Zhufu Yan (主父偃, died 127 or 126 BCE) was a Chinese politician who served as a high-ranking court official and advisor to

Emperor Wu of Han Emperor Wu of Han (156 – 29 March 87BC), formally enshrined as Emperor Wu the Filial (), born Liu Che (劉徹) and courtesy name Tong (通), was the seventh emperor of the Han dynasty of ancient China, ruling from 141 to 87 BC. His reign last ...

. He proposed the ''Tui'en Ling'' (推恩令 ‘Order to Expand Favours’), a decree that was meant to weaken the power of the feudal lords in China. The policy encouraged them to divide their territories among all their sons rather than pass their lands onto just the eldest son. The resulting fragmentation of the feudal lords' estates reduced their influence, making them less of a threat to the Emperor. Born into a poor family in

Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal Provinces of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in His ...

, Zhufu began his studies with the

School of Diplomacy The School of Diplomacy (), or the School of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances was a political and diplomatic clique during the Warring States period of Chinese history (476-220 BCE). According to the ''Book of Han'', the school was one of the Ni ...

and did not study Taoist and Confucian texts until later. It was said that Zhufu accepted many bribes and was notorious for revealing the secrets of many court officials. He once manipulated Zhu Maichen into accepting a proposal made by Gongsun Hong, but Gongsun was able to convince the Emperor to execute Zhufu Yan for bribery.Liang Cai The Journal of the American Oriental Society. 131.3 (July-September 2011): p371. Excavating the genealogy of classical studies in the western Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.-8 C.E.)

References

2nd-century BC executions 127 BC deaths Executed Han dynasty people Executed people from Shandong Han dynasty politicians from Shandong People executed by the Han dynasty Politicians from Zibo Victims of familial execution Year of birth unknown Chinese reformers
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