Xiaojing Benji — Sima Qian, Records of the Grand Historian, chapter 11

Sima Qian (c. 145–c. 86 BCE) completed the Shiji, the first comprehensive history of China, while serving under Emperor Wu of Han. Its twelve Basic Annals (本紀) open the work, tracing paramount power dynasty by dynasty and reign by reign; this is the eleventh, and the shortest of the twelve, kept almost entirely in the compressed, dated form of a court chronicle.

This chapter follows Emperor Jing largely year by year: his accession as the middle son of Emperor Wen, the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms under Liu Pi, King of Wu, and six allied kings, the execution of Chao Cuo at the rebels' demand and the campaign under Zhou Yafu and Dou Ying that put the rebellion down, a run of celestial portents recorded without comment — comets, solar eclipses, hail, planets described as running retrograde — successive enfeoffments of relatives and meritorious officials, a series of administrative title changes across the reign, and his death and succession by his son, who became Emperor Wu.

The section headings inside the chapter are editorial conveniences of the Wikisource transcription, not divisions of Sima Qian's own, and the Sanjia commentary (集解, 索隱, 正義) that travels with the source text is presented below but not translated; passages opening 太史公曰 are marked 'The Grand Historian says.' Names and titles are given in Hanyu pinyin (Liu Qi, Liu Pi, Chao Cuo, Zhou Yafu, Dou Ying), with Chinese characters at first appearance.

Translated for the Good Works Library directly from the classical Chinese printed in full below. Burton Watson's Records of the Grand Historian (1961; 1993) and the Nienhauser team's The Grand Scribe's Records (1994–) already cover the Basic Annals; they are named here as controls-in-existence that were not consulted, and no live search for other prior translations could be made when this file was prepared, so no claim of firstness is made.

Contents

• Annals of Emperor Jing (孝景本紀)
  • Emperor Jing (孝景)
  • Appraisal (評論)

Translation

Annals of Emperor Jing (孝景本紀)

Emperor Jing (孝景)

Emperor Xiaojing was the middle son of Emperor Xiaowen. His mother was Empress Dowager Dou (竇太后). When Emperor Wen was in Dai, his earlier consort had borne three sons; when Empress Dowager Dou came into favor, the earlier consort died, and afterward the three sons died one after another. For this reason Xiaojing was able to be established.

In the first year, in the fourth month, on the day yimao, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire. On the day yisi, the people were granted one degree of rank. In the fifth month, half the tax on fields was remitted, and a temple of the Grand Ancestor was set up for Emperor Wen. The assembled officials were ordered not to present congratulations at court. The Xiongnu entered Dai, and an agreement of peace and kinship (heqin) was made with them.

In the second year, in spring, Xi, grandson of the former chancellor of state Xiao He (蕭何), was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wuling. Males were entered on the service registers at the age of twenty. In the fourth month, on the day renwu, the Empress Dowager of Emperor Wen died. The kings of Guangchuan and Changsha both went out to their kingdoms. The chancellor Shentu Jia (申屠嘉) died. In the eighth month, the imperial secretary Tao Qing (陶青) of Kaifeng was made chancellor. A comet appeared in the northeast. In autumn, hail fell at Hengshan, the largest stones five cun across and lying two chi deep where it was deepest. Mars ran retrograde and stood guard over the Pole Star. The moon came forth within the space of the Pole Star. Jupiter ran retrograde within the Celestial Court. Nanling, and Duiyu in the territory of the metropolitan governor, were established as counties.

In the third year, in the first month, on the day yisi, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire. A long star appeared in the west. Fire from Heaven burned the great hall and the walled chambers of the Eastern Palace at Luoyang. Pi, king of Wu (吳王濞); Wu, king of Chu; Sui, king of Zhao; Ang, king of Jiaoxi; Piguang, king of Jinan; Xian, king of Zichuan; and Xiongqu, king of Jiaodong, rebelled and sent out troops facing west. The Son of Heaven, for their sake, put Chao Cuo (晁錯) to death and sent Yuan Ang (袁盎) to make it known to them; they did not stop, but went west and besieged Liang. The emperor then sent the grand general Dou Ying (竇嬰) and the grand commandant Zhou Yafu (周亞夫) to lead troops and punish them. In the sixth month, on the day yihai, pardon was granted to those who had deserted from the army and to Yi, son of King Yuan of Chu, and the others who had shared in the plot of rebellion. The grand general Dou Ying was enfeoffed as Marquis of Weiqi. Li, Marquis of Pinglu and son of King Yuan of Chu, was set up as king of Chu. The imperial son Duan was set up as king of Jiaoxi, and the son Sheng as king of Zhongshan. Zhi, king of Jibei, was transferred to be king of Zichuan; Yu, king of Huaiyang, to be king of Lu; and Fei, king of Runan, to be king of Jiangdu. Jianglu, king of Qi, and Jia, king of Yan, both passed away.

In the fourth year, in summer, an heir apparent was established. The imperial son Che was set up as king of Jiaodong. In the sixth month, on the day jiaxu, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire. In the latter ninth month, Yiyang was renamed Yangling. Fords and barrier passes were again set up, and travel warrants were used for going out and coming in. In winter, the kingdom of Zhao was made the commandery of Handan.

In the fifth year, in the third month, work was begun on Yangling and the Wei Bridge. In the fifth month, settlers were recruited to move to Yangling and were given two hundred thousand cash. At Jiangdu a great and violent wind came from the west and broke down twelve zhang of the city wall. On the day dingmao, Jiao, son of the Senior Princess, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Longlü. The king of Guangchuan was transferred to be king of Zhao.

In the sixth year, in spring, the commandant of the capital, Wan (綰), was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianling; Jia, chancellor of Jiangdu, as Marquis of Jianping; Hunye, grand administrator of Longxi, as Marquis of Pingqu; Jia, chancellor of Zhao, as Marquis of Jiangling; and the former general Bu as Marquis of Shu. The kings of Liang and of Chu both passed away. In the latter ninth month, the trees along the imperial highway were felled, and the Lan Pool was planted.

In the seventh year, in winter, the heir apparent born of the Li consort was deposed and made king of Linjiang. On the last day of the eleventh month there was an eclipse of the sun. In spring, the convict laborers working on Yangling were released. The chancellor Qing was dismissed. In the second month, on the day yisi, the grand commandant Zhou Yafu, Marquis of Tiao, was made chancellor. In the fourth month, on the day yisi, the mother of the king of Jiaodong was set up as empress. On the day dingsi, the king of Jiaodong was made heir apparent. His name was Che.

In the first year of the middle period, Ping, grandson of the former imperial secretary Zhou Ke (周苛), was enfeoffed as Marquis of Sheng, and Zuoche, grandson of the former imperial secretary Zhou Chang (周昌), as Marquis of Anyang. In the fourth month, on the day yisi, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire, and one degree of rank was granted. The bans barring men from office were lifted. The earth shook. At Hengshan and Yuandu hail fell, the largest stones one chi and eight cun.

In the second year of the middle period, in the second month, the Xiongnu entered Yan, and thereafter there was no peace and kinship with them. In the third month, the king of Linjiang was summoned to come, and he died in the offices of the commandant of the capital. In summer, the imperial son Yue was set up as king of Guangchuan, and the son Ji as king of Jiaodong. Four marquises were enfeoffed. In the ninth month, on the day jiaxu, there was an eclipse of the sun.

In the third year of the middle period, in winter, the office of palace aide to the imperial secretary was abolished in the kingdoms of the feudal lords. In spring, two Xiongnu kings led their followers and came to surrender; both were enfeoffed as ranked marquises.

In the fourth year of the middle period, in the third month, the Deyang Palace was established. There was a great plague of locusts. In autumn, the convicts working on Yangling were pardoned.

In the fifth year of the middle period, in summer, the imperial son Shun was set up as king of Changshan. Ten marquises were enfeoffed. In the sixth month, on the day dingsi, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire, and one degree of rank was granted. There were great floods throughout the empire. The chancellors (丞相) of the feudal lords were renamed ministers (相). In autumn, the earth shook.

In the sixth year of the middle period, in the second month, on the day jimao, the emperor made a progress to Yong and at the suburban altar paid his visit to the Five Emperors. In the third month, hail fell. In the fourth month, King Xiao of Liang, King Gong of Chengyang, and the king of Runan all passed away. Ming, son of King Xiao of Liang, was set up as king of Jichuan; the son Pengli as king of Jidong; the son Ding as king of Shanyang; and the son Bushi as king of Jiyin. Liang was divided into five. Four marquises were enfeoffed. The commandant of justice (廷尉) was renamed grand judge (大理); the superintendent of works under the privy treasury (將作少府), grand master of works (將作大匠); the commandant in charge of enfeoffments (主爵中尉), chief commandant (都尉); the superintendent of the Changxin palace (長信詹事), privy treasurer of Changxin (長信少府); the master of travel (將行), grand chamberlain (大長秋); the grand usher (大行), receptionist (行人); the master of ceremonies (奉常), grand master of ceremonies (太常); the director of guests (典客), grand usher (大行); and the superintendent of grain in the capital (治粟內史), grand minister of agriculture (大農). The keeper of the great inner treasury was made an official of two thousand piculs, and inner officers of the left and of the right were established, subordinate to the great inner treasury. In the seventh month, on the day xinhai, there was an eclipse of the sun. In the eighth month, the Xiongnu entered Shangjun.

In the first year of the later period, in winter, the prefect of the palace grandees (中大夫令) was renamed commandant of the guards (衛尉). In the third month, on the day dingyou, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire, one degree of rank was granted, and officials of the full two thousand piculs and the ministers of the feudal lords were granted the rank of youshuzhang. In the fourth month, a general drinking festival was allowed. In the fifth month, on the day bingxu, the earth shook, and at the hour of the morning meal it shook again. At Shangyong the earth shook for twenty-two days and broke down the city walls. In the seventh month, on the day yisi, there was an eclipse of the sun. The chancellor Liu She was dismissed. In the eighth month, on the day renchen, the imperial secretary Wan was made chancellor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianling.

In the second year of the later period, in the first month, the earth shook three times in one day. General Zhi struck the Xiongnu. A general drinking festival was allowed for five days. The metropolitan region and the commanderies were ordered not to feed grain to horses, and any so fed were confiscated by the government. Convict laborers were ordered to wear cloth of seven zong. The hulling of grain by horse mills was stopped. Because the year's harvest had failed, the empire was forbidden to eat grain that had not yet come to its year. The ranked marquises were reduced in number and sent away to their estates. In the third month, the Xiongnu entered Yanmen. In the tenth month, the fields at Changling were let out for rent. There was a great drought. In the kingdom of Hengshan and the commanderies of Hedong and Yunzhong the people suffered an epidemic.

In the third year of the later period, in the tenth month, the sun and the moon were both red for five days. On the last day of the twelfth month there was thunder. The sun was like purple. The five planets ran retrograde and stood guard over the Taiwei enclosure. The moon passed through the middle of the Celestial Court. In the first month, on the day jiayin, the imperial heir apparent was capped. On the day jiazi, Emperor Xiaojing died. By his testamentary edict, from the kings of the feudal lords down to the common people, all who were heirs of their fathers were granted one degree of rank, and every household in the empire a hundred cash. The palace women were sent out and returned to their homes, and were exempted from all obligations. The heir apparent took the throne; this was Emperor Xiaowu. In the third month, Fen, younger brother of the Empress Dowager, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wu'an, and her younger brother Sheng as Marquis of Zhouyang. Yangling was established as a town.

Appraisal (評論)

The Grand Historian says: When the Han arose, Emperor Wen spread great virtue abroad, and the empire cherished peace. By the time of Emperor Jing there was no longer any anxiety over rulers of other surnames, yet Chao Cuo pared and cut away at the feudal lords, and so caused the seven kingdoms to rise together, to join in league and turn west. This came of the feudal lords having grown too strong, and of Chao Cuo's doing the thing without proceeding by degrees. When Zhufu Yan (主父偃) spoke on the matter, the feudal lords were thereby weakened, and in the end there was peace. The pivot between safety and danger — does it not lie in planning?

Colophon

This file was prepared for the Chinese shelf of the Good Works Library, translated independently from the classical Chinese text printed below. This is the shortest of the twelve Basic Annals, kept almost entirely in the terse, dated form of a court chronicle; the translation preserves that terseness rather than expanding the annal entries into narrative prose, in keeping with how the source itself reads.

No live search for prior translations could be made when this file was prepared. Burton Watson's Records of the Grand Historian (1961; 1993) and William H. Nienhauser Jr. and colleagues' The Grand Scribe's Records (1994–2002) are known to cover this chapter and are named here as controls-in-existence; neither was fetched or consulted in making this translation. No claim of firstness is made for this Good Works Translation.

A note on the record: the chapter names a number of celestial phenomena — comets, eclipses, hail, planets 'running retrograde' — exactly as the source records them, without added astronomical interpretation, since the source itself offers none.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted translation and editorial work.

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Source Text: 史記 卷11 孝景本紀

Classical Chinese text in the Chinese Wikisource transcription, with the Sanjia commentary set in 〔 〕 as the transcription carries it. Presented complete for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above; the commentary is not translated.

孝景

孝景皇帝者，孝文之中子也。母竇太后。孝文在代時，前后有三男，及竇太后得幸，前后死，及三子更死，故孝景得立。

元年四月乙卯，赦天下。乙巳，賜民爵一級。五月，除田半租，為孝文立太宗廟。令群臣無朝賀。匈奴入代，與約和親。

二年春，封故相國蕭何孫系為武陵侯。男子二十而得傅。四月壬午，孝文太后崩。廣川、長沙王皆之國。丞相申屠嘉卒。八月，以御史大夫開封陶青為丞相。彗星出東北。秋，衡山雨雹，大者五寸，深者二尺。熒惑逆行，守北辰。月出北辰閒。歲星逆行天廷中。置南陵及內史、祋祤為縣。

三年正月乙巳，赦天下。長星出西方。天火燔雒陽東宮大殿城室。吳王濞、楚王戊、趙王遂、膠西王卬、濟南王辟光、菑川王賢、膠東王雄渠反，發兵西鄉。天子為誅晁錯，遣袁盎諭告，不止，遂西圍梁。上乃遣大將軍竇嬰、太尉周亞夫將兵誅之。六月乙亥。赦亡軍及楚元王子藝等與謀反者。封大將軍竇嬰為魏其侯。立楚元王子平陸侯禮為楚王。立皇子端為膠西王，子勝為中山王。徙濟北王志為菑川王，淮陽王餘為魯王，汝南王非為江都王。齊王將廬、燕王嘉皆薨。

四年夏，立太子。立皇子徹為膠東王。六月甲戌，赦天下。後九月，更以（弋）［易］陽為陽陵。復置津關，用傳出入。冬，以趙國為邯鄲郡。

五年三月，作陽陵、渭橋。五月，募徙陽陵，予錢二十萬。江都大暴風從西方來，壞城十二丈。丁卯，封長公主子蟜為隆慮侯。徙廣川王為趙王。

六年春，封中尉（趙）綰為建陵侯，江都丞相嘉為建平侯，隴西太守渾邪為平曲侯，趙丞相嘉為江陵侯，故將軍布為鄃侯。梁楚二王皆薨。後九月，伐馳道樹，殖蘭池。

七年冬，廢栗太子為臨江王。（一）十（二）［一］月晦，日有食之。春，免徒隸作陽陵者。丞相青免。二月乙巳，以太尉條侯周亞夫為丞相。四月乙巳，立膠東王太后為皇后。丁巳，立膠東王為太子。名徹。

中元年，封故御史大夫周苛孫平為繩侯，故御史大夫周昌（子）［孫］左車為安陽侯，四月乙巳，赦天下，賜爵一級。除禁錮。地動。衡山、原都雨雹，大者尺八寸。

中二年二月，匈奴入燕，遂不和親。三月，召臨江王來。即死中尉府中。夏，立皇子越為廣川王，子寄為膠東王。封四侯。九月甲戌，日食。

中三年冬，罷諸侯御史中丞。春，匈奴王二人率其徒來降，皆封為列侯。

中四年三月，置德陽宮。大蝗。秋，赦徒作陽陵者。

中五年夏，立皇子舜為常山王。封十侯。六月丁巳，赦天下，賜爵一級。天下大潦。更命諸侯丞相曰相。秋，地動。

中六年二月己卯，行幸雍，郊見五帝。三月，雨雹。四月，梁孝王、城陽共王、汝南王皆薨。立梁孝王子明為濟川王，子彭離為濟東王，子定為山陽王，子不識為濟陰王。梁分為五。封四侯。更命廷尉為大理，將作少府為將作大匠，主爵中尉為都尉，長信詹事為長信少府，將行為大長秋，大行為行人，奉常為太常，典客為大行，治粟內史為大農。以大內為二千石，置左右內官，屬大內。七月辛亥，日食。八月，匈奴入上郡。

後元年冬，更命中大夫令為衛尉。三月丁酉，赦天下，賜爵一級，中二千石、諸侯相爵右庶長。四月，大酺。五月丙戌，地動，其蚤食時復動。上庸地動二十二日，壞城垣。七月乙巳，日食。丞相劉舍免。八月壬辰，以御史大夫綰為丞相，封建陵侯。

後二年正月，地一日三動。郅將軍擊匈奴。酺五日。令內史郡不得食馬粟，沒入縣官。令徒隸衣七緵布。止馬舂。為歲不登，禁天下食不造歲。省列侯遣之國。三月，匈奴入雁門。十月，租長陵田。大旱。衡山國、河東、雲中郡民疫。

後三年十月，日月皆（食）赤五日。十二月晦，雷。日如紫。五星逆行守太微。月貫天廷中。正月甲寅，皇太子冠。甲子，孝景皇帝崩。遺詔賜諸侯王以下至民為父後爵一級，天下戶百錢。出宮人歸其家，復無所與。太子即位，是為孝武皇帝。三月，封皇太后弟蚡為武安侯，弟勝為周陽侯。置陽陵。

評論

太史公曰：漢興，孝文施大德，天下懷安，至孝景，不復憂異姓，而晁錯刻削諸侯，遂使七國俱起，合從而西鄉，以諸侯太盛，而錯為之不以漸也。及主父偃言之，而諸侯以弱，卒以安。安危之機，豈不以謀哉？

【索隐述赞】景帝即位，因脩靜默。勉人於農，率下以德。制度斯創，禮法可則。一朝吳楚，乍起凶慝。提局成釁，拒輪致惑。晁錯雖誅，梁城未克。條侯出將，追奔逐北。坐見梟黥，立翦牟賊。如何太尉，後卒下獄。惜哉明君，斯功不錄！

Source Colophon

The Chinese text follows the Chinese Wikisource transcription of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (article 史記/卷011, revision of 21 January 2025), inspected from a witness copy captured on 22 August 2026. Chinese Wikisource transcriptions are published under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the GFDL; the text itself is ancient and in the public domain. The wiki header, navigation links, license templates, and modern contributors' footnotes have been removed; the text is otherwise complete and unaltered.

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