中英雙語話史記 第45期:漢高祖劉邦

Han Dynasty

漢朝

Emperor Gaozu of the Han

漢高祖

Emperor Gaozu, also known under the name Liu Bang, was the first emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. ---- 24 A.D.).

漢高祖劉邦是西漢（公元前206年至公元24年）的開國皇帝。

He was born into a peasant family in Pei (present Pei County in Jiangsu Province), and was once one of the leaders of the peasant insurrections in the late Qin Dynasty (221—206 B.C.).

他出生於沛縣（今江蘇省沛縣）的一個農民家庭，在秦朝（公元前221年至公元前206年）晚期曾擔任農民起義的領袖。

Having suffered a lot under the despotic rule, Liu Bang rose against it at the end of the Qin Dynasty together with Xiang Yu.

因爲遭受了殘暴統治的巨大痛苦，劉邦在秦末和項羽一起揭竿造反。

The two of them became two important leaders of the peasant uprisings which were taking place at the time.

他們二人成爲了那時農民起義的主力軍。

In 206 B.C, Liu Bang started by breaking the capital city of Qin, Xianyang, thus putting an end to the notorious Qin Dynasty.

公元前206年，劉邦在秦朝都城咸陽起義，結束了這個臭名昭著的秦王朝。

He abandoned the harsh laws, reduced taxes and instituted three regulations in order to protect the interests of normal people.

他取消了嚴厲的刑法，減少了苛捐雜稅，建立了三項規定來保障人民的利益。

These actions made him popular with the people.

這些舉動使他深得民心。

However, Liu Bang’s actions and fame were the source of Xiang Yu’s envy.

然而，劉邦的行爲與名氣招致了項羽的嫉妒。

Xiang Yu had the intention of becoming an emperor with control over the entire country.

項羽想要成爲一統全國的皇帝。

When Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the King of Chu, Liu Bang realized that he was inferior to Xiang Yu

當項羽宣稱自己是楚國的君主時，劉邦意識到自己的身份比項羽低微，

and adopted the suggestions of Xiao He to move to Hanzhong (present Hanzhong in Shaanxi Province) with the title “King of Han” which was conferred by Xiang Yu.

就聽取了蕭何的建議以項羽授予自己的“漢軍君主”的名號轉移到了漢中（今陝西省漢中）。

In Hanzhong, Liu Bang focused his efforts on developing the agriculture and training an army, through which he reinforced his material accumulation and military power.

在漢中，劉邦潛心發展農業和軍隊，通過此舉，他加強了自己的物資積累和軍事實力。

Before long， Liu Bang left Hanzhong and stationed in the Central Shaanxi Plain, where he launched a war now known as the Chu-Han War, against Xiang Yu.

沒過多久，劉邦離開漢中，駐紮在了陝西平原中部。在那裏，他與項羽展開了一場著名的戰爭——楚漢之爭。

The war lasted four years (206---- 202 B.C.) and ended with Liu Bang’s victory.

這場戰爭持續了四年時間（公元前206年至公元前202年）並以劉邦的勝利結束。

Having defeated Xiang Yu, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty in 202 BC and made Chang’an (present city of Xian) his capital city.

打敗項羽後，劉邦於公元前202年建立漢朝，定都長安（今西安）。

Liu Bang became historically known as Emperor Gaozu.

他在歷史上被稱爲漢高祖。

During the time Liu Bang was in power, he continued to use the centralism created by Qin, replaced original vassals and granted lands to his relatives.

劉邦執政期間沿用了秦朝的中央集權制，取消了原來的諸侯國，將土地無償分封給他的親戚。

In economy, he reduced taxes and corvee and developed agriculture, but he restricted the commerce.

經濟上，他減免了苛捐雜稅與勞逸並積極發展農業，但是限制了商業的發展。

Emperor Gaozu’s efforts laid a solid foundation for the over four-hundred-year reign of the Han Dynasty.

高祖的努力爲漢朝之後四百多年的統治打下了牢固的基礎。