On the Twist of the Posthumous Title of Emperor Xuan and the Transformation of Political Culture in the Early Eastern Han Dynasty
The process of abolition and reconstruction of Emperor Xuan's posthumous title was a result of the political cultural transformation in the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty.After the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty,the posthumous title of Emperor Xuan,which was setting up by Wang Mang,was not recognized for a time.The decision was made by Guangwu,who aimed at eliminating Wang Mang's political influence,reconstructing Zhou system,promoting private relatives and showing the particularity of the Eastern Han Dynasty.Along with the return to the blend of both punishment and virtue in policy,the status of Emperor Xuan,who was regarded as an important reference,gradually got promoted.In the 19th year of Jianwu,when the royal temple system was reformed,Guangwu took the initiative to honour Emperor Xuan's posthumous title,which was an action based on both practical and future considerations.The final establishment of Emperor Xuan's posthumous title was meaningful:the reformed Han system has given up on imitating Zhou system,and the significance of the four temples built for Guangwu's relatives was dissolved.After the issue,emperors of the Eastern Han had to maintain contact with their ancestors through other means.The issue also showed the process of which the new regime integrated into the unitary Han Dynasty tradition and modified Han system.
Emperor Xuan of Han DynastyPosthumous TitleInheriting ZhouConstructing Hanthe Four Temples of Guangwu's Relatives
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维普
