Emperor Han Wendi Stopped Building a Pavilion to Save People's Money
 
The story entitled, “Emperor Wendi of the Han Dynasty Stopped Building a Pavilion to Save His People's Money” comes from Historical Records: Xiaowen Benji.
 
Emperor Wendi (202 – 157 BC) wanted to build a pavilion on Mount Li. He first ordered artisans to estimate how much it would cost. The artisans told Wendi they estimated it would cost about 100 units of gold. Emperor Wendi said, “That is about the equivalent of the combined wealth of ten middle-class families. The late emperor left me with many palaces and pavilions. I often worried that my lack of virtue would tarnish his reputation. How could I think of spending more money and hard labor on building this pavilion?”
 
Emperor Wendi, whose name was Liu Heng, was a good monarch who took advice from his people. He lived a simple life. During his reign of 23 years, he did not overhaul his palaces. He also tried to slash expenses at the palaces. Historians had this to say regarding Emperor Wendi's halting the building of the pavilion: "Wendi was the emperor of the land. It can be said that he had enormous wealth. And there was a period of peace during his reign. The country was strong, the people prospered and there was a surplus of funds. It would have been nothing to build a pavilion. However, he would not spend even 100 units of gold to do so. He, indeed, shines along with Emperors Yao, Shun and Yu, the frugal emperors in history that people have praised."
 
According to historical records, during the reign of Emperor Wendi, there were no enhancements to palaces, gardens, clothing, carriages and horses, etc. He would not do anything that was detrimental to the interests of his people. Although Wendi was an emperor, his everyday clothes were made of thick, coarse silk. He even asked his favorite, Lady Shen, not to wear dresses that hung to the ground, and not to have any colorful, embroidered drapery. That's how frugal Wendi was, to set an example for the world.
 
Wendi also asked that his own tomb be built using only earthenware. They were not allowed to use precious metals such as gold, silver, copper, or tin to decorate the tomb. He also asked them not to build tall grave markers, to save as much as possible and not disturb people's lives and farming.
 
At that time, the King of Yue (modern day Guangzhou, Hainan, northern Vietnam) was Wei Tuo, who proclaimed himself Emperor Wudi. Emperor Wendi did not crusade against him. Instead he summoned Wei Tuo's brothers to the capital, and gave them property and made them walthy. As a result, Wei Tuo was moved, gave up the rank of emperor, and yielded to the Han Dynasty.
 
During the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu were still a powerful force. The Han Dynasty had just been established, and everything was in a period of respite. It was not suitable for the Hans to send troops to war. Emperor Wendi therefore made peace with the Xiongnu by way of marriage. But the Xiongnu broke the treaty, invaded the Han Dynasty, and committed looting. However, Emperor Wendi only ordered his troops to guard the borders and protect the people. He did not send troops to fight in the territory of the Xiongnu, because he considered the possible disaster that a war would mean for his people. One of the feudal lords, the Lord of Wu, Liu Bi, often found excuses to avoid traveling to the capital to appear before Wendi. Wendi did not pursue him. Instead he sent Liu Bi some wooden furnishings and a cane. This was to show his concern for the aging lord. He also announced that Liu Bi could avoid the formality.
 
Among his ministers, Yuan Ang was always very blunt and sharp when speaking to Emperor Wendi. Wendi always accepted his ministers' advice tolerantly. Sometimes he even awarded those who were plain spoken. On one occasion, Minister Zhang Wu and others accepted bribes. When Wendi became aware of this, he took some money from the royal palace and gave it to them. Wendi did not punish them. These people felt very ashamed.
 
When Emperor Wendi reigned, he was constantly thoughtful of the common people, and he was dedicated to ruling with grace instead of through punishment. Under his management, the land was prosperous, people lived peaceful lives, and etiquette flourished.
 
汉文帝露台惜费
 
汉文帝“露台惜费”，出自《史记•孝文本纪》。本文记述了汉文帝因爱惜民财，从而停建露台的故事。
 
【原文】
 
文帝尝欲作露台（露天的看台）。召匠计之，值百金。上曰：“百金，中人（中等的民户）十家之产也。吾奉先帝宫室，常恐羞之。何以台为？”
 
【今译】
 
汉文帝曾经想在骊山上建造一座露台，他先下令工匠预计将要花费多少钱。工匠估算了一下后，禀告文帝说大概需要百金的费用。汉文帝听后说：“百金的费用，大概相当于十户中等人家加在一起的财产。先帝遗留给我的宫室亭台，已经很多了，我常常担心自己的功德不够，而玷污了先帝的贤明，怎么能再耗费民资，让百姓劳苦来修筑这座露台呢？”
 
【解析】
 
汉文帝刘恒，是一位纳谏从善的君主，在生活上也十分简朴。他在位的二十三年中，未曾大修苑囿宫室，宫廷开支也尽力压缩。后世史家在评论汉文帝停建露台这件事时说：文帝是天下之主，可谓富甲四海。他在位时又值升平时期，国泰民安，财用有余，建个露台算不了什么。然而，百金之微，他都不肯破费。这比起人民歌颂的简朴君主尧、舜、禹来，也是相映成辉的。
 
史书上记载，汉文帝在位期间，宫室、园林、服饰、车、马，等等，什么都没有增加。只要是对老百姓的利益，有一点损失的事，他都不会去做。文帝虽然贵为天子，但是他平时穿的衣服，都是质地粗厚的丝织品。即使是对自己十分宠爱的慎夫人，也要求她不要穿长到拖地的衣裙，使用的帏帐，也都是极其朴素的、不准绣彩色的花纹图案。汉文帝就是这样俭朴，以垂示天下的。
 
此外，汉文帝还规定，自己的陵墓，要全部使用瓦器制造，不准用金银铜锡等贵重的金属，来作为装饰，不要修建高大的坟，要尽量的节省，不要烦扰了百姓的生活与生产。
 
当时的南越王尉佗，曾经自立为武帝，文帝并没有讨伐他，而是把尉佗的兄弟召到京城来，给他们财物，使得他们富贵。这样做的结果，终于感动了尉佗，尉佗自动取消了自己的那个帝号，向汉朝俯首称臣。
 
汉代的时候，匈奴势力还很强大，而汉朝刚刚建立，一切都在休养生息当中，不适合出兵打仗，于是文帝就与匈奴相约和亲。匈奴却背弃契约，入侵劫掠，但是文帝只命令边塞戒备防守，保护住老百姓，不让他们受到伤害，而不出兵到匈奴境内，原因是考虑到战争会给百姓带来灾难。当时诸侯国的吴王刘濞，常常找借口不来朝见，文帝并不去追究他，而是赐给他木几和手杖，表示对于上了年纪的吴王的关怀，还宣布可以免去他进京朝觐的礼节。
 
群臣中如袁盎等人，每次进言陈诉，虽然直率尖锐，总是不给汉文帝留情面，但是文帝总是宽容地采纳他们的谏议，有时候还要当面奖赏进谏者。有一次，大臣中的张武等人，接受了别人贿赂的金钱，事情被文帝知道后，文帝就从皇宫仓库中取出金钱，送给他们，却没有把他们交给官府进行刑罚，于是这些人都感到十分的羞愧。
 
汉文帝在位的时候，时时刻刻都为黎民百姓著想，致力于用恩德感化臣民，少用刑罚。在他的治理下，天下富足，百姓安居，礼仪兴盛。