ABSTRACT
The foundation of the Chinese Empire appears in history not as the close, but as the crowning-point of an era of anarchy and distraction. For the period which extends to the reigns in which the dynasty of the Han was solidly established, historical narratives are inspired by epic romances and embittered pamphlets which add a touch of pathos to the scanty annals. 1 They are, in what follows, made up with the aid of official documents, and aim first at relating the intrigues of the Court or, to use the words of Ssu-ma Ch'ien, “ the affairs of the household.” 2 Dynastic history attempts to judge the worth of the Emperors. If it sometimes admits that, under certain of them, China “ enjoyed calm,” it puts first evidence to prove that the sovereign Virtue was never restored in its native splendour.
