Translations from Early Medieval Chinese texts

[zgongjin]

The unrelenting passage of time

When Huan Wen went on a northern campaign and passed through Jincheng, he saw that the willows he had planted earlier during his posting in Langya had all grown to a circumference of ten spans. Deeply moved, he exclaimed: 'If mere trees have changed like this, how can a man endure?' Stroking the branches, he wept with tears streaming down his face.

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Yanyu (Speech and Conversation)  

桓公北征經金城，見前為琅邪時種柳，皆已十圍，慨然曰：「木猶如此，人何以堪！」攀枝執條，泫然流淚。

-- 《世說新語·言語》

[linjunjian]

Translation Project Update: Liu Cong & Liu Yao

Finally completed translating the biographies of Liu Cong and Liu Yao!

Liu Cong and Liu Yao - rulers of the Han-Zhao state - represent a unique period when nomadic peoples adopted Chinese governmental systems while maintaining their military traditions. Their stories offer invaluable insights into the complex cultural interactions during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Next up: Almost done with the Murong family chapters!

Link:

[craftercat]

Northern Wei Part 1 – Foundation

To understand Northern Wei, we first need a quick summary of Dai. There will be another article on Dai, so I will keep this short. The Tuoba

The first article of the Northern Wei series is finally out!

[bookofjin]

Origin of the southwestern barbarians (HHS086)

The south-western barbarians were located outside the frontiers of Shu commandery. There is the state of Yelang which to the east is connected to Jiaozhi, to the west is the state of Dian, and to the north was the state of Qiongdu. Each installed lords and chiefs. Their people all have cudgel hair-knots and left-side lapels. They assemble in towns and live there, and they are able to till the fields.

Outside them there are also the various groups of Xi and Kunming. From the furthest west at Tongshi and north-east until Yeyu, their territory is several thousand li square.

Yeyu is a county in Yizhou commandery. Your Subject Zan's Notes to the Book of Han says: West from Tongshi and eastward, and north until Yeyu, are called Xi and Kunming.

They have no lords or chiefs, braid their hair, and follow their livestock's migrations without consistency. North-east from Xi is the state of Zuodu, and north-east of it is the state of Ranmang. Some of them are attached to the land, some of them follow their livestock's migrations. North-east from Ranmang is the state of Baima, they are of the Di race. These three states also have lords and chiefs.

Yelang began with a girl who washed in the Dun River. There was a large bamboo with three joints that floated to enter between her feet. She heard from within it cries and noises. She split the bamboo and looked into it, and found one boy child. She went back home and raised him. Reaching adulthood, he had talent and martial ability. He installed himself as Marquis of Yelang, and used Zhu [“bamboo”] as his family name. Emperor Wu in the 6th Year of Wuding [112 BC] pacified the southern barbarians, and made Zangke commandery. The Marquis of Yelang welcomed him in surrender, and the Son of Heaven bestowed on him the seal and ribbon of a King. Later he was then killed. The barbarians all considered the Bamboo King as not born from blood and breath, very much esteemed him, and sought to install his heirs. The Grand Warden of Zangke, Wu Ba, made it known, and the Son of Heaven therefore ennobled his three sons as Marquises. When they died, they were matched with their father for offerings. Today in Yelang county these are the Bamboo King and the Three Gentlemen gods.

The Treatise on the States of Huayang states: The Dun River passes through a thick forest where is the Shrine of the Three Gentlemen, it always has numinous echoes.

It also states: Where the Bamboo King cast away and smashed the bamboo in the wilderness, there formed a bamboo forest, and now the King's shrine is in the bamboo forest. The King once stopped with his followers on top of a large rock, and instructed them to make soup, The followers informed there was no water. The King used his sword to strike the rock bring forth water. Today this is the Bamboo King's River.

Earlier, in the time of King Qingxiang of Chu [r. 298 – 263 BC], he dispatched general Zhuang Hao to follow the Yuan River and invade Yelang. When the army reached Julan, they hammered the boats to the bank and fought on foot. When they had wiped out Yelang, they kept behind a king at Dianchi. Since they had hammered the boats in Julan at a place called Zangke, they therefore changed the name to be Zangke,

The Treatise on the Strange Things says: Zangke is where they to fasten boats to stakes.

In the land of Zangke there is much rain and floods. By custom they are fond of wizardry and ghosts, prohibitions and taboos. They have little livestock and also have no silkworms or mulberry trees. For that reason that commandery is extremely impoverished. In Juting county they have the guanglang tree [the areng palm, arenga pinnata], which can be used for flour. The hundred families depend on it.

The Treatise on Strange Things Overlooking the Sea says: The guanglang tree's outer bark is hairy, it resembles the palm tree but grows spread out. Its wood is tough, and they make bladed hoes sharp like iron. It can hit rocks advantageously, only when hitting burnt roots then they will be at a loss, and that is all. Inside the bark it resembles rice pounded the to the finest grain, it also resemble wheat flour. The insides are made into buns and cakes.

The Broad Treatise says: The guanglang tree has a circumference of four or five double-handspans, and are five or six zhang tall. It is extremely straight, its sides have no branches. Its crown produces leaves not exceeding a few tens and resembling palm tree leaves. When smashing it, the wood fibres are strong and difficult to damage. Enter into it for several cun to obtain the flour. When it is red and yellow, compact and fine, it can be eaten.

…

The Kings of Dian are the descendants of Zhuang Qiao. 2nd Year of Yuanfeng [109 BC], Emperor Wu pacified them, and used their land as Yizhou commandery. He divided off several counties each from Zangke and Yuexi to match with it. Several years later, he then annexed the land of Kunming, and everything was considered to belong to this commandery. There is a pool, more than two hundred li in circumference. The source of the water is deep and broad but the end is much more shallow and narrow. It is as if it has a upside-down flow, and for that reason they speak of it as the Dian Pool.

The river lands are level and spacious, and produce many parrots and peacocks. There is an abundance of salt pools and fields with fishes, and a wealth of gold, silver, and livestock. The people are customarily swaggering and extravagant. Those who hold office there all become wealthy and pile up for generations.

Reaching the chaos of Wang Mang's government, the barbarians of Yizhou commandery, the Dongcan, Ruodou, and others rose with troops and killed the commandery warden. In Gufu in Yuexi the barbarian Damou likewise rebelled, and killed or sized the magistrates. Mang dispatched the Ningshi General Lian Dan [in 19 AD], and he issued out magistrates from Ba and Shu and moved troops and grain, servicemen and followers, more than a hundred thousand, to strike them. The magistrates and soldiers starved and fell ill, and after continuous years without being able to gain an advantage, they turned back. Used Wen Qi of Guanghan as Grand Warden. He constructed dams and pools, opened and cleared irrigation systems, and broke more than two thousand qing of new fields. He led sharp troops and horse, repaired barricades and fortresses, took the surrender of the assembled crowd of barbarians, and to great extent obtained peace with them.

[bookofjin]

What's your opinion on 'revisionist' takes surrounding Tuoba Gui and Tuoba Si? For example, the claim that Tuoba Gui was actually Tuoba Shiyijian's son and falsified his age. And there have been opinions I've seen that Tuoba Si fabricated the cause of his mother's death, changed his name for legitimacy, and that Tuoba Shao was the intended heir.

There does seem to something odd going on with Tuoba Gui and his supposed cousins, but I'm not sure changing his age is the solution. I think that just creates new problems. I like better the suggestion that Shiyijian married Gui's widowed mother in some kind of levirate arrangement.

Events surrounding Tuoba Si's succession to the throne are a bit murky, but I'm not sure if the alternative theories really go beyond speculation. Speculation is fun of course.

[bookofjin]

The Man of Jiaozhi (HHS086)

The Ritual Records declares: “In the southern region they are called Man. They tattooed their foreheads, and criss-cross their toes [jiaozhi]”. In their customs, men and women bath together in the river, for that reason it says criss-cross their toes. West of them is the state of the people-eaters. When they give birth to their first child, they immediately dismember and eat it, it is said to be propitious for the younger brother. If the taste is excellent, they deliver it to their lord. If the lord enjoy it, he reward the father. If someone takes a beautiful wife, he yields her to his older brother. Now this is the people of Wuhu.

Wan Zhen's Treatise on the Strange Things in the Southern Provinces says: Wuhu is th name of a land. It is south of Guang province and north of Jiao province. They regularly set out between the roads to wait for travellers, and straight-away set out to strike him. They covet people to eat, and are not greedy for their wealth and riches. They also use their flesh for delicacies and pickles, and also take their skulls, and smash them to use for drinking wine. They consider a person's hands and feet as prized rarities, and use them as food for their elders.

South of Jiaozhi is the state of Yuechang. In the 6th Year of the Duke of Zhou's administration, he had regulated the rites and created music, and Under Heaven was in harmony and at peace. Yuechang used three elephants and repeated translators to present a white pheasant, saying:

The roads and paths are distant and remote, the mountains and rivers are stony and deep, the sounds make it not possible to communicate. For that reason we come to court through repeated translators.

King Cheng returned it to the Duke of Zhou. The Duke said:

If virtue does not apply to them, a lordly man does not accept their pledges. If government does not extend to them, a lordly man does not make subjects of their people. How could I obtain this gift!

Their envoy requested, saying:

I have received the instructions from the yellowed and wrinkled of my state who said: “For long time, there has been no violent wind, thunder, and rain from the sky, perhaps in the Central States there is a sagely person? If there is, why not go to court there.”

The Duke of Zhou therefore returned it to the King, declaring it divinely caused by the Previous Kings, to offer it to the Ancestral Temple. As Zhou's virtue declined, this little by little was broken off.

When the Counts of Chu claimed hegemony, they brought tribute to court from the Hundred Yue. Qin annexed Under Heaven, awed into submission the Man and Yi, and first began to lead the outside. They set up Nanhai, Guilin, and Xiang commanderies. When Han rose, Commandant Tuo installed himself as King of Nanyue, and transmitted his state for five generations.

In the Book Of Han, the King of Nanyue, Zhao Tuo, was a native of Zhending. In the time of Qin he became Commandant of Nanhai. Tuo's grandson was Hu, Hu's son was Yingqi, and Yingqi's son was Xing.

Arriving at Emperor Wu's 5th Year of Yuanding [112 BC], he then wiped them out, and divided up and set up nine commanderies, with the Inspector of Jiaozhi leading them. Two of the commanderies, Zhuya and Dan'er, were located on an island in the sea, a thousand li east to west and five hundred li north to south. Their chieftains prized long ears, and they all pierced and pulled them down so they hung down three cun to the shoulders.

At the end of Emperor Wu, the Grand Warden of Zhuya, Sun Xing of Kuaiji, requisitioned cloth a fu wide to present it. The Man were not capable of service, and thereupon attacked the commandery and killed Xing. Xing's son Bao combined and led good people to return and repeatedly rout them, He himself directed the commandery's affairs, chastised and struck the remaining partisans, and in continuous years there was peace. Bao dispatched envoys to send back sealed the seal and ribbons, and sent up a document to tell the circumstances. A decree was made which promptly used Bao as Grand Warden of Zhuya. With his awe-inspiring government and great actions, the offered [tribute] and instructions arrived annually. In the Central States they were greedy for their precious gifts, and gradually they encroached on and slighted each other. For that reason, generally every few years there was a rebellion. Emperor Yuan's 3rd Year of Chuyuan [46 BC], they then abolished it. In total the commandery had been established for 65 years. Arriving at Wang Mang assisting the government, 2nd Year of Yuanshi [2 AD], Huangzhi, state to the south of Rinan, came to present a rhinoceros animal.

Generally, in that which was controlled by Jiaozhi, though they had set up commanderies and counties, the language was different in each, and repeated translators was needed to communicate. The people were like birds and beats, adults and children were not differentiated. They had hair-knots at their necks and walked bare-footed. They pulled cloth through their heads and wore it. Later to some extent moved criminals from the Central States there, and made them lived mixed up in their midst. They therefore little by little learned language, and gradually were changing their customs.

[zgongjin]

Where is Duke of Gaogui District?

Previously, Yu Chun believed Jia Chong to be crafty and fawning, together with Ren Kai recommended that he be posted to Guanzhong. Jia Chong was thus displeased. When Jia Chong hosted a banquet for court officials and Yu Chun arrived late, Chong said to Chun: "You are usually ahead of everyone, why are you at the back today?" Chun replied, "There were some trivial matters in the market that needed attending to, so I came late." At that time, it was said that Yu Chun's ancestors were once responsible for clearing the way when officials travelled, while Jia Chong's ancestors had once been market leaders. Therefore, the two of them deliberately used these remarks to subtly mock each other.

Jia Chong, considering his elevated status and responsibilities, felt particularly unhappy. As such, during Chun's toast, Chong did not drink. Chun asked, "As an elder, I am offering a toast to you. How dare you refuse?" Chong replied, "Your father is old yet you do not return to provide for him. Who are you to speak?"

Yu Chun was angered and said, "Jia Chong! The chaos in the world is all caused by you alone." Jia Chong responded, "I have assisted two emperors and pacified the Ba and Shu regions. What crime have I committed that would cause such chaos in the world?" Chun asked, "Where is Duke of Gaogui District?"

初，庾純以賈充姦佞，與任愷共舉充西鎮關中，充由是不平。充嘗宴朝士，而純後至，充謂曰：「君行常居人前，今何以在後？」純曰：「旦有小市井事不了，是以來後。」世言純之先嘗有伍伯者，充之先有市魁者，充、純以此相譏焉。充自以位隆望重，意殊不平。及純行酒，充不時飲。純曰：「長者為壽，何敢爾乎！」充曰：「父老不歸供養，將何言也！」純因發怒曰：「賈充！天下兇兇，由爾一人。」充曰：「充輔佐二世，蕩平巴、蜀，有何罪而天下為之兇兇？」純曰：「高貴鄉公何在？」

-- 《晉書·庾純傳》

[bookofjin]

The Man of Wuling (HHS086)

[Their origin as children of the five-coloured dog Panhu, and early history]

In the past, the Gaoxin clan [Emperor Ku] was being robbed by the Quan Rong. The Emperor was troubled by their intrusions and bullying, but his campaigns and attacks had no gains. He therefore searched for and enlisted Under Heaven, that he who was able to obtain the head of the Quan Rong's commander, General Wu, would be rewarded with a thousand yi of yellow gold, an estate of ten thousand families, and also his young daughter as wife. At the time the Emperor had domesticated dog with five-coloured fur named Panhu.

The Wei Sketch says: The Gaoxin clan had an old woman who lived in the royal house. She got a n ear illness. She poked at them, and found a thing as large as a cocoon. The woman put it within a gourd [hu], and covered it with a tray [pan]. Suddenly it changed into a dog, it was patterned in five colours, and because of that they named it Panhu.

After he had sent down the order, Panhu then came below the palace with a person's head in the mouth. The crowd of subjects were astonished, and when they examined it, it was General Wu's head. The Emperor was greatly pleased, but assessed that for Panhu it would not be possible to take his daughter as wife, and also had no way of ennobling him with feudal rank. He discussed his intentions of rewarding him, but know not yet what would be appropriate.

The daughter heard of it and, considering that an order sent down by the Emperor could not stray from the truth, requested to go. The Emperor had no choice, and therefore used the daughter as a match for Panhu. Panhu got the daughter, and carried her away into the southern mountains, they stopped inside a stone cave. The place was perilous and isolated, people searched but did not reach them.

Today west of Luxi county in Chen province, there is a Wu Mountain. Huang Min's Records of Wuling says: The mountain might be ten thousand ren tall. Halfway on the mountain is Panhu's stone cave, it might accommodate several ten thousand people. Within there is a stone bed and vestiges from Panhu actions.

Now note: In front of the mountain cave there is a stone sheep and a stone beast, the ancient vestiges that are strange and unusual are especially many. Looking at the stone cave, it is as large as three unoccupied houses. In the far distance one sees a rock that still resembles a dog in shape. The Man have customarily transmitted that this is a statue of Panhu.

Hence the daughter loosened and took off her robes and skirt, and made knots of pujian僕鑒 and wore clothes of duli獨力. The Emperor pitied and thought of her, and dispatched messengers to look and search for them. Every time they would encounter wind, rain, shaking, and darkness, and the messengers could not manage to advance. In the span of three years, they begot twelve children, six sons and six daughters.

After Panhu died, they made each other husbands and wives. They wove and spun wood and hides, and dyed them with grass and fruits. They were fond of five-coloured clothes, and tailored them to have the shape of a tail.

Gan Bao's Records of Jin says: The barbarians of Wuling, Changsha, and Lujiang commanderies are the descendants of Panhu. They live scattered within the Five Creeks. The Panhu rely on the mountains to obstruct strategic points, and always regularly do harm. They mix and blend fish and meat, knock on a trough and make a sign, and so make sacrifices to Panhu. Those customarily claiming to be “red thighs and horizontals skirts” are precisely his sons and grandsons.

Their mother later returned home, and explained clearly to the Emperor, and so he sent to welcome and bring her various children. Their robes and skirts were mottled and colourful and their speech was that of Zhuli. They were fond of entering mountains and river valleys and were not happy in the flat and open. The Emperor complied with their thoughts, and bestowed on them the famous mountains and wide marshes. Their descendants multiplied and spread out, they were called the Man Yi.

Outwardly they were simpletons, but on the inside they were shrewd. They were unworried in their lands and put weight on old traditions. Due to their ancestral father's merit and their mother being the Emperor's daughter, when farming, making, buying and selling, they had no tallies for passing toll-houses or bridges, or payments of taxes and levies.

He especially favoured them, and for that reason exempted them from taxes and duties. The Records of Jing Province says: In Yuanling county, at the mouth of the You, there are the Shangjiu and Wuyang villages, and indeed these are the descendants of Panhu, the dog race. The two villages are located north of Wuxi.

They have lords and chiefs of their districts. They all are bestowed seals and ribbons, and for caps they use otter skin. They name chieftains as jingfu精夫, and refer to each other as yangtu姎徒. Today they are the Man of Changsha and Wuling.

The Explaining Graphs says: Yang姎is what a woman calls herself, meaning “I”.

During Tang and Yu, they restrained them with hostages, and for that reason it was called the Restrained Domain. In the time of Xia and Shang, they gradually became a border trouble. Arrived at the Zhou period, their group's multitudes spread out and flourished. At King Xuan's [of Zhou, r. 827 – 782 BC] revitalization, he then instructed Fangshu to go on a southern attack against the Man region, which is what the poets speaks of as “the Man and Jing came in awe”. They also say: “Obstinate Man and Jing, the great nation is your foe.” It makes clear their group's multitudes had multiplied many times, and opposed and stood against the various Xia.

The Mao Poetry's Preface to the Lesser Elegantiae says: “The poem 'Collecting Proso millet” is about King Xuan's southern campaign. [The poem says] “We hurry to tell of gathering proso millet, in those new fields. Put it forth indeed that Fangshu, is travelling back dun-dunning. Obstinate Man and Jing, the great nation is your foe. The commentary states: “Fangshu was a noble officer, who was instructed and made commander.”

King Ping [r. 770 – 720 BC] moved east, and the Man thereupon invaded and bullied the upper states. Marquis Wen of Jin [r. 780 – 746 BC] assisted the government, and therefore led Marquis Gong of Cai [r. 761 – 760 BC] to strike and rout them.

Marquis Wen of Jin had animosity.

Arriving at the time of King Wu of Chu [r. 740 – 690 BC], the Man and the Count of Luo together defeated the Chu regiments, and killed their general Qu Xia.

The Zuo Transmittals [13th Year of Duke Huan, 699 BC]: “Qu Xia of Chu invaded Luo and Yan. They became disordered due to the crossing, and form the river they then had no order. Moreover they did not make precautions. Luan and the Lu Rong with their pair of armies went and greatly defeated him. The Mo'ao [a Chu military rank] hanged himself at Huang Valley, and the crowd of commanders were imprisoned at Yefu.

King Zhuang [of Chu, r. 613 - 591 BC] began on the throne, the people starved and the troops were weak, and they then began to rob. When the Chu regiments had been bestirred, they afterwards therefore submitted. From that point they thereupon belong to Chu. During the deeds of Yanling, the Man combined troops with King Gong [r. 590 – 560 BC] to strike Jin.

King Zhuan's personal name was Lü, he was the son of King Mu [r. 625 – 614 BC]

In the Zuo Transmittals, Jin and Chu fought at Yanling [in 575 BC]. Xi Zhi of Jin said: “Chu's two dignitaries loath each other. The King's soldiers use old customs, and at Zheng their deployment was not orderly, and the Man army did not deploy.”

When Wu Qi was chancellor for King Dao [r. 401 – 381 BC], he to the south annexed the Man and Yue, and thereupon they had Dongting and Cangwu. King Zhao of Qin sent Bai Qi to attack Chu [in 278 BC], generally gained control of the Man Yi, and first set up Qianzhong commandery. When Han flourished, they changed it to Wuling. They yearly ordered their great men to convey one bolt of cloth, and lesser mouths a length of two zhang. This was spoken of as cong cloth. Though at times they were robbing and stealing, it was not enough to be a worry for the commanderies and states.

The Explaining Graphs says: Cong is the tax paid by the Southern Man.

[bookofjin]

Origin of the Western Qiang, Part 2 (HHS087)

[The history of peoples collectively known as Rong from the end of Western Zhou until the destruction of the Yiqu kingdom by Qin in 272 BC.]

During King Yi [of Zhou, r. 885 – 878 BC] there was decline and weakness, and the Wild Domain did not come to court. Therefore he instructed the Duke of Zong to lead the Six Regiments and attack the Rong of Taiyuan. He arrived at Yuquan, and captured a thousand horses.

King Yi was King Mu's grandson, his personal name was Xie

King Li [877 – 841 BC] had not the Way, and the Rong and Di robbed and plundered. They then entered Quanqiu and killed the kin of Qinzhong. The King instructed to attack the Rong, but they did not overcome.

Reaching the fourth year of King Xuan's reign [824 BC], he sent Qinzhong to attack the Rong. He was killed by the Rong. The King therefore summoned Qinzhong's son, Duke Zhuang [of Qin, r. 822 – 778 BC], and gave him 7 000 troops. He attacked the Rong and routed them, and because of that held them back a little. Twenty-seven years later [797 BC], the King dispatched troops to attack the Rong of Taiyuan, they did not overcome. Five years later [792 BC], the King attacked the Tiao Rong and the Ben Rong. The king's regiments were defeated. Two years later [790 BC], the people of Jin defeated the Northern Rong at Fenxi. The Rong people wiped out the district of the Marquis of Jiang. Next year [789 BC], the King campaigned against Shen Rong, and routed them.

Ten years later [779 BC], King You instructed Boshi to attack the Rong of Liuji. The army was defeated and Boshi died there. That year, the Rong besieged Quanqiu, and captured Duke Xiang of Qin's older brother Bofu. At the time King You was muddled and oppressive, and the Four Barbarians invaded one after the other. Thereupon he deposed the Queen Shen and installed Baosi. The Marquis of Shen was angry and together with the Rong robbed Zhou. They killed King You at Li Mountain [in 771 BC], and Zhou then moved east to Luoyi. Duke Xiang of Qin [r. 777 – 766 BC], attacked the Rong and saved Zhou. Two years later [769 BC?], the Marquis of Xing greatly routed the Northern Rong.

Reaching the end of King Ping [r. 770 – 720 BC], Zhou thereupon waned for a long time. The Rong pressured the various Xia. From Long Mountain and eastward, reaching the Yi and Luo, the Rong were present here and there. From that point, the headwaters of the Wei had the Rong of Di, Kai, Gui, and Ji. North of the Jing there were the Rong of Yiqu. In the Luo river-lands there were the Rong of Dali. South of the Wei there were the Li Rong. Between the Yi and Luo there were the Rong of Yangju and Quangao. Westward from the headwaters of the Ying there where the Rong of Manshi.

During the Spring and Autumn period, they were interspersed among the Central States, and made pacts and held assemblies with the various Xia. Duke Zhuang of Lu attacked Qin and defeated the Rong of Gui and Ji.

In the Zuo Transmittals' 18th Year of Duke Zhuang [684 BC], the Duke pursued the Rong to Jixi. In Du Yu's annotations, the Rong invaded Lu. The people of Lu did not know about, after they had left, they then pursued them. 24th Year [678 BC], the Rong invaded Cao.

About ten years later, Jin wiped out the Li Rong. At that time the Rong of Yi and Luo were strong, and to the east they invaded Cao and Lu. Nineteen years later [in 649 BC], the thereupon entered the King's city. At that point Qin and Jin attacked the Rong to save Zhou. Two years later [647 BC], they again robbed the imperial capital. Duke Huan of Qi [685 – 643 BC] summoned the various feudal lords to defend Zhou. Nine years later [638 BC], the Rong of Luhun moved from Guazhou to the Yi river-lands. The Rong of Yunxing moved to within the Wei, to the east reaching unto Huanyuan. Those located north of the Henan Mountain were called the Yin Rong. The offspring of the Yin Rong thereupon multiplied widely.

Duke Wen of Jin [r. 636 – 628 BC] wished to put in place a legacy of hegemony, and therefore rewarded the Rong and Di for opening the roads, and so succoured the royal house. Duke Mu of Qin [r. 659 – 621 BC] obtained Youyu, a man of the Rong, thereupon had hegemony over the Western Rong, enlaring his territory a thousand li.

Youyu had previously been man of Jin who absconded to enter among the Rong. The King of the Rong heard that Duke Mu was worthy, and sent Youyu to observe Qin. Duke Mu of Qin treated him with the courtesy due to a guest. Qin dispatched to the King of the Rong female musicians. Youyu admonished [the Rong King], but was not heeded. Youyu therefore surrendered to Qin and made plans for attacking the Rong.

Reaching Duke Dao Jin [572 – 558 BC], he sent Wei Jiang to make peace with the various Rong, and managed to put in place a legacy of hegemony. At that time, Chu and Jin were strong and flourishing, and awed into submission the various Rong. The Luhun, Yi, Luo, and Yin Rong served Jin, and the Manshi followed followed Chu.

Wei Jiang was a grandee of Jin. See the Zuo Transmittals' 11th Year of Duke Xiang. [562 BC]

Later the Luhun rebelled against Jin. Jin ordered Xun Wu to wipe them out. Forty-four years later, Chu seized the Manshi, and fully took their people prisoner. At that time Yiqu and Dali were extremely strong. They build several tens of cities, and both declared themselves Kings.

Xun Wu was the son of Jin's grandee Zhonghang Muzi. See the Zuo Transmittals' 1st Year of Duke Zhao. [541 BC]

Arriving at the 8th Year of King Zhen of Zhou [461 BC], Duke Li of Qin [r. 476 – 443 BC] wiped out Dali, and seized their territory. Zhao likewise wiped out the Dai Rong, which were precisely the Northern Rong. Han# and Wei then together gradually annexed the Yi, Luo, and Yin Rong, and wiped them out. Those of their remnants who escaped all fled west across the Qian and Long [Mountians]. From that point, the Central States had no Rong robbers, and there only remained the Yiqu of them.

25th Year of King Zhen [444 BC], Qin attacked Yiqu and captured their king. About a hundred years later [331 BC], Yiqu defeated the Qin regiments at Luo. Four years later [327 BC], the state of Yiqu was in chaos. King Hui of Qin dispatched the Chief of Multitudes Cao to bring troops and settle them. Yiqu thereupon became subject to Qin. Eight years later [319 BC], Qin attacked Yiqu, and took Yuzhi. Two years later [317 BC], Yiqu defeated the Qin regiments at Libo. Next year [316 BC], Qin attacked Yiqu, and took the twenty-five cities of Tujing.

Reaching King Zhao's instalment [in 306 BC], the King of Yiqu came to court in Qin. Thereupon he had intercourse with King Zhao's mother, Queen Dowager Xuan, and they begot two sons. Arriving at the 43rd Year of King Nan [of Zhou, 272 BC], Empress Dowager Xuan lured and killed the King of Yiqu at the Ganquan Palace. Following that, they raised troops and wiped them out, and first set up Longxi, Beidi, and Shang commanderies there.

The Rong originally had no lords or chiefs. At the end of the Xiahou clan and at the juncture of Shang and Zhou, some of them followed the feudal lords on campaigns and attacks and had merit. The Son of Heaven gave them feudal ranks and used them as the Vassal Domain. In the time of Spring of Autumn, the Luhun and Mangshi Rong claimed to be Counts [zi], and in the Warring States period, Dali and Yiqu claimed to be Kings. Reaching their decline and destruction, the remnants of their kind all turned back to their old customs and became chieftains.

[bookofjin]

Origin of the Western Qiang, Part 1 (HHS087)

[The commentary by Li Xian in italics (slightly abbreviated)]

The Western Qiang's origin springs from the Three Miao and a branch of the Jiang clan. Their state was near the Southern Marchmount, i.e. Heng Mountain. When Shun banished the four wicked ones, and moved them to Sanwei, it was the Qiang land south-west of Heguan.

Sanwei is a mountain now located south-east of Sha Province's Dunhuang county. The mountain has three summits, and for that reason was named Sanwei [“Three Perils”].

From the boundary at Cizhi until the head of the He is a far-stretched land of a thousand li. Cizhi is what the Tribute of Yu speaks of as Xizhi. To the south they are connected to Man Yi outside the borders of Shu and Han. To the north-west they are connected to the various states of Shanshan and Jushi.

Where they live is not regular, they rely on following water and grass. The land has little of the five grains, they use herding livestock as their livelihood. In their customs, clan and family are not settled. Sometimes they use the father's name and the mother's family name as the title of their kind. After twelve generations, they intermarriage with each other. If the father is lost, they take as wife the stepmother. If the older brother perishes, they accept in turn the widowed sister-in-law. For that reason their state has no widowers or widows, and their kind multiply with a blaze.

They do not establish lords and subjects, and there is no single chief. If someone is strong, he will divide off his kind and become a chieftain. If someone is weak, he will be a person adhering to a group. Furthermore, they kidnap and bully each other, and use strength to dominate.

Killing a person is repaid with death, they have no other prohibitions or orders. Their troops excel in mountains and valleys, and are weak on level land. They are unable for a long time, but are bold in sudden charges. They consider death in battle to be a lucky gain, and meeting their end in illness to be inauspicious. They are capable of enduring cold hardships in the same way as birds and beasts. Even women giving birth to children likewise do not avoid the wind and snow. They are by nature hard, tough, fierce, and violent, they have obtained the western region's aura of the metal agent.

The Yellow Emperor's Plain Questions says: The western region is the district of metal and jade, and the place for sand and stone. Its people are mountain dwellers and there is much wind. Water and soil is tough and strong.

If the king's government is put in order, guests submit. If the virtuous teachings are lost, bandits make chaos. Formerly, Taikang of the Xiahou clan lost the state and the Four Yi turned their backs to him and rebelled.

Taikang was the son of Qi of Xia. He was absorbed in the roaming hunt, and did not have compassion for people's affairs. He was expelled by Yi and did not manage to return to his state.

When Hou Xiang was enthroned, he therefore campaigned against the Quan Yi, and after seven years they came as guests.

Hou Xiang was Taikang's grandson, and the son of Zhongkang.

Arriving at Hou Xue, he first applied feudal ranks and instructions, and because of that they submitted and followed.

Xie was Xi's eight generations descendant, and the son of Emperor Mang.

During the chaos of Hou Jie, the Quan Yi entered to dwell in the Bin and Qi¤ area. When Tang the Successful had risen, he attacked and ejected them. Reaching the middle decline of the House of Yin, the various Yi all rebelled. Arriving at Wuding, he attacked the Western Rong and Guifang [lit. “Ghost Region”], and in three years he overcame them. For that reason his poem says: “Even those Di and Qiang did not dare to not come to the King.”

Wuding was King of Yin. The Changes says: “The Exalted Ancestor attacked Guifang.” Pronunciation and Right meanings of the Book Han says: “Guifang was a distant region.” The text is from the Odes of Yin.

[The oldest extant oracle script inscriptions have been excavated from King Wuding of Shang's capital at Yin, near modern Anyang, and dated to c. 1200 BC. As such he is the oldest historical Chinese ruler in the most strict sense.]

Reaching Wuyi's brutal cruelty, the Quan Rong [“Dog Rong”] robbed the border. Gugong of Zhou crossed over Liang Mountain, and escaped to beneath Qi¤ [Mountain].

Emperor Wuyi was a three generations descendant of Wuding. He had not the Way. He had a figurine carved of a person, and spoke of it as the Heavenly God. He cast sticks with it, and ordered people to act in place of it. If the Heavenly God did not win, he humiliated and insulted it. He also made a leather bag filled with blood, looked up and shot at it, instructing it be called “Shooting at Heaven”. Thereupon he was struck by a lightning and died. Gugong was King Wen's grandfather.

Reaching his son Jili, he then attacked the Gui Rong of the Xiluo.

Bamboo Annals: 35th Year of Wuyi, the King of Zhou, Ji, attacked the Gui Rong of Xiluo, and took prisoner twenty Di kings.

In the time of Taiding, Jili then attacked the Rong of Yanjing. The Rong people greatly defeated the Zhou regiments.

Taiding was the son of Wuyi. Bamboo Annals: 2nd Year of Taiding, the people of Zhou attacked Yanjing. The Zhou regiments were greatly defeated.

Two years later, the people of Zhou vanquished the Rong of Yuwu, and so Taiding instructed Jili to be Herdsman of the Regiments.

Jili was King Wen's father. The Bamboo Annals says: 4th Year of Taiding, the people of Zhou attacked the Rong of Yuwu, and overcame them. The King of Zhou, Ji, was instructed to be Yin's Herdsman of the Regiments.

After that point, he furthermore attacked the Rong of Shihu and Yitu, and always overcame them.

The Bamboo Annals says: 7th Year of Taiding, the people of Zhou attacked the Rong of Shihu, and overcame them. 11th Year, the people of Zhou attacked the Rong of Yitu, and won against their their three grandees.

When King Wen became Earl of the West, to the west there were the worries of the Kun Yi, and to the north there were the difficulties of Xianyun. Consequently, he ejected the Rong and Di, and defended against them, there were nobody who did not submit and yield. Therefore he led the Western Rong, and campaigned against Yin's rebellious states in service to Zhou#.

In the Zuo Transmittals, Jin's Han Xianzi says: “King Wen led Yin's rebellious states in service to Zhou#, indeed knowing the right timing.”

When King Wu attacked Shang, the Qiang and Mao led the regiments to assemble in the fields of Mu.

The Hallowed Documents says: The people of Yong, Shu, Qiang, Mao, Wei, Lu, and Peng.

Kong Anguo's Commentary says: All these are the Man, Yi, Rong, and Di.

Arriving at the time of King Mu, the Rong and Di did not tribute. The King therefore went west to campaign against the Quan Rong, and captured their five kings. He also obtained four white deers and four white wolves. The King then moved the Rong to Taiyuan.

[craftercat]

BQS09.1, Biography of Empress Lou of Shenwu

(Wife of Shenwu and mother of Wenxiang, Wenxuan, Xiaozhao and Wucheng. Wucheng was a very unfilial son)

The Divine, Martial and Brilliant Empress was of the Lou [1] clan, taboo Zhaojun, daughter of the bestowed Minister of Instruction Neigan. At a young age was intelligent and enlightened, powerful clans frequently wanted to marry [her], [she] did not at all agree.

神武明皇后婁氏，諱昭君，贈司徒內干之女也。少明悟，強族多聘之，並不肯行。

When she saw Shenwu [2] in the city serving in his post, [she] was surprised, and said:

"Here clearly is my husband."

Thus dispatched servant girls to transmit [her] desire, furthermore frequently sent private wealth, dispatched so as to marry him, [her] parents had no choice but to agree as well.

及見神武於城上執役，驚曰：「此真吾夫也。」乃使婢通意，又數致私財，使以聘己，父母不得已而許焉。

Shenwu already had understanding of his will, poured out his products so as to bond with heroes, in conspiring secret plans, the empress regularly participated.

神武既有澄清之志，傾產以結英豪，密謀秘策，后恒參預。

When appointed as Princess of Bohai, the matters of the women's living quarters were all decided there.

及拜渤海王妃，閫闈之事悉決焉。

The empress was outstandingly intelligent and majestic in judgement, graceful, respectful and economical. Coming and going outside the home, her attendants were no more than ten. Her character was generous, not jealous, treated all of Shenwu's concubines with much kindness.

后高明嚴斷，雅遵儉約，往來外舍，侍從不過十人。性寬厚，不妒忌，神武姬侍，咸加恩待。

Shenwu attempted to command a military expedition to punish the west, the empress at night gave birth to twins [3], one male and one female, attendants regarded [this] as critical, asked to seek and tell Shenwu.

神武嘗將西討出師，後夜孿生一男一女，左右以危急，請追告神武。

The empress did not listen and said:

"The prince [Shenwu] has come out to command the army, how can I hence leave the encampment frivolously? Life and death is fate, why come back?"

Shenwu heard this, and he lamented and praised her for a long time.

后弗聽曰：「王出統大兵，何得以我故輕離軍幕。死生命也，來復何為！」神武聞之，嗟歎良久。

After the defeat at Shayuan, Hou Jing frequently said that if he requested 20,000 fine cavalry, [they would] certainly be able to capture him [Yuwen Tai].

沙苑敗後，侯景屢言請精騎二萬，必能取之.

Shenwu was pleased, and told the empress. The empress said:

"If it is in accordance with these words, how can [his] return be logical? Obtaining Ta [Yuwen Tai] and losing [Hou] Jing, what benefit does this have."

Thus stopped [this plan].

沙苑敗後，侯景屢言請精騎二萬，必能取之。神武悅，以告于后。后曰：「若如其言，豈有還理，得獺失景，亦有何利。」乃止。

Shenwu was compelled by Rouran, his desire to marry its daughter was undecided. The empress said:

"[In] the country's big plans, I am willing without doubt."

When the Rouran princess arrived, the empress left to her original living quarters.

神武逼於茹茹，欲娶其女而未決。后曰：「國家大計，願不疑也。」及茹茹公主至，后避正室處之。

Shenwu was ashamed and gave his respects, said:

"The other [the princess of Rouran] will have knowledge, vow to disappear and do not attend [to me]."

[She] showed affection to all [of Shenwu]'s sons, did not distinguish whether they were borne by her [or not], spin and sew herself, people bestowed her a robe and a [pair of] trousers.

神武愧而拜謝焉，曰：「彼將有覺，願絕勿顧。」慈愛諸子，不異己出，躬自紡績，人賜一袍一袴。

[She] would sew military attire by hand, so as to help the commanders. [Her] younger brother Zhao, because of achievements was naturally accomplished, the rest of [their] family members did not attempt to ask for noble positions.

手縫戎服，以帥左右。弟昭，以功名自達，其餘親屬，未嘗為請爵位。

Every word [she said] was treated and used with talent, righteously did not selfishly disrupt the public. Wenxiang [4] succeeded, advanced to Princess Dowager.

每言有材當用，義不以私亂公。文襄嗣位，進為太妃。

Wenxuan [5] requested to receive Wei's abdication, the empress persistently did not allow, the emperor as a result suspended [the abdication]. At the beginning of Tianbao, honoured as Empress Dowager, and the palace was called Xuanxun.

文宣將受魏禪，后固執不許，帝所以中止。天保初，尊為皇太后，宮曰宣訓。

The Prince of Ji'nan [6] succeeded to the throne, honoured as Grand Empress Dowager. Commander of Documents Yang Yin and so on received a posthumous edict to assist governance, and remove and prohibit all princes. The Grand Empress Dowager with Xiaozhao and various generals secretly determined a scheme to attack them and command the deposition and establishment [of Ji'nan and Xiaozhao].

濟南即位，尊為太皇太后。尚書令楊愔等受遺詔輔政，疏忌諸王。太皇太后密與孝昭及諸大將定策誅之，下令廢立。

Xiaozhao [7] succeeded to the throne, again became Empress Dowager. Emperor Xiaozhao died, the Empress Dowager again handed an edict to establish Emperor Wucheng [8].

孝昭即位，復為皇太后。孝昭帝崩，太后又下詔立武成帝。

In spring of the second year of Daning (an era name), the Empress Dowager gradually became ill, neglected to hold up her clothes herself, used female sorcerers words' to change her family name to Shi. In xinchou of the fourth year, died in the North Palace, at that time was sixty-three years old [in East Asian age reckoning]. In jiashen of the fifth month, was jointly interred in Ping Mausoleum.

大寧二年春，太后寢疾，衣忽自舉，用巫媼言改姓石氏。四月辛丑，崩於北宮，時年六十二。五月甲申，合葬義平陵。

The Empress Dowager was in total pregnant with six males and two females, in all perceived dreams. When pregnant with Wenxiang, then dreamt of a severed dragon; when pregnant with Wenxuan, dreamt of a large dragon, head and tail joined together heaven and earth, started speaking and moving its eyes, the power of its condition was astonishing; when pregnant with Xiaozhao, dreamt of a wriggling dragon on earth; when pregnant with Wucheng, dreamt of a dragon soaring and diving in the sea [9]; when pregnant with the two Empresses of Wei both times dreamt of the moon entering [her] bosom [10]; when pregnant with the two princes of Xiangcheng and Boling dreamt of rodents entering under her clothes [11].

太后凡孕六男二女，皆感夢：孕文襄則夢一斷龍；孕文宣則夢大龍，首尾屬天地，張口動目，勢狀驚人；孕孝昭則夢蠕龍於地；孕武成則夢龍浴於海；孕魏二后並夢月入懷；孕襄城、博陵二王夢鼠入衣下。

The empress had not yet died, there was a nursery rhyme that said:

"When the mother of the ninth dragon dies, there will be no acts of filial piety."

When the empress died, Wucheng [12] did not change to funerary clothes, and wore his red robes as before.

后未崩，有童謠曰「九龍母死不作孝」。及后崩，武成不改服，緋袍如故。

Soon, he ascended to the three terraces, where he held banquets and made himself merry. The emperor's daughter entered with white robes, and threw them all under the terrace. He Shikai asked to stop the music, the emperor was furious and hit him. The emperor in Kunji lodged with many goods, covering up his fulfillment.

未幾，登三臺，置酒作樂。帝女進白袍，帝怒，投諸臺下。和士開請止樂，帝大怒，撻之。帝於昆季次實九，蓋其徵驗也。

1 The Lou clan's original name was likely Pilou. Under the reforms of Emperor Xiaowen, the Pilou clan shortened their names. However, as this takes place after the reforms, her clan name would have been Lou.

2. Gao Huan, posthumously honoured as Emperor Shenwu of Northern Qi. De facto founder of the dynasty. Known for his capabilities as a general and rivalry with Yuwen Tai.

3. Given the timing of this, it is suggested the male twin could have been Gao Zhan, as the expedition was in 537 and Gao Zhan was born in 537.

4. Gao Cheng, posthumously honoured as Emperor Wenxiang. Succeeded Gao Huan as de facto emperor, and was known for being capable but cruel, but was assassinated in 549 by his cook, only ruling for two years.

5. Gao Yang, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi. In his early reign a militarily capable ruler who could measure to his father. There was little corruption, but that was because in his late reign he had violent homicidal outbursts when drunk, so everyone was afraid of him.

6. Gao Yin, Emperor Fei of Northern Qi. 14 when he succeeded the throne, he was kind but weak-willed and dominated by Gao Yang's ministers. He was overthrown and assassinated by his uncle Gao Yan.

7. Gao Yan, Emperor XIaozhao of Northern Qi. Despite only reigning for a year, proved to be a capable emperor, but due to his early death could not do much. He was the last capable ruler of Northern Qi.

8. Gao Zhan, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi. Generally considered to be an incompetent and cruel emperor. He was fond of torturing his relatives and favoured corrupt ministers, but was able to defend against Northern Zhou attacks.

9. This symbolises that Wenxiang, Wenxuan, Xiaozhao and Wucheng would become emperors.

10. Lou Zhaojun's two daughters married emperors of Northern or Eastern Wei. This dream symbolises that they would become empresses.

11. This dream symbolises that these two princes would not amount to anything substantial, not becoming emperors.

12. Wucheng/Gao Zhan was the ninth son of Shenwu/Gao Huan.

[bookofjin]

People in the time of Wang Mang

[HHS012]

Lu Fang, courtesy name Junqi, was a native of Sanshui in Anding, he lived within the Left Valley. In the time of Wang Mang, Under Heaven everyone thought of Han's virtue, and Fang made use of that to himself falsely claim to be Emperor Wu's great-grandson Liu Wenbo. His great-grandmother was the elder sister of the Xiongnu's Luli Hunxie King who had become the empress of Emperor Wu and born three children. When the chaos of Jiang Chong happened and the Heir-Apparent was executed, the Empress was implicated and died. Her middle son Ciqing absconded to Changling, the younger son Huiqing escaped to the Left Valley. General Huo installed Ciqing and welcomed Huiqing, but Huiqing did not set out and following that lived in the Left Valley. He begot a son, Sunqing, and Sunqing begot Wenbo. He often used this speech to confuse and deceive in the Anding area. At the end of Wang Mang, he therefore raised troops together with the Qiang and Hu from Sanshui's dependant states.

[HHS017]

Jia Fu, courtesy name Junwen, was a native of Guanjun in Nanyang. As young he was fond of studying, and was familiar with the Hallowed Documents. He served Li Sheng of Wuyin. Li Sheng was amazed with him, and spoke to people of his school, saying:

Jia Jun's looks and countenance and his aura of aspirations are this, and with his diligence in studying, he is the vessel of a general or chancellor.

At the end of Wang Mang, he joined the county staff. While receiving salt in Hedong, he happened to come across bandits and thieves. His colleagues, more than ten people, all let go of and scattered their salt, Fu alone carried through with returning to the county. Within the county they extolled his trustworthiness.

[HHS019]

Geng Yan, courtesy name Zhaofu, was a native of Maoling in Fufeng. His ancestor in the time of Emperor Wu as Two Thousand Shi official moved from Julu to there. His father Kuang, courtesy name Xiayou, due to his clarity became a Gentleman. He and Wang Mang's junior cousin Ji studied the Old Master together under the Former Master of Anqiu. Later he became the Joint Leader of Shuodiao.

Ji Kang's Biographies of Sagely Worthies and Exalted Gentlemen says: The sage of Anqiu's courtesy name was Zhongdu, and he was a native of Changling in Jingzhao. As young he held on to the norms of the Old Master. He was tranquil and unblemished and did not seek to advance in officialdom. He was titled as the Elder of Anqiu. Emperor Cheng heard of him and wished to see him. The sage refused it and was not willing to see him, and he became a wizard and physician among the people.

Wang Mang changed Shanggu commandery to Shuodiao, and Warden to Joint Leader.

Yan as young was fond of studying and practised his father's legacy. He often saw the commandery commandant test cavalrymen, erecting banners and drums, and practising galloping and shooting. Because of that he became fond of the affairs of generals and commanders.

The Book of Yuan Shansong says: Yan as young studied the Poetry and the Rites. He was clear, sharp, and had opportune plans.

The Ceremonies of Han Officials says: The end of the year is the time for the commandery tests. They explain military matters and direct the troops. Following that they use barricade hunts to examine their talents and strengths.

[HHS015]

Deng Chen, courtesy name Weiqing, was native of Xinye in Nanyang. His family had for generations been Two Thousand Shi officials.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Chen's great-grandfather Long was Inspector of Yang province. His grandfather Xun was Inspector of Jiaozhi.

His father Hong was Chief Commandant of Yuzhang. Chen at first married Guangwu's sister Yuan. At the end of Wang Mang, Guangwu once went to Wan together with his older brother Bosheng and Chen. They chatted and talked with Cai Shaogong, a native of Rang, and others. Shaogong was quite studied in charts and prophecies, and told them Liu Xiu would be Son of Heaven. Someone said:

Is it the Teacher of State, His Excellency Liu Xiu?

Guangwu jokingly said:

How do [you] know it is not this abject person?

Everyone seated there great laughed, Chen in his heart alone was delighted.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Chen and the Sovereign set out in the carriage together. They came upon an envoy but did not go down from the chariot. The envoy was angry, and quite a bit added to their humiliation and abuse. The Sovereign claimed to be a clerk from Jiangxia, Chen altered his name to Hou Jiacheng. The envoy considered them liars, brought them to the precinct, and wished to punish them. The steward of Xinye, Pan Shu, made a request, and they were released.

…

Lai Xi, courtesy name Junshu, was a native of Xinye in Nanyang. Six generations earlier, his ancestor Han had great merit. In the era of Emperor Wu, he Brilliantly Blessed Grandee he assisted the General of Towering ships, Yang Pu, and struck and routed Nanyue and Chaoxian. His father Chong in the time of Emperor Ai became Remonstrating Grandee. He married Guangwu's grand-aunt, and they begot Xi. Guangwu was very close and respectful to him. They several times went to Chang'an together.

[HHS016]

Deng Yu, courtesy name Zhonghua, was a native of Xinye in Nanyang. Aged thirteen, he was able to recite poetry and received teachings in Chang'an. At the time Guangwu had also travelled to study at the imperial capital. Though Yu by age was a child, when he saw Guangwu, he knew he was not an ordinary person, and thereupon they became closely attached to each other. After several years he returned home to his family.

[HHS010]

Guangwu's August Empress Guo, taboo Shengtong, was a native of Gao in Zhending. They were a distinguished family in the commandery. Her father Chang relinquished fields, residences and riches yielding several millions and given to his brother of a different mother. The people of the state found him him right-principled, and he served as Board of Merit for the commandery. He took as wife the daughter of King Gong of Zhending, who was titled Mistress Guo. She have birth to the Empress and a son, Kuang. Chang passed early. Mistress Guo, though a daughter of a royal family, was yet fond of decorum, moderation and frugality. She had the potency of maternal right-mindedness.

[HHS011]

Liu Penzi was a native of Shi in Taishan, he was a descendant of King Jing of Chengyang, Zhang. His grandfather's father Xian in the time of Emperor Yuan was ennobled as Marquis of Shi, and his father Meng inherited. When Wang Mang usurped the throne, the state was abolished, and following that they were natives of Shi.

[HHS012]

Liu Yong was a native of Suiyang in Liang commandery, and an eight generation descendant of King Xiao of Liang. The state was transmitted until his father Li. Middle of Yuanshi [3rd Year, 3 AD], Li was communicating with Emperor Ping's maternal family, the Wei clan, and was executed by Wang Mang.

[HHS022]

Liu Long, courtesy name Yuanbo, belonged to the linage house of the Marquis of Anzhong in Nanyang. During Wang Mang's administration, Long's father Li and the Marquis of Anzhong, Chong, rose up with troops to execute Mang. The affair leaked. Long, since he was aged not yet seven sui, obtained a pardon. Reaching adulthood, he studied in Chang'an.

[bookofjin]

Introduction to the Eastern Yi (HHS085)

[The commentary by Li Xian in italics (slightly abbreviated)]

The Royal Regulations states: “The people in the eastern regions are called Yi.” Yi means roots. It tells they are humane and fond of life. The ten thousand things take root in the ground and then spring forth. For that reason, their Heaven-given nature is gentle and compliant, and they are easily steered by the Way, extending to the states of noble lords and the undying.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas says: In the state of noble lords they have clothes, caps, belts and swords. They eat beasts and make two patterned tigers be at their sides.

The Chart of the Outer States says: The distance to Langye is 30 000 li.

The Classic of Mountains and Seas also says: The undying people are east of Jiaojing. They have people who are black in colour, whose lifespans does not die.

The Yi have nine kinds

The Bamboo Annals says: 3rd Year of Hou Fen's reign, the Nine Yi, came to be steered.

These are called: the Quan Yi, the Yu Yi, the Fang Yi, the Yellow Yi, the White Yi, the Red Yi, Xuan Yi, the Fang Yi, and the Yang Yi. For that reason Master Kong wished to live among the Nine Yi.

The Bamboo Annals says: 21st Year of Hou Xie, instructed the Quan Yi, the White Yi, the Red Yi, the Xuan Yi, the Feng Yi, and the Yang Yi. 2nd Year of Hou Xiang's reign, campaigned against the Yellow Yi. 7th Year, the Yu Yi came to visit. After Shaokang was enthroned, the Fang Yi came to visit.

Formerly Yao instructed Xizhong to dwell among the Yu# Yi, where it was called Sunrise Valley, which presumably is where the sun sets out from.

Kong Angu's Commentary to the Hallowed Documents says: The lands of the eastern region was called Yu# Yi. Sunrise Valley is where the sun sets out from.

Taikang of the Xiahou clan lost the virtue, and the people of the Yi started to rebel.

Taikang was the son of Qin. He was absorbed in the roaming hunt, and in ten ten-days did not turn around. He did not have compassion for people's affairs, and was expelled by Yi.

From Shaokang and afterwards, they for generations submitted to the King's persuasions and thereupon visited at the King's gate to present their music and dance.

Shaokang was the grandson of Emperor Zhongkang and the son of Emperor Xiang.

The Bamboo Annals says: 1st Year of Hou Fa's reign, the various Yi visited at the King's gate. The various Yi entered to dance.

Jie was brutal and cruel, and the various Yi invaded the interior. Tang of Yin deprived him of the instructions, he attacked, and settled them. Arriving at Zhongding, the Lan Yi became bandits.

Zhongding was the son of Dawu of Yin.

The Bamboo Annals says: Zhongding was enthroned, he campaigned against the Lan Yi.

From that point, they sometimes submitted and sometimes rebelled, for about three hundred year. During the decline and deteriorations of Wuyi, the Eastern Yi were very abundant. Consequently they divided up and moved to the Huai and Dai regions, and gradually came to live in the central lands.

Wuyi was the son of Emperor Kangding. He had not the Way. He made a leather bag filled with blood, looked up and shot at it, instructing it be called “Shooting at Heaven”.

When King Wu wiped out Zhou# [of Yin], the Sushen came to present stone arrows and thorn-tree arrows. When Guan and Cai rebelled against Zhou, they therefore summoned and coaxed the Yi and Di. The Duke of Zhou campaigned against them, and thereupon settled the Eastern Yi.

In the Hallowed Documents, at the collapse of King Wu, the Three Overseers and the Huai Yi rebelled. The Duke of Zhou campaigned against them, and made the Great Announcement. It also says that when King Cheng had struck Guanshu and Caishu, he wiped out the Huai Yi.

In the time of King Kang, the Sushen again arrived. Later the Xu Yi usurped the title, and led the Nine Yi to strike at Honoured Zhou, to the west reaching the side of the He. King Mu dreaded their region's illustriousness, and therefore allotted the eastern region to the various marquises, and instructed the Supine [yan] King of Xu to be the ruler over it.

The Treatise on Broad Things says: A palace woman of the Lord of Xu became pregnant and gave birth to an egg. She considered it to be inauspicious, and abandoned it at the river bank. An alone and solitary woman had a dog named Hucang, which obtained the abandoned egg and returned back to the woman with it in its mouth. The woman covered and warmed it, and it then developed into a small boy. At birth he was yet at supine, and for that reason they used it as his name. The palace woman heard of it, and then once more took him back. He grew up to inherit as Lord of Xu.

Master Shi says: The Supine King had muscles but no bones, and for that reason he was named Supine.

The Supine King was located east of the Deep Pool, his territory was five hundred li square. He cted humanely and right-principled, Those with land and territory but at [his] court were thirty six states.

The Commentary to the Water Classic says: Huang River, also named Wang River, combines with Pao River. Arriving at Pei, it enters the Si. Eastward from Shanyang and northward from Hailing was where his territory was.

King Mu later obtained the carriages with thoroughbred steeds, and therefore sent Zaofu as steersman to make an announcement to Chu, ordering them to strike Xu, arriving there in a single day.

The Historical Records says: Zaofu, due to being a good steersman, found favour with King Mu of Zhou. He obtained the four horse team of Chiji, Daoli, Hualiu, and Lu'er, went west to patrol and hunt, was happy and neglected to turn back.

[Zaofu was an ancestor of the lords of Qin.]

Hence King Wen of Chu raised troops and wiped them out. The Supine King was humane but had no authority, and could not bear to struggle with his people, which caused his defeat. He therefore fled north to feet of the eastern mountains in Wuyuan county. Those of the hundred families who accompanied him numbered in the ten thousands, and following that they named his mountain as Xu Mountain.

The Treatise on Broad Things says: The King of Xu's unnatural peculiarities were not ordinary. Ten li east of Wuyuan county, he saw there was a Xu Mountain with a sacrificial place in a stone cave. The Supine King dug a ditch to communicate with area of Chen and Cai, and obtained a vermilion bow and a vermilion arrow. He considering that he himself had obtained a Heavenly omen, and declared himself the Supine King. King Mu heard of it, and dispatched an envoy in a carriage with four horses. After a single day he arrived in Chu, and they struck him. The Supine King was humane and could not endure to struggle. He was defeated by Chu, and fled north to this mountain.

[Note that King Mu of Zhou lived in the mid-10th Century BC, while King Wen of Chu reigned from 689 to 677 BC]

King Li [of Zhou, r. 877 – 841 BC] had not the Way and the Huai Yi entered to rob. The King instructed Guozhong to campaign against them. He had not advantage. King Xuan [r. 827 – 782 BC] then instructed the Duke of Shao to strike and pacify them.

The Preface to the Mao Poetry says: In Jiang-Han, Yin Jifu praises King Xuan. He was able to foster during a [period of] decline and fling off chaos. He instructed the Duke of Shao to pacify the Huai Yi.

Its poem says: The Jiang and Han float and drift. Martial men surge and swell. No settling down and no roaming. The Huai Yi have come probing. The King instructs Shao Hu: Apply the law to the four regions. All the way to our land's borders.

Reaching King You's [r. 781 – 771 BC] debauched chaos, the Four Yi invaded in succession. Arriving at Huan of Qi [685 – 643 BC], cultivating hegemony, he repelled and breached them. When Ling of Chu [540 – 529 BC] held a meeting at Shen [in 538 BC], they also came to participate in the covenant.

In the Zuo Transmittal, King Ling of Chu, the Marquis of Cai, the Marquis of Chen, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu, and the Huai Yi met at Shen.

Later the Yue moved to Langye, they campaigned against and fought together. Thereupon they infringed on and bullied the various Xia, and invaded and wiped out small nations.

Qin annexed the Six States, and their Huai and Si Yi were all dispersed to become people registered in households. When Chen She rose up with troops and Under Heaven collapsed and broke up, a native of Yan, Wei Man, escaped to the land of Chaoxian, and following that became king of their state.

The Book of Han says: The King of Chaoxian, Man, was a native of Yan. Since starting in the time when Yan was intact, he once captured what belonged to Zhenfan and Chaoxian, and set up magistrates and build redoubts. When Han rose, it belonged to Yan. The King of Yan, Lu Wan, rebelled and joined the Xiongnu. Man became fugitive from the authorities and fled east. He crossed the Pei River, and stayed on Qin's old desreted ground. He gradually made servants and dependants of the Man and Yi of Chaoxian, and those who had absconded from old Yan and Qi. He became king over them, and set his seat at Wangxian.

After more than a hundred years, Emperor Wu wiped them out, and so the Eastern Yi started to communicate with the Imperial Capital. When Wang Mang usurped the throne, the Mo people robbed the border.

In the Book of Han, Mang sent out troop from Gaogouli to attack the Hu, but they did not wish to go. The commanderies and counties forcibly compelled them, and they all absconded and set out for the frontier. Following that, they broke the law and became robbers. The province and commanderies resorted to blaming the Marquis of Gaogouli, Zou. Yan You memorialsed that the Mo people were breaking the law, it had not risen from Zou, and they ought to console and calm them.

[bookofjin]

In service to Wang Mang 2 (HHS)

(Including the early travails of Ma Yuan)

[HHS022]

Jing Dan, courtesy name Sunqing, was a native of Liyang in Pingyi. As young he studied in Chang'an. At the time of Wang Mang he studied the Four Categories.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: In the time of Wang Mang they lifted up scholars of the schools of Virtuous Acts, Able Speech,Thoroughness in Government Affairs, and Clarity in Writing.

Dan for his ability in speech became Chancellor to the Marquis of Gude, and was praised for having the capacity to manage affairs. He moved to Deputy to the Joint Leader of Shuodiao.

Shuodiao is Shanggu. Deputy is Dependant Prefect.

[HHS023]

Dou Rong, courtesy name Zhougong, was a native of Pingling in Fufeng. His seventh generation ancestor Guangguo was August Empress Xiaowen's younger brother, and was ennobled Marquis of Zhangwu. Rong's great-great-grandfather in the time of Emperor Xuan as a Two Thousand Shi official moved from Changshan to there.

Rong was orphaned young. In the middle of Wang Mang's administration, he became Marshal to the General of Strong Crossbows, went east to strike Zhai Yi, and turned back to attack Huaili. For his merit with the army he was ennobled Baron of Jianwu.

The General of Strong Crossbows was Mang's Marquis of Mingyi, Wang Jun. Zhao Ming, Huo Hong, and other of Huaili rose up with troops in response to Zhai Yi. Wang Yi and others routed Zhai Yi and turned back. The combined army struck Ming, Hong, and others, and wiped them out. Rong at the time was accompanying that army, see the Book of Han. The Eastern Watchtower Records and the Continued Book of Han both state he became Baron of Ningwu.

His younger sister became the junior wife of the Great Minister of Works, Wang Yi. He had his family within Chang'an, and set out to enter among the nobles and their kin. He formed connections with prominent and outstanding of his hamlet, and became famous due to his reliance on chivalry. However, he served his mother and older brother and raised his younger brother, and within cultivated acting with right-mindedness.

[HHS024]

Ma Yuan, courtesy name Wenyuan, was a native of Maoling in Fufeng. His ancestor Zhao She was a Zhao general and was titled Lord of Mafu. His sons and grandsons following that used it as their clan. In the time of Emperor Wu, [the family] as Two Thousand Shi officials, moved from Handan to there.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: They moved to Chenghuan Village in Maoling.

His great-grandfather Tong for his merit was ennobled Marquis of Zhonghe. He was implicated in his older brother Heluo's rebellion and was executed. For that reason Yuan's two generations were not distinguished.

Ma Heluo was good friends with Jiang Yun. When Yun was executed, he consequently feared the crime would reach himself, planned rebellion, and submitted to execution. For the affair, see the Book of Han.

Yuan's grandfather and father did not manage to do distinguished service. In the Eastern Watchtower Han Records, Tong begot Bin, who in the time of Emperor Xuan as Gentleman Holding the Tally was titled Envoy Lord. The Envoy Lord begot Zhong, Zhong's official position reached Marshal of Dark Martiality. Zhong begot Yuan.

Yuan had three older brothers, Kuang, Yu, and Yuan#. All had talent and ability, and in the time of Wang Mang all became Two Thousand Shi officials.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Kuang, courtesy name Changping [or Zhangping?]. Yu, courtesy name Shengqing. Yuan, courtesy name Jizhu.

Kuang became Grand Warden of Henan, Yu Colonel of the Central Ramparts. Yuan# Joint Leader of Zengshan.

Yuan was orphaned at the age of twelve. As young he had great aspirations, his older brothers were amazed by him. He once received the Qi Poetry, but his thoughts were unable to hold on to its chapters and sentences.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: He received the Qi poetry, his teacher was Man Chang of Yingchuan.

He therefore explained to Kuang, and wished to go to a border commandery and engage in farming and herding.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Yuan, since Kuang had set out to become Grand Warden of Henan, and his next two older brothers were officials in the Capital City, saw that the family's means were not sufficient. Therefore he explained to Kuang his wish to go to a border commandery and engage in livestock herding.

Kuang said:

You have great talent and will successful later on. A good craftsman does not show people the raw materials, follow what you are fond of.

It happened that Kuang passed. Yuan wore mourning clothes for the full year and did not leave the place where the tomb was. He respectfully served his widowed sister-in-law, and he did not put on his cap or enter the house.

Later he became the commandery's Courier Supervisor, and sent off prisoners the Minister of Instructions' Office. There was a prisoner who had committed a serious crime. Yuan had sympathy for him, and released him, and thereupon became a fugitive in the northern lands. There was an amnesty, following that he stayed behind to herd livestock. There were many retainers who returned to adhere to him, and consequently his servants and dependants numbered several hundred families.

The Continued Book of Han: Yuan went beyond the northern lands, and relied on herding the clan's livestock. Since Yuan's grandfather Bin originally had stayed in Tianshui, and his father also once had been Prefect of the Herdsmen Teachers. At that time Yuan# had become Envoy for Protecting Pastures, and for that reason the retainers all relied on Yuan.

He shifted and drifted between Long and Han, and often spoke to his retainers, saying:

When a grown man has aspirations, destitution will increase his firmness, age will increase his sturdiness

Following that, he settled to engage in farming and herding, and reached to have several thousand heads of cattle, horses and sheep, and several ten thousand hu of grain. Then he sighed and said:

In general, the growth of goods, wealth and property, is prized for its ability to distribute relief. If not, then [you] are a prisoner to defending money, and that is all.

He therefore fully distributed it to his brothers and old friends, and personally wore sheep fur clothes and hide trousers.

At the end of Wang Mang, when troops rose in the four regions, Mang's junior cousin, the General of Guards, broadly summoned the valiant and outstanding, and then nominated Yuan and Yuan She of the same county to be staff members, and recommended them to Mang. Mang used She as Great Governor of Zhenrong and Yuan as Great Governor of Xincheng.

Wang Mang changed Tianshui to be Zhenrong and Grand Warden to be Great Governor. He changed Hanzhong to be Xincheng.

[bookofjin]

In service to Wang Mang

[HHS012]

Wang Hong was the son of Wang Mang's junior uncle, the Marquis of Ping'e, Tan. In the time of Emperor Ai he became Central Regular Attendant. At the time the favourite official Dong Xian became Great Marshal, his affection and fondness was prized egregiously. Hong remonstrated frequently, defying [the emperor's] opinion. When Emperor Ai was approaching collapse, he entrusted the imperial seal and ribbon to Xian, saying:

Be not reckless in giving them to people.

At the time the state had no one to succeed as ruler, inside and outside were alarmed and fretful. Hong reported to Empress Yuan, requesting to confiscate them. He promptly with sword in belt arrived at the rear door of the Xuande [Hall]. He lifted his hand and scolded Xian, saying:

The palace chariot is driving slowly and the state's succession has not yet been established. Your Excellency received kindness and deep esteem, and must bow your head and lay down, crying and weeping. Why devote yourself to holding on to the imperial seal and ribbon while waiting for calamity to arrive!

Xian knew that Hong would surely die and did not dare to resist him. He therefore knelt and and handed over the imperial seal and ribbon. Hong took them and sent them up to the Empress Dowager. The imperial court was impressed with him. When Wang Mang usurped the throne, he fraudulently dreaded Hong, and therefore sent him out to be Grand Warden of Dong commandery. Hong feared execution, and always attached drugs within his hand.

…

Li Xian was a native Xuchang in Yingchuan. In the time of Wang Mang he became the Dependent Prefect of Lujiang. At the end of Mang, the Jiang thief Wang Zhougong and others rose up with a multitude of more than a hundred thousand and attacked and overcame the commanderies and counties. Mang used Xian as Division General and Joint Leader of Lujiang. He struck and routed Zhougong.

…

Peng Chong, courtesy name Botong, was a native of Wan in Nanyang. His father Hong in the time of Emperor Ai became Grand Warden of Yuyang. He had an imposing appearance and countenance, had a capacity for eating and drinking, and was a dominant force at the border. When Wang Mang controlled the administration, he executed those who did not attach themselves to him. Hong together with He Wu and Bao Xuan all came to harm.

Chong as young became a commandery functionary. In the middle of Dihuang [20 – 23 AD], he became Serviceman to the Great Minister of Works.

[HHS013]

Wei Xiao, courtesy name Jimeng, was a native of Chengji in Tianshui. As young he served the province and commandery. Wang Mang's Teacher of State, Liu Xin, pulled in Xiao to be Serviceman. Xin died [in 23 AD], and Xiao returned to his home town.

…

Gongsun Shu, courtesy name Ziyang, was a native of Maoling in Fufeng.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: His ancestor in the time of Emperor Wu as a Two Thousand Shi official moved from Wuyan to there.

In the time of Emperor Ai, due to his father's service, he became a Gentleman.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: At the end of Emperor Cheng's reign, Shu's father Ren became Attendant Steering Clerk and served as Retainer to Heir-Apparent. Gradually he salary increased, and he became a Gentleman from that.

Later his father Ren became Chief Commandant of Henan, while Shu was appointed Chief of Qingshui. Ren, since Shu was young of years, dispatched a staff member from his household to accompany him to the office. After about a month, the staff member resigned and went back. He reported to Ren, saying:

Shu is not someone who awaits to be taught.

Later, the Grand Warden made him, due to his ability, concurrently administer five counties. His government affairs were refined and orderly, and treachery and banditry did not spread out. Within the commandery, he was said to have ghosts and spirits. Middle of Wang Mang's Tianfeng era [14 – 20 AD], he became Footman Corrector of Daojiang, residing at Linqiong, and again he had a reputation for ability.

Wang Mang changed Shu commandery to be called Daojiang, and Grand Warden to be called Footman Corrector.

[HHS015]

Li Tong, courtesy name Ciyuan, was a native of Wan in Nayang. For generations they had been a distinguished family due to their trade in goods. His father Shou was nine chi tall, his appearance and countenance was beyond unusual. He was a strict and resolute person who managed his family like a public office.

The Continued Book of Han says: Shou in managing his family, he and his sons and grandsons were especially attentive. Inside of their inner doors was like a public office.

He began by serving Liu Xin, and was fond of star sequences and records of prophecies. He became Wang Mang's Lineage Dignitary Teacher. Tong likewise became Attendant to the General of the Five Awes and set out for the appointment of Assistant of Wu [county]. He became famous for his ability.

At the end of Mang, the hundred families were plaintive and resentful. Tong habitually heard Shou explain a prophecy which stated: “The Liu clan will rise again, the Li clan will be support.” Privately he always held it close. Additionally, he managed a family rich and untroubled, and was among the outstanding people of his home village. Due to these things, he was not happy being a magistrate, and therefore resigned on his own and returned home.

…

[HHS021]

Li Zhong, courtesy name Zhongdu, was a native of Huang in Donglai. His father became Chief Commandant of Gaomi. Zhong in the middle of Yuanshi [1 – 6 AD], became a Gentleman due to his father's service. Among the several tens of people who were appointed, Zhong was the only who, due to his fondness for the rites, gained praise for cultivating orderliness. In the time of Wang Mang, he became Dependent Chief of Xinbo. Within the commandery, everyone respected and trusted him.

Wang Mang changed Xindu state to be called Xinbo, and Chief Commandant to be called Dependent Chief.

…

Pei Tong, courtesy Weijun, was a native Xindu. His father Ji was Grand Warden of Liaoxi. Tong began as Wang Mang's Footman Corrector of Hecheng.

The East Watchtower Records says: Wang Mang divided Julu to make Hecheng commandery, seated at Xiaquyang, and used Tong as Footman Corrector.

…

Geng Chun, courtesy name Boshan, was a native of Songzi of Julu. His father Ai was Wang Mang's Governor of Jiping. Chun studied in Chang'an, and following that was appointed as Serviceman to the Speech Receivers.

Wang Mang changed Dingtao state to Jiping. In Wang Mang's regulations as in ancient times set up the officials of Speech Receivers, which were precisely the Masters of Writing. Each official all set up Servicemen, thus the name Serviceman to the Speech Receivers.

...

[bookofjin]

The Liu clan of Nanyang (HHS)

[HHS001]

The Epochal Founder [shizu], the Glorious and Martial [guangwu] August Emperor, taboo Xiu, courtesy name Wenshu, was a native of Caiyang in Nanyang. He descended from Gaozu in nine generations, springing from Emperor Jing, who begot King Ding of Changsha, Fa. Fa begot Marquis Jie of Chonglnig, Mai. Mai begot the Grand Warden of Yulin, Wai. Wai begot the Chief Commandant of Julu, Hui. Hui begot the Prefect of Nandun, Qin. Qin begot Guangwu.

Guang was orphaned at the age of nine sui, and was raised by his junior uncle Liang. He was seven chi, three cun tall, had pleasing whiskers and eyebrows, a big mouth, arched nose, and “sun horn”.

Zheng Xuan's Commentary to the Hallowed Documents' Central Expectations says: With “sun horn” is meant that the bone is raised in middle of the courtyard, and shaped like the sun.

He was by nature attentive to sowing and harvesting while his older brother Bosheng was fond of chivalry and supporting gentlemen, and who often sneered at Guangwu for his devotion to farming business, comparing him to Gaozu's older brother's Zhong. In the middle of Wang Mang's Tianfeng era [14 – 19 AD], he then went to Chang'an and received the Hallowed Documents and had a general understanding of the great right-mindedness.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: He received the Hallowed Documents from the Middle Grandee Xu Ziwei of Lujiang. When his wealth was used up, he combined his money with his fellow student Master Han to buy a donkey, and made an attendant rent it out to provide for their public expenses.

[HHS010]

The Glorious and Ardent [guanglie] August Empress Yin, taboo Lihua, was a native Xinye in Nanyang. At first when Guangwu had gone to Xinye, he heard of the Empress's beauty, and in his heart was pleased with her. Later when he arrived in Chang'an, he saw that the chariots and cavalry of the Bearer of the Golden Baton were very abundant. Following that, he sighed and said:

Serving in officialdom, [I] must make Bearer of the Golden Baton, taking a wife [I] must get Yin Lihua.

[HHS014]

The Martial [wu] King of Qi, Yan, courtesy name Bosheng, was Guangwu's oldest brother. He was by nature tough and resolute, had a righteous fortitude and great steadfastness. From Wang Mang usurped Han he was always fuming with fury, and he held close contemplations of restoring the altars of soil and grain. He did not engage in the businesses of the people of his family, but poured out his person and expended his property, and made connections with the valiant paragons Under Heaven.

…

Earlier, the Lord of Nandun took as wife the daughter of Fan Zhong from the same commandery, her courtesy name was Xiandu. Xiandu was by nature gentle and compliant since she was a little girl. If improper in appearance or dress, she did not leave her room. The clan respected her. She bore three sons and three daughters: The oldest boy was Bosheng, next Zhong, next Guangwu. The oldest daughter was Huang, next Yuan, next Boji.

…

The Filial [xiao] King of Zhao, Liang, courtesy name Cibo, was Guangwu's junior uncle. In the time of Emperor Ping, he was recommended as Filial and Upright, and became Prefect of Xiao. When Guangwu and his brothers were orphaned young, Liang consoled them with considerable sincerity.

…

The King of Sishui, Xi, courtesy name Jingsun, was Guangwu's senior kinsman, of his father's generation. Xi's son was Zhong, he and Guangwu as young were close to and fond of each other.

…

The Respectful [gong] King of Chengyang, Zhi, courtesy name Jubo, was the son Guangwu's senior kinsman, the Hale [kang] Marquis of Chongling, Chang.

The Eastern Watchtower Records: In the beginning he was named Zhong. Later he changed it to Zhi.

Chang's great grandfather was the Steadfast [jie]Marquis, Mai. As the son of King Ding of Changsha he was ennobled at Chongling district in Liandao, and became Marquis of Chongling. When Mai passed, his son the Esteemed [dai] Marquis, Xiongqu, inherited. When Xiongqu passed, his son the Accomplished [kao] Marquis, Ren, inherited.

Ren, since conditions of the lands of Chongling were low-lying and damp, and the mountains and forest had venomous aura, sent up a letter seeking to reduce his estate and move inwards.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: The Accomplished Marquis, Ren, at the time had 476 households. He sent up a letter desiring to reduce the number of households and move to Nanyang, while keeping his son Chang behind to ward the family tombs. Emperor Yuan allowed it.

Ren passed, his son Chang inherited.

Chang was unassuming, moderate, and fond of right-mindedness. He fully pushed forward the gold, treasure, wealth, and property from his father's time as gifts to his brothers. The Inspector of Jing province sent up his righteous actions, and he was designated Chief Commandant of Lujiang.

The Continued Book of Han said: The Marquis and others assisted the sacrifices in the Bright Hall [mingtang], and in accordance with precedent, he had added 200 households. Chang for having acted righteously, was designated Chief Commandant of Lujiang.

After about a year, it happened that his senior kinsman, the Marquis of Anzhong, Liu Chong, rose up with troops. [Liu Chong was another descendant of King Ding of Changsha.] Wang Mang dreaded and detested the Liu clan. He summoned Chang to Chang'an, and dismissed him to go home to his state.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Chang presided over Lujiang for more than a year. A drought happened. Patrolling the counties, people would bring withered rice plants, telling themselves that the rice plants were all withered. The functionaries forcefully demanded the taxes. Chang in response said:

The Grand Warden's affair.

He conveyed the withered rice plants to where the Grand Warden was. They had been drinking several rounds when he told it to the Grand Warden. The Grand Warden said:

It is nothing.

Chang showed him the withered rice plants. The Grand Warden said:

Is it the Chief Commandant's affair?

Chang angrily scolded the Grand Warden, saying:

Rat, how dare you!

The Inspector reported it in a memorial. Mang summoned Zhi to Chang'an, and dismissed him to go to his state.

Before this, in the time of Emperor Ping, Chang and Chong had gone to court at the Imperial Capital together, and assisted the sacrifices at the Bright Hall. Chong saw that Mang was about to imperil the House of Han, and privately spoke to Chang, saying:

The Duke of Anhan monopolizes the state's authority, the crowd of subjects do nothing but turn around and follow. The overturning of the altars of soil and grain has arrived. The Empress Dowager Chunqiu is of exalted [age] and the Son of Heaen is young and weak. The reason why August Emperor Gao allotted fiefs to his sons and brothers was presumably this.

Chang in his heart considered it to be so. When Chong's affair was defeated, Chang was afraid, and he therefore wished to make connections and guide and set up a faction. He therefore made Zhi take as wife the daughter of the Marquis of Gaoling, Zhai Xuan.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Chang made his son by his legal wife, Zhong, take Xuan's daughter Xi as wife. Xuan sent his son by his legal wife Ji to send of his daughter to enter the gates. After about twenty days, Yi rose with troops.

It happened that Xuan's younger brother Yi rose with troops and wished to attack Mang. In Nanyang they arrested and killed Xuan's daughter. Zhi was implicated, bound up, and imprisoned. Chang following that sent up a letter apologizing for the crime, and desiring to lead his sons, brothers, and clansmen as soldiers in the vanguard. Mang had newly assumed the administration and wished to comfort and calm the imperial house. For that reason he was not mutilated or killed.

When Mang usurped the throne, those of the Liu clan who had been marquises were all demoted be called counts, with revenue as the benefice of a Solitary Dignitary. Later everyone lost their feudal ranks. When Chang passed, Zhi consequently specially was deposed, and also did not get an official position or become a functionary.

Zhi, though the son of the former Marquis, Chang, acted genuinely and full-hearted, the lineage house all respected him.

…

The Filial [xiao] Marquis of Chengwu, Shun, courtesy name Pingzhong, was Guangwu's senior kinsman. His father Qing, Continued Book of Han: Qing, courtesy name Weng'ao,was the Marquis of Chongling, Chang's full younger brother. Shun and Guangwu were from the same village, and at a young age had a deep friendship with each other.

…

The Cherished [huai] Marquis of Shunyang, Jia, courtesy name Xiaosun, was Guangwu's senior kinsman. His father Xian was the Marquis of Chongling, Chang's full younger brother. The Continued Treatise of Han says: Xian, courtesy name Wengjun. Jia was orphaned early. He was by nature humane and deep-felt. The Lord of Nandun raised and look upon him as a son. Later he and Bosheng studied in Chang'an together, and practised the Hallowed Documents and Spring and Autumn.

[HHS011]

Liu Xuan, courtesy name Shenggong, was a senior kinsman of Guangwu. His younger brother was killed by a person, and Shenggong connected with retainers, wishing to revenge him. A retainer broke the law, and Shenggong hid from the magistrate in Pinglin [lit. “Flat Forest”]. The magistrate arrested Shenggong's father Zizhang. Shenggong pretended to die and sent people to carry the coffin to return home to Chongling. The magistrate therefore let Zizhang go, and Shenggong following that escaped and went into hiding.

The Records of Emperors and Kings says: Marquis Dai of Chongling, Xiongqu, begot the Grand Warden of Cangwu, Li. Li begot Zizhang. He took a daughter from the He clan of Pinglin and begot Gengshi.

The Continued Book of Han says: At the time Shenggong assembled retainers, his home had wine, and he requested a patrol officer drink. A retainer drunkenly sang the words “In the morning we feasted the two chief commandants. The patrol officer comes after, use him to tune the soup's taste.” The patrol officer was greatly angered, he tied him up and beat him several hundred times.

[HHS014]

The Filial [xiao] Marquis of Ancheng, Ci, courtesy name Ziqin, was Guangwu's senior kinsman. His grandfather Li was Grand Warden of Cangwu. Ci was orphaned young. His older brother Xian avenged an enmity by killing a person. A functionary arrested Xian and killed him. Ci and Xian's son Xin sold the fields and dwellings, together throw away wealth and property, and connected with retainers to seek revenge against the functionary. Both became fugitives to escape and lay low. There happened to be an amnesty and they returned home.

The Continued Book of Han says: In the time of Wang Mang, the Lius were repressed and discarded, and were intruded on by the commanderies and counties. In Caiyang state the Chief of Scouts for Fu Precinct got drunk and scolded Gengshi's father Zizhang. Zizhang was furious, and stabbed and killed the Chief of Scouts. More than ten years later, the Chief of Scout's son killed Gengshi's younger brother Qian. Ci's younger brother Xian wished to avenge the enmity. His retainers turned to kidnapping a person, and they were discovered. Province and commandery killed Xian within the prison. Ci and Xian's son Xin connected with retainers Chen Zheng and others, nine people, and burnt and killed the Precinct Chief's wife and children, four people.

[bookofjin]

Rebels and liars in the time of Wang Mang (HHS)

[HHS011]

1st Year of Tianfeng [14 AD], there was in Haiqu in Langye a Mother Lü whose son was a county functionary. He committed a minor crime and the magistrate sentenced him to death.

The Continued Book of Han says: Mother Lü's son was named Yu. He became a patrol officer and committed a crime.

Mother Lü hated the magistrate and secretly assembled retainers, plotting to take revenge. Mother's family was habitually lavish, with wealth and property of several millions. She therefore increasingly brew and sold wine, and bought blades, swords, clothes, and garments. To those youths who came to buy wine she always sold to on credit. Those of them she saw were poor, she immediately lent clothes and never asked about the amount. After several years, the wealth she used was rather exhausted and the youths wished each other to repay her. Mother Lü, tears flowing, said:

The reasons for my generosity to you, my lords, was not that I wished to seek profit. It is merely that since the county magistrate has not the Way, he unjustly killed my son. I wish to be repaid for my hatred and that is all. Could it be that you, my lords, would take pity on me!

The youths were bold of thought and also had for a long time accepted her kindness, they all consented and approved. Those among them who were brave soldiers titled themselves “fierce tigers”.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: “The retainers, Xu Cizi [?] and others, titled themselves 'throttling the tiger'”. … The strength to throttle tigers speaks of their bravery.

Thereupon they gathered each other and obtained several tens to a hundred people, and following that entered into the sea together with Mother Lü. They attracted and joined with fugitives, and their multitude reached several thousand people. Mother Lü titled herself General, she guided the troops return to attack Haiqu, and seized the county magistrate. The various functionaries bowed their heads and made pleadings for the magistrate. The Mother said:

My son committed a minor crime and did not deserve to die, and yet he was killed by magistrate. Killers deserve to die, what is there to plead for again?

Thereupon she beheaded him, and used his head to sacrifice at her son's grave. Then she returned within the sea.

Several years later, a native of Langye, Fan Chong, rose with troops at Ju, his multitudes was more than a hundred people. He moved to enter Taishan and titled himself Thrice Elder.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Fan Chong, courtesy name Xijun.

At the time there was in Qing and Xu great hunger, and robbers and thieves rose up like bees. Multitude bandits considered Chong to be brave and fierce, and everyone adhered to him. In the span of a single year they reached more than ten thousand people. Pang An a native of the same commandery as Chong, and Xu Xian, Xie Lu, and Yang Yin, natives of Donghai, each rose with troops, several ten thousand people combined, and then guided them to follow Chong. Together they turned back to attack Ju, but were unable to bring it down and moved to plunder until Gumu. Following that, the struck Wang Mang's Marquis of Tantang, Tian Kuang, greatly routed him, killed more than ten thousand people, and thereupon moved north to enter Qing province. Where they passed by, they pillaged and plundered. They turned back to Taishan, and halted to station at Nancheng.

Earlier, Chong and others had become robbers due to poverty and destitution, and they had no plans for attacking cities or seizing territory. Their multitudes then gradually grew abundant, and they therefore made a pledge with each other: Those who killed people would die, those who injured people would compensate for the wound. They considered spoken expressions to be binding agreements and had no written documents, banners or flags, divisions or subunits, titles or orders. Those among them who were the most respected were titled Thrice Elder, next was Attendant, next was Footsoldier. In general they addressed [themselves] to each other as Your Subject.

…

At the end of Wang Mang, in the southern regions there were hunger and famine. People in numerous crowds entered the wild marshes to dig up water chestnuts and eat them, and furthermore raid and plunder each other. Two natives of Xinshi, Wang Kuang and Wang Feng, fairly sorted out disputes and accusations, and thereupon were pushed forward as chieftains with multitudes of several hundred people.

[Water chestnut = Eleocharis dulcis, a marsh-growing sedge.]

And so various fugitives, Ma Wu, Wang Cheng, Cheng Dan, and others went and followed them. Together they attacked dispersed villages and hamlets, and [collected] the plunder within Lülin [lit. “Green Forest”]. After several months, they had reached seven or eight thousand people.

[HHS022]

Ma Wu, courtesy name Zizhang, was a native of Huyang in Nanyang. In the time of his youth, to escape an enemy, he lived as a retainer in Jiangxia. At the end of Wang Mang, when the Thrice Elders of Jingling and Xiyang raised troops in the region of the commandery, Wu went to follow them. Later he entered within the Green Forest.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: His ancestors were natives of Hu [in Youfufeng]. Chang's father Bo during the reigns of [Emperors] Cheng [r. 33 – 7 BC] and Ai [7 – 1 BC] moved as a retainer to Wuyang in Yingchuan, and following that had his family there.

[HHS015]

Wang Chang, courtesy name Yanqing, was a native of Wuyang in Yingchuan. At the end of Wang Mang, he took revenge for his younger brother and became fugitive in Jiangxia. Some time later he raised troops together with Wang Feng, Wang Kuang, and others within the Green Forest of Yundu. They assembled a multitude of several ten thousand people, and used Chang as a subordinate officer to attack nearby counties.

[HHS012]

Wang Chang, also named Lang, was a native of Handan in Zhao state. He had a long-standing expertise in making divinations and assessments. When a bright star passed through, he took it to be that north of the He had the aura of the Son of Heaven. At the time King Mu of Zhao's son Lin was fond of strange techniques. He revelled in chivalry in the area of Zhao and Wei. He often associated with the bold and the crafty, and then was on personal and close terms with Lang.

Earlier, when Wang Mang usurped the throne, there was within Chang'an someone who claimed to be Emperor Cheng's son Ziyu, Mang killed him. Lang relied on this to falsely claim he was the real Ziyu, stating his mother in the past was a singer for Emperor Cheng. Once when going down from the throne hall she became dead stiff. In a moment a yellow aura had followed her up and down. After half a day she loosened up. Thereupon she conceived and personally went to a guest-house [to give birth]. Empress Zhao wanted to kill him, but he was deceptively exchanged with another person's child, and due to that managed to stay safe.

The Eastern Watchtower Records says: “A palace girl gave birth to a child at the precisely same time as her, and she promptly exchanged it.”

Yu at the age of twelve learned his destiny from the Gentleman-at-Centre Li Manqing and they went together to Shu. At seventeen he came to Danyang, at twenty he returned to Chang'an. In turn he moved to Zhongshan, and came and went in Yan and Zhao, to wait for Heaven's time.

Lin and others became more and more doubtful and confused. They therefore exchanged plans with the great and prominent of Zhao state, Li Yu, Zhang Can, and others, plotting together to install Lang.

…