| | 外戚世家: |
自古受命帝王及繼體守文之君，非獨內德茂也，蓋亦有外戚之助焉。夏之興也以涂山，而桀之放也以末喜。殷之興也以有娀，紂之殺也嬖妲己。周之興也以姜原及大任，而幽王之禽也淫於褒姒。故易基乾坤，詩始關雎，書美釐降，春秋譏不親迎。夫婦之際，人道之大倫也。禮之用，唯婚姻為兢兢。夫樂調而四時和，陰陽之變，萬物之統也。可不慎與？人能弘道，無如命何。甚哉，妃匹之愛，君不能得之於臣，父不能得之於子，況卑下乎！既驩合矣，或不能成子姓；能成子姓矣，或不能要其終：豈非命也哉？孔子罕稱命，蓋難言之也。非通幽明之變，惡能識乎性命哉？ |
| | Since ancient times, emperors who received their mandate and emperors of later generations who maintained the dynasty through peaceful means did not achieve success solely because of their internal virtue; it was also due to assistance from relatives on their mother's side. The rise of the Xia dynasty was due to Tushan, while Jie's downfall was caused by Mu Xi. The rise of the Yin (Shang) dynasty was due to You Song, and Zhou's death was because he favored Daji. The rise of the Zhou dynasty was due to Jiangyuan and Tai Ren, while King You's capture resulted from his indulgence in Bao Si. Therefore, the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) begins with Qian and Kun, the Shi Jing (Book of Songs) starts with Guan Ju, the Shu Jing (Book of Documents) praises Li Jiang, and Chunqiu censures those who do not personally go to welcome their bride. The relationship between husband and wife is the great moral bond of human society. In rites, none are used with more earnestness than in marriage. When music is harmonious, the four seasons are in harmony; changes between yin and yang govern all things. How can one not be cautious? People are able to promote the Way, but they cannot do anything about fate. How profound is the love between spouses! A ruler cannot obtain it from his subjects, a father cannot obtain it from his son; how much less can those of lower status? After joyful union, there may still be no descendants. Even if descendants are produced, one might still not attain a happy ending; is this not determined by fate? Confucius rarely spoke of fate; it was indeed difficult to discuss. Without understanding the transformations between the visible and invisible realms, how could one recognize human nature and destiny?
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| | 外戚世家: |
太史公曰：秦以前尚略矣，其詳靡得而記焉。漢興，呂娥姁為高祖正后，男為太子。及晚節色衰愛弛，而戚夫人有寵，其子如意幾代太子者數矣。及高祖崩，呂后夷戚氏，誅趙王，而高祖後宮唯獨無寵疏遠者得無恙。 |
| | Grand Historian said: Before the Qin dynasty, records were still very brief; detailed accounts cannot be obtained. After the Han dynasty was founded, Lü Eyu became Emperor Gaozu's official empress, and her son became crown prince. In later years, when Lü Eyu's beauty faded and the emperor's affection waned, Empress Qi of the 戚 family gained favor; her son Yurui was nearly replaced as crown prince several times. After Emperor Gaozu died, Empress Lü exterminated the 戚 clan, executed King Zhao, and only those in the emperor's harem who had never been favored or kept at a distance remained unharmed.
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| | 外戚世家: |
呂后長女為宣平侯張敖妻，敖女為孝惠皇后。呂太后以重親故，欲其生子萬方，終無子，詐取後宮人子為子。及孝惠帝崩，天下初定未久，繼嗣不明。於是貴外家，王諸呂以為輔，而以呂祿女為少帝后，欲連固根本牢甚，然無益也。 |
| | Empress Lü's eldest daughter was the wife of Zhang Ao, Marquis of Xuanping; Zhang Ao's daughter became Empress of Emperor Hui. Empress Dowager Lü, because of her close relationship, tried every possible means to have a son; she ultimately had no children and fraudulently took the child of someone from the imperial harem as her own. After Emperor Hui's death, the empire was newly stabilized and had not been long at peace; there was no clear heir to the throne. Therefore, they honored the maternal relatives and enfeoffed various members of the 吕 clan as kings to serve as support; they also made Lady Lü Lu's daughter empress of the young emperor, hoping to consolidate their power firmly. However, it was of no avail.
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| | 外戚世家: |
高后崩，合葬長陵。祿、產等懼誅，謀作亂。大臣征之，天誘其統，卒滅呂氏。唯獨置孝惠皇后居北宮。迎立代王，是為孝文帝，奉漢宗廟。此豈非天邪？非天命孰能當之？ |
| | After Empress Dowager Gao died, she was buried together with Emperor Gaozu in the Changling Mausoleum. Lü Lu, Lü Chan and others feared punishment and plotted rebellion. The ministers acted against them; Heaven guided the course of events, and in the end, the 吕 clan was destroyed. Only Empress of Emperor Hui was placed to reside in Beigong Palace. They welcomed and enthroned Prince Dai, who became Emperor Wen; he honored the ancestral temple of the Han dynasty. Was this not Heaven's will? If it were not the Mandate of Heaven, who could have achieved this?
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| | 外戚世家: |
薄太后，父吳人，姓薄氏，秦時與故魏王宗家女魏媼通，生薄姬，而薄案死山陰，因葬焉。 |
| | Empress Dowager Bo's father was a native of Wu, surnamed Bo. During the Qin dynasty, he had an affair with Lady Wei, a woman from an old family related to the former King of Wei, and they gave birth to Bo Ji. However, Bo An died in Shanyin, so he was buried there.
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| | 外戚世家: |
及諸侯畔秦，魏豹立為魏王，而魏媼內其女於魏宮。媼之許負所相，相薄姬，云當生天子。是時項羽方與漢王相距滎陽，天下未有所定。豹初與漢擊楚，及聞許負言，心獨喜，因背漢而畔，中立，更與楚連和。漢使曹參等擊虜魏王豹，以其國為郡，而薄姬輸織室。豹已死，漢王入織室，見薄姬有色，詔內後宮，歲餘不得幸。始姬少時，與管夫人、趙子兒相愛，約曰：「先貴無相忘。」已而管夫人、趙子兒先幸漢王。漢王坐河南宮成皋臺，此兩美人相與笑薄姬初時約。漢王聞之，問其故，兩人具以實告漢王。漢王心慘然，憐薄姬，是日召而幸之。薄姬曰：「昨暮夜妾夢蒼龍據吾腹。」高帝曰：「此貴徵也，吾為女遂成之。」一幸生男，是為代王。其後薄姬希見高祖。 |
| | When the feudal lords rebelled against the Qin dynasty, Wei Bao was enthroned as King of Wei and Lady Wei sent her daughter into the Wei palace. Lady Wei's relative Xu Fu, a physiognomist, examined Bo Ji and said she would give birth to an emperor. At that time, Xiang Yu was confronting King Huai of Han at Yingyang, and the fate of the world had not yet been decided. Initially, Wei Bao allied with Han against Chu; but upon hearing Xu Fu's prophecy, he secretly rejoiced and defected from Han to remain neutral, instead forming an alliance with Chu. loom The Han sent Cao Can et al. to capture and subdue King Wei Bao, converted his state into a commandery, and Bo Ji was assigned to the weaving quarters. After Bao's death, King of Han entered the weaving quarters and saw that Bo Ji was beautiful; he ordered her to be taken into the imperial harem. For more than a year, however, she did not receive his favor. When Bo Ji was young, she had been close friends with Guan Fu Ren and Zhao Zier; they made a pact saying: "Whoever attains honor first must not forget the other." Later, Lady Guan and Zhao Zier were favored by King of Han before Bo Ji. While King of Han was seated at the Chenggao Pavilion in Henan Palace, these two beauties laughed about Bo Ji's earlier pact. King of Han heard this and asked them the reason; they truthfully explained everything to him. King of Han felt deeply moved, took pity on Bo Ji, and summoned her for his favor that very day. Bo Ji said: "Last night I dreamed of a blue dragon lying upon my abdomen." Emperor Gaozu said, "This is an omen of great fortune. I will help you fulfill it." After one night together, she gave birth to a son, who later became King Dai. Thereafter, Bo Ji rarely saw Emperor Gaozu.
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| | 外戚世家: |
高祖崩，諸御幸姬戚夫人之屬，呂太后怒，皆幽之，不得出宮。而薄姬以希見故，得出，從子之代，為代王太后。太后弟薄昭從如代。 |
| | After Emperor Gaozu's death, all the favored concubines, including Empress Qi and others, were imprisoned by Empress Dowager Lü out of anger; they could not leave the palace. However, because Bo Ji had rarely been favored by Emperor Gaozu, she was allowed to leave and accompany her son to Dai, becoming the Tai Wang Taihou (Grand Empress Dowager of Dai). Bo Ji's younger brother, Bo Zhao, followed her to Dai.
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| | 外戚世家: |
代王立十七年，高后崩。大臣議立後，疾外家呂氏彊，皆稱薄氏仁善，故迎代王，立為孝文皇帝，而太后改號曰皇太后，弟薄昭封為軹侯。 |
| | King Dai reigned for seventeen years when Empress Dowager Gao passed away. The ministers discussed the choice of a new emperor and were wary of the powerful maternal relatives from the 吕 clan. They all praised the Bo family for their kindness and virtue, so they welcomed King Dai to be enthroned as Emperor Wen. The empress dowager was then re-designated as Empress Dowager, and her younger brother Bo Zhao was enfeoffed as Hou of Zhi.
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| | 外戚世家: |
薄太后母亦前死，葬櫟陽北。於是乃追尊薄案為靈文侯，會稽郡置園邑三百家，長丞已下吏奉守冢，寢廟上食祠如法。而櫟陽北亦置靈文侯夫人園，如靈文侯園儀。薄太后以為母家魏王後，早失父母，其奉薄太后諸魏有力者，於是召復魏氏，［及尊］賞賜各以親疏受之。薄氏侯者凡一人。 |
| | Bo Taihou's mother had also died earlier and was buried north of Linyang. At this time, they posthumously honored Bo An as Lingwen Hou. In Kuaiji Commandery, a tomb estate was established for 300 families; officials down to the level of cheng were assigned to guard and maintain the tomb, offering food and sacrifices in accordance with regulations at the ancestral shrine. A similar estate for Lady Lingwen Hou was also established north of Linyang, following the same rites and ceremonies as those for Lingwen Hou. Empress Dowager Bo considered her maternal family to be descendants of the former King of Wei. Since she had lost her parents at an early age, those from the Wei clan who had supported Empress Dowager Bo were summoned and restored; they received rewards and honors according to their closeness in relation to her. Only one person of the Bo family was enfeoffed as a marquis.
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| | 外戚世家: |
薄太后後文帝二年，以孝景帝前二年崩，葬南陵。以呂后會葬長陵，故特自起陵，近孝文皇帝霸陵。 |
| | Empress Dowager Bo died in the second year after Emperor Wen's reign, which was also the second year before Emperor Jing took the throne; she was buried at Nanling. Since Empress Lü had been buried together with Emperor Gao in Changling, a separate tomb was specially built for her near the Baling Mausoleum of Emperor Wen.
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| | 外戚世家: |
竇太后，趙之清河觀津人也。呂太后時，竇姬以良家子入宮侍太后。太后出宮人以賜諸王，各五人，竇姬與在行中。竇姬家在清河，欲如趙近家，請其主遣宦者吏：「必置我籍趙之伍中。」宦者忘之，誤置其籍代伍中。籍奏，詔可，當行。竇姬涕泣，怨其宦者，不欲往，相彊，乃肯行。至代，代王獨幸竇姬，生女嫖，後生兩男。而代王王后生四男。先代王未入立為帝而王后卒。及代王立為帝，而王后所生四男更病死。孝文帝立數月，公卿請立太子，而竇姬長男最長，立為太子。立竇姬為皇后，女嫖為長公主。其明年，立少子武為代王，已而又徙梁，是為梁孝王。 |
| | Empress Dowager Dou was a native of Guanjin, Qinghe, Zhao Commandery. During the reign of Empress Dowager Lü, Lady Dou entered the palace as a daughter of an upright family to serve the empress dowager. The empress dowager distributed palace women among the kings, five each; Lady Dou was included in this group. Lady Dou's family lived in Qinghe, and she wished to be assigned near Zhao where her home was. She requested the officer in charge to send a eunuch official with this message: "I must be placed among those assigned to Zhao." The eunuch forgot about her request and mistakenly placed her in the group assigned to Dai. After the records were submitted, an imperial edict approved it, and she was to proceed accordingly. Lady Dou wept bitterly, resenting the eunuch for his mistake; she did not want to go but was forced by others and finally agreed. When she arrived at Dai, King Dai favored Lady Dou alone; they had a daughter named Piao, then later two sons. The queen of King Dai gave birth to four sons. Before the King of Dai was enthroned as emperor, his queen had already died. When King Dai became emperor, all four sons born to the former queen fell ill and died one after another. Several months after Emperor Wen took the throne, the ministers requested that a crown prince be appointed; Lady Dou's eldest son was the oldest and thus made crown prince. Lady Dou was enfeoffed as empress, and her daughter Piao became the Chang Gongzhu (Grand Princess). The following year, his younger son Wu was enfeoffed as King of Dai; later he was transferred to Liang and became King Xiao Wang of Liang.
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| | 外戚世家: |
竇皇后親蚤卒，葬觀津。於是薄太后乃詔有司，追尊竇后父為安成侯，母曰安成夫人。令清河置園邑二百家，長丞奉守，比靈文園法。 |
| | Empress Dou's mother died early in life and was buried at Guanjin. At this time, Empress Dowager Bo issued an edict to the officials, posthumously honoring Lady Dou's father as Ancheng Hou and her mother as Ancheng Fu Ren. An estate with 200 households was ordered to be established in Qinghe; officials down to the rank of cheng were appointed to guard and maintain it, following the regulations similar to those for the Lingwen Estate.
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| | 外戚世家: |
竇皇后兄竇長君，弟曰竇廣國，字少君。少君年四五歲時，家貧，為人所略賣，其家不知其處。傳十餘家，至宜陽，為其主入山作炭，（寒）［暮］臥岸下百餘人，岸崩，盡壓殺臥者，少君獨得脫，不死。自卜數日當為侯，從其家之長安。聞竇皇后新立，家在觀津，姓竇氏。廣國去時雖小，識其縣名及姓，又常與其姊採桑墮，用為符信，上書自陳。竇皇后言之於文帝，召見，問之，具言其故，果是。又復問他何以為驗？對曰：「姊去我西時，與我決於傳舍中，丐沐沐我，請食飯我，乃去。」於是竇后持之而泣，泣涕交橫下。侍御左右皆伏地泣，助皇后悲哀。乃厚賜田宅金錢，封公昆弟，家於長安。 |
| | Empress Dou had an elder brother named Dou Changjun and a younger brother named Dou Guangguo, courtesy name Shaoshen. When Shaoshen was about four or five years old, his family was poor and he was kidnapped and sold; his family did not know where he had been taken. He was passed through more than ten households and eventually ended up in Yiyang, where his master made him work cutting charcoal in the mountains. One evening, over a hundred people slept along the riverbank; when the bank collapsed, it buried all those sleeping there to death, but Shaoshen alone escaped unharmed. After divining that he would become a marquis in several days, he followed his family to Chang'an. He heard that Empress Dou had recently been enthroned and learned that her family lived in Guanjin, surnamed Dou. Although he had left when still very young, Guangguo remembered the name of his county and surname. He also often picked mulberry leaves with his elder sister, which became a sign for identification; thus, he submitted a petition to the court stating his case. Empress Dou informed Emperor Wen of this matter. The emperor summoned him for an audience and questioned him; Guangguo explained everything in detail, and it turned out to be true. The emperor then asked again what other evidence could verify this? He replied, "When my sister left me to the west, she bid farewell to me in a roadside inn. She asked for water to wash my hair and requested food for me before leaving." At this, Empress Dou held him and wept, her tears streaming down in both eyes. The attendants on either side of the throne fell to their knees and wept as well, helping Empress Dou mourn. He was richly rewarded with land, houses, and money; his uncles were enfeoffed, and the family settled in Chang'an.
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| | 外戚世家: |
絳侯、灌將軍等曰：「吾屬不死，命乃且縣此兩人。兩人所出微，不可不為擇師傅賓客，又復效呂氏大事也。」於是乃選長者士之有節行者與居。竇長君、少君由此為退讓君子，不敢以尊貴驕人。 |
| | Jiang Hou, General Guan, and others said: "We have not died; our lives now depend on these two people." These two men come from humble origins and cannot do without carefully selected mentors, attendants, and guests; this is also a matter of great importance, just like the 吕 clan affair. Therefore, they chose virtuous and upright men with moral integrity to live among them. Because of this, Dou Changjun and Shaoshen became modest gentlemen who dared not behave arrogantly toward others because of their noble status.
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| | 外戚世家: |
竇皇后病，失明。文帝幸邯鄲慎夫人、尹姬，皆毋子。孝文帝崩，孝景帝立，乃封廣國為章武侯。長君前死，封其子彭祖為南皮侯。吳楚反時，竇太后從昆弟子竇嬰，任俠自喜，將兵，以軍功為魏其侯。竇氏凡三人為侯。 |
| | Empress Dou fell ill and lost her sight. Emperor Wen favored Lady Shen of Handan and Lady Yin, but neither had children. After Emperor Wen died and Emperor Jing took the throne, Guangguo was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhangwu. Changjun had already died before this; his son Pengzu was enfeoffed as Nanpi Hou. During the rebellion of Wu and Chu, Dou Taihou's cousin by marriage, Dou Ying, who was proud of his chivalrous nature, led troops into battle. He was enfeoffed as Weiqi Hou due to military merit. In total, three members of the Dou family were enfeoffed as marquises.
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| | 外戚世家: |
竇太后好黃帝、老子言，帝及太子諸竇不得不讀黃帝、老子，尊其術。 |
| | Empress Dowager Dou favored the teachings of Huangdi and Laozi; as a result, Emperor Jing, the crown prince, and all members of the Dou clan had to study the works of Huangdi and Laozi and respect their doctrines.
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| | 外戚世家: |
竇太后後孝景帝六歲（建元六年）崩，合葬霸陵。遺詔盡以東宮金錢財物賜長公主嫖。 |
| | Empress Dowager Dou died six years after Emperor Jing (the sixth year of the Jianyuan era) and was buried together with him at Baling. Her will decreed that all the gold, money, and possessions from the eastern palace be given to her daughter-in-law Chang Gongzhu Piao.
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| | 外戚世家: |
王太后，槐裏人，母曰臧兒。臧兒者，故燕王臧荼孫也。臧兒嫁為槐裏王仲妻，生男曰信，與兩女。而仲死，臧兒更嫁長陵田氏，生男蚡、勝。臧兒長女嫁為金王孫婦，生一女矣，而臧兒卜筮之，曰兩女皆當貴。因欲奇兩女，乃奪金氏。金氏怒，不肯予決，乃內之太子宮。太子幸愛之，生三女一男。男方在身時，王美人夢日入其懷。以告太子，太子曰：「此貴徵也。」未生而孝文帝崩，孝景帝即位，王夫人生男。 |
| | Empress Dowager Wang was a native of Huili; her mother was named Zang'er. Zang'er, the daughter of the former King of Yan, Zang Tu's descendant. Zang'er married Wang Zhong of Huili and bore a son named Xin and two daughters. After Zhong died, Zang'er remarried into the Tian family of Changling and bore two sons, Fen and Sheng. Zang'er's eldest daughter had married Jin Wangsun and already bore a daughter. Zang'er consulted diviners, who said that both of her daughters would become noble. In order to make the two daughters remarkable, she therefore took them away from the Jin family. The Jin family was angry and refused to let go of her, so Zang'er sent her into the palace of the crown prince. The crown prince favored and loved her, and she bore him three daughters and one son. While the child was still in her womb, Lady Wang had a dream of the sun entering her arms. She told the crown prince about it, and he said, "This is an omen of great fortune." Before she gave birth, Emperor Wen died, and Emperor Jing ascended the throne. Lady Wang then bore a son.
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| | 外戚世家: |
先是臧兒又入其少女兒姁，兒姁生四男。 |
| | Previously, Zang'er had also sent her younger daughter, Erxu, into the palace; Erxu bore four sons.
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| | 外戚世家: |
景帝為太子時，薄太后以薄氏女為妃。及景帝立，立妃曰薄皇后。皇后毋子，毋寵。薄太后崩，廢薄皇后。 |
| | When Emperor Jing was crown prince, Empress Dowager Bo arranged for a woman from the Bo family to be his wife. After Emperor Jing ascended the throne, he enfeoffed this consort as Empress Bo. The empress had no children and was not favored. After Empress Dowager Bo died, Empress Bo was deposed.
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| | 外戚世家: |
景帝長男榮，其母栗姬。栗姬，齊人也。立榮為太子。長公主嫖有女，欲予為妃。栗姬妒，而景帝諸美人皆因長公主見景帝，得貴幸，皆過栗姬，栗姬日怨怒，謝長公主，不許。長公主欲予王夫人，王夫人許之。長公主怒，而日讒栗姬短於景帝曰：「栗姬與諸貴夫人幸姬會，常使侍者祝唾其背，挾邪媚道。」景帝以故望之。 |
| | Emperor Jing's eldest son was Rong, whose mother was Lady Li. Lady Li was a native of Qi. Rong was made crown prince. Chang Gongzhu Piao had a daughter and wanted to give her as a consort. Lady Li was jealous, and many of Emperor Jing's favored consorts had been introduced to the emperor by Chang Gongzhu. These women were more favored than Lady Li, so she grew increasingly resentful and angry. She refused Chang Gongzhu's proposal and declined it. Chang Gongzhu wanted to give her daughter to Lady Wang, who agreed. Chang Gongzhu became angry and daily slandered Lady Li to Emperor Jing, saying: "Lady Li, when meeting with the emperor's favored consorts and concubines, often has her attendants spit on their backs while performing occult arts of witchcraft." Because of this, Emperor Jing began to resent Lady Li.
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| | 外戚世家: |
景帝嘗體不安，心不樂，屬諸子為王者於栗姬，曰：「百歲後，善視之。」栗姬怒，不肯應，言不遜。景帝恚，心嗛之而未發也。 |
| | Emperor Jing once fell ill and was unhappy, so he entrusted his sons who had been enfeoffed as kings to Lady Li and said: "After I die, take good care of them." Lady Li was angry, refused to respond, and spoke disrespectfully. Emperor Jing was furious but restrained his anger and did not act on it immediately.
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| | 外戚世家: |
長公主日譽王夫人男之美，景帝亦賢之，又有曩者所夢日符，計未有所定。王夫人知帝望栗姬，因怒未解，陰使人趣大臣立栗姬為皇后。大行奏事畢，曰：「『子以母貴，母以子貴』，今太子母無號，宜立為皇后。」景帝怒曰：「是而所宜言邪！」遂案誅大行，而廢太子為臨江王。栗姬愈恚恨，不得見，以憂死。卒立王夫人為皇后，其男為太子，封皇后兄信為蓋侯。 |
| | Chang Gongzhu often praised the virtues of Lady Wang's son, and Emperor Jing also found him virtuous. Moreover, there was still the omen of the sun from his previous dream; thus, a decision had not yet been made. Lady Wang knew that Emperor Jing resented Lady Li and that his anger was still unresolved, so she secretly sent someone to urge the ministers to enfeoff Lady Li as empress. After completing his report on official matters, the Grand Minister said: "As the saying goes, 'a son is honored because of his mother, and a mother is honored because of her son.' Now the crown prince's mother has no title; she should be enfeoffed as empress." Emperor Jing became angry and said, "Is this what you think is appropriate to say?" He then had the Grand Minister investigated and executed, and deposed the crown prince as King of Linjiang. Lady Li became even more furious and resentful; she was not allowed to see the emperor and died from grief. Eventually, Lady Wang was enfeoffed as empress, her son became crown prince, and the empress's brother Xin was enfeoffed as Gai Hou.
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| | 外戚世家: |
景帝崩，太子襲號為皇帝。尊皇太后母臧兒為平原君。封田蚡為武安侯，勝為周陽侯。 |
| | After Emperor Jing died, the crown prince succeeded to the throne as emperor. The mother of Empress Dowager Wang, Zang'er, was honored as Lady Pingyuan Jun. Tian Fen was enfeoffed as Wu'an Hou and Tian Sheng as Zhouyang Hou.
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| | 外戚世家: |
景帝十三男，一男為帝，十二男皆為王。而兒姁早卒，其四子皆為王。王太后長女號日平陽公主，次為南宮公主，次為林慮公主。 |
| | Emperor Jing had thirteen sons; one became emperor, and the remaining twelve were all enfeoffed as kings. Erxu died early, but her four sons were all enfeoffed as Kings. Empress Dowager Wang's eldest daughter was known as Princess Pingyang, the second as Princess Nangong, and the third as Princess Linlv.
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| | 外戚世家: |
蓋侯信好酒。田蚡、勝貪，巧於文辭。王仲蚤死，葬槐裏，追尊為共侯，置園邑二百家。及平原君卒，從田氏葬長陵，置園比共侯園。而王太后後孝景帝十六歲，以元朔四年崩，合葬陽陵。王太后家凡三人為侯。 |
| | Gai Hou Xin loved drinking alcohol. Tian Fen and Tian Sheng were greedy and skillful in literary expression. Wang Zhong had died early; he was buried in Huili, posthumously honored as Gong Hou, and two hundred households were assigned to maintain his ancestral shrine. After Lady Pingyuan Jun died, she was buried with the Tian family at Changling, and her tomb estate was established on a scale equal to that of Gong Hou. Empress Dowager Wang died sixteen years after Emperor Jing, in the fourth year of the Yuanshuo era, and was buried together with him in Yangling. In total, three members from Empress Dowager Wang's family were enfeoffed as hou (marquises).
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| | 外戚世家: |
衛皇后字子夫，生微矣。蓋其家號曰衛氏，出平陽侯邑。子夫為平陽主謳者。武帝初即位，數歲無子。平陽主求諸良家子女十餘人，飾置家。武帝祓霸上還，因過平陽主。主見所侍美人。上弗說。既飲，謳者進，上望見，獨說衛子夫。是日，武帝起更衣，子夫侍尚衣軒中，得幸。上還坐，驩甚。賜平陽主金千斤。主因奏子夫奉送入宮。子夫上車，平陽主拊其背曰：「行矣，彊飯，勉之！即貴，無相忘。」入宮歲餘，竟不復幸。武帝擇宮人不中用者，斥出歸之。衛子夫得見，涕泣請出。上憐之，復幸，遂有身，尊寵日隆。召其兄衛長君弟青為侍中。而子夫後大幸，有寵，凡生三女一男。男名據。 |
| | Empress Wei, courtesy name Zifu, was born into humble circumstances. Her family's surname was Wei, and they were from the fief of Marquis Pingyang. Zifu served as a singer in the household of Princess Pingyang. When Emperor Wu first ascended the throne, for several years he had no sons. Princess Pingyang selected more than ten daughters from good families and prepared them in her household with adornments. After performing a purification ritual at Bashi, Emperor Wu passed by the residence of Princess Pingyang on his return journey. Princess Pingyang presented her attendants who were beautiful women for him to see. The emperor was not pleased. After drinking, the singers performed; the emperor looked on and was particularly fond of Wei Zifu. On that day, when Emperor Wu got up to change his clothes, Lady Zifu happened to be waiting in the chamber for clothing and was favored by him. When the emperor returned to sit down, he was very pleased. He bestowed a thousand catties of gold upon Princess Pingyang as a gift. Princess Pingyang then presented Zifu to the emperor, who sent her into the palace. As Zifu got on the carriage, Princess Pingyang clasped her back and said: "Go now; eat heartily and be strong. Encourage yourself!" "When you become noble, do not forget me." After more than a year in the palace, she was no longer favored. Emperor Wu selected palace women who were not suitable for service and dismissed them back to their families. Wei Zifu was among those seen, wept bitterly, and requested to be dismissed from the palace. The emperor took pity on her, favored her again, and she became pregnant; thus, her status and favor grew increasingly high. He summoned Zifu's elder brother Wei Changjun and younger brother Wei Qing as Attendants-in-Ordinary (Shizhong). Later, Lady Zifu became greatly favored and was highly cherished; in total, she bore three daughters and one son. Her son's name was Ju.
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| | 外戚世家: |
初，上為太子時，娶長公主女為妃。立為帝，妃立為皇后，姓陳氏，無子。上之得為嗣，大長公主有力焉，以故陳皇后驕貴。聞衛子夫大幸，恚，幾死者數矣。上愈怒。陳皇后挾婦人媚道，其事頗覺，於是廢陳皇后，而立衛子夫為皇后。 |
| | Initially, when the emperor was crown prince, he married a daughter of Chang Gongzhu as his consort. When he became emperor, this consort was enfeoffed as Empress; her surname was Chen, and she had no children. The emperor's becoming heir to the throne was largely due to the efforts of Grand Chang Gongzhu, and thus Empress Chen became arrogant and proud. When she heard that Wei Zifu had become greatly favored, she was furious; on several occasions, she nearly died from anger. The emperor became even more angry. Empress Chen practiced occult arts of female witchcraft, and her actions were somewhat discovered; thus, she was deposed, and Wei Zifu was enfeoffed as the new empress.
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| | 外戚世家: |
陳皇后母大長公主，景帝姊也，數讓武帝姊平陽公主曰：「帝非我不得立，已而棄捐吾女，壹何不自喜而倍本乎！」平陽公主曰：「用無子故廢耳。」陳皇后求子，與醫錢凡九千萬，然竟無子。 |
| | Empress Chen's mother, Grand Chang Gongzhu, was the elder sister of Emperor Jing. She repeatedly rebuked her niece, Princess Pingyang, saying: "Had it not been for me, the emperor would never have become heir to the throne; yet now he has abandoned my daughter. How could he be so ungrateful and forget his roots?" Princess Pingyang replied, "She was deposed simply because she had no children." Empress Chen spent a total of nine million coins on physicians in her quest for a child, but ultimately bore none.
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| | 外戚世家: |
衛子夫已立為皇后，先是衛長君死，乃以衛青為將軍，擊胡有功，封為長平侯。青三子在襁褓中，皆封為列侯。及衛皇后所謂姊衛少兒，少兒生子霍去病，以軍功封冠軍侯，號驃騎將軍。青號大將軍。立衛皇后子據為太子。衛氏枝屬以軍功起家，五人為侯。 |
| | After Wei Zifu was enfeoffed empress, Wei Changjun had already died; thus, the emperor appointed Wei Qing as a general. After achieving military success against the Xiongnu, he was enfeoffed as Changping Hou. Wei Qing's three sons, still in swaddling clothes, were all enfeoffed with the title of Liehou (Marquis). Additionally, Wei Zifu's so-called elder sister, Wei Shaoer, bore a son named Huo Qubing. Because of his military achievements, he was enfeoffed Guanjun Hou and given the title of Biaoqi General. Wei Qing was known as the Da Jiangjun (Grand General). The emperor enfeoffed Empress Wei's son Ju as crown prince. Members of the Wei family rose to prominence through military achievements; in total, five individuals were enfeoffed with marquisates.
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| | 外戚世家: |
及衛后色衰，趙之王夫人幸，有子，為齊王。 |
| | Later, as Empress Wei's beauty faded, Lady Wang of Zhao became favored and bore a son who was enfeoffed King of Qi.
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| | 外戚世家: |
王夫人蚤卒。而中山李夫人有寵，有男一人，為昌邑王。 |
| | Lady Wang died early. Meanwhile, Lady Li of Zhongshan was favored and bore one son who became King of Changyi.
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| | 外戚世家: |
李夫人蚤卒，其兄李延年以音幸，號協律。協律者，故倡也。兄弟皆坐姦，族。是時其長兄廣利為貳師將軍，伐大宛，不及誅，還，而上既夷李氏，後憐其家，乃封為海西侯。 |
| | Lady Li died early; her elder brother, Li Yannian, gained favor through his musical talents and was given the title Xielv. Xielv was a former musician or performer. Both brothers were executed for corruption, and their entire clan was exterminated. At that time, their eldest brother Guangli was the Ershi General who had campaigned against Dayuan. He escaped punishment and returned; after Emperor Wu had exterminated the Li family, he later took pity on them and enfeoffed Guangli as Hou of Haixi.
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| | 外戚世家: |
他姬子二人為燕王、廣陵王。其母無寵，以憂死。 |
| | Two sons born to other concubines were enfeoffed as King of Yan and King of Guangling, respectively. Their mother was not favored and died from grief.
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| | 外戚世家: |
及李夫人卒，則有尹婕妤之屬，更有寵。然皆以倡見，非王侯有土之士女，不可以配人主也。 |
| | After Lady Li's death, there were other consorts such as Consort Yin who gained favor in turn. However, they all came from the ranks of performers and entertainers; women from families of officials or marquises with fiefs could not be matched to a sovereign.
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| | 外戚世家: |
褚先生曰：臣為郎時，問習漢家故事者鐘離生。曰：王太后在民閒時所生（子）［一］女者，父為金王孫。王孫已死，景帝崩後，武帝已立，王太后獨在。而韓王孫名嫣素得幸武帝，承閒白言太后有女在長陵也。武帝曰：「何不蚤言！」乃使使往先視之，在其家。武帝乃自往迎取之。蹕道，先驅旄騎出橫城門，乘輿馳至長陵。當小市西入里，里門閉，暴開門，乘輿直入此里，通至金氏門外止，使武騎圍其宅，為其亡走，身自往取不得也。即使左右群臣入呼求之。家人驚恐，女亡匿內中床下。扶持出門，令拜謁。武帝下車泣曰：「嚄！大姊，何藏之深也！」詔副車載之，迴車馳還，而直入長樂宮。行詔門著引籍，通到謁太后。太后曰：「帝倦矣，何從來？」帝曰：「今者至長陵得臣姊，與俱來。」顧曰：「謁太后！」太后曰：「女某邪？」曰：「是也。」太后為下泣，女亦伏地泣。武帝奉酒前為壽，奉錢千萬，奴婢三百人，公田百頃，甲第，以賜姊。太后謝曰：「為帝費焉。」於是召平陽主、南宮主、林慮主三人俱來謁見姊，因號曰修成君。有子男一人，女一人。男號為修成子仲，女為諸侯王王后。此二子非劉氏，以故太后憐之。修成子仲驕恣，陵折吏民，皆患苦之。 |
| | Master Chu said: When I was serving as an officer, I asked Zhongli Sheng, who was well-versed in the old customs and traditions of the Han dynasty. He said: "Empress Dowager Wang had a daughter before she entered the palace; her father was Jin Wangsun." Jin Wangsun had already died. After Emperor Jingdi's death and before Emperor Wudi ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Wang was alone. At that time, Han Wangsun, whose name was Yansu, gained the emperor's favor and took the opportunity to inform Emperor Wudi in private that Empress Dowager Wang had a daughter living in Changling. Emperor Wudi said: "Why was this not mentioned earlier!" He then sent envoys to go ahead and inspect the situation at her home. Emperor Wudi personally went to fetch her. The procession blocked the road; vanguard cavalry with banners emerged from Hengcheng Gate, and the imperial carriage rushed to Changling. When the procession reached a small market to the west and entered the neighborhood, the gate of the district was closed. The guards suddenly forced it open, and the imperial carriage proceeded directly into this neighborhood until it stopped outside Jin's family residence. Emperor Wudi ordered elite cavalry to surround their house in case they fled; he personally went to retrieve her but could not find her inside. He immediately dispatched his attendants and court officials to enter the residence and search for her. The family was frightened, and the girl hid under a bed inside the house. They were helped out of the house and ordered to perform a formal bow in greeting. Emperor Wudi got off his carriage and wept, saying: "Oh!" "Dear elder sister, why have you hidden yourself so deeply!" The emperor ordered a secondary carriage to carry her and then turned the procession around in haste, heading straight back to Changle Palace. Orders were given at each gate along the way to record their passage so that they could be granted an audience with Empress Dowager Wang. Empress Dowager Wang said: "The emperor must be tired; where have you come from?" The emperor replied: "Today, I found my sister at Changling and brought her along." He turned and said: "Pay respects to the Empress Dowager!" Empress Dowager Wang asked: "Are you a certain person?" She replied, "Yes." Empress Dowager Wang wept for her, and the woman also knelt on the ground crying. Emperor Wudi presented wine and offered a toast to his sister, gave her ten thousand coins, three hundred slaves and servants, one hundred qing of public land, and a luxurious mansion as gifts. Empress Dowager Wang declined, saying: "This has cost the emperor too much." At this time, they summoned Princess Pingyang, Princess Nangong, and Princess Linlv to come together for an audience with their sister, who was then given the title Xiucheng Jun. She had one son and one daughter. The son was titled Xiucheng Zizhong, while the daughter became a queen consort of a feudal prince. These two children were not members of the Liu clan; therefore, Empress Dowager Wang took pity on them. Xiucheng Zizhong was arrogant and indulgent, bullying officials and commoners alike; everyone suffered from his behavior.
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| | 外戚世家: |
衛子夫立為皇后，后弟衛青字仲卿，以大將軍封為長平侯。四子，長子伉為侯世子，侯世子常侍中，貴幸。其三弟皆封為侯，各千三百戶，一曰陰安侯，二曰發干侯，三曰宜春侯，貴震天下。天下歌之曰：「生男無喜，生女無怒，獨不見衛子夫霸天下！」 |
| | Wei Zifu was enfeoffed empress. Her younger brother, Wei Qing (courtesy name Zhongqing), was granted the title of Changping Hou as Grand General. He had four sons; his eldest son, Kang, became a marquis' heir apparent and served regularly in the imperial court as an attendant, enjoying great favor. His three younger brothers were also enfeoffed as marquises, each receiving 1,300 households: the first was Hou of Yian, the second Hou of Fagan, and the third Hou of Yichun. Their family's prestige shook the entire realm. People across the land sang: "Do not rejoice at having a son, nor be angry at having a daughter; have you not heard that Wei Zifu rules the world!"
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| | 外戚世家: |
是時平陽主寡居，當用列侯尚主。主與左右議長安中列侯可為夫者，皆言大將軍可。主笑曰：「此出吾家，常使令騎從我出入耳，柰何用為夫乎？」左右侍御者曰：「今大將軍姊為皇后，三子為侯，富貴振動天下，主何以易之乎？」於是主乃許之。言之皇后，令白之武帝，乃詔衛將軍尚平陽公主焉。 |
| | At this time, Princess Pingyang was a widow and should have married a marquis according to protocol. The princess discussed with her attendants which of the marquises in Chang'an would be suitable as a husband, and all suggested that Grand General Wei Qing was the best choice. The princess laughed and said: "He is from my family, often commanding horsemen to accompany me in and out; how could he possibly be my husband?" Those around her replied: "Now the Grand General's elder sister is empress, and his three sons are marquises; their wealth and prestige have shaken the entire realm. How could you possibly find someone to match him?" Thus, the princess agreed to the marriage. She informed Empress Wei, who then relayed it to Emperor Wudi; an imperial decree was issued for General Wei to marry Princess Pingyang.
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| | 外戚世家: |
褚先生曰：丈夫龍變。傳曰：「蛇化為龍，不變其文；家化為國，不變其姓。」丈夫當時富貴，百惡滅除，光耀榮華，貧賤之時何足累之哉！ |
| | Master Chu said: A man can transform like a dragon. The Classic says: "A snake transforms into a dragon, but its pattern does not change; a family becomes a state, yet its surname remains unchanged." When a man attains wealth and honor at the right time, all misfortunes vanish; his brilliance and glory shine forth. How could his humble past possibly burden him!
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| | 外戚世家: |
武帝時，幸夫人尹婕妤。邢夫人號娙娥，眾人謂之「娙何」。娙何秩比中二千石，容華秩比二千石，婕妤秩比列侯。常從婕妤遷為皇后。 |
| | During Emperor Wudi's reign, Consort Yin was a favored lady-in-waiting. Xing Fu ren was known by the title Xing'e; people commonly called her "Xinge." The rank of Xinge was equivalent to that of a central official with an annual salary of 2,000 dou; the rank of Ronghua was equivalent to an official with a salary of 1,000 dou per year; and the rank of Concubine Yin was equal to that of a marquis. Concubine Chang followed this path from being a jieyu to becoming empress.
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| | 外戚世家: |
尹夫人與邢夫人同時并幸，有詔不得相見。尹夫人自請武帝，願望見邢夫人，帝許之。即令他夫人飾，從御者數十人，為邢夫人來前。尹夫人前見之，曰：「此非邢夫人身也。」帝曰：「何以言之？」對曰：「視其身貌形狀，不足以當人主矣。」於是帝乃詔使邢夫人衣故衣，獨身來前。尹夫人望見之，曰：「此真是也。」於是乃低頭俛而泣，自痛其不如也。諺曰：「美女入室，惡女之仇。」 |
| | Consort Yin and Consort Xing were both favored at the same time, but an imperial decree forbade them from meeting each other. Consort Yin personally requested Emperor Wudi, expressing her wish to see Consort Xing; the emperor agreed. The emperor then ordered other consorts and attendants to dress up, along with dozens of palace attendants, pretending to be Consort Xing coming forward. Consort Yin went forward to see them and said: "This is not the real Consort Xing." The emperor asked, "How do you know this?" She replied: "By looking at her appearance and figure, she is not worthy to be in the presence of an emperor." Hearing this, Emperor Wudi then issued a decree ordering Consort Xing to wear her old clothes and come forward alone. Consort Yin saw her from afar and said: "This is the real one." At this, she lowered her head in sorrow and wept bitterly, lamenting that she was not as good as Consort Xing. A proverb says: "When a beautiful woman enters the house, it becomes an enemy to an ugly one."
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| | 外戚世家: |
褚先生曰：浴不必江海，要之去垢；馬不必騏驥，要之善走；士不必賢世，要之知道；女不必貴種，要之貞好。傳曰：「女無美惡，入室見妒；士無賢不肖，入朝見嫉。」美女者，惡女之仇。豈不然哉！ |
| | Master Chu said: One need not bathe in rivers or seas; what matters is removing dirt; a horse need not be a Qiji to be valuable; what counts is its ability to run well; a scholar need not come from an illustrious family; what matters is that he understands the Way; a woman need not be of noble lineage; what counts is her virtue and beauty. The Classic says: "A woman may be beautiful or ugly, but jealousy will arise once she enters the inner chambers; a man may be virtuous or unworthy, but envy will emerge when he enters court." A beautiful woman is the enemy of an ugly one. How true this is!
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| | 外戚世家: |
鉤弋夫人姓趙氏，河閒人也。得幸武帝，生子一人，昭帝是也。武帝年七十，乃生昭帝。昭帝立時，年五歲耳。 |
| | The Lady of Gouyi, surnamed Zhao, was a native of Hejian. She gained Emperor Wudi's favor and bore one son, who became Emperor Zhao. Emperor Wudi was seventy years old when he fathered Emperor Zhao. When Emperor Zhao ascended the throne, he was only five years old.
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| | 外戚世家: |
衛太子廢後，未復立太子。而燕王旦上書，願歸國入宿衛。武帝怒，立斬其使者於北闕。 |
| | After Crown Prince Wei was deposed, no new crown prince had yet been appointed. King Yan Dan submitted a memorial requesting to return his fief and serve as an imperial guard in the palace. Emperor Wudi was furious, and immediately beheaded his envoy at the northern gate.
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| | 外戚世家: |
上居甘泉宮，召畫工圖畫周公負成王也。於是左右群臣知武帝意欲立少子也。後數日，帝譴責鉤弋夫人。夫人脫簪珥叩頭。帝曰：「引持去，送掖庭獄！」夫人還顧，帝曰：「趣行，女不得活！」夫人死雲陽宮。時暴風揚塵，百姓感傷。使者夜持棺往葬之，封識其處。其後帝閒居，問左右曰：「人言云何？」左右對曰：「人言且立其子，何去其母乎？」帝曰：「然。是非兒曹愚人所知也。往古國家所以亂也，由主少母壯也。女主獨居驕蹇，淫亂自恣，莫能禁也。女不聞呂后邪？」故諸為武帝生子者，無男女，其母無不譴死，豈可謂非賢聖哉！昭然遠見，為後世計慮，固非淺聞愚儒之所及也。謚為「武」，豈虛哉！ |
| | The emperor resided in Ganzhuang Palace and summoned painters to depict the scene of Duke Zhou carrying King Cheng. At this point, the court officials realized that Emperor Wudi intended to appoint his youngest son as heir. A few days later, the emperor rebuked Lady Gouyi. The lady removed her hairpins and earrings and kowtowed in submission. The emperor said: "Take her away, send her to the Yecheng prison!" As she turned back to look at him, the emperor said: "Hurry up and go; you will not live!" The lady died in Yunyang Palace. At that time, a sudden wind blew up dust, and the common people felt sorrowful and moved. Envoys carried her coffin at night to bury her there, marking the location with a seal. Later, when the emperor was alone and asked his attendants: "What do people say about this?" The attendants replied: "People are saying that since you intend to appoint her son as heir, why did you remove his mother?" The emperor said: "Indeed. This is not something those foolish common people can understand." In the past, the reason why states became chaotic was because the ruler was young and his mother was strong-willed. A dominant queen dowager living alone would become arrogant, indulge in licentiousness, and act as she pleased, with no one able to restrain her. "Have you not heard of Empress Dowager Lü?" Therefore, among those who bore sons for Emperor Wu, regardless of whether they were male or female, their mothers were all punished and died; can this not be called the wisdom of a sage! This clear-sighted long-term planning for future generations is certainly beyond what shallow-minded and foolish Confucian scholars can achieve. To bestow the posthumous title "Wu" (Martial) upon him, was this not well deserved!
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