Wang Mang (ancient, general, economic, Chinese)

[Thomas R.]

I doubt there will be much interest in this but the Wang Mang usurpation or "Xin Dynasty" was one of the more interesting things in ancient Chinese history. He is one of the first leaders I know of to try to abolish slave trading and did other economic reforms some of which are maybe less pleasant. The views I'd generally read were that his reform efforts either didn't work or were not properly implemented and his rule was seen as at least somewhat illegitimate by many. Although I guess a respected view now is more that he was unlucky, certain issues with the Yellow River screwed him up. In the end there was "Red Eyebrow" rebellions and he was defeated than decapitated.

The Cambridge history of China - Denis Crispin Twitchett, Michael Loewe, John King Fairbank - Google Books
The Ancient Chinese World - Terry Kleeman, Tracy Barrett - Google Books

A more colorful version states how his body was ripped to shreds, his head hung on a wall, and then brought down from the wall to be kicked around.

[Nighteyes]

Oh! Musta got my eyes crossed or something. I thought this was about the Mang Yang Pass in Vietnam, the site of many ambushes, skirmishes and outright battles. (Wang Mang, Mang Yang, etc.)

[Thomas R.]

I'm just surprised it got any response, even a confused one

I'm a Chinese history guy. I remember every year requesting my small college get a Chinese history class. When it got one I was sort of an unofficial aid. I even took a year of Chinese, but I don't remember much of it. (I can say "I have two older sisters" or "I am going to the bookstore" but that's about it.)