ABSTRACT
Stirring events took place in Ch‘ang-an, city of Eternal Tranquillity, during the years 92-90BC. Some of the highest in the land, including chief dignitaries of state and members of the imperial family, were executed or forced to suicide. Fears of witchcraft, possibly of an hysterical nature, resulted in the deaths of many who were suspected of such practices, and large numbers were killed in the open fighting that broke out in the city. In the name of justice men and women were sentenced to severe punishments, and senior officials tried in vain to persuade the Emperor to relax and rule with a greater measure of clemency. It was a time of acute danger for the Han dynasty; the survival of the imperial house was threatened by the prob lem of the imperial succession; there was dissatisfaction expres sed against the authority of the government and acts of rebellion had taken place; and the heavy expenditure of the previous years had depleted the Han treasuries. Some measure of stability followed the death of Wu ti in 87 and his succession by an infant son. At the same time there was an institutional change of no small significance. Three senior officials were appointed to act as members of a regency, and took all impor tant decisions of state, to the exclusion of the responsibility vested hitherto in the Chancellor, the most senior official of duly established government.
