Chinese - Bronze 22mm 14-23 A.D. Interregnum between W. Han
and E. Han Dynasties, Hsin Dynasty, regent/usurper Wang Mang, 9-23 A.D., Huo-chuan
(Biscuit Money), introduced in AD14, Reference: Schjoth 154; CC246.
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Wang Mang (Chinese:
王莽; pinyin:
Wáng Măng) (45 BC – 6 October 23),
courtesy name Jujun (巨君), was a
Han
Dynasty official who seized the throne from the
Liu family and
founded the
Xin
(or Hsin, meaning "new") Dynasty (新朝), ruling AD 9–23. The Han dynasty was
restored after his overthrow and his rule marks the separation between the
Western Han Dynasty (before Xin) and Eastern Han Dynasty (after Xin). Some
historians have traditionally viewed Wang as a usurper, while others have
portrayed him as a visionary and selfless social reformer. Though a learned
Confucian scholar who sought to implement the harmonious society he saw in
the
classics, his efforts ended in chaos.
Wang was born into a distinguished family, but his father
died when he was young and he held only minor posts until being made a
marquess in
16 BC. His father's half sister was the powerful
Grand Empress Dowager Wang who had been the consort of
Emperor Yuan and mother of
Emperor Cheng. In 8 BC Wang was appointed
regent for
Emperor Cheng, but Emperor Cheng died in 7 or 6 BC and was succeeded by
Emperor Ai, who was not related to the Empress Dowager. Wang Mang thereupon
resigned.
However, in 1 BC, Emperor Ai died and Empress Dowager Wang
immediately had Wang Mang appointed regent for the new
Emperor Ping. Wang consolidated his power by having his
daughter made the Emperor Ping's
empress. When Emperor Ping died as a child in AD 6, Wang Mang chose (to his
own advantage) an infant successor, the
Emperor Ruzi, who had only been born in AD 5. At this time, Wang claimed for
himself the title of acting emperor (假皇帝) and engaged in a propaganda campaign
to convince others that the Han dynasty no longer held the
mandate of heaven and was to be replaced. Finally, in January of AD 9, he
ascended the throne and declared the Xin Dynasty.
As regent, Wang had gained a reputation as a competent
administrator and his accession was at first seen in a good light. He sought to
refill the imperial coffers by instituting government monopolies and restoring
the
well-field system. His decision to nationalize gold and keep issuing new
currencies caused hardship and discontent among merchants. In AD 9 he decreed
that all large estates, which had gradually grown larger and threatened imperial
power, be dissolved and their lands distributed among tax-paying peasants. This
did not sit well with the aristocracy, which forced Wang to rescind his decree
in AD 12.
Another major reason for the deterioration of Wang's reign
was that in the diplomatic arena he was prone to extreme arrogance and
faux pas
when dealing with allies and
tributary states.
In particular, with the
Xiongnu, he
denigrated their
Chanyu (king) and tried to interfere in their internal affairs. This led to
the breakdown of diplomatic relations and prolonged wars with Xiong-Nu and many
other tributary states, further adding to the tax and human costs of his
administration.
Between AD 2 and AD 5 and again in AD 11, the
Yellow
River changed course to flow south (instead of north) of the
Shandong Peninsula, causing famine, epidemics, and migration among the
peasants. Peasants banded together and led larger and larger rebellions. In
October of AD 23, the capital
Chang'an
was attacked and the imperial palace ransacked. Wang Mang and his 1,000
courtiers made their last stand and fought until they were completely
obliterated. Wang Mang died in the battle.
The Han dynasty was reestablished in AD 25 when Liu Xiu (Emperor
Guangwu) took the throne.
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