Adherent to Confucianism corrupted by absolute power or clever plotter who feigned virtuousness to usurp the throne? The life of Wang Mang (45 BC - 23 AD) was seemingly full of contradictions but just how much he plotted in advance of his coup is unclear. We'll explore his upbringing in the stable Han Empire, then follow along as he grows from revered Confucian practitioner to reviled emperor. Afterward, you can decide for yourself the truth of his intentions.
Want to read more about this episode's characters or aren't sure about their spelling? Here's a list of this episode's major characters:
Wang Mang - our protagonist
(Future) Empress Ping - Wang Mang's daughter
Wang Zhengjun - Empress (for a time) and Wang Mang's aunt
Emperor Ai - 2nd Successor to Zhenjun's husband
Chunyu Zhang - political rival of Wang Mang
Princess Dowager Fu (AKA Grandma Fu) - Emperor Ai's grandmother
Credits
Host: C.J. Weiss
Music: Bobby Hall
11/11/24 • 47 min
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