage in large-scale and long-term warfare with the Xiongnu, and had to resort to reconciliation and appeasement. However, Huairou can only exchange for brief peace and tranquility, but cannot guarantee long-term stability. In 141 BC, Emperor Jing passed away and his son Liu Che ascended to the throne, becoming Emperor Wu of Han. From then on, the humble words and thick coins became golden and iron horses, and Emperor Wu’s ambition and Han’s iron cavalry swept across the grasslands. The Xiongnu people will face unprecedented setbacks. The history of the Western Han Dynasty also opened a new chapter in the rising smoke, turbulent clouds, and awe inspiring seas.
90 Seconds in History: Ma Yi’s Strategy
In June 133 BC, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, ordered Li Guang to lead 300000 troops to ambush in a valley near the city of Mayi. At the same time, he sent people to lure the strong enemy Xiongnu into a battle aimed at annihilating the main force of the Xiongnu. In a tense situation, he deployed the Xiongnu ruler and minister, Chanyu, to lead a large army to Mayi. The Xiongnu army went smoothly and found herds of cattle and sheep along the way, but no herders were seen. The ruler and minister, Chanyu, became suspicious. At this moment, the Han Dynasty officials who were patrolling Shu Han happened to be under threat. The officials completely revealed their plans to the emperor and his ministers, and Chanyu was shocked and ordered to withdraw. At this moment, the forward troops were only a hundred miles away from Mayi and almost fell into ambush. The Han army advanced but could not catch up. This war of annihilation against the Xiongnu ultimately failed, which was known as the Ma Yi Plan in history. The failure of the Han Army’s Ma Yi Plan ended the pro unification policy towards the Xiongnu since the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty, and also marked the beginning of the comprehensive war between the Han and Xiongnu.