Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 9 Scroll 17 (continued)
The 3rd year of the Emperor Wu’s Jianyuan Era (138 B.C. continued)
On September 30, there was a solar eclipse.
Since his accession, the Emperor was diligent in seeking out scholars and men of talent from all quarters of the realm, promoting them without regard to birth or station. Scholars from the four corners of the empire submitted memorials, setting forth their views and censures; those who came forward by self-promotion numbered in the thousands.
The Emperor reviewed them with care, advancing those of superior talent and discernment. Among the first to be distinguished was Zhuang Zhu. Thereafter came Zhu Maichen of Wu, Yuqiu Shouwang of Zhao, Sima Xiangru of Shu, Dongfang Shuo of Pingyuan, Mei Gao of Wu, and Zhong Jun of Jinan. These men were given places near the throne and frequently engaged in disputes with the ministers.
In debates of policy, the courtiers and ministers often contended fiercely, yet time and again the ministers were vanquished by the eloquence and polemic of the courtiers.
Of these men, Sima Xiangru was renowned for his mastery of rhetoric and his excellence in composing poetry, and he thereby won great favor with the Emperor. Dongfang Shuo and Mei Gao, though their words did not adhere to the orthodox teachings of the Classics, were famed for their wit and mirth. The Emperor retained them at court to amuse and delight, granting them honors yet entrusting them with few affairs of state.
Nevertheless, Dongfang Shuo, astute in discerning the Emperor’s mood, would on occasion speak with blunt remonstrance, thus lending his aid to the governance of the realm.
In this year, the Emperor began to journey in secret, traveling incognito. To the north he reached Chiyang County, to the west he visited the Huangshan Palace, to the south he hunted at Changyang Palace, and to the east he toured Yichun Palace. At the gates of the palaces, he would often compete in archery with his attendants. Setting out under cover of night, he would declare himself to be the Marquis of Pingyang.
At daybreak, he would descend into the southern foothills, hunting deer, wild boar, foxes, and rabbits, galloping his horse across cultivated fields. The common folk, seeing him pass, cursed and shouted after him. Local officials of Hu County and Du County attempted to apprehend him, but when shown the imperial tokens, they permitted him to proceed.
Once, when he arrived at Bogu village, he lodged at an inn. He asked the innkeeper for boiled water, but the innkeeper, wary and suspicious, replied, “There is no boiled water here, only urine.” Taking the Emperor for a brigand, he gathered a band of young men to accost him.
The innkeeper’s wife, an aged woman, observed the Emperor’s bearing and said, “This guest is no common man. He watches and listens keenly. We must not offend him.”
Her husband did not heed her words. The woman then plied him with alcohol; when he was drunk, she bound him fast. The young men, dismayed, dispersed and fled. The woman slaughtered a chicken and served it to the Emperor.
At dawn, the Emperor returned to the inn, summoned the woman before him, and rewarded her with one thousand catties of gold. He also appointed her husband as an officer in the Feathered Forest Guard.
Thereafter, he quietly established resting stations along his route, setting twelve posts from Xuanqu Palace southward. He would often lodge by night at Changyan Palace, Wuzuo Palace, and other imperial villas.
The Emperor, perceiving the hardships caused by his frequent journeys and hunting excursions, and the weariness endured by the people, commanded the Grandee of the Palace, Yuqiu Shouwang, to survey the fields and plan the establishment of a vast imperial park, to be named Shanglin Park. Its bounds lay south of EPang, east of Zhouzhi, west of Yichun Palace, and extended to the foot of the Southern Mountain.
At the same time, he ordered the Intendant of the Capital and the Ministers of the Interior, for the Left and Right Adjuncts, to register the wastelands and to arrange the resettlement of the displaced households of Hu and Du counties.
Yuqiu Shouwang, charged with this task, submitted his memorial, which greatly pleased the Emperor. Yet Dongfang Shuo, who was present at court, spoke in remonstrance:
“The Southern Mountain is the vital throat of the empire. At the founding of the Han, the regions of Sanhe were abandoned, and the land west of the Bashui and Chan rivers was secured. The capital was established south of the Jing and Wei rivers—this now forms the heartland of the realm. It was from this base that Qin subdued the western tribes and extended dominion eastward beyond Mount Xiao.
“The Southern Mountain yields jade, gold, silver, copper, iron, and fine timber. The artisans of the empire rely upon these resources; countless people derive their livelihood from them. The plains produce millet and rice, pears and chestnuts, mulberries, hemp, and arrow bamboo. Ginger and taro flourish; the waters teem with frogs and fish. Even the lowliest peasant finds here sufficient means to ward off hunger and cold.
“The lands from Feng—the ancient capital of King Wen of Zhou—to Hao—the capital of King Wu of Zhou—were famed as ‘black soil,’ and the price of land there was one piece of gold per mu(Chinese acre).
“Now, to seize this rich and fertile land for the sake of an imperial park is to strip the state of its treasures, despoil the livelihood of the people, and imperil the prosperity of the realm. This is the first reason why such a course must not be taken.
“Moreover, the plan would turn vast stretches of the Southern Mountains into a wilderness of brambles and thickets, a domain for foxes and hares, and transform the dwellings of the people into dens of tigers and wolves. Even the tombs of the ancestors and the altars of the spirits would be trampled and defiled. The young and the old alike would be plunged into grief. This is the second reason such a course is ill-advised.
“Furthermore, the design calls for enclosing the land with embankments and barriers, to permit horses to gallop and chariots to race about, unmindful of the deep gullies and hidden pits, where a moment’s carelessness could lead to disaster. A fleeting pleasure would be bought at boundless cost. This is the third reason it must not be done.
“In antiquity, the construction of extravagant palaces brought ruin: the Nine Market Palace of the Yin(Shang) led to the revolt of the feudal lords; King Ling’s building of the Zhanghua Terrace stirred rebellion among the people of Chu; the erection of the Epang Palace by Qin hastened the downfall of the empire.
“I, a dull servant, lower than dust and filth, yet dare to oppose the sacred wishes of Your Majesty. My offense merits death!”
The Emperor, moved by Dongfang Shuo’s eloquence and boldness, appointed him Grandee of the Palace and Palace Steward, and bestowed upon him a reward of one hundred catties of gold.
Nevertheless, despite Dongfang Shuo’s remonstrance, the Emperor proceeded according to Yuqiu Shouwang’s proposal and established the Shanglin Park.
The Emperor delighted in the pursuit of bears and wild boars, often giving chase to these fierce beasts. Sima Xiangru submitted a memorial of remonstrance:
“I, your humble subject, have heard that among creatures of the same kind, there exist differences in ability. Wu Huo is famed for his strength, Qingji for his agility, and brave men are likened to Meng Ben and Xia Yu. If among men such distinctions exist, how much more so among beasts?
“Now, Your Majesty hunts amid rugged mountains and treacherous terrain, pursuing ferocious beasts. Should you encounter a creature of unusual prowess, pressed into a place without escape, it may, in its desperation, turn against the cavalcade. In such narrow straits, the chariots would find no passage, nor would the guards have space to deploy their skill. Even if Your Majesty possessed the strength of Wu Huo or the archery of Pang Meng, it would avail nothing amidst toppled trees and rotting stumps.
“This situation is analogous to that the Xiongnu and Yue people emerged in the capital, while the Qiang and Yi people clung to the axles of the imperial carriage—what greater peril could there be? Though all may seem secure, it is no place fit for the Son of Heaven. It is better to keep to cleared roads and advance with caution. Even along the open paths, there is danger of broken harness; how much more amid dense thickets and uneven ground?
“To delight in the hunt while disregarding hidden perils invites disaster. To carry lightly the burden of a realm of ten thousand chariots, and to take pleasure in hazards, even if the chance of misfortune be but one in ten thousand, is folly. I, your humble servant, beseech Your Majesty to reconsider. The wise perceive danger before it arises; the prudent avoid harm not yet manifest. Calamity often hides in seeming trifles, and disaster strikes when least expected. Thus, it is said among the common folk: ‘He who has amassed a thousand pieces of gold dares not sit beneath eaves.’ Though a simple saying, it holds a profound truth.”
The Emperor accepted the advice with favor.
The 4th year of the Emperor Wu’s Jianyuan Era (137 B.C.)
In the summer, there was a wind that appeared red like blood.
In the sixth month, there was a drought.
In September of autumn, there was a meteor that appeared to explode in the northeast.
In this year, King of Nanyue, Zhao Tuo, passed away, and he was succeeded by his grandson, King Wen of Nanyue, Zhao Hu(a.k.a. Zhao Mo).
The 5th year of the Emperor Wu’s Jianyuan Era (136 B.C.)
In the spring of this year, the three-zhu coins were discontinued, and five-zhu (half-tael) coins were put into circulation.
Five scholars were appointed as Erudite of the Five Classics.
In May of the summer, there was a severe locust plague.
During August of the autumn, Prince Hui of Guangchuan, Liu Yue and Prince Ai of Qinghe, Liu Sheng both passed away without leaving heirs, leading to the dissolution of their respective principalities.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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