Ruzi Ying - Life During The Xin Dynasty

Life During The Xin Dynasty

In the spring of 9 AD, Wang Mang, now emperor, made the former Emperor Ruzi the Duke of Ding'an (and made his daughter, the former Empress Dowager, Duchess Dowager). The dukedom allegedly included 10,000 households, in which Han emperors were to be enshrined in temples, and Han calendars and uniforms would be allowed. However, Wang did not actually follow through on these promises. Indeed, he never allowed the Duke of Ding'an to rule his dukedom, but effectively put the child duke under house arrest under heavy guard. Not even his wet nurses were allowed to stay with him. As a grown man, Ying did not even know of such common animals as cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, dogs, and pigs. Wang gave his granddaughter to the Duke of Ding'an in marriage. She was the daughter of his son Wang Yu (王宇), whom he had forced to commit suicide in 3 AD after Wang Yu, unhappy with his dictatorial rule, conspired with Emperor Ping's uncles of the Wei clan to overthrow him. Other than this, not much is known about the Duke of Ding'an's life during the Xin Dynasty.