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Emperor Wu of Han汉武帝
Emperor of the Western Han dynasty. During a sacrifice at Ganquan, he encountered a strange event and once had Liu Ping remove a demon. While traveling east, he met a monster and Dongfang Shuo made it drink wine. He also moved the sacrifice to Nanyue, dug Kunming Pool, and witnessed a fight between snakes.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 64
- RELATION RECORDS
- 103
- SOURCE WORKS
- 13
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Emperor Wu of Han, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
6 figures · 6 records+
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Emperor Wu of Han—Emperor Jing of Hanfather-son
Emperor Wu of Han—Emperor Zhao of Hanfather-son
Emperor Wu of Han—Emperor Xuan of Hangrandparent-grandchild
Emperor Wu of Han—Empress Dowager Dougrandparent-grandchild
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
17 figures · 26 records+
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Gongsun Hong→Emperor Wu of Hanadmonish
Huo Guang→Emperor Wu of Handecreed
Wei Qing—Emperor Wu of Hanruler-subject
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 2 records+
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Emperor Wu of Han→Zhang Tangguilty suicide
Emperor Wu of Han→Dou Yingexecute public
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
5 figures · 6 records+
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Queen Mother of the West→Emperor Wu of Hangive peach
Emperor Guangwu→Emperor Wu of Hanimitate
Emperor Wu of Han→the Yellow Emperorsacrifice
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song · Old Book of Tang
Shi Qing served as Prime Minister, while Wei Wan and Zhi Buyi were dismissed. As an emperor of the Han dynasty, he valued Dongfang Shuo, accepted remonstrance but also favored flatterers. As a Western Han emperor, he recruited talents, and Dongfang Shuo was his minister.
In fiction · Records of Myriad Things · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Researches into Lost Records · In Search of the Supernatural · New Book of Tang · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition · Book of Han
The Han emperor received incense and glue from a western envoy, did not believe in their wonders, but later verified them. He was fond of immortality, and the Queen Mother of the West came to meet him; Dongfang Shuo tested the method of guarding the palace.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend3 profile notes
Records of Myriad Things
1 relations1 verified quotations- Queen Mother of the West→ give peach →Emperor Wu of Han
Verified original text · 1
以五枚与帝
give peach · Records of Myriad Things, 史补
- Official history37 profile notes
Book of Han
31 relations43 verified quotations- Emperor Wu of Han→ sacrifice →the Yellow Emperor
- Emperor Xuan of Han→ honor temple →Emperor Wu of Han
- Emperor Wu of Han→ father-son →Emperor Jing of Han
- Huo Guang→ decreed →Emperor Wu of Han
Verified original text · 43
还祭黄帝冢桥山
sacrifice · Book of Han, 郊祀志_ch. 25上
孝宣皇帝尊孝武庙曰世宗
honor temple · Book of Han, 韦贤传
41 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history10 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
2 relations2 verified quotations- Emperor Guangwu→ sacrifice →Emperor Wu of Han
- Emperor Guangwu→ imitate →Emperor Wu of Han
Verified original text · 2
武帝为世宗
sacrifice · Book of the Later Han, 祭祀下宗庙社稷灵星先农迎春
宪章稽古,封岱勒成,仪炳乎世宗
imitate · Book of the Later Han, 班彪列传下
- Official history8 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history4 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend5 profile notes
Biographies of Divine Transcendents
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history13 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
13 relations18 verified quotations- Emperor Wu of Han→ grandparent-grandchild →Emperor Xuan of Han
- Emperor Wu of Han→ ruler-subject →Huo Guang
- Wei Qing→ ruler-subject →Emperor Wu of Han
- Emperor Wu of Han→ appoint →Huo Qubing
Verified original text · 18
宣帝初立,推恩宣德
grandparent-grandchild · Records of the Grand Historian, 三王世家
大将军光辅政
ruler-subject · Records of the Grand Historian, 三王世家
16 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Researches into Lost Records
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history7 profile notes
History of Song
1 relations1 verified quotations- Lü Dafang→ quote →Emperor Wu of Han
Verified original text · 1
如汉武帝五日一朝长乐宫
quote · History of Song, 吕大防大忠大钧大临刘挚苏颂传
- Literature / legend5 profile notes
In Search of the Supernatural
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend1 profile notes
Romance of Sui and Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend36 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
3 relations4 verified quotations- Emperor Wu of Han→ father-son →Emperor Jing of Han
- Queen Mother of the West→ give peach →Emperor Wu of Han
- Emperor Wu of Han→ sought Dao →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 4
景帝子也
father-son · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
西王母降于汉宫
降临 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history5 profile notes
New Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history1 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
In the official history, Emperor Wu of Han missed Lady Li and ordered the alchemist Shaoweng to set up a tent to summon her spirit, while the supernatural tale details his poetic lament.
The Book of Han, Treatise on Sacrifices, Part 1, records that Emperor Wu favored Lady Li, and when she died, Shaoweng used his arts to summon her and the stove god's appearance at night, and the emperor saw them from behind a curtain. He then appointed Shaoweng as General of Literary Accomplishment. In Search of the Supernatural, Volume 2, describes Shaoweng setting up a tent at night to summon her spirit, and Emperor Wu saw a beautiful woman in the tent, and "the emperor became even more sorrowful and composed a poem: 'Is it she? Or not? I stand and gaze, she is graceful, why does she come so slowly?'" This act of summoning the spirit is indeed recorded in the official history.
Relationship network
To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 103 relationships in the atlas →
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
宪章稽古,封岱勒成,仪炳乎世宗
Original text (1)
还祭黄帝冢桥山
- grandparent-grandchildEmperor Wu of Han → Emperor Xuan of HanhistRecords of the Grand Historian, 三王世家
Original text (1)
宣帝初立,推恩宣德
Original text (1)
孝宣皇帝尊孝武庙曰世宗
- father-sonEmperor Wu of Han → Emperor Jing of HanlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三Book of Han, 武帝纪
Original text (2)
Original text (3)
受遗武皇
大将军霍光缘上雅意
Original relation: assist · Book of Han, 外戚传上
上以光为大司马大将军
Original relation: orphan entrust · Book of Han, 霍光金日䃅传
Original text (1)
- ruler-subject← Wei Qing → Emperor Wu of Hanhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 卫将军骠骑列传Records of the Grand Historian, 滑稽列传Book of Han, 食货志_ch. 24上
Original text (4)
卫青岁以数万骑出击匈奴
Original relation: 奉命出击 · Book of Han, 食货志_ch. 24上
上闻,乃召青为建章监
大将军青躬率戎士
大将军卫青者,卫后兄也,封为长平侯。
Original relation: subordinate · Records of the Grand Historian, 滑稽列传
Original text (1)
遣车骑将军卫青出上谷
- give peach← Queen Mother of the West → Emperor Wu of HanlitRecords of Myriad Things, 史补Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
Original text (3)
以五枚与帝
西王母降于汉宫
Original relation: 降临 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 女仙一
王母暂来也
Original relation: teach doctrine · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙三
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
尊皇太后窦氏曰太皇太后
Original text (1)
如汉武帝五日一朝长乐宫
Original text (1)
封故相国萧何曾孙庆为列侯
Original text (2)
遣骠骑将军霍去病出陇西
大司马臣去病昧死再拜上疏皇帝陛下
Original relation: ruler-subject · Records of the Grand Historian, 三王世家
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
于是圣武勃怒,爰整其旅
- favorEmperor Wu of Han → Sima Xiangruhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传Book of Han, 严朱吾丘主父徐严终王贾传上Book of Han, 司马相如传_ch. 57上
Original text (5)
其尤亲幸者,东方朔、枚皋、严助、吾丘寿王、司马相如
上惊,乃召问相如
Original relation: questioned · Book of Han, 司马相如传_ch. 57上
天子曰:“司马相如病甚,可往从悉取其书
Original relation: ruler-subject · Book of Han, 司马相如传_ch. 57上
赋奏,天子以为郎。
Original relation: 任命为郎 · Records of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传
乃拜相如为中郎将,建节往使。
Original relation: 派遣出使 · Records of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传
- letter praises virtue← Sima Xiangru → Emperor Wu of Hanhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传Book of Han, 公孙弘卜式兒宽传
Original text (2)
先是,司马相如病死,有遗书,颂功德,言符瑞,足以封泰山。
请为天子游猎赋,赋成奏之。
Original relation: 献赋 · Records of the Grand Historian, 司马相如列传
- appointEmperor Wu of Han → Zhang Tanghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 酷吏列传Book of Han, 沟洫志Book of Han, 食货志_ch. 24上
Original text (3)
事下御史大夫张汤
Original relation: consult · Book of Han, 沟洫志
御史大夫张汤方贵用事
于是上以为能,稍迁至太中大夫。
Original text (1)
御史大夫张汤有罪,自杀
Original text (1)
张汤以峻文决理为廷尉
Original text (1)
大鸿胪萧望之以为
- admonish← Gongsun Hong → Emperor Wu of Hanhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 平津侯主父列传Records of the Grand Historian, 西南夷列传Book of Han, 东方朔传Book of Han, 严朱吾丘主父徐严终王贾传上Book of Han, 公孙弘卜式兒宽传Book of Han, 食货志_ch. 24上
Original text (6)
自公孙弘以下至司马迁皆奉使方外
Original relation: serve as envoy · Book of Han, 东方朔传
公孙弘起徒步,数年至丞相
Original relation: chancellor · Book of Han, 严朱吾丘主父徐严终王贾传上
丞相公孙弘奏言
Original relation: memorialize · Book of Han, 严朱吾丘主父徐严终王贾传上
以贤良征为博士
Original relation: subject · Book of Han, 公孙弘卜式兒宽传
公孙弘以宰相
Original relation: be minister · Book of Han, 食货志_ch. 24上
弘数谏
- enfeoffEmperor Wu of Han → Gongsun Honghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 平津侯主父列传Book of Han, 公孙弘卜式兒宽传Book of Han, 武帝纪
Original text (4)
封丞相弘为平津侯
于是董仲舒、公孙弘等出焉
Original relation: conscript · Book of Han, 武帝纪
卒以弘为丞相
Original relation: appoint prime minister · Records of the Grand Historian, 平津侯主父列传
封平津侯
Original text (1)
魏其侯窦婴有罪,弃巿
Original text (1)
封皇太后同母弟田蚡、胜皆为列侯
Original text (1)
蚡言于上曰
Original text (1)
乃拜婴为大将军
Original text (1)
蚡以舅封为武安侯
- father-sonEmperor Wu of Han → Emperor Zhao of Hanhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 三王世家Book of Han, 叙传下Book of Han, 外戚传上
Original text (3)
孝武六子,昭、齐亡嗣
乃立钩弋子为皇太子
会孝武帝崩,孝昭帝初立
Original text (1)
常山王舜薨
Original text (1)
御史大夫韩安国为护军将军
Original text (2)
于是董仲舒、公孙弘等出焉
武帝即位,举贤良文学之士前后百数
Original relation: 策问 · Book of Han, 董仲舒传
Original text (1)
董仲舒说上曰
Original relation: memorialize · Book of Han, 食货志_ch. 24上
- serve← Shangguan Jie → Emperor Wu of Hanhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 建元以来侯者年表Book of Han, 外戚传上Book of Han, 霍光金日䃅传
Original text (3)
从武帝上甘泉
Original relation: subordinate · Book of Han, 外戚传上
太仆上官桀为左将军
Original relation: orphan entrust · Book of Han, 霍光金日䃅传
事武帝
Original text (1)
左将军上官桀等谋反
Original text (1)
卫尉李广为骁骑将军
Original text (1)
祷高祖、孝文、孝武庙