31 Emperor Wudi of Han Dynasty

The Emperor Creating Heydays of Han Dynasty

Emperor Wudi of Han Dynasty (156-87 BC) was praised as an emperor of great talent and bold vision who created the heydays of powerful and prosperous Han Empire. In the beginning years of the Dynasty, the regime adopted Laozi’s “ruling by noninterference” policy to cure the broken economy caused by long-lasting nationwide war. After tens of years of recovery, the empire had become all powerful and reached a new point of take-off. Emperor Wudi carried out two important tactics for the nation’s vitalization: In civil administration, he agreed Dong Zhongshu, a Ru (Confucius) scholar’s proposal to establish Confucius Teachings as nation’s ruling doctrine (see piece 38). Confucius doctrine, though failed to be practiced in the turmoil time, was actually applicable to manage the country in peaceful time. It had helped strengthen greatly the foundation of feudal autocratic system for thousands of years. In military, Emperor Wudi appointed talented strategists Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to fight northern enemy (see following piece). Wei Qing and Huo Qubing commanded Han troops, after dozens of years back-and-forth fighting, gained great victory over Xiong Nu.

Emperor Wudi had taken the throne as long as 54 years. In his later years he turned to be tyrannical and superstitious. He was eager to be immortal and killed people at random. He killed dozens of high officials and their families. One day, when he made a short nap, he saw a man holding a sword walking in from Zhonghualong Gate (China Dragon Gate), he ordered his guards to bust him, but the man threw away the sword, ran and disappeared. He killed the gate officer, ordered to search all corners of palace as well as the city, but failed to get the man. Then, days later, he dreamed of a terrible scene, he was chased by tens of wooden puppets. When woke up, he began to feel he was not well. A Tao priest warned him that the case should be stemmed from a witchcraft (a mini puppet written his name, and with a needle penetrating through his heart), added that the puppet was in the crowned prince’s house. Wudi launched a surprising raid on the house, and the wicked figure was exactly to be found. The poor innocent crowned prince was immediately executed. In following years, Wudi killed consecutively a cluster of royal family members, including two princesses, a nephew, a daughter-in-law, and a grandchild. The mother of the crowned prince and two princesses was Queen Wei, so the Queen also won’t immune from a mishap.