Emperor Wu's Grand Inquisition: The Witchcraft Trials of Han China

In 91 BCE, the Han Dynasty's capital Chang'an was plunged into terror as Emperor Wu launched a massive witch-hunt that would destroy thousands of lives. This episode explores the witchcraft scandal (wugu) that consumed the imperial court, leading to the execution of the crown prince, the downfall of powerful families, and the near-collapse of the regime. Lucas and Luna trace the origins of the crisis to Emperor Wu's paranoia in his later years, the role of shadowy figures like the eunuch Jiang Chong, and the devastating chain of accusations that turned the empire's elites against each other. They discuss the broader Han belief in spirit magic and curse practices, drawing on Sima Qian's Shiji and later Han shu records. The episode also examines how this event shaped Emperor Wu's legacy and contributed to the eventual decline of the Western Han. Along the way, Lucas and Luna reflect on how ancient Chinese rulers' fears of supernatural threats led to real-world violence, and what the witch trials reveal about the limits of imperial power.

#HanDynasty #EmperorWu #Witchcraft #Wugu #JiangChong #CrownPrinceJu #ChangAn #WesternHan #SimaQian #Shiji #HanShu #AncientChina #ChineseHistory #ImperialCourt #PoliticalParanoia #History #FexingoHistory #EastAsia

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