Han Wudi

The major grains, millet, rice, wheat, I think hemp, and sorghum in some cases, rice.

But what we're actually seeing from the Han period, especially after Han Wu Di, is that there's a lot of millet, even in the south.

giving this impression that we're not really sure if it's out-migration from the interior in the south.

When people are bringing millet, because they like the taste of millet as a central plains staple, once they move south, it's actually a lot more millet than rice, which is, I think, seeing you think about how people bring their comfort food, maybe, as they're being displaced or transferred to other parts of the empire.

End footnote.

often and often i put my hand to my head footnote literally scratched my head as is often done by the chinese in perplexity or doubt often and often i put my hand to my head and exclaimed surely he who sat with his face to the wall alluding to bodhidharma who came from india to china and tried to convert the emperor wu di of the liang dynasty but failing in his attempt because he insisted that real merit lay not in works but in purity and wisdom combined he retired full of mortification to a temple at sungsan where he sat for nine years before a rock until his own image was imprinted thereon Surely he who sat with his face to the wall was myself in previous state of existence, and thus I referred to my non-success in this life to the influence of a destiny surviving from the last.

I have been tossed hither and thither in the direction of the rolling wind, like a flower falling in filthy places.

but the six paths of transmigration are inscrutable indeed and i have no right to complain the six paths of transmigration are the six glati or conditions of existence namely angels men demons hungry devils brute beasts and tortured sinners As it is, midnight finds me with an expiring lamp, while the wind whistles mournfully without, quote, and over my cheerless table I piece together my tails, footnote, literally pulling together the pieces under the forelegs of foxes to make robes.

Wang begged him again and again to do his best for him, and Wu undertook to get the betrothal satisfactorily arranged.

He then took leave of his cousin, who from this moment was rapidly restored to health.

wang drew the flower from underneath his pillow and found that though dried up the leaves had not fallen away he often sat playing with this flower and thinking of the young lady but by and by as wu did not reappear he wrote a letter and asked him to come wu pleaded other engagements being unwilling to go at which wang got into a rage and quite lost his good spirits so that his mother fearing a relapse proposed to him a speedy betrothal in another quarter Wang shook his head at this, and sat day after day waiting for Wu until his patience was thoroughly exhausted.

He then reflected that ten miles was no great distance, and that there was no particular reason for asking anybody's aid, so, concealing the flower in his sleeve, he went off in a huff by himself without letting it be known.

This reflected very badly on Emperor Jing, who was blamed for letting this matter get out of hand and for allowing such a good person as Zhou Yafu to die.

141 BC, Han Jingdi himself died and was succeeded by his son Liu Che, who will be posthumously remembered as the Han Emperor Wu, Han Wudi.

But before we introduce Emperor Wu of Han, let's back up to the Qin dynasty.

I mentioned how Qin Shi Huang had commanderies set up throughout the empire from which to govern and keep an eye on everything.

Earlier emperors were satisfied to maintain the Heqin marriage alliance and tribute system.

Han princesses were married off to Xiongnu men in order to keep the peace.

His forebears may have found it a price they were willing to pay, but Han Wudi viewed this whole arrangement as humiliating.

He began planning.

Some centuries later it found its way into China by way of Central Asia.

There is a tradition that as early as 142 BC, Zhang Qian, an ambassador of the Chinese emperor Wu Di, visited the countries of Central Asia where he first learned about the new religion which was making such headway and reported concerning it to his master.

A few years later the generals of Wu Di captured a gold image of the Buddha which the emperor set up in his palace and worshipped, but he took no further steps.

According to Chinese historians Buddhism was officially recognized in China about 67 AD.

A few years before that date the emperor Ming Di saw in a dream a large golden image with a halo hovering above his palace.

His advisors, some of whom were no doubt already favorable to the new religion, interpreted the image of the dream to be that of Buddha, the great sage of India, who was inviting his adhesion.

Following their advice the emperor sent an embassy to study into Buddhism.

It brought back two Indian monks and a quantity of Buddhist classics.

End footnote.

often and often i put my hand to my head footnote literally scratched my head as is often done by the chinese in perplexity or doubt often and often i put my hand to my head and exclaimed surely he who sat with his face to the wall alluding to bodhidharma who came from india to china and tried to convert the emperor wu di of the liang dynasty but failing in his attempt because he insisted that real merit lay not in works but in purity and wisdom combined he retired full of mortification to a temple at sungsan where he sat for nine years before a rock until his own image was imprinted thereon Surely, he who sat with his face to the wall was myself in previous state of existence, and thus I referred to my non-success in this life to the influence of a destiny surviving from the last.

I have been tossed hither and thither in the direction of the rolling wind, like a flower falling in filthy places.

but the six paths of transmigration are inscrutable indeed and i have no right to complain footnote the six paths of transmigration are the six gati or conditions of existence namely angels men demons hungry devils brute beasts and tortured sinners As it is, midnight finds me with an expiring lamp, while the wind whistles mournfully without.

"'How foolish you are, cousin!' cried Wu.

"'There will be no difficulty at all.

I'll make inquiries for you.' the girl herself can't belong to a very aristocratic family to be walking alone in the country if she's not already engaged i have no doubt we can arrange the affair and even if she is unwilling an extra outlay will easily bring her round you make haste and get well i'll see to it all wang's features relaxed when he heard these words and wu left him to tell his mother how the case stood immediately setting on foot inquiries as to the whereabouts of the girl all his efforts however proved fruitless to the great disappointment of wang's mother for since his cousin's visit wang's color and appetite had returned in a few days woo called again and in answer to wang's questions falsely told him the affair was settled who do you think the young lady is said he why a cousin of ours who is only waiting to be betrothed and though you two are a little near i dare say this difficulty may be overcome wang was overjoyed and asked where she lived so wu had to tell another lie and say on the southwest hills about ten miles from here wang begged him again and again to do his best for him and wu undertook to get the betrothal satisfactorily arranged he then took leave of his cousin who from this moment was rapidly restored to health wang drew the flower from underneath his pillow and found that though dried up the leaves had not fallen away he often sat playing with this flower and thinking of the young lady but by and by as wu did not reappear he wrote a letter and asked him to come wu pleaded other engagements being unwilling to go at which wang got into a rage and quite lost his good spirits so that his mother fearing a relapse proposed to him a speedy betrothal in another quarter wang shook his head at this and sat day after day waiting for wu until his patience was thoroughly exhausted He then reflected that ten miles was no great distance, and that there was no particular reason for asking anybody's aid, so, concealing the flower in his sleeve, he went off in a huff by himself without letting it be known.

Having no opportunity of asking the way, he made straight for the hills, and after about ten miles walking, found himself right in the midst of them, enjoying their exquisite verdure, but meeting no one, and with nothing better than mountain paths to guide him.

Then, in the smoke of the incense, the remembered form and face would appear.

In many old Japanese and Chinese books, mention is made of a famous story about this incense, a story of the Chinese Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

When the Emperor had lost his beautiful favorite, the Lady Li, he sorrowed so much that fears were entertained for his reason.

But all efforts made to divert his mind from the thought of her proved unavailing.

End footnote.

often and often i put my hand to my head footnote literally scratched my head as is often done by the chinese in perplexity or doubt often and often i put my hand to my head and exclaimed surely he who sat with his face to the wall alluding to bodhidharma who came from india to china and tried to convert the emperor wu di of the liang dynasty but failing in his attempt because he insisted that real merit lay not in works but in purity and wisdom combined he retired full of mortification to a temple at sungsan where he sat for nine years before a rock until his own image was imprinted thereon Surely, he who sat with his face to the wall was myself in previous state of existence, and thus I referred to my non-success in this life to the influence of a destiny surviving from the last.

I have been tossed hither and thither in the direction of the rolling wind, like a flower falling in filthy places.

but the six paths of transmigration are inscrutable indeed and i have no right to complain footnote the six paths of transmigration are the six gati or conditions of existence namely angels men demons hungry devils brute beasts and tortured sinners As it is, midnight finds me with an expiring lamp, while the wind whistles mournfully without, quote, and over my cheerless table I piece together my tails, footnote, literally pulling together the pieces under the forelegs of foxes to make robes.

"'How foolish you are, cousin!' cried Wu.

"'There will be no difficulty at all.

I'll make inquiries for you.' the girl herself can't belong to a very aristocratic family to be walking alone in the country if she's not already engaged i have no doubt we can arrange the affair and even if she is unwilling an extra outlay will easily bring her round you make haste and get well i'll see to it all wang's features relaxed when he heard these words and wu left him to tell his mother how the case stood immediately setting on foot inquiries as to the whereabouts of the girl all his efforts however proved fruitless to the great disappointment of wang's mother for since his cousin's visit wang's color and appetite had returned in a few days woo called again and in answer to wang's questions falsely told him the affair was settled who do you think the young lady is said he why a cousin of ours who is only waiting to be betrothed and though you two are a little near i dare say this difficulty may be overcome wang was overjoyed and asked where she lived so woo had to tell another lie and say on the south-west hills about ten miles from here wang begged him again and again to do his best for him and woo undertook to get the betrothal satisfactorily arranged he then took leave of his cousin who from this moment was rapidly restored to health wang drew the flower from underneath his pillow and found that though dried up the leaves had not fallen away he often sat playing with this flower and thinking of the young lady but by and by as wu did not reappear he wrote a letter and asked him to come wu pleaded other engagements being unwilling to go at which wang got into a rage and quite lost his good spirits so that his mother fearing a relapse proposed to him a speedy betrothal in another quarter Wang shook his head at this, and sat day after day waiting for Wu until his patience was thoroughly exhausted.

He then reflected that ten miles was no great distance, and that there was no particular reason for asking anybody's aid, so, concealing the flower in his sleeve, he went off in a huff by himself without letting it be known.