Changes

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 霍光 ''(Huò Guāng / Kaku Kou)''

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 霍光 ''(Huò Guāng / Kaku Kou)''

Huo Guang was a prominent [[Han Dynasty]] official whose career, described at length in the ''[[Book of Han]]'', is taken as a model of moral rectitude and upright behavior. He rose to great power, serving as ''de facto'' ruler during the reigns of several emperors, who are said to have willingly allowed him that much power, due to his righteousness; in particular, Huo is known for helping to depose a problematic emperor, in the interests of the good of the state, without trying to seize the throne for himself.

Huo Guang was a prominent [[Han Dynasty]] official whose career, described at length in the ''[[Book of Han]]'', is taken as a model of moral rectitude and upright behavior, but also as a warning on the dangers of rising too high, and wielding too much power.  

 

He rose to great power, serving as ''de facto'' ruler during the reigns of several emperors, who are said to have willingly allowed him that much power, due to his righteousness; in particular, Huo is known for helping to depose a problematic emperor, in the interests of the good of the state, without trying to seize the throne for himself. However, following his death, his next of kin did not match his greatness, and their great power and wealth came to attract suspicion, leading to the downfall and near extermination of his line.

==Life & Career==

==Life & Career==

Huo Guang then found a remaining distant relative of Emperor Wu, who took the throne as [[Emperor Xuan of Han]]. In 73 BCE, Huo Guang's fiefs were expanded, in recognition of his great service and rectitude, and he continued to wield very considerable power. According to the ''Book of Han'', Emperor Xuan declined to take over true power, and like his predecessor entrusted Huo Guang with control of most matters.

Huo Guang then found a remaining distant relative of Emperor Wu, who took the throne as [[Emperor Xuan of Han]]. In 73 BCE, Huo Guang's fiefs were expanded, in recognition of his great service and rectitude, and he continued to wield very considerable power. According to the ''Book of Han'', Emperor Xuan declined to take over true power, and like his predecessor entrusted Huo Guang with control of most matters.

In 68 BCE, Huo Guang fell ill and died. He was given a lavish funeral, and his next of kin considerable benefits, including that their inherited lands be exempt from taxation, and from being divided up. Yet, they went on to live lavish lifestyles, and could not match up to the reputation of Huo Guang in rectitude and uprightness.

In 68 BCE, Huo Guang fell ill and died. He was given a lavish funeral, and his next of kin considerable benefits, including that their inherited lands be exempt from taxation, and from being divided up. Yet, while they continued honestly enough in their official duties, none could not match up to the reputation of Huo Guang in rectitude and uprightness, and so the elite lifestyle earned by Ho Kuang began to seem to the Emperor unearned, even undeserved, in the hands of his descendants. Thus, Emperor Xuan began to demote members of the Huo family, and to turn to other families (including his own relations) to occupy the highest posts in the realm. Rumors accusing the Huo family of plotting against the throne then led to several members of the family (Huo Guang's grand-nephews Huo Yun and Huo Shan, and son-in-law Fan Ming-you) committing suicide, and several others (including Huo Guang's son Huo Yu) being arrested and executed. Several thousand other households, accused of being in league with the Huo, were similarly wiped out.

 

A man named Master Xu of Mouling is quoted as saying <blockquote>He who indulges in extravagance will become rebellious, he who becomes rebellious will invariably despise his superiors, and he who despises his superiors will pursue the way of treason. When one rises to a position above others he is bound to be hated by the mass of men. The Huo family had held the reins of power for a long time now and the people who hate it are many - in the fact, the whole empire hates it. If in addition it pursues the way of treason, how can it help but be destroyed!<ref>Watson, 150.</ref></blockquote>

==References==

==References==