The Ascendancy of the Huo Family
The Huo clan’s rise to prominence during Emperor Xuan’s reign (74-49 BCE) represents one of the most dramatic stories of political ascent and catastrophic downfall in Han Dynasty history. The family’s fortunes began with Huo Guang, who served as regent during Emperor Zhao’s minority and orchestrated the selection of Emperor Xuan (originally named Liu Bingji) as emperor after Emperor Zhao’s untimely death.
Huo Guang’s father, Huo Zhongru, had been a minor county official who had an affair with a maidservant in the Pingyang Marquis’ household, resulting in the birth of the famous general Huo Qubing. Later marrying another woman, Huo Zhongru fathered Huo Guang, who would become one of the most powerful officials in Han history. This humble origin stands in stark contrast to the family’s later pretensions to imperial status.
The Height of Huo Power and Arrogance
By 67 BCE, the Huo family had reached unprecedented heights of influence. Emperor Xuan had granted titles to Huo Guang’s descendants – making Huo Yun the Marquis of Guanyang and maintaining Huo Yu as Grand Marshal. The family’s matriarch, Huo Xian (Huo Guang’s widow), displayed shocking arrogance when she learned of Crown Prince Liu Shi’s establishment. She reportedly became so enraged she vomited blood, exclaiming: “How can the son born when the emperor was a commoner become crown prince? If the empress has a son later, will he only be made a king?”
This sense of entitlement led Huo Xian to instruct her daughter, Empress Huo, to poison the crown prince. The assassination attempts failed when the prince’s nurses and caretakers insisted on tasting his food first. This incident reveals the Huo family’s dangerous overreach – believing imperial succession should rightfully pass through their lineage rather than the emperor’s chosen heir.
The Downfall Begins: Imperial Countermeasures
Emperor Xuan, having grown up as a commoner before his unexpected accession, understood the dangers of concentrated power. He began systematically dismantling the Huo family’s influence:
1. He transferred key Huo relatives from military positions to civilian posts
2. He allowed officials to submit memorials directly to him, bypassing the Huo-controlled Secretariat
3. He reduced Huo Yu’s military authority while maintaining his prestigious title
4. He replaced Huo-affiliated troops with forces loyal to the Xu and Shi families
These moves provoked growing anxiety within the Huo clan. Huo Shan lamented: “Now the chancellor holds power, and the emperor trusts him completely. He’s changed many policies established by the late general (Huo Guang) and even publicizes his faults.”
The Huo Rebellion and Its Aftermath
Cornered and desperate, the Huo family began plotting rebellion in 66 BCE. Their plans included:
– Assassinating key officials like Chancellor Wei Xiang
– Using Empress Dowager Shangguan to legitimize their actions
– Potentially deposing Emperor Xuan and installing Huo Yu as emperor
When the conspiracy was exposed, the consequences were severe:
– Huo Yun and Huo Shan committed suicide
– Huo Yu was executed by waist-cutting
– Huo Xian and the Huo women were publicly executed
– The entire Huo clan was exterminated
– Empress Huo was deposed and later committed suicide
Historian Ban Gu’s assessment was scathing: “Although Huo Guang’s achievements matched those of the Duke of Zhou, his failure to teach his family proper conduct led to their destruction within three years of his death.”
Legal Reforms and Good Governance
Parallel to the Huo crisis, Emperor Xuan implemented significant reforms:
Judicial Reforms:
– Lu Wenshu’s “Memorial on Valuing Virtue and Relaxing Punishments” argued against harsh penalties
– The emperor established four new judicial review positions
– Adopted the principle of “when in doubt, acquit” rather than “when in doubt, convict”
Administrative Excellence:
– Gong Sui’s transformative governance in Bohai Commandery
– Huang Ba’s first-ranked administration in Yingchuan
– Yin Wenggui’s exemplary service in Youfufeng
These reforms and appointments demonstrated Emperor Xuan’s commitment to effective, humane governance following the Huo family’s excesses.
The Emperor’s Personal Journey
Emperor Xuan’s background as a commoner (rescued as an infant from the witchcraft persecutions that killed his grandfather, Crown Prince Liu Ju) deeply influenced his reign:
– He changed his name from the commoner-style “Liu Bingji” to the more imperial “Liu Xun”
– He painstakingly located his maternal relatives, honoring them with titles
– He maintained cautious relationships with potential rivals like former Emperor Liu He (whom he made Marquis of Haihun)
– He carefully selected a childless consort as empress to avoid threats to his heir
Enduring Lessons from the Huo Saga
The Huo family’s dramatic rise and fall offers timeless lessons about power:
1. The Danger of Entitlement: As commentator Hua Shan noted, the Huos failed to recognize that “everything is precious and rare – nothing should be taken for granted.”
2. The Limits of Nepotism: Huo Guang’s failure to properly educate his successors meant they couldn’t maintain their privileged position.
3. Power Corrupts: The Huo slaves’ outrageous behavior (like trying to kick down the Imperial Censor’s gate) showed how absolute power corrupts at all levels.
4. Cultural Contagion: Bad behavior at the top spreads downward in increasingly extreme forms.
5. The Importance of Temperament: As Wang Fuzhi observed, Huo Guang lacked the Duke of Zhou’s cultivated humility that might have saved his family.
The Huo clan’s story remains one of Chinese history’s most compelling tales of political overreach and imperial resolve, demonstrating both the fragility of power and the enduring importance of virtuous governance.