Dynasties of ChinaWestern HanWestern Han lineage
Reign 195–188 BCE
The benevolent and weak Shoucheng monarch, Empress Lü, was in power for seven years. Xiao He and Cao Can took charge successively, and they were quiet and inactive.
Liu Ying was the son of Liu Bang and Empress Lü, and was established as Crown Prince in 205 BC. In his later years, Liu Bang once wanted to change the name of Qi Furen's son Liu Ruyi, but it was saved thanks to Shu Suntong's advice and Zhang Liang's design to invite "Shangshan Sihao". He ascended the throne in 195 BC, and the real power was in the hands of his mother, Queen Mother Lu. He tried his best to protect Zhao Wang Ruyi, but still failed to prevent him from being poisoned. He also witnessed the tragic situation of Qi Furen, and from then on he drank for fun and ignored political affairs. During their reign, Xiao He and Cao Can successively became prime ministers. They followed the old system of the early Han Dynasty, built Chang'an City, and abolished the law of holding books. He died of illness in 188 BC at the age of twenty-three.
Politics"This is not the work of man"
Empress Dowager Lu poisoned King Zhao Ruyi, cut off his hands and feet, smoked his ears, drank mute medicine, placed him in the toilet, called him a "human pig", and summoned Emperor Hui to watch. Emperor Hui burst into tears and was ill for more than a year. He said to the Queen Mother, "This is not what humans have done." From then on, he stopped interfering in political affairs.
SocietyBuild the city of Chang'an
In the early Han Dynasty, Chang'an only had palaces but no city walls. After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he began to build the city. In 192 BC and 190 BC, more than 140,000 men and women within 600 miles of Chang'an were recruited twice, and they served for thirty days each time. The city wall was completed in September 190 BC.
Lasting legacyThe ruins of the Han Chang'an City Wall are located in the northwest suburbs of present-day Xi'an, with a circumference of about 25 kilometers. Parts of the rammed earth city wall can still be seen today.
PeopleXiao Gui and Cao Sui
When Prime Minister Xiao He passed away, Prime Minister Cao Can of Qi entered the dynasty to succeed him. Everything followed the rules set by Xiao He, choosing simple and honest officials, drinking day and night, and not making any fuss. Emperor Hui questioned, and Cao Can asked himself and Xiao He who was the virtuous, to explain that it was enough to keep the success.
Lasting legacy"Xiao Gui Cao Sui" is still used as an idiom today to describe future generations following the rules of their predecessors.
PoliticsSet up Zhanghuanghou
Empress Dowager Lu made the emperor Hui's niece, Princess Lu Yuan, and the daughter of Xuanping Marquis Zhang Ao the queen. Zhanghuanghou was young and never had children. This incident became the origin of the mystery of the Early Young Emperor's life experience.
CultureAbolition of the law of holding documents
In March, an edict was issued to abolish the book-holding law that had prohibited private collection of books since Qin Dynasty. After that, Early China classics gradually reappeared among the people, creating conditions for Emperor Wen and Emperor Wu to compile classics and establish doctorates.
SocietyLitian, the filial brother
It was ordered that people from various places be recommended to be filial to their parents, friendly to their brothers, and hardworking in farming, and exempt them from corvee service in order to reward filial piety and farming. Since then, "filial brother" and "Li Tian" have become permanent titles of commendation in villages during the Han Dynasty.
PoliticsDied of illness in Weiyang Palace
Emperor Hui died of illness in Weiyang Palace in August. According to "Historical Records", Empress Dowager Lu cried without tears. Zhang Liang's son Zhang Biqiang persuaded Prime Minister Chen Ping to ask Lu Tai, Lü Chan and others to lead the N&S army, and then the Empress Dowager cried. Crown Prince ascends the throne, and Queen Mother Lu rules as regent. Buried in An Ling.
A native of Peixian County, he was a county official like Xiao He. He followed Liu Bang in his army. He was wounded seventy times and had outstanding military exploits. In the early Han Dynasty, he was appointed as the Prime Minister of Qi State and used Gai Gong's Huang-Lao techniques to rule Qi State for nine years. After Xiao He became the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, he remained quiet and did nothing. He died three years later.
The daughter of Princess Lu Yuan, the niece of Emperor Hui, was young and childless when she was made queen. All Empress Lü were killed, and the minister deposed her to live in the North Palace because she was appointed by the Lu family. Emperor Wen died at that time.
The son of Liu Bang and Qi Furen, Liu Bang thought he was "similar to me" and once wanted to establish him as Crown Prince. In 198 BC, he was granted the title of King of Zhao. After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he was summoned to Chang'an by the Empress Dowager Lu and poisoned, and he was given the posthumous title of King Yin.