Han Dynasty inherited most of the Qin's administrative systems. Given its rapid perdition, Emperor Gaozu abolished harsh laws of Qin, and adopted the Huang-Lao thought, which was based upon Daoism, exerting a regime of laissez-faire, and carried out more humane policies： lowering rental and taxes； reducing labor corvee； ordering officers, soldiers, and refugees to return home and providing them with houses and fields； restraining merchants and restricting the annexation of the peasantry by them.
汉朝各种制度基本上沿袭秦朝，但鉴于秦朝速亡，汉高祖废秦苛法，采用“黄老”学说，实行与民休息政策:减轻租赋徭役令军吏士卒及流民各归本土，给予田宅;抑制商贾，限制商人对农民的兼并。
These measures stabilized the social order, restored and developed agriculture, which laid foundation for the prosperous Han.
这些措施稳定了社会秩序，使农业生产得到恢复、发展，为强大的汉朝盛世奠定了基础。
In 195 B. C. , the Emperor Huidi was succeeded to the throne when Emperor Gaozu died, but it was Empress Lu Zhi who actually took over the reign.
公元前195年，高祖崩，传位惠帝刘盈，但此时政权实际已掌握在汉高皇后吕雉的手中。
Being in power for 16 years, this woman was one of the few female rulers in Chinese history.
吕后前后共掌权16年，是我国历史上为数不多的女统治者之一。
In 183 B. C. , Emperor Wendi was enthroned. Both he and his son Emperor Jingdi pursued the policies set by Gaozu. Consequently, the social economy was booming，and people’s life was stable and national power strengthened. The time of Emperors Wendi and Jingdi, is characterized by most historians as a period of a prospering economy.
公元前183年，文帝即位，他与儿子景帝都继续执行高祖所制定的“休养生息”的政策，使社会经济蓬勃发展，人民生活安定，国力大大增强，史家称这一阶段为“文景之治”。
In the early Han, there had been a grand system of dukes and princes, and prince* s power of various principalities expanded gradually. During the reign of Emperor Wendi, the u Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms^ occurred eventually. Fortunately, the emperor succeeded in putting it down , which weakened the power of fiefdoms and enhanced the centralization at the same time.
由于汉初大封诸侯王，地方诸侯王势力膨胀，景帝时出现了“七国之乱”，平叛后诸侯王势力大大削弱，中央集权制也加强了。
From the early Han down to the reign of emperors Wendi and Jingdi, the social e-conomy rehabilitated gradually in sixty years or more.
汉初至文帝、景帝的60多年内，社会经济逐渐恢复发展。
Political System and Policies ： When scrambling for sovereignty with Xiang Yu, Liu Bang enfieffed Han Xin, Ying Bu, Wu Rui and others as princes, who were known as kings who were not relative to the imperial family.
西汉初的制度和政策:刘邦在与项羽争夺天下的时候，曾封韩信、英布、吴芮等数人为王，史称“异姓王”。
However, the contradiction emerged with the failure of Xiang Yu, and Han Xin and Ying Bu were killed one after another.
可是项羽败后，刘邦与这些人的矛盾迅速暴露，韩信、英 布等相继被诛除。
Hoping to perpetuate the supremacy of the imperial court, Liu Bang installed princes of royal blood to head fiefdoms, which co-existed with prefectures.
为巩固统治，在实行郡县制的同时,刘邦又大封其子弟为“诸侯王”，史称“同姓王”。
All of these fiefdoms had vast territories and large population, and most were rich and strong and politically quasi-independent.
这些封国的疆土广大，人口众多，多数王国很富庶，在政治上处于半独立状态。
Take Prince Wu, Liu Bi as an example, he had three prefectures that embraced 53 counties.
如吴王刘濞有3郡，计53县。
Prefectures and fiefdoms were all directly under the imperial court control, but prefectures were far superior to fiefdoms.
诸侯王国和郡都直属于中央，但诸侯王国的地位远远高于郡。
The Reign of Emperors Wendi and Jingdi ： During the reign of Emperors Wendi and Jingdi, they improved policies further, which alleviated the people's burdens and made economy evolve from restoration to development.
文景之治:文帝和景帝统治时期，进一步改善政策，减轻人民的负担，使社会经济由恢复而发展。史称“文景之治”。
The main measures included： Taxes were lowered to 1/30 of the harvest, labour corvee was reduced to once every three years, heavy physical penalites were abolished, and the taxes on merchants were lowered to 40 qian . The policy of restricting merchants was replaced by that of favoring, which promoted the development of business and handicraft greatly. Meanwhile the brutal physical penalties were also abolished.
主要的改革措施包括:减免田租，以三十税一为制;减轻徭役,“三年而一事”，即三年充更卒一个月；对商人的税收降至40钱，变“抑商”为“惠商”，使商业和手工业获得迅速的发展;废除肉刑。
Weakening Fiefdoms ： When Emperor Wendi was in the throne, the contradiction between the imperial court and the princes grew up.
削藩:文帝时,中央和诸侯王之间的矛盾日益发展。
Emperor Wendi began to cut down the strength of princes so as to consolidate the centralization.
为加强中央集权,文帝开始削弱诸侯王势力。
Jia Yi, a famous political commentator, maintained that the large princedoms be divided into several small ones to reduce their political and economical independence.
政论家贾谊主张将王国分割为若干小国，以削弱其力量。
Jia Yi’s proposal was accepted and put into practice, though no serious effort was ever made for its thorough implement.
文帝采纳了贾谊的建议，但并未完全付诸实施。
When it came to the turn of Emperor Jingdi, the conflicts intensified.
景帝时,中央和诸侯王之间的矛盾更加尖锐。
Chao Cuo suggested cutting down the fiefs of princes once they made mistakes. This plan resulted in the rebellion of seven princedoms, which was an insurrection launched by the princes of royal blood with the Prince Wu Liu Bi, the nephew of Emperor Gao Zu Liu Bang as the head.
御史大夫晁错建议借诸侯王犯错误的时机，削减诸侯王的封地，结果导致“七国之乱”。“七国之乱”是以刘邦之侄吴王刘濞为首发动的一次同姓王联合大叛乱。
Having been plotting for a long time, in 154 B. C. , Liu Bi allied with kingdoms of Chu, Zhao, Jiaodong, Jiaoxi, Zichuan, and Jinan staged a revolt, in the name of getting rid of Chao Cuo.
刘濞蓄谋叛乱，为时已久。于公元前154年以“诛晃错，清君侧”为名，串通楚、赵、胶西、胶东、菌川、济南六国的诸侯王，发动了联合叛乱。
Emperor Jingdi was scared, and killed Chao Cuo hoping to appease the rebelling princes.
景帝因惶恐，捕杀了晁错，乞求刘濞退兵。
However，not only did Liu Bi withdraw the army, but also he proclaimed that he would seize the emperorship as well.
刘濞不仅不退兵，还公开声言要夺皇位。
Emperor Jingdi was finally determined to suppress the rebellion with force.
至此时，景帝才决心以武力进行镇压。
He sent Marshal Zhou Yafu and Dou Ying on a punitive expedition, which was successful within less than three months.
他命太尉周亚夫与大将军窦婴率军平叛，只用了3个月的时间大破叛军。
Taking advantage of this victory, the emperor took steps to relieve the princes of their administrative powers, reduce the numbers of officials in the principalities and change the title of their prime ministers to ministers.
景帝借机进一步削弱诸侯王的权力，减缩王国的政权机构，降低王国官职的等级，改丞相为相。
From then on, the princedoms were pure large land estates owned by the princes.
至此，封地就只是诸侯王们纯粹的地产了。
In 141 B. C.，the last years of Emperor JingdiJ s reign, the state treasury was consolidated, and granaries were full.
公元前141年，景帝在位末年，已是国库足、仓廪实。