The Five Marquises: How the Wang Clan Undid the Western Han

The "Enfeoffment of the Five Marquises" in 27 BCE during Emperor Cheng's reign marked a critical turning point in the Western Han Dynasty. This act dramatically consolidated the Wang clan's waiqi (maternal relatives) influence, shifting from individual authority to pervasive familial control. It ultimately accelerated the erosion of imperial power, leading to widespread corruption and setting the stage for Wang Mang's usurpation and the dynasty's collapse.

Defining Concepts of Han Dynasty Power

• Waiqi (外戚): Imperial relatives by marriage, specifically maternal relatives, who often wielded immense political power, especially during periods of weak or young emperors.
• Da Sima Da Jiangjun (大司马大将军): Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief, one of the highest military and civilian posts that granted immense authority over state affairs.
• Feng Hou (封侯): The act of enfeoffment, where an individual is granted a marquisate, a noble title accompanied by land and stipend, traditionally reserved for significant contributions.

The Ascendancy of the Wang Clan

• Empress Wang Zhengjun, Emperor Cheng's mother, became Empress Dowager, leveraging her position to elevate her maternal relatives.
• Her brother, Wang Feng, was appointed Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief early in Emperor Cheng's reign (33 BCE), effectively placing supreme military and civil authority in his hands.
• Wang clan members systematically occupied crucial governmental positions, creating pervasive control over central and local administration.

The Enfeoffment of the Five Marquises

• Direct Catalyst: In 27 BCE (Heping 2nd year), Emperor Cheng controversially enfeoffed five of Wang Feng's younger brothers—Wang Tan, Wang Shang, Wang Li, Wang Gen, and Wang Fengshi—as marquises on a single day.
• Violation of Precedent: This act defied the Han Dynasty's established precedent that only individuals with substantial contributions to the empire should receive such titles.
• Escalated Influence: The enfeoffment transformed the Wang clan's power from "one person's monopoly" under Wang Feng to a collective "family co-governance."
• Immediate Impact: Solidified the Wang family's grip on government, leading to widespread corruption and lavish lifestyles.

Erosion of Imperial Authority and Dynastic Collapse

• The enfeoffment accelerated the erosion of imperial authority, rendering Emperor Cheng's power increasingly nominal and contributing to systemic instability.
• Wang Mang's Rise: Wang Mang, a nephew of Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun, observed and exploited this systemic weakness, strategically cultivating influence.
• Usurpation: Following Emperor Cheng's death (7 BCE) and subsequent brief reigns, Wang Mang consolidated power, ultimately usurping the throne in 9 AD to establish the Xin Dynasty, ending the Western Han.
• Legacy: The event serves as a stark historical lesson on the perils of unchecked familial power and its profound contribution to dynastic decline and usurpation.