The Han漢高豊準又龍顔

Gaozu of Han had a full nose and also a dragon's face; his surname was Liu (劉), his name Bang (邦), and his courtesy name Ji (季).

In the first year of Huhai he rose at Pei (沛), and Xiao He and Zhang Liang within the tent gave him their plans and their wisdom.

The five planets keep their several stations, each one apart, yet they gathered in Dongjing (東井), and there was good reason in it.

Ziying came out in plain white to meet him, and he entered the Pass; he took that year, an eulmi year, as his first year.

He raised an altar and bowed to make the Marquis of Huaiyin his general and favored him, and he broke off washing his feet to hurry like the wind and welcome Li Yiji.

The many heroes mingled and went to and fro, east and west, and in five years he destroyed Chu and gathered in all that was far and near.

He came with the power of fire (火德) and made his capital at Chang'an, but the manners left by the long disorder were not yet pure.

Shusun made the rites and set the order of ruler and subject, and here for the first time men knew how noble the Son of Heaven is.

He sought out scholars far and wide and set up the schools, and the six classics and the many philosophers came back again.

Heaven and earth wrapped the palace and the sun and moon were bright; plowing their fields and digging their wells, all the world gave joy to one another.

If at that time our emperor had not arisen, not only writing would have been lost — the people too would have been trampled down.

How painful — Heaven did not grant him more years; he ruled twelve years, and why did he so suddenly leave?

The empress dowager took her chance and came to court in person; her surname was Lü (呂) and her name Zhi (雉).

She killed King Yin with poison and shaved Lady Qi's head and shut her away; Emperor Hui could only weep in vain before the "human pig."

Lü Chan and Lü Lu had just seized all power and the house of Liu was in danger, but Chen Ping and Zhou Bo were still there, and they could truly be relied on.

Emperors Wen, Jing, Wu, and Xuan were sagely and bright above the rest; dragons and the qilin and the phoenix came to offer their good omens.

When Emperors Ai and Ping let the reins slip, power went over to the subjects; what could be done about the way of Han being blocked midway?

Wang Mang held the child Ying and played the regent chancellor, killing and sparing as he pleased and making many false things.

At last he seized the throne and set himself up and called it the House of Xin (新室); what man of judgment did not grind his teeth?

The stout men of the Three Adjuncts (三輔) rose and cut down Wang Mang, and they sliced his flesh and shared it out, and took what comfort they could.

In the first year of Gengshi they set up Liu Xuan; this was Shenggong (聖公), and there was much in him that was soft and slack.

When he went up to the throne he only smoothed the mat and the cushion, and he dared not look down toward his assembled subjects.

In the sixth month of the second year, who was it that urged him to take the throne? The Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han arose at Baishui (白水).

The Emperor Guangwu was careful and generous, and broad and benevolent as well; he grew up among soldiers and passed through many trials.

In Jiyang county, where he first lived, fine grain sprang up of itself with nine ears on one stalk; so he was named Xiu (秀) and his courtesy name was Wenshu. The choosing of Heaven lay already in the mind of the blue sky.

Riding the dragon and driving through heaven, he raised his divine banners, and on every side those who had called themselves king threw down their bows and arrows; they vied to bring jade and silk, fearing only to be late, and the work of the restoration hung down for all to see. The line of Maojin was bright with culture again, and the far borders came as guests, like crowds streaming to a marketplace.

When it came to Emperors Huan and Ling, they began to lose their subjects,