Emperor Ming of Han facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emperor Ming of Han 漢明帝
Portrait of Emperor Ming from Sancai Tuhui
Emperor of the Han dynasty
Reign	29 March 57 – 5 September 75 AD
Predecessor	Emperor Guangwu
Successor	Emperor Zhang
Born	15 June 28
Died	5 September 75 (aged 47)
Consorts	Empress Mingde Consort Jia
Issue Detail	Liu Jian (劉建), King of Qiancheng Liu Xian (劉羨), King of Chen Liu Gong (劉恭), King of Pengcheng Liu Dang (劉黨), King of Lecheng Liu Da (劉炟), Emperor Zhang Liu Yan (劉衍), King of Xiapi Liu Chang (劉暢), King of Liang Liu Bing (劉昞), King of Huaiyang Liu Chang (劉長), King of Jiyin
Full name Family name: Liu (劉) Given name: Yang (陽), then Zhuang (莊) Era dates Yŏngpíng (永平): 57–75 AD Posthumous name Emperor Xiàomíng (孝明皇帝) Temple name Xiǎnzōng (顯宗)
House	House of Liu
Dynasty	Han dynasty
Father	Emperor Guangwu
Mother	Empress Guanglie

Emperor Ming of Han (born Liu Yang, later Liu Zhuang) was the second emperor of China from the Eastern Han dynasty. He ruled from 57 to 75 AD.

He was the fourth son of Emperor Guangwu, who was the first emperor of the Eastern Han. During Emperor Ming's time, Buddhism first started to spread into China.

Emperor Ming was a very hard-working and skilled leader. He was known for being honest and expected his officials to be honest too. He also expanded China's control over the Tarim Basin (a large area in Central Asia). He removed the influence of the Xiongnu people there, thanks to his successful general Ban Chao.

The time when Emperor Ming and his son Emperor Zhang ruled is often called the "golden age" of the Eastern Han Empire. It was known as the Rule of Ming and Zhang.

Becoming Crown Prince

Liu Yang was born in 28 AD. His mother was Consort Yin Lihua, who was Emperor Guangwu's first love. Emperor Guangwu had wanted to make Consort Yin his empress. However, she didn't have any sons at that time. So, she suggested Consort Guo, who already had a son named Liu Jiang.

In 26 AD, Emperor Guangwu made Consort Guo empress and Prince Jiang the crown prince. Even so, Liu Yang's birth in 28 AD was still a very important event.

A Smart Young Prince

In 39 AD, Emperor Guangwu made all his sons, except Crown Prince Jiang, into dukes. Prince Yang became the Duke of Donghai. Even at a young age, he was known for being very smart. He often made quick and correct decisions. Emperor Guangwu was very impressed by him.

Changing Empresses and Crown Princes

By 41 AD, Empress Guo had lost favor with the emperor. Her constant complaints made Emperor Guangwu angry. So, in 41 AD, he removed her as empress. He then made Duke Yang's mother, Consort Yin, the new empress.

After Empress Guo was removed, her son, Crown Prince Jiang, worried about staying crown prince. He asked many times to be replaced. Emperor Guangwu didn't want to remove both mother and son. But in 43 AD, he decided to switch the positions of Prince Jiang and Prince Yang.

Prince Jiang became the Prince of Donghai. Prince Yang became the new crown prince. At this time, Prince Yang's name was changed to Zhuang. This was probably because "Yang" (meaning "sun") was a very common word. Using it in the emperor's name would cause too many people trouble due to naming taboo laws.

Crown Prince Zhuang's Family Life

In 51 AD, a woman named Consort Ma became one of Crown Prince Zhuang's consorts. She was the youngest daughter of the famous general Ma Yuan. She was 12 years old, and he was 23. She became his favorite, but she never had a son.

Her niece, Consort Jia, who was also a consort of Crown Prince Zhuang, did have a son named Liu Da. Crown Prince Zhuang told Consort Ma to adopt Liu Da as her own son.

Wise Advice to His Father

As crown prince, Zhuang often gave his father, Emperor Guangwu, advice on important matters. In 51 AD, he helped make a very important decision about China's relationship with the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu had split into two groups: North Xiongnu and South Xiongnu. China was allied with South Xiongnu.

North Xiongnu wanted peace with China and suggested a marriage alliance. Prince Zhuang advised Emperor Guangwu to refuse. He believed North Xiongnu was only trying to separate South Xiongnu from China. Emperor Guangwu agreed with his son.

In 57 AD, Emperor Guangwu died, and Crown Prince Zhuang became Emperor Ming.

Emperor Ming's Early Reign

When Emperor Ming became emperor, people with the family name Zhuang had to change their name to Yan. This was due to a naming taboo because the emperor's new name was Zhuang.

Emperor Ming quickly showed he was a hard-working and skilled ruler. He worked to stop corrupt officials, sometimes even punishing them severely if they were caught.

Fairness to His Brothers

Historians praised Emperor Ming for how fairly he treated his brothers. These were the sons of the empress who had been removed, Empress Guo. He treated them as if they were also born to his own mother, Empress Dowager Yin.

In 58 AD, his older brother, Prince Jiang of Donghai (the former crown prince), died. Emperor Ming ordered princes and important officials to attend Prince Jiang's funeral. This was a very special honor.

Honoring Confucian Traditions

In 59 AD, Emperor Ming's brother, Liu Cang, suggested something important. Emperor Ming started a number of Confucian ceremonies. In these, the emperor personally honored the officials who had helped him. This showed his humility.

Empress Ma and Crown Prince Da

In 60 AD, Emperor Ming made his favorite consort, Ma, empress. She was also a favorite of his mother, Empress Dowager Yin. He then made her adopted son, Prince Da, the crown prince.

That same year, Emperor Ming honored the generals and officials who helped his father restart the Han Dynasty. He had their portraits painted on a palace tower. These were known as the "Yuntai 28 Generals". Later, four more portraits were added. However, Ma Yuan, the father of the empress, was not included in this honor.

Dealing with the Xiongnu Threat

During the early part of his rule, North Xiongnu was a constant threat to China and its ally, South Xiongnu. Emperor Ming used different military and economic plans to keep peace with North Xiongnu. He was mostly successful. In 65 AD, he created a permanent border defense force called the Duliao Army. This army protected the northern borders and South Xiongnu. It also stopped South Xiongnu people from joining North Xiongnu.

Building a School for Officials' Children

In 66 AD, Emperor Ming built a Confucian school in the capital city of Luoyang. This school was for the children of high officials and nobles. Children of South Xiongnu nobles also attended. This school later became one of the first imperial universities in Chinese history.

Emperor Ming's Later Reign

Strict Punishments and Investigations

Emperor Ming was known for being kind to his brothers early in his reign. However, some of his brothers did things that were considered forbidden at the time. This led to them being severely punished by Emperor Ming. These events also caused two large investigations that affected many people during his rule.

The first event happened in 66–67 AD. Prince Jing of Guanglin wanted to be emperor and planned a rebellion. When Emperor Ming found out, Prince Jing confessed. Emperor Ming first let him live and remain a prince, but took away his political power. Later, Prince Jing hired people to use magic to curse Emperor Ming. When this was discovered, Emperor Ming eventually forced Prince Jing to take his own life.

The next event was more widespread. In 70 AD, Prince Ying of Chu did something forbidden. He hired people to make special golden turtles and jade cranes with unusual blessings carved on them. He was also found to have written revolutionary texts. Emperor Ming did not execute him. Instead, he removed him from his princely title, sent him away, and made him a commoner with a small amount of land. In 71 AD, Prince Ying died while in exile.

However, the investigation continued. Emperor Ming ordered that Prince Ying's associates (but not their families) be questioned very harshly. Anyone they named as being involved was arrested and questioned further. The people doing the questioning sometimes used this chance to falsely accuse many others. Tens of thousands of people were affected during this investigation. The questioning only slowed down after Empress Ma spoke up and one of the questioners, Han Lang, wrote persuasive letters.

A similar event happened in 73 AD. Prince Yan of Huaiyang was accused of hiring people to curse Emperor Ming. Several of Prince Yan's associates were executed. Many others were also executed or sent away after investigations similar to the one involving Prince Ying. Prince Yan himself was not executed. He was demoted from his large principality to a smaller one with only two counties.

Battles Against North Xiongnu and Control Over Xiyu

In 73 AD, Emperor Ming was tired of North Xiongnu constantly attacking China. He sent his generals Geng Bing and Dou Gu to lead a large military trip against North Xiongnu. They had only small successes, but it showed North Xiongnu that China was now strong enough to fight back.

As part of his campaign, General Dou sent his assistant Ban Chao to visit the Xiyu kingdom of Shanshan. Xiyu (modern Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia) kingdoms had been under North Xiongnu's control for a long time. They often asked China to help them, as they were tired of the heavy taxes. However, Emperors Guangwu and Ming had always refused, thinking China was not strong enough for a Xiyu campaign.

The king of Shanshan was at first very happy to welcome the Chinese ambassadors. But then his welcome faded. Ban Chao realized that North Xiongnu ambassadors must have arrived. He found where the North Xiongnu ambassadors were staying. In a night raid, he killed all of them. The king of Shanshan was shocked but also somewhat pleased. He then agreed to be under China's control again.

Emperor Ming promoted Ban Chao. He sent him to visit Yutian ("Khotan"), which was the strongest kingdom in southern Xiyu. Yutian had a strong alliance with North Xiongnu. The King of Yutian, Guangde, trusted his chief warlock, who demanded Ban Chao's horse. Ban Chao agreed to give him the horse. But when the warlock came to get it, Ban Chao immediately executed him and sent his head back to Guangde. King Guangde was impressed and agreed to be under China's control. With Yutian's submission, most of the Xiyu kingdoms also submitted to China.

In 74 AD, Generals Dou and Geng led a major military trip against Cheshi, a main ally of North Xiongnu. Cheshi surrendered. At Dou's suggestion, the important office of the Protector General of Xiyu was brought back. In 75 AD, North Xiongnu tried to take back Cheshi, but they were stopped by Geng Gong, one of the protector general's deputies.

Death of Emperor Ming

Emperor Ming died in 75 AD. In his will, he asked that no special temple be built for him. He wanted to be worshipped only as part of the worship of his mother, Empress Dowager Yin. This became a new rule that most Eastern Han Dynasty emperors followed. They did not build separate temples for themselves. Instead, they were worshipped along with Emperor Guangwu. This saved a lot of money compared to the Western Han system, where each emperor had a separate temple. His son, Crown Prince Da, became the next emperor, known as Emperor Zhang.

Era Name

• Yongping (永平) 58–75 AD

Family

Emperor Ming had many children. His most important consort was Empress Mingde. Although she did not have her own son, she adopted Liu Da, who became the next emperor, Emperor Zhang.

In Spanish: Emperador Ming de Han para niños

• Family tree of the Han Dynasty