Sang Hongyang

Sang Hongyang (152-80 BC) was a high minister during the Han period. He was a scion of a merchant family of Luoyang (modern Luoyang, Henan), and because of his ability to do mental arithmetic he had been made a Palace Attendant at the age of 13.

In 110 BC Hongyang was appointed overseer of the grain management and was shortly later made Chamberlain for the National Treasury. By this time the constant campaigns against the Xiongnu people had drained the state’s wealth. To overcome the financial crisis Hongyang advocated the introduction of a state monopoly on the merchandise of salt, iron and liquors and supported the promotion of interregional trade in the Han Empire. His measures proved successful and Sang continued his progress in government.

Sang’s political power was so great that when Emperor Zhao (r. 87-74 BC) mounted the throne as a young boy, Sang Hongyang belonged to the four regents, together with Huo Guang, Shangguan Jie and Jin Midi. In 80 BC sang was implicated in a treasonous plot against Huo Guang and was executed.