Emperor Gao of Han and the Enfeoffment of Same-Surname Princes: The Political Cornerstone of Early Western Han Dynasty

Introduction

Emperor Gao of Han, Liu Bang (256 BC – 195 BC), styled Ji, was a native of Feng County, Pei Commandery. He was a distinguished statesman and military strategist in Chinese history, and the founder of the Western Han Dynasty. During his reign (202 BC – 195 BC), he ended the social upheaval caused by the peasant uprisings of the late Qin Dynasty and the Chu-Han contention, establishing the Great Han Empire that endured for four centuries.

Drawing lessons from the rapid collapse of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang adopted a "Dual System of Commanderies and Kingdoms" in the early period of the new dynasty. In his strategy of enfeoffment, he explicitly rejected the Qin approach of relying solely on imperial clan members or merely rewarding meritorious officials of different surnames. Instead, he established the political principle that "if anyone other than the Liu family is enfeoffed as king, the world shall unite to attack them." He extensively enfeoffed imperial clan members of the same surname, historically known as the "Nine Kings" or the "Nine States of Same-Surname." This measure aimed to consolidate Liu imperial authority through blood ties and construct a stable architecture between the central government and localities.

Core Knowledge Points

1. The Political Logic of "Enfeoffing the Same Surname"

Liu Bang understood that the Qin Dynasty perished due to the isolation of its last emperor, Ziying, who stood alone with "no one from the imperial clan enfeoffed as marquis." Consequently, between 202 BC and 195 BC, he first enfeoffed meritorious officials of different surnames as kings, such as Han Xin as King of Chu and Zhang Er as King of Zhao (note: Han Xin was later replaced, and the list of enfeoffments fluctuated). Subsequently, through political maneuvering (advised by figures such as Chen Ping and Zhang Liang), he gradually removed the kings of different surnames and replaced them with members of the Liu clan.

The final formation of the nine major same-surname princely states included Yan, Chu, Liang, Zhao, Dai, Qi, Wu, Jiaodong, and Huainan (the specific roster underwent minor adjustments over time, but these nine lineages formed the core).

2. The Practical Operation of the Dual System of Commanderies and Kingdoms

Liu Bang implemented the "Dual System," meaning that the centrally administered commandery-county system coexisted with the system of princely states. Same-surname princes possessed the authority within their domains to establish official institutions, collect taxes, and even raise military forces. At the time, this was an effective means to pacify meritorious officials and stabilize the frontiers. However, this excessive concentration of power planted the seeds for the later "Rebellion of the Seven States." It was not until the reign of Emperor Wu of Han that the issue was thoroughly resolved through the "Order of Extending Grace."

3. Ancestral Law Concepts and the Reinforcement of Imperial Power

The enfeoffment of same-surname princes was not merely a political arrangement; it was also an embodiment of the Confucian concept of "relativity" (affinity of kinship). Through bloodline connections, Liu Bang sought to construct a family-political community with the Emperor as the head of the clan and the princes as heads of major branches. This merged imperial power with ancestral authority, thereby enhancing the legitimacy and cohesion of the regime.

Connections to the Book of Han (Hanshu)

The Book of Han was compiled by Ban Gu during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Its Annals of Emperor Gao records in detail the process of Liu Bang's enfeoffments.

* _Book of Han: Annals of Emperor Gao_: This chapter explicitly records the contrast between Liu Bang enfeoffing "meritorious officials of different surnames" and "retroactively enfeoffing the imperial clan" after his ascension. The text specifically emphasizes the oath: "if anyone other than the Liu family is enfeoffed as king, the world shall unite to attack them." This served as the fundamental law of the Han political system.
_Book of Han: Table of Princes_: This table systematically organizes the genealogies, territorial changes, and reasons for the abolition of all princes from the early to late Han Dynasty. By comparing the enfeoffment records in the Annals of Emperor Gao with the ultimate fates of the princes in the Table of Princes*, one can clearly observe Liu Bang's original intent to enfeoff same-surname princes and their actual evolution. For instance, the table records how meritorious officials of different surnames, such as Cao Shen and Zhou Bo, had their military powers revoked, while Liu clan members such as Liu Chang, King of Huainan, obtained their fiefs. This reflects the historical trajectory of transitioning from "meritorious officials' politics" to "imperial clan politics."
_Book of Han: Biography of Jia Yi_: Although this concerns the reign of Emperor Wen, Jia Yi's memorial, the Strategy for Securing Peace*, which proposed "establishing many princes to weaken their strength," was a remedial measure specifically addressing the problems arising from Liu Bang's enfeoffment of same-surname princes. This incidentally corroborates the profound impact and inherent limitations of Liu Bang's institutional design.

In summary, the enfeoffment of same-surname princes by Emperor Gao of Han marked the starting point of the Han political system. It was both a reflection on the Qin system and provided historical insights for the subsequent strengthening of centralized power.