Sang Hongyang
Encyclopedia
Sang Hongyang (c. 152–80 BC) was a prominent official of the Former Han Dynasty, who served Emperor Wu of Han
and his successor Emperor Zhao
. He is most famed for his economic policies during the reign of Emperor Wu, the best known of which include the state monopolies over iron and salt - systems which would be imitated by other dynasties throughout history. Due to political conflict, he was executed in 80 BC by Huo Guang
(d. 68 BC).
, one of the Han Dynasty's major commercial centres, to a family of merchants. In youth he was known for his mathematical prowess, and when Emperor Wu ascended to the throne in 141 BC Sang came to his notice and was eventually invited to become an Attendant (侍中) - one of the means by which the Emperor kept talent in the palace, and by which many important officials began their careers. Sang would remain an Attendant for 26 years.
had drained the wealth built up by Emperor Wu's predecessors, and the state had entered a financial crisis. in 120 BC, the Minister of Agriculture Zheng Dangshi first proposed the state monopolies on iron and salt, recommending two powerful salt and iron magnates to join the government and manage the industry on the national scale. Sang Hongyang was then assigned to aid the magnates in their planning. With the success of the monopolies in alleviating the financial situation Sang eventually rose to become Assistant Minister of Agriculture.
As the Assistant Minister Sang soon implemented several more measures to refill the national coffers. These included an asset tax, payable by artisans, loaners, merchants, and owners of carriages and boats, which was calculated according to the amount of assets. Smallholders only needed to pay half the official rate of tax. At the same time laws were enacted, under which false reporting and concealment of assets was punishable by confiscation of assets and exile to the borders for a year. People were encouraged to report cases of concealment, since half the confiscated assets were awarded to the reporters.
. In the wake of the death of Emperor Wu and the installation of the child Emperor Zhang of Han
in that year, Sang became one of the key politicians in the age of the triumvirate formed by Huo Guang
, Jin Midi
, and Shangguan Jie. However, Sang was executed in 80 BC by the regent Huo Guang on charges of treason for his alleged involvement in the attempted coup of Liu Tan, King of Yan, to take over the throne of Han and have Huo Guang murdered. As a result, Sang's biography was not included in the Book of Han
historical text.
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
and his successor Emperor Zhao
Emperor Zhao of Han
Emperor Zhao of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 87 BC to 74 BC.Emperor Zhao was the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Han. By the time Zhao was born, Emperor Wu was already 62. Zhao ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Wu in 87 BC. He was only 8 years old...
. He is most famed for his economic policies during the reign of Emperor Wu, the best known of which include the state monopolies over iron and salt - systems which would be imitated by other dynasties throughout history. Due to political conflict, he was executed in 80 BC by Huo Guang
Huo Guang
Huo Guang , courtesy name Zimeng was a Western Han statesman who was a rare example in Chinese history of a powerful official who deposed an emperor for the good of the state rather than to usurp the throne...
(d. 68 BC).
Youth and Officialdom
Sang Hongyang was born in LuoyangLuoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, one of the Han Dynasty's major commercial centres, to a family of merchants. In youth he was known for his mathematical prowess, and when Emperor Wu ascended to the throne in 141 BC Sang came to his notice and was eventually invited to become an Attendant (侍中) - one of the means by which the Emperor kept talent in the palace, and by which many important officials began their careers. Sang would remain an Attendant for 26 years.
Rise to Importance
Sang's skill at economic policy would only come into play during the middle of Emperor Wu's reign. By then the ongoing campaigns against the XiongnuXiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
had drained the wealth built up by Emperor Wu's predecessors, and the state had entered a financial crisis. in 120 BC, the Minister of Agriculture Zheng Dangshi first proposed the state monopolies on iron and salt, recommending two powerful salt and iron magnates to join the government and manage the industry on the national scale. Sang Hongyang was then assigned to aid the magnates in their planning. With the success of the monopolies in alleviating the financial situation Sang eventually rose to become Assistant Minister of Agriculture.
As the Assistant Minister Sang soon implemented several more measures to refill the national coffers. These included an asset tax, payable by artisans, loaners, merchants, and owners of carriages and boats, which was calculated according to the amount of assets. Smallholders only needed to pay half the official rate of tax. At the same time laws were enacted, under which false reporting and concealment of assets was punishable by confiscation of assets and exile to the borders for a year. People were encouraged to report cases of concealment, since half the confiscated assets were awarded to the reporters.
Imperial Secretary
In 87 BC, Sang Hongyang became the Imperial Secretary (also known as Imperial Counselor and Grandee Secretary), one of the three most senior posts in government known as the Three ExcellenciesThree Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
. In the wake of the death of Emperor Wu and the installation of the child Emperor Zhang of Han
Emperor Zhang of Han
Emperor Zhang of Han, ch. 漢章帝, py. hàn zhāng dì, wg. Han Chang-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 75 to 88. He was the third emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty....
in that year, Sang became one of the key politicians in the age of the triumvirate formed by Huo Guang
Huo Guang
Huo Guang , courtesy name Zimeng was a Western Han statesman who was a rare example in Chinese history of a powerful official who deposed an emperor for the good of the state rather than to usurp the throne...
, Jin Midi
Jin Midi
Jin Midi , formally Marquess Jing of Du , was a prominent official of the Chinese dynasty Han Dynasty of Xiongnu ethnicity. He served as coregent early in the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han.- Background :...
, and Shangguan Jie. However, Sang was executed in 80 BC by the regent Huo Guang on charges of treason for his alleged involvement in the attempted coup of Liu Tan, King of Yan, to take over the throne of Han and have Huo Guang murdered. As a result, Sang's biography was not included in the Book of Han
Book of Han
The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
historical text.