五宗世家

Emperor Jing had thirteen sons who became kings, born to five different mothers. Those sharing a mother formed a lineage group. Lady Li's sons were Rong, De, and Eyu. Lady Cheng's sons were Yu, Fei, and Duan. Lady Jia's sons were Pengzu and Sheng. Lady Tang's son was Fa. Lady Wang Erxu's sons were Yue, Ji, Cheng, and Shun.

King Xian of Hejian, De, was made King of Hejian as an imperial prince in the second year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. He loved Confucian learning, and in his dress and conduct he always followed the ways of the Confucians. Many Confucian scholars from east of the mountains came to study with him.

He died after twenty-six years. His son King Gong, Buhai, succeeded, dying after four years. His son King Gang, Ji, succeeded, dying after twelve years. His son King Qing, Shou, then succeeded.

King Ai of Linjiang, Eyu, was made King of Linjiang in the second year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. He died after three years without an heir, and the kingdom was abolished as a commandery.

King Min of Linjiang, Rong, had been made Crown Prince in the fourth year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. After four years he was deposed and made King of Linjiang as the former crown prince.

After four years as king, Rong was charged with encroaching on the wall of a temple precinct to build his palace. The Emperor summoned him to the capital. When Rong departed, he made the farewell offering at the north gate of Jiangling. After he climbed into his carriage, the axle snapped and the carriage collapsed. The elders of Jiangling wept quietly: "Our king will not return!" Upon arriving, Rong reported to the offices of the Capital Commandant. Commandant Zhi Du interrogated the king harshly. The king was terrified and killed himself. He was buried at Lantian. Tens of thousands of swallows carried earth and placed it on his tomb. The people pitied him.

Rong was the eldest of the sons. He died without an heir, the kingdom was abolished, and its territory reverted to Han as Nan Commandery.

The above three kingdoms were all founded by sons of Lady Li.

King Gong of Lu, Yu, was made King of Huaiyang in the second year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. Two years later, after Wu and Chu were defeated, he was transferred to become King of Lu in the third year. He enjoyed building palaces, parks, and keeping dogs and horses. In his later years he loved music but disliked rhetorical argument. He had a stutter.

He died after twenty-six years. His son Guang succeeded. Guang initially loved music, carriages, and horses, but in his later years became miserly, always fearing he had insufficient wealth.

King Yi of Jiangdu, Fei, was made King of Runan in the second year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. During the Wu-Chu rebellion, Fei was fifteen years old. He was strong and vigorous and petitioned to fight Wu. Emperor Jing gave him a general's seal to attack Wu. After Wu was destroyed, two years later he was transferred to become King of Jiangdu, ruling the former territory of Wu. For his military merit he was granted the Son of Heaven's banners. In the fifth year of Yuanguang, the Xiongnu launched a major raid. Fei petitioned to fight them, but the Emperor denied his request. Fei loved martial exercises, built palace observatories, recruited heroes from all directions, and was extravagant beyond measure.

He died after twenty-six years. His son Jian succeeded. After seven years, Jian killed himself. When Huainan and Hengshan were plotting rebellion, Jian had gotten wind of their plans. Believing his kingdom was close to Huainan and fearing annexation if the revolt broke out, he secretly manufactured weapons and often wore his father's general's seal and flew the Son of Heaven's banner when going out. Before King Yi was even buried, Jian seduced his father's favored beauty Lady Nao, sending men at night to bring her for illicit relations. When the Huainan conspiracy was exposed, the investigation reached Jian. Terrified, he spent large sums to shut down the case. He also put his faith in shamans and mediums, having them offer prayers and make wild claims. Jian had also conducted incestuous relations with all his sisters. When this became known, the Han court ministers requested his arrest. The Son of Heaven could not bear it and sent senior officials to question the king directly. The king confessed and killed himself. The kingdom was abolished and its territory reverted to Han as Guangling Commandery.

King Yu of Jiaoxi, Duan, was made King of Jiaoxi after the Seven Kingdoms rebellion was suppressed. Duan was by nature vicious and cruel. He was also impotent — whenever he went near a woman, he would be ill for months. He had a favored young man serving as a palace gentleman. This gentleman soon began illicit affairs with the women of the inner palace. Duan caught him and had him killed, along with his mother and children. He repeatedly violated imperial law. The Han court ministers petitioned many times for his execution, but the Son of Heaven, out of brotherly feeling, could not bear it, and Duan's behavior only worsened.

The authorities twice petitioned to reduce his kingdom, stripping away more than half. Duan was enraged and deliberately let his domain fall to ruin. The treasury buildings leaked and collapsed; goods worth hundreds of millions rotted. He forbade his officials from collecting taxes. He dismissed all his guards, sealed the palace gates, and went in and out through a single door. He frequently changed his name and dressed as a commoner, traveling to other commanderies and kingdoms.

Whenever a chancellor or two-thousand-bushel official arrived to govern according to Han law, Duan would find or fabricate charges against them. Those against whom he could find no fault he poisoned. His capacity for deception and manipulation was enough to resist all remonstrance, and his cleverness enough to rationalize every wrong. If officials governed according to the king's wishes, Han law held them accountable. Thus Jiaoxi, though a small kingdom, killed or injured an extraordinary number of two-thousand-bushel officials.

Duan reigned forty-seven years and died without a male heir. The kingdom was abolished and its territory reverted to Han as Jiaoxi Commandery.

The above three kingdoms were all founded by sons of Lady Cheng.

King Pengzu of Zhao was made King of Guangchuan in the second year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. After King Sui of Zhao rebelled and was destroyed, Pengzu ruled Guangchuan. After four years he was transferred to become King of Zhao. Fifteen years later, Emperor Jing died.

Pengzu was a man of cunning flattery and sycophantic humility — outwardly respectful, inwardly ruthless. He loved legal technicalities and used sophistical arguments to trap people. He kept many favored consorts and had numerous children and grandchildren. Whenever a chancellor or two-thousand-bushel official came to govern by Han law, it threatened the king's household. So each time a new official arrived, Pengzu would dress in coarse black cloth, go out personally to welcome him, and clean the official's quarters himself. Then he would pose many ambiguous questions to provoke the official into making missteps or violating taboos, which he carefully recorded. When officials tried to govern properly, he used these records to blackmail them. If they did not comply, he would file accusations with the court, smearing them with charges of corruption.

Pengzu reigned over fifty years. No chancellor or two-thousand-bushel official lasted a full two years; all were removed on criminal charges — the worst executed, the rest punished. As a result, no official dared govern. The King of Zhao monopolized power, sending agents to the counties to establish trading monopolies, generating revenue far exceeding the kingdom's regular taxes. The royal house thus accumulated vast wealth, though it was all spent on his consorts and their children. Pengzu took as his own consort Lady Nao — the same woman whom Jian of Jiangdu had seduced from his father's household — and loved her dearly.

Pengzu had no interest in building palaces or in omens and portents. He preferred administrative work. He petitioned to personally supervise the pursuit of bandits in his kingdom. He would go out at night with foot soldiers to patrol Handan. Envoys and travelers, knowing Pengzu's treacherous nature, did not dare stop in Handan.

His crown prince Dan committed incest with his own sisters. He had a falling-out with his retainer Jiang Chong. Chong informed on Dan, and Dan was deposed. Zhao appointed a new crown prince.

King Jing of Zhongshan, Sheng, was made King of Zhongshan in the third year before Emperor Jing's main reign period. Fourteen years later, Emperor Jing died. Sheng was a man who delighted in wine and women. He had over 120 children and descendants. He constantly criticized his brother the King of Zhao, saying: "My brother rules as king but spends all his time doing clerks' work. A king ought to spend his days enjoying music and beautiful women." The King of Zhao criticized him in return: "The King of Zhongshan does nothing but indulge himself. He does not assist the Son of Heaven in caring for the people — how can he call himself a vassal?"

Sheng reigned forty-two years and died. His son King Ai, Chang, succeeded but died after one year. His son Kunchi then became King of Zhongshan.

The above two kingdoms were both founded by sons of Lady Jia.

King Ding of Changsha, Fa: Fa's mother was Lady Tang, formerly a maid of Lady Cheng. When Emperor Jing summoned Lady Cheng, she was indisposed and did not wish to attend. She adorned her maid Tang'er and sent her in at night. The Emperor, drunk, did not realize it was not Lady Cheng and lay with her. She became pregnant. Only afterward did he discover she was not Lady Cheng. When the boy was born, he was named Fa ("to send forth" — because he was sent in as a substitute). In the second year before Emperor Jing's main reign period, Fa was made King of Changsha. Because his mother was of low status and without favor, he was given a poor, low-lying, humid kingdom.

He reigned twenty-seven years and died. His son King Kang, Yong, succeeded, dying after twenty-eight years. His son Fujiu then became King of Changsha.

The above kingdom was founded by a son of Lady Tang.

King Hui of Guangchuan, Yue, was made King of Guangchuan in the second year of the middle period of Emperor Jing. He died after twelve years. His son Qi succeeded. Qi had a favored retainer named Sang Ju. Later Sang Ju committed an offense. The king wanted to execute him, but Sang Ju fled. The king arrested his clan. Sang Ju, resenting the king, filed a memorial accusing King Qi of incest with his sisters. From then on, King Qi repeatedly submitted memorials accusing Han court ministers and imperial favorites like Suo Zhong.

King Kang of Jiaodong, Ji, was made King of Jiaodong in the second year of the middle period of Emperor Jing. He died after twenty-eight years. When the King of Huainan was plotting rebellion, Ji learned of it and secretly constructed siege towers, arrowheads, and defensive equipment, watching for Huainan to make its move. When the investigation into Huainan reached his involvement, the charges were dropped. Ji was the closest to the Emperor of all his sons. Grieved by the suspicion, he fell ill and died. He did not dare establish an heir before his death, leaving the matter to the Emperor. Ji had an eldest son named Xian, whose mother had no favor, and a younger son named Qing, whose mother was beloved. Ji had always wished to install Qing but could not do so irregularly, and because of his transgressions, he never spoke of it. The Emperor, pitying him, made Xian King of Jiaodong to continue King Kang's line, and enfeoffed Qing with the former territory of Hengshan as King of Liu'an.

King Xian of Jiaodong, reigning fourteen years, died with the posthumous title King Ai. His son Qing then became king.

King Qing of Liu'an was made King of Liu'an from the Jiaodong Kang lineage in the second year of Yuanshou.

King Ai of Qinghe, Cheng, was made King of Qinghe in the third year of the middle period of Emperor Jing. He died after twelve years without an heir. The kingdom was abolished and its territory reverted to Han as Qinghe Commandery.

King Xian of Changshan, Shun, was made King of Changshan in the fifth year of the middle period of Emperor Jing. Shun was the closest kinsman and Emperor Jing's youngest son. He was arrogant, indolent, and licentious, frequently violating the law, but the Emperor always pardoned him. He reigned thirty-two years and died. Crown Prince Bo succeeded as king.

Earlier, King Xian, Shun, had an unloved consort who bore the eldest son Zhuo. Because his mother had no favor, Zhuo was also not loved by the king. Queen Xiu bore Crown Prince Bo. The king had many women in his inner quarters; his favored consorts bore sons Ping and Shang. The queen rarely received the king's attention. When King Xian fell gravely ill, the favored consorts constantly attended him. The queen, out of jealousy, did not regularly attend and would return to her own quarters. When the physicians brought medicine, Crown Prince Bo did not taste the medicine himself, nor did he stay overnight to attend the sick king. Only when the king died did the queen and crown prince arrive.

King Xian had never considered the eldest son Zhuo worth counting among men, and upon his death did not leave him any share of the estate. A palace gentleman advised the crown prince and queen to let the other sons share with Zhuo, but they refused. When the crown prince succeeded, he likewise gave Zhuo nothing. Zhuo bore a grudge against the queen and the new king.

When a Han envoy came to oversee King Xian's funeral, Zhuo spoke up, accusing the queen and the crown prince of not attending the king during his illness, and claiming that within six days of the king's death, Bo had committed adultery, drunk wine, gambled, played the zhu instrument, ridden around the city walls with women in his carriage, passed through the market, and visited the prison to inspect inmates.

The Son of Heaven dispatched the Grand Herald Qian to investigate the queen and question King Bo. When they sought to arrest Bo's accomplices in adultery, the king hid them. As the pursuit intensified, the king had people beaten and whipped, and released prisoners whom Han had detained.

The authorities petitioned to execute Queen Xiu and King Bo. The Emperor considered that Xiu had always been of poor character and that Zhuo had been provoked into lodging the accusation, and that Bo had lacked good tutors. He could not bear to execute them. The authorities then requested that Queen Xiu be deposed and that King Bo and his household be exiled to Fangling. The Emperor consented.

Bo had been king for only a few months before being exiled to Fangling. The kingdom was extinguished. A month later, the Son of Heaven, considering the closeness of kinship, decreed: "King Xian of Changshan died young. His queen and consorts could not live in harmony; legitimate and secondary sons slandered and accused each other, falling into impropriety and destroying the kingdom. I am deeply grieved. Let King Xian's son Ping be enfeoffed with thirty thousand households as King of Zhending, and his son Shang with thirty thousand households as King of Sishui."

King Ping of Zhending was established in the fourth year of Yuanding as a son of King Xian of Changshan.

King Si of Sishui, Shang, was established in the fourth year of Yuanding as a son of King Xian of Changshan. He died after eleven years. His son King Ai, Anshi, succeeded, dying after eleven years without a son. The Emperor, pitying the extinction of the Sishui line, installed Anshi's brother He as King of Sishui.

The above four kingdoms were all founded by sons of Lady Wang Erxu. Afterward, Han additionally enfeoffed collateral sons as King of Liu'an and King of Sishui. In all, Lady Erxu's sons and grandsons now constitute six kingdoms.

The Grand Historian says: In the time of the High Ancestor, the feudal lords all levied their own taxes and could appoint their own officials from the Internal Secretary on down. Han only appointed the chancellor for them, who bore a gold seal. The feudal lords themselves appointed their imperial secretaries, commandants of justice, and erudites, in a manner parallel to the Son of Heaven. After the Wu-Chu rebellion, during the era of the Five Lineage kings, Han appointed all officials of two-thousand-bushel rank and above, changed the title from "Chancellor" to "Administrator," and replaced gold seals with silver. The feudal lords were left with nothing but their tax revenues — stripped of all power. In the end, some of the poorer feudal lords were reduced to riding ox-carts.