Emperor Xuan, named Yang Yun, courtesy name Qianbo, was the eldest son of Emperor Gao, Yang Jian. His mother was Empress Dowager Li. In the first year of Wucheng, which is 559 AD, he was born in Tongzhou. On the fifth day of the fifth month in the first year of Baoding, he was granted the title of Duke of Lu. By the fourth month of the first year of Jiande, Emperor Gao personally went to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices to his ancestors, and then conducted the coronation ceremony for him at the ancestral hall steps, formally establishing him as the Crown Prince. After that, the emperor ordered the Crown Prince to inspect the western regions and handle state affairs.
Later, Empress Wenxuan passed away, and Emperor Gao felt very sad and somewhat dazed, allowing the Crown Prince to oversee state affairs, but this arrangement lasted only fifty days before it was revoked. Each time the emperor toured the provinces, the Crown Prince remained behind to manage state affairs in his stead. In the second month of the fifth year, the emperor again ordered the Crown Prince to inspect the western regions and campaign against the Tuyuhun.
On a certain day in June of 578 AD, Emperor Gao passed away. The next day, the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, honoring the empress as Empress Dowager. A few days later, a celestial phenomenon appeared in the sky, with the planets Jupiter, Mars, and Venus aligning in a rare conjunction near the Eastern Well star. Subsequently, the court put to death the Grand Minister of State, Qi Wang Xian, and conferred the title of Duke of Qi upon Zhi.
In the intercalary month, the emperor ordered relief for the disaster-stricken and displaced people in Shandong, as well as for those whose families were destroyed by attacks from the Turks, offering them a year of relief. He also elevated Yang Shi to the position of empress. After that, he promoted Zhao Wang Zhao to Grand Tutor and Chen Wang Chun to Grand Preceptor, while also bestowing the title of Grand Minister of State upon Dai Wang Da, Teng Wang You, Lu Guo Gong Wei Chi Yun, and Xue Guo Gong Chang Sun Lan. The Duke of Pingyang, Wang Yi, was also promoted and granted the title of Duke of Yang. In that month, Lu Changqi from Youzhou rebelled in Fanyang, and the emperor ordered Yuwen Shenju to lead troops to quell the rebellion, which was swiftly suppressed.
In the autumn of July, the moon obscured the star of the Heart. In the following days, the emperor conducted rituals at the ancestral temple, the Round Altar, and the Square Altar. Then, Hushi Zheng was appointed as the Grand Minister of State Rites. Next, Mars and Venus merged near the Seven Stars, and Venus even approached the Xuanyuan Star. Yang Jian was granted the title of Grand Minister of State and Grand Marshal. The emperor also honored his biological mother, Lady Li, as the Empress Dowager.
In August, the moon set in the western suburbs. The residents of Chang'an and Wannian counties in the capital received three years of relief. The emperor also made an incognito visit to Tongzhou and sent envoys to inspect various provinces. At the same time, the emperor issued nine new policies to be distributed to all provinces and counties: First, all cases and convictions must be strictly judged according to the law; Second, women from families other than their maternal ones are allowed to marry; Third, corporal punishment must be carried out in accordance with the law; Fourth, if thieves are reported in the counties but remain uncaught, this must be reported to the court; Fifth, filial sons, righteous husbands, and chaste women must be recognized for their family backgrounds, and those with talent should be recommended for government positions; Sixth, those who were oppressed in the past and did not receive promotion, or unknown yet talented individuals, must be investigated and recommended; Seventh, officials of the Northern Qi of grade seven and above have already been appointed, while those below grade seven and those who are exiled can participate in the selection, with their positions lowered by two ranks; Eighth, provinces must recommend talented and learned individuals to become scholars, and counties must recommend morally upright individuals as filial and incorrupt officials, with one from each upper province and upper county annually, and one from each lower province and lower county every three years; Ninth, elderly people over seventy should be granted official positions, and the lonely, widowed, and impoverished must receive relief. Then, Liang was appointed as the Governor of Anzhou, Changsun Lan as the Grand Minister of Instruction, and Wang Yi as the Grand Minister of Works. Following this, Venus entered the Taiwei Palace. Chun was appointed as the Grand Minister of Justice.
In September, Mars entered the Taiwei Palace. You Wensheng, Wang Jie, Xin Wei, and Wei Xiaokuan were all appointed as the Grand Pillar of State. The emperor's brother Yuan was granted the title of King of Jingzhou. The court mandated that all worship ceremonies must include three bows. Liu Shouluo, the leader of the Qihu tribe in Fenzhou, raised an army to rebel, and the emperor appointed King Sheng of Yue as the Grand Marshal to suppress the rebellion. Ultimately, Mars moved close to the Left Law Star again.
On Guiyou day in October, I returned from Tongzhou. The emperor appointed the Grand Minister of Works, Duke Wang Yi of Yang, to serve as the governor of Xiangzhou. On Wuzi day, Baekje sent envoys to pay tribute with treasures. On Jihai day in November, the emperor conducted a military drill in the Daohui Garden, personally wearing armor. This month, the Turks invaded the borders, besieging Jiuquan and killing and plundering its inhabitants. On Jiazi day in December, the emperor appointed the Grand Pillar of State, King Xian of Bi, as the Grand Minister of Works. On Guiwei day, Mars entered the Di constellation, where it remained for a month. On Jichou day, the emperor appointed the Grand Pillar of State, Governor Teng Wangyou of Heyang, as the commander-in-chief to lead the army against the Chen dynasty. Criminals serving in the capital were pardoned and ordered to join the army.
On Guisi day in the first month of the first year of the Great Elephant Era, the emperor received worship at the Lumon, wearing the Tongtian crown and a crimson silk robe, while the ministers were dressed in the clothing of the Han and Wei dynasties. A general amnesty was issued, and the era was renamed the Great Achievement Era. Four assistant minister positions were established, appointing the Grand Pillar of State, Grand Chancellor King Sheng of Yue, as the Grand Front Advisor, Governor Weichi Jiong of the State of Xiang as the Grand Right Assistant, Duke Li Mu of the State of Shen as the Grand Left Assistant, and Grand General Yang Jian of the State of Sui as the Grand Rear Counselor. On Guimao day, Prince Yan was bestowed the title of King of Lu. On Jiachen day, the emperor embarked on an eastern hunting expedition. On Bingwu day, a solar eclipse occurred. The Grand Pillar of State, Duke Yu Yi of Changshan, was appointed as the Grand Tutor. On Xinhai day, the Grand Pillar of State, Duke Yuwen Shan of Xu, was appointed as the Grand Ancestor. On Guichou day, another solar eclipse occurred. On Wuwu day, the emperor went to Luoyang. Prince Yan was declared Crown Prince. On Guihai day in February, the emperor issued an edict:
Speaking of Luoyang, this place has been a prosperous city since ancient times, situated at the intersection of heaven and earth, where yin and yang converge, and serving as a hub for tribute routes from various regions. Its geographical location is quite significant. Ancient enlightened rulers recognized its significance and established a kingdom here. Over the course of several dynasties and hundreds of years, Luoyang grew into a grand city with magnificent architecture, truly magnificent. Unfortunately, the Wei dynasty eventually fell, and Luoyang became a ruin. Educated individuals reminisced about the old capital, and the common people had a deep attachment to this land. Our founding emperor received the imperial mandate in Haojing, unified the area around Xiaohan, and pacified the world, always thinking of rebuilding Luoyang, this land of good fortune. The great founding emperor was both wise and formidable, unified the country, and once came to Luoyang to assess the people's welfare and understand local customs, even handling state affairs here, which shows the importance he placed on Luoyang.
Now that I have inherited the throne, I hope to fulfill my ancestor's wishes and cannot forget the duty of restoring the old capital. A few days ago, I inspected the palace ruins in Jinyong City, Luoyang, and found that they are relatively well-preserved, so restoring them should be relatively straightforward. Therefore, I have decided to rebuild the old capital of Luoyang. In the construction process, it should neither be extravagant nor too simple, but well-balanced; the project's organization must adhere to regulations. Luoyang is very close to Hanoi, not too far away, so the projects we were previously working on in Hanoi can now be put on hold.
So, I gathered the troops from various prefectures in Shandong, extended the construction period by one month, totaling 45 days, and began the construction of the Palace of Luoyang. There were 40,000 troops working on the project continuously until my passing. I also relocated the six government offices from Xiangzhou to Luoyang, referred to as the Six Offices of Dongjing. At the same time, I executed Zhu Guo, the Pillar of the State, and Wang Gui, the Duke of Tang, and halted military actions in the south. To strengthen relations with the Turks, I conferred the title of Princess of a Thousand Golds upon the daughter of the Zhao royal family and married her off to the Turks. On the day of Wuchen, I appointed Wei Xiaokuan, the Grand Chancellor, and Duke of Yun, as the governor of Xuzhou. On the day of Yihai, I inspected Ye City. On the day of Bingzi, I decreed that only governors, inspectors, and military leaders would be permitted to carry the ceremonial staff, and this privilege was revoked for all others. On the day of Xinsi, I issued a decree:
It is said that the Great Zhou Dynasty is truly an extraordinary nation! Our ancestors accumulated virtue, and the mandate of heaven is upon us. With both civil and military achievements, it shines brilliantly, and this nation is destined to prosper and flourish, leaving a legacy for generations to come! This is all thanks to the protection of heaven and the blessings of our ancestors! As for me, the emperor, I consider myself of mediocre talent and feel unworthy; I merely inherit the foundation laid by my ancestors and benefit from the unwavering loyalty of past rulers and ministers, which has led to today's situation. Look, tributes come from all corners, the country is peaceful, and the people are thriving; it truly brings joy! Now, for the long-term stability of the nation and the future of our state, I have decided to pass the throne to Crown Prince Yan.
Crown Prince Yan is my successor, the rightful heir, and he possesses exemplary virtues. He will surely be able to inherit my legacy and govern the country even better! This is not a decision I made lightly, but rather in accordance with the will of heaven, as it is destined by the heavens! My passing of the throne to Yan is also in line with the people's wishes; the common folk are looking forward to this! In this way, I can also retire with success, stepping away from the noise of the world and enjoying a quieter life. People of the nation, I trust you all understand my intentions? Now, I announce: a great amnesty for all! At the same time, the first year of Dacheng will henceforth be known as the first year of Daxiang!
After I announced my abdication, I took the title of "Emperor Tianyuan," and the place where I resided was named "Tiantai." My crown was embellished with twenty-four tassels, and my chariot, clothing, flags, and music were all standardized to twenty-four. The Minister of Internal Affairs and the Chief of the Imperial Guard were both elevated to the rank of Senior Officials. After Crown Prince Yan took the throne, his palace was called "Zhengyang Palace," and he also appointed officials such as advisors, imperial attendants, and various guards, all with the same standards as my "Tiantai." My mother was revered as "Empress Dowager Tianyuan," and Zheng Yi was granted the title of Duke of Pei. Legend has it that in the year of Guiwei, at dawn and dusk, dark objects appeared in the sky, roughly the size of eggs, and lasted for four days before disappearing. In the year of Wuzi, I appointed King Sheng of Yue as Grand Protector, Wei Chijiong as Grand Front Minister, and Wang Da as Grand Right Assistant. In the year of Xinmao, I commanded the stone classics from Ye City to be transported to Luoyang. I also issued an edict proclaiming: "Luoyang is the old capital, and it has now been restored. All the people who were relocated back then can return to Luoyang! Other people who wish to go can also choose freely. The seven governors of Heyang, Youzhou, Xiangzhou, Yuzhou, Bozhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou are to comply with the directives of the six offices in Dongjing."
On the first day of March, the Emperor appointed Changsun Lan as the governor of Jingzhou. A few days later, the Emperor embarked on an eastern tour and returned to court. The Dachen army was grand and formidable, and the Emperor himself entered the city clad in armor through the Qingmen Gate. The ceremonial escort followed into the city, and the officials welcomed him outside the Qingmen Gate. On that day, a heavy rain fell, resulting in disarray among the ceremonial escort. Subsequently, the Emperor bestowed the title of King of Yongkang County upon the second son of Prince Zhao.
On the first day of April, the officials announced a solar eclipse. The Emperor refrained from attending court and waited until the eclipse concluded before having his meal, and then he came to the court. On that day, the Emperor conferred the title of Empress Tianyuan upon Lady Zhu. After that, he appointed Bi Wangxian as the Grand Minister of State, to conduct sacrifices at the ancestral temple, and conducted a grand sacrificial ceremony at the Zhengwu Hall. During this period, the celestial spectacle of the three stars, Venus, Jupiter, and Chen, gathered in the eastern constellation of Jing.
On a certain day in May, the emperor renamed the Xiangguo County of Mingzhou as the Zhao Kingdom, the Jinan County of Qizhou as the Chen Kingdom, the Wudang County and Anfu County of Fengzhou as the Yue Kingdom, the Shangdang County of Luzhou as the Dai Kingdom, and the Xinye County of Jingzhou as the Teng Kingdom, with each kingdom granted ten thousand households. King Zhao of Zhao, King Chun of Chen, King Sheng of Yue, King Da of Dai, and King You of Teng were respectively appointed as kings of these kingdoms. That month, a meteor as large as a dipper appeared, shooting out from the Taiwei constellation like a burning fireball. The emperor also dispatched officials to Jingzhao Prefecture and various state capitals to select young women to enrich the imperial harem. Meanwhile, the Turks invaded Bingzhou.
In June, another egg-sized meteor appeared, flying out from the Di constellation, heading northwest, measuring about ten feet in length, and ultimately flying into the moon. Afterwards, the moon obscured the second star of the Fang constellation. Then, another meteor as large as a dipper appeared, flying out from the Ying Shi constellation and into the Dongbi constellation. That month, the ponds in Xianyang turned a blood-red color. The emperor also ordered the mobilization of the people of Shandong to construct the Great Wall.
In July, the emperor appointed Bi Wangxian as the governor of Yongzhou, Yang Jian as the Grand Front Minister, and Sima Xiaonan as the Grand Rear Minister. During this time, the comet obscured the first star of the Fang constellation. The emperor married Sima Xiaonan's daughter, making her the empress, bestowed the title of Empress Dowager upon the Li family, designated the Zhu family as the Empress, and named the Yuan family as the Right Empress and the Chen family as the Left Empress.
On the seventh of August, the emperor went to Tongzhou for an inspection. On the ninth, he returned to the palace. On the eleventh, the emperor conferred the title of Grand Minister on both Chen Shanti, the father of Empress Tianzuo, and Yuan Cheng, the father of Empress Tianyou. Chen Shanti was made Duke of Yanguo, and Yuan Cheng was made Duke of Yiguo. Yang Xiong was made Duke of Hanguo, and Yifusheng was made Duke of Daiguo. Legend has it that when Emperor Gaozu first established the "Code of Punishments," the punishments were extremely harsh. However, after he ascended the throne, worried that the populace might hold resentment after the recent pacification of the realm, he abolished it. This time, the emperor held a grand sacrificial ceremony in the Zhengwu Hall to report this to the heavens. On the eighteenth, the comet was seen in the fifth star of the Southern Dipper. On the nineteenth, the emperor promoted Bi Wangxian to Grand Preceptor and Han Jianye to Grand Left Minister. This month, swarms of ants could be seen fighting everywhere, with battle lines four to five feet wide, and eight or nine out of ten were either killed or injured.
On the sixth of September, the planet Venus entered the Southern Dipper. On the eleventh, Feng Wangzhen was appointed as Grand Chancellor. Wei Xiaokuan was appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army, leading Duke Liang of Qiguo and Duke Liang Shiyan of Chengguo into battle against the Chen Kingdom. The emperor also sent Du Gao and Xue Shu as envoys to the Chen Kingdom.
On the ninth of October, the planet Jupiter was observed in the Xuanyuan star. On this day, the emperor went to Daohui Garden to hold a large sacrificial ceremony, also honoring Emperor Gaozu Wudi. After the sacrifices, everyone discussed matters in the temporary residence. This year, the worship of Buddha and Heavenly Lord statues was restored. By this time, the emperor sat southward with these two statues and arranged various performances for the citizens of the capital to enjoy. On the twelfth, the comet and the Zheng star converged in the Xus constellation. This month, Duan Deju from Xiangzhou staged a rebellion but was ultimately killed.
On the second day of November, the emperor went to Wen Tang to soak in the hot springs. On the fifth day, he went to Tongzhou for an inspection. On the ninth day, he returned to the palace. On the twelfth day, a star appeared in the sky, the size of a somersaulting figure, emerging from the Zhang constellation and moving southeast, its light illuminating the earth. On the fourteenth day, the minting of the Yongtong Wanguo coins began, with one coin worth ten old coins, circulating together with the cloth of the five elements. This month, Wei Xiaokuan captured Shouyang, Duke Qiguo Liang captured Huangcheng, and Liang Shiyan captured Guangling. The Chen army was defeated and fled. Thus, the entire area north of the Yangtze River was pacified.
On the fifth day of December, due to the frequent occurrence of disasters and strange occurrences, the emperor summoned all officials in the imperial chamber and issued an edict saying: Heaven is above, and wise men are below. Good fortune and misfortune are in our own hands; demons and monsters do not cause trouble on their own. My virtue is lacking, yet I have become emperor; I have not yet implemented the great principles of governance, and focusing only on small favors is not a good thing. Since autumn, a series of ominous signs have appeared, constantly warning me. For instance, Venus has entered the Southern Dipper, Jupiter has offended Xuanyuan, Mars has collided with the Fang constellation and is in conjunction with Saturn, and meteors are streaking across the night sky, falling from the southeast.
The Southern Dipper governs nobility and rank, the Xuanyuan constellation corresponds to the imperial harem, the Fang constellation represents the decision-making center of the court, the conjunction of Mars and Saturn foretells disaster, and meteors are a sign of military calamity. Could it be that because officials do not abide by the rules, and the harem concubines interfere in politics, leading to chaos in governance, that disasters are about to come? These ominous signs are so obvious and so severe. I look to heaven and observe the people's feelings below, and I am truly afraid! I will temporarily relocate from the sleeping palace, fast and meditate, wear simple clothing and eat sparingly, remove decorations, remove hanging items, and treat everything with sincerity, to allow my subjects to speak freely.
I wish that punishments are not abused, rewards should be commensurate with ranks, talent selection relies on true ability and knowledge, and the imperial harem emphasizes moral cultivation. These words should be conveyed to all officials within and outside the court, with the hope that everyone will work together, follows the will of the people, and thus resolves heavenly retribution.
So, I forwent the ceremonial guard and retinue and went to Tianxing Palace. All officials submitted memorials urging me to return to normal eating and living habits, and I agreed. On the day of Jiazi, I returned to the palace. In the Zhengwu Hall, I summoned all officials, palace maids, and inner court women, and organized a grand performance of music and dance, even allowing the Hu ethnic group to perform a winter begging act, splashing water on each other as a form of entertainment. On the day of Yichou, I went to Luoyang. I personally rode a relay horse myself, covering three hundred miles in a day. Four empresses and hundreds of civil and military officials rode relay horses in my wake. I also ordered the carriages of the four empresses to move in unison; those who lagged behind would be punished, and both horses and riders were exhausted. On the day of Jimao, I returned to the palace.
In January of the year 580, the emperor received morning worship at Daohui Garden. On this day, which was the day of Guisi, he visited the Grand Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices. On the day of Yisi, he commissioned two decorative pieces, each adorned with sun and moon patterns, placed on the left and right sides respectively. On the day of Wushen, it began to rain mixed with snow. After the snow stopped, a fine yellow dirt rain fell, which only ceased after some time. On the day of Yimao, the emperor issued a decree exempting the newly affiliated residents of Jiangzuo from taxes for twenty years, and those who first began collecting taxes in the market only took one coin from each person.
On the Ding Si day in February, the emperor attended the ceremony of learning and offering sacrifices at Lu Men. On the Wu Wu day, the Turks sent envoys to offer various tributes and requested to marry the esteemed princess. On the Yi Chou day, the emperor changed the edict to read as "Tian Zhi Zhao" and the decree to "Tian Chi." On the Ren Wu day, Empress Dowager Tian Yuan was elevated to Empress Dowager Tian Yuan Shang, and Empress Dowager Li was honored as Empress Dowager Tian Yuan Sheng. On the Gui Wei day, Yang was established as Empress Dowager Tian Yuan, Zhu as Empress Dowager Tian, Yuan as Empress Dowager Tian You, and Chen as Empress Dowager Tian Zuo; the empress of Zhengyang Palace was referred to simply as the empress. On that day, in Luoyang, a gathering of bald eagles assembled in front of the New Camp of the Tai Chi Hall; in Xingzhou, a black dragon appeared, fighting with a red dragon by the Bian River, which resulted in the black dragon's demise.
On the day of Dinghai in March, the emperor ordered a grand banquet for the officials and the common people. The edict stated: "After great virtue, the reputation endures; merits are conferred upon the people, and righteousness shines upon the sacrificial rites. Confucius' virtues are preserved through history, and the truth gives rise to knowledge. Entrusted with the fortunes of the ages, he embodies the talent of a great sage, carrying forward the Confucian cause and promoting moral principles. Regarding the profound praises of the principles governing heaven and humanity, they shape the duties of rites and music, thus serving as a model for all kings, leaving a legacy for generations. I respectfully accept the precious history, internalizing the teachings, cherishing the rivers Zhu and Si, and deeply embracing the Way. Moreover, to commend the achievements and honor the past, although the old facts are made evident, the sacred merits are still not adequately recognized. He may be posthumously honored as the Duke of Zou, with the territory adjusted according to the old standards, and a successor established. A temple shall be specifically built in the capital for timely sacrifices." On the day of Wuzi, the commander of the army, Duke Liang Shiyan of Qi, rebelled, attacking the army marshal, Duke Wei Xiaokuan of Yun, in Yuzhou. Liang Shiyan was defeated and captured, and Wei Xiaokuan executed him. On the day of Xinmao, Duke Yongchang, Chen, was appointed as the Duke of Qi, succeeding the position of Duke Jian Lian. The emperor traveled to Tongzhou, with tight security along the route, accompanied by attendants, stretching for dozens of miles, banners shading the sky, drums and music resounding, the imperial guard cavalry riding horses and holding weapons, vigilantly protecting the emperor until reaching Tongzhou. On the day of Yimai, the emperor ordered the palace in Tongzhou to be renamed Tiancheng Palace. On the day of Gengzi, the emperor returned from Tongzhou. The emperor ordered the officials of the Tiantai guards to wear multicolored garments or red, purple, and green, with mixed colors as trim, called "colored garments." For important occasions, they were to wear these garments, while on ordinary days they would wear official attire or casual clothes. On the day of Renyin, the emperor ordered that both internal and external ladies of the court must hold a ceremonial tablet and bow in reverence at the ancestral temple and Tiantai. On the day of Jiachen, the title of Empress of Tianzhong was conferred, and the Chen family was granted the title of Empress of Tianzhong, while the Weichi family was granted the title of Empress of Tianzuo.
On the Yichou day of April, a star the size of a dipper appeared in the sky, that appeared from the Tianchu constellation, moving into the Purple Palace, and disappearing upon reaching the Gouchen constellation. On the Jisi day, the emperor went to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices. On the Jimao day, the emperor issued a decree saying: "I possess limited abilities and am not well-versed in the art of governance. I cannot achieve harmony between heaven and earth, nor can I balance yin and yang. From spring to summer, the rainfall has been insufficient, and I am greatly concerned about potential agricultural failures. I worry day and night and do not dare to be negligent. This is due to my failure to fully implement virtuous governance, and there have been many mistakes in my policies and laws, causing suffering to the common people, with the responsibility falling on my shoulders. I wish to grant generous clemency and extend it to all. All prisoners sentenced to death shall have their sentences commuted to exile, and those in exile shall have their sentences reduced to penal servitude, with all sentences of five years or less being pardoned. As for those who rebel, commit treason, or act disloyally and unjustly, as well as those not included in the general amnesty, they are not subject to this decree." On Renwu day, the emperor traveled to Zhongshan to pray for rain, and upon arriving at Xianyang Palace, rain began to fall. On the Jiashen day, the emperor returned to the palace and commanded the people of the capital to play music in the streets to welcome him. On the Jichou day in May, he appointed Yang Jian, the Grand General and Duke of Sui, as the governor of Yangzhou. In the early hours of Jiazi, the emperor rode in the imperial carriage to Tianxing Palace. On the Yiwei day, the emperor felt unwell and returned to the palace. The emperor issued a decree summoning Duke Yang Jian of Sui to the palace to attend to his illness. On the Jiachen day, a star the size of three dippers appeared in the sky, emerging from the Taiwei constellation and flowing into the Wing constellation, producing a sound like wind blowing through a drum. On the Dingwei day, he summoned King Zhao, King Chen, King Yue, King Dai, and King Teng to court. On the Jiyou day, the emperor's health deteriorated. The Grand Minister Liu Fang and the Grand Minister Zheng Yi forged a decree permitting Duke Yang Jian of Sui to assume the role of regent. On that day, the emperor passed away in Tiande Hall at the age of twenty-two and was posthumously titled Emperor Xuan. On the Bingshen day in July, he was laid to rest in Dingling.
When the crown prince was still in the Eastern Palace, Emperor Gaozu felt that he was unworthy and would never be able to become emperor, so he was particularly strict with him. Every morning during court, the crown prince was required to follow the same rules as the other officials, with no leniency whatsoever, regardless of the biting cold or sweltering heat. The crown prince, already fond of drinking, was explicitly forbidden from receiving wine in the Eastern Palace. If he committed even the slightest infraction, Gaozu would punish him. He once told the crown prince, "Many crown princes in history have been deposed; can’t my other sons become emperor?" Gaozu also had the officials in the Eastern Palace record the crown prince's words and actions, reporting them to him every month. Fearing Gaozu's severity, the crown prince pretended to be diligent to hide his shortcomings, so his misdeeds never got out.
Once he became emperor, he could no longer contain himself and did whatever he wanted. When Emperor Gaozu had just passed away and had not yet been buried, the crown prince showed no signs of grief and even went to see the late emperor's palace maids, forcing them into illicit encounters. In just over a year of being emperor, he became addicted to indulgence and began to collect beautiful women from across the realm for his harem. He reveled in showing off and concealing his mistakes, and he refused others' advice. After abdicating, he squandered excessively, indulged in wine and carnal pleasures, and sometimes did not show his face for over ten days while hiding in the harem. Ministers who wanted to see him had to go through the eunuchs to relay their messages. The palace he resided in was lavishly adorned with gold, jade, and jewels, gleaming and luxurious to the extreme. Later, he also built a palace in Luoyang, which, though still unfinished, was grand and magnificent, far surpassing the palaces of the Han and Wei dynasties.
The emperor, speaking of him, held himself in high esteem and regarded no one as worthy. He arbitrarily changed the national system and court etiquette as he pleased. The titles of the concubines in the harem were not properly documented. He often referred to himself as "Heaven" to his ministers and decorated the Tian De Hall where he lived with five-colored earth, with colors that matched the cardinal directions. Even more outrageous, he dined in the harem with the empress and her companions using fine vessels meant for ancestral worship. He also mandated that all ministers who came to see him at the Heavenly Terrace must fast for three days and cleanse themselves for one day beforehand. His vehicle flags and attire were far more numerous than any previous emperor's.
Since he compared himself to God, he did not want anyone to rival him. One time, wearing a heavenly crown adorned with a golden cicada, he saw attendants and nobles sporting golden cicadas or wearing jade sashes and immediately commanded them to take off these items. He also prohibited anyone from using terms such as "tall" or "great," changing all surnames that included the character "高" (meaning "tall") to "姜," and modifying the term for "ancestor" across nine generations from "高祖" (high ancestor) to "长祖" (long ancestor), with "曾祖" (great-grandfather) replaced by "次长祖" (next long ancestor). Any official titles containing "上" (upper) or "大" (great) were changed to "长" (long), and those with "天" (heaven) were similarly altered. He also decreed that all vehicles in the country must have wheels made of solid wood, and prohibited all women from wearing makeup, permitting only palace maids to ride in vehicles with spokes and wear makeup.
Xi Yang Gong Wen was the child of Qi Guo Gong Liang and also the emperor's distant cousin. His wife, Wei Chi, was beautiful, and during one visit to the palace, the emperor forcibly made her drink and then assaulted her. Upon hearing this, Liang, fearing for his life, raised an army to revolt. The emperor executed Wen and then summoned Wei Chi to the palace, first making her a concubine and later proclaiming her as empress.
The emperor summoned his ministers to discuss affairs, only wanting to try out new gimmicks, constantly switching things up, and never discussing serious matters. Later, he became even more obsessed with pleasure, living a completely unstructured life, going out at all hours, with a grand entourage that would leave in the morning and not come back until night. Sometimes he would go to Tianxing Palace, and other times he would visit Daohui Garden to play, leaving his officials completely worn out. Various songs, dances, and performances, like fish-dragon shows, paraded before him all day. He also enjoyed having young guys from the capital dress up in women's clothes and dance for him and the concubines in the palace, getting a kick out of it.
He shoved his close ministers aside, particularly paranoid about others. Moreover, he was barely rewarding anyone. Fearing that the ministers would advise him and prevent him from realizing his ideas, he often sent people to secretly monitor them, and their actions and words were all recorded. Even the slightest deviation from his wishes meant instant punishment. Countless were severely beaten, executed, dismissed, or demoted, with a number too high to count. Each beating was a brutal one hundred and twenty strikes, which he ironically called "Heavenly Rod." The palace maids and eunuchs faced the same treatment. Even favored concubines, regardless of how favored they were, often ended up battered and bruised.
As a result, both inside and outside the palace, people lived in fear, all wanting to survive without drawing attention, with no one daring to hold onto their own ideas, living in constant trepidation until his death.
The historian said: Emperor Gaozu knew that his son was not a talented person, but because of the patriarchal system, he placed great importance on him. This favoritism resembled that of Emperor Wu of Jin, but when compared to Emperor Xuan of Song, it was lacking. He only wanted to use strict measures to intimidate his son, hoping that his son would become more alert because of it, but was this really an effective way to educate him? As a result, it led to a foolish and tyrannical ruler, with treacherous and unscrupulous people running rampant, doing nothing good and committing one atrocity after another. Even if all the bamboo slips from Nanshan were used to record his wrongdoings, it still wouldn’t be enough; even if all the ink and brushes of Dongguan were used to document his crimes, it would still be unending. Yet, he managed to survive, while his son didn’t make it—how fortunate he was!
