第五倫傳考

Abstract

In the latter half of the Western Han the families of imperial consorts emerged as a powerful political bloc, often endangering the survival of the dynasty. Wang Mang 王莽 who eventually usurped the throne belong to one of those families. The Eastern Han also suffered from empress' families throughout its 200 years history. Moreover, the growing influence of eunuchs added further complication. Even the relatively stable reigns of Emperors Chang 章帝 and Ming 明帝 were not exceptions. The first half of this paper looks into the career of Ti-wu Lun, who asa chief minister 三公 under Emperor Chang memorialized three times against empress' families. Ti-wu Lun spent the turbulent years following the downfall of the Western Han in the countryside protecting local people. After mercantile activities he entered local bureaucracy, rising to become a prefect. Soon known for the ability, he was given an exceptional promotion and appointed a chief minister when Emperor Chang ascended the throne. In the second half the memorials of Ti-wu Lun are examined together with the state of empress' families that time, taking the Ma 馬 family as example. The empress' families increased their influence principally by having the members to serve certain posts at the court, such as palace guards 衛尉. In addition, they assembled scholars and literati around them.