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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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List Of Emperors Of The Han Dynasty
The emperors of the Han dynasty were the supreme heads of government during the second imperial dynasty of China; the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) followed the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and preceded the Three Kingdoms (220–265 AD). The era is conventionally periodised into the Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD) and Eastern Han (25–220 AD).

The Han dynasty was founded by the peasant rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gao (r. 202–195 BC). The longest reigning emperor of the dynasty was Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BC), who reigned for 54 years. The dynasty was briefly interrupted by the Xin dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang, but he was killed during a rebellion on 6 October 23 AD. The Han dynasty was reestablished by Liu Xiu, known posthumously as Emperor Guangwu (r. 25–57 AD) or Guangwu Di, who claimed the throne on 5 August 25 AD. The last Han emperor, Emperor Xian (r. 189–220 AD), was a puppet monarch of Chancellor Cao Cao (155–220 AD), who dominated the court and was made King of Wei. On 11 December 220, Cao's son Pi usurped the throne as Emperor Wen of Wei (r. 220–226 AD) and ended the Han dynasty.

The emperor was the supreme head of government. He appointed all of the highest-ranking officials in central, provincial, commandery, and county administrations. He also functioned as a lawgiver, the highest court judge, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and high priest of the state-sponsored religious cults.

Naming conventions

Emperor

Emperor Guangwu of Han (r. 25–57 AD), as depicted by the Tang artist Yan Liben (600–673)
An Eastern Han gilded bronze handle with traces of red pigment, in the shape of a dragon's head; for Han emperors, the dragon could represent either good or bad omens depending on circumstance.

The rulers of the previous Shang (c. 1600 – c. 1050 BC) and Zhou (c. 1056 – 256 BC) dynasties were referred to as 'king' (王 wáng). By the time of the Zhou dynasty, they were also referred to as the Son of Heaven. In 221 BC, King Ying Zheng of Qin completed the conquest of all the Warring States of ancient China. To elevate himself above the Shang and Zhou kings, he accepted the new title of Emperor (皇帝 huángdì) and is known to posterity as Qin Shi Huang, the 'First Emperor' of Qin. The new title of emperor was created by combining the titles for the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors from Chinese mythology. This title was used by each successive ruler of China until the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911.

Posthumous, temple, and era names

From the Shang until the Sui dynasty (581–618) dynasty, Chinese rulers (both kings and emperors) were referred to by their posthumous names in records and historical texts. Temple names, first used during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han (r. 157–141 BC), were used exclusively in later records and historical texts when referring to emperors who reigned during the Tang (618–907), Song (960–1279), and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties. During the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, a single era name was used for each emperor's reign and became the preferred way to refer to Ming and Qing emperors in historical texts.

Use of the era name was formally adopted during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BC), yet its origins can be traced back further. The oldest method of recording years—which had existed since the Shang—set the first year of a ruler's reign as year one. When an emperor died, the first year of a new reign period would begin. This system was changed by the 4th century BC when the first year of a new reign period did not begin until the first day of the lunar New Year following a ruler's death. When Duke Huiwen of Qin assumed the title of king in 324 BC, he changed the year count of his reign back to the first year. For his newly adopted calendar established in 163 BC, Emperor Wen of Han (r. 180–157 BC) also set the year count of his reign back to the beginning.

Since six was considered a lucky number, the emperors Jing and Wu changed the year count of their reigns back to the beginning every six years. Since every six-year period was successively marked as yuannian (元年), eryuan (二元), sanyuan (三元), and so forth, this system was considered too cumbersome by the time it reached the fifth cycle wuyuan sannian (五元三年) in 114 BC. In that year, a government official suggested that the Han court retrospectively rename every "beginning" with new characters; Emperor Wu accepted this reform in 110 BC. Since Emperor Wu had just performed the religious feng (封) sacrifice at Mount Taishan, he named the new era yuanfeng (元封). This event is regarded as the formal establishment of era names in Chinese history. Emperor Wu changed the era name once more when he established the 'Great Beginning' (太初 Taichu) calendar in 104 BC. From this point until the end of Western Han, the court established a new era name every four years of an emperor's reign. By the Eastern Han, there was no set interval for establishing new era names, which were often introduced for political reasons and celebrating auspicious events.

Regents and empress dowagers

An ink rubbing of The story of Jin Midi, a 2nd-century AD stone relief at the Wu Liang shrines in Jiaxiang, Shandong

At times, especially when an infant emperor was placed on the throne, a regent, often the empress dowager or one of her male relatives, would assume the duties of the emperor until he reached his majority. Sometimes the empress dowager's faction—the consort clan—was overthrown in a coup d'état. For example, Empress Lü Zhi (d. 180 BC) was the de facto ruler of the court during the reigns of the child emperors Qianshao (r. 188–184 BC) and Houshao (r. 184–180 BC). Her faction was overthrown during the Lü Clan disturbance of 180 BC and Liu Heng was named emperor (posthumously known as Emperor Wen). Before Emperor Wu died in 87 BC, he had invested Huo Guang (d. 68 BC), Jin Midi (d. 86 BC), and Shangguan Jie (上官桀; d. 80 BC) with the power to govern as regents over his successor Emperor Zhao of Han (r. 87–74 BC). Huo Guang and Shangguan Jie were both grandfathers to Empress Shangguan (d. 37 BC), wife of Emperor Zhao, while the ethnically-Xiongnu Jin Midi was a former slave who had worked in an imperial stable. After Jin died and Shangguan was executed for treason, Huo Guang was the sole ruling regent. Following his death, the Huo family faction was overthrown by Emperor Xuan of Han (r. 74–49 BC), in revenge for Huo Guang poisoning his wife Empress Xu Pingjun (d. 71 BC) so that he could marry Huo's daughter Empress Huo Chengjun (d. 54 BC).

List of emperors

See also: Han emperors family tree

Below is a complete list of emperors of the Han dynasty, including their personal, posthumous, and era names. Excluded from the list are de facto rulers such as regents and empress dowagers.

Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD)
Sovereign Personal name Reigned from Reigned until Posthumous name Temple name Era name Years
Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang 劉邦 28 February 202 BC 1 June 195 BC Emperor Gao 高皇帝 Taizu 太祖 —
Emperor Hui Liu Ying 劉盈 23 June 195 BC 26 September 188 BC Emperor Xiaohui 孝惠皇帝 —
Emperor Qianshao Liu Gong 劉恭 19 October 188 BC 15 June 184 BC — —
Emperor Houshao Liu Hong 劉弘 15 June 184 BC 14 November 180 BC — —
Emperor Wen Liu Heng 劉恆 14 November 180 BC 6 July
157 BC 		Emperor Xiaowen 孝文皇帝 Taizong 太宗 Qianyuan 前元 179–164 BC
Houyuan 後元 163–156 BC
Emperor Jing Liu Qi 劉啟 14 July
157 BC 		9 March 141 BC Emperor Xiaojing 孝景皇帝 — Qianyuan 前元 156–150 BC
Zhongyuan 中元 149–143 BC
Houyuan 後元 143–141 BC
Emperor Wu Liu Che 劉徹 10 March 141 BC 29 March 87 BC Emperor Xiaowu 孝武皇帝 Shizong 世宗 Jianyuan 建元 141–135 BC
Yuanguang 元光 134–129 BC
Yuanshuo 元朔 128–123 BC
Yuanshou 元狩 122–117 BC
Yuanding 元鼎 116–111 BC
Yuanfeng 元封 110–105 BC
Taichu 太初 104–101 BC
Tianhan 天漢 100–97 BC
Taishi 太始 96–93 BC
Zhenghe 征和 92–89 BC
Houyuan 後元 88–87 BC
Emperor Zhao Liu Fuling 劉弗陵 30 March 87 BC 5 June 74 BC Emperor Xiaozhao 孝昭皇帝 — Shiyuan 始元 86–80 BC
Yuanfeng 元鳳 80–75 BC
Yuanping 元平 74 BC
Marquis of Haihun Liu He 劉賀 18 July
74 BC 		14 August 74 BC — — Yuanping 元平 74 BC
Emperor Xuan Liu Bingyi 劉病已 10 September 74 BC 10 January 49 BC Emperor Xiaoxuan 孝宣皇帝 Zhongzong 中宗 Benshi 本始 73–70 BC
Dijie 地節 69–66 BC
Yuankang 元康 65–61 BC
Shenjue 神爵 61–58 BC
Wufeng 五鳳 57–54 BC
Ganlu 甘露 53–50 BC
Huanglong 黃龍 49 BC
Emperor Yuan Liu Shi 劉奭 29 January 49 BC 8 July 33 BC Emperor Xiaoyuan 孝元皇帝 Gaozong 高宗 Chuyuan 初元 48–44 BC
Yongguang 永光 43–39 BC
Jianzhao 建昭 38–34 BC
Jingning 竟寧 33 BC
Emperor Cheng Liu Ao 劉驁 4 August 33 BC 17 April
7 BC 		Emperor Xiaocheng 孝成皇帝 Tongzong 統宗 Jianshi 建始 32–28 BC
Heping 河平 28–25 BC
Yangshuo 陽朔 24–21 BC
Hongjia 鴻嘉 20–17 BC
Yongshi 永始 16–13 BC
Yuanyan 元延 12–9 BC
Suihe 綏和 8–7 BC
Emperor Ai Liu Xin 劉欣 7 May
7 BC 		15 August 1 BC Emperor Xiao'ai 孝哀皇帝 — Jianping 建平 6–3 BC
Yuanshou 元壽 2–1 BC
Emperor Ping Liu Kan 劉衎 17 October 1 BC 3 February 6 AD Emperor Xiaoping 孝平皇帝 Yuanzong 元宗 Yuanshi 元始 1–5 AD
Ruzi Ying Liu Ying 劉嬰 17 April
6 AD 		10 January 9 AD — — Jushe 居攝 6–8 AD
Chushi 初始 9 AD
Continuation of the Han under the Xin dynasty (9–23 AD)
Sovereign Personal name Reigned from Reigned until Posthumous name Temple name Era name Years
Gengshi Emperor Liu Xuan 劉玄 11 March 23 AD November 25 AD King Wushun of Huaiyang 淮陽王 Yanzong 延宗 Gengshi 更始 23–25 AD
Eastern Han (25–220 AD)
Sovereign Personal name Reigned from Reigned until Posthumous name Temple name Era name Years
Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu 劉秀 5 August 25 AD 29 March 57 AD Emperor Guangwu 光武皇帝 Shizu 世祖 Jianwu 建武 25–56 AD
Jianwu-zhongyuan 建武中元 56–57 AD
Emperor Ming Liu Zhuang 劉莊 29 March 57 AD 5 September 75 AD Emperor Xiaoming 孝明皇帝 Xianzong 顯宗 Yongping 永平 57–75 AD
Emperor Zhang Liu Da 劉炟 5 September 75 AD 9 April
88 AD 		Emperor Xiaozhang 孝章皇帝 Suzong 肃宗 Jianchu 建初 76–84 AD
Yuanhe 元和 84–87 AD
Zhanghe 章和 87–88 AD
Emperor He Liu Zhao 劉肇 9 April 88 AD 13 February 106 AD Emperor Xiaohe 孝和皇帝 Muzong 穆宗 Yongyuan 永元 89–105 AD
Yuanxing 元興 105 AD
Emperor Shang Liu Long 劉隆 13 February 106 AD 21 September 106 AD Emperor Xiaoshang 孝殤皇帝 — Yanping 延平 106 AD
Emperor An Liu Hu 劉祜 23 September 106 AD 30 April 125 AD Emperor Xiao'an 孝安皇帝 Gongzong 恭宗 Yongchu 永初 107–113 AD
Yuanchu 元初 114–120 AD
Yongning 永寧 120–121 AD
Jianguang 建光 121–122 AD
Yanguang 延光 122–125 AD
Marquess of Beixiang Liu Yi 劉懿 18 May 125 AD 10 December 125 AD — — Yanguang 延光 125 AD
Emperor Shun Liu Bao 劉保 16 December 125 AD 20 September 144 AD Emperor Xiaoshun 孝順皇帝 Jingzong 敬宗 Yongjian 永建 126–132 AD
Yangjia 陽嘉 132–135 AD
Yonghe 永和 136–141 AD
Han'an 漢安 142–144 AD
Jiankang 建康 144 AD
Emperor Chong Liu Bing 劉炳 20 September 144 AD 15 February 145 AD Emperor Xiaochong 孝沖皇帝 — Yongxi 永熹 145 AD
Emperor Zhi Liu Zuan 劉纘 6 March 145 AD 26 July 146 AD Emperor Xiaozhi 孝質皇帝 — Benchu 本初 146 AD
Emperor Huan Liu Zhi 劉志 1 August 146 AD 25 January 168 AD Emperor Xiaohuan 孝桓皇帝 Weizong 威宗 Jianhe 建和 147–149 AD
Heping 和平 150 AD
Yuanjia 元嘉 151–153 AD
Yongxing 永興 153–154 AD
Yongshou 永壽 155–158 AD
Yanxi 延熹 158–167 AD
Yongkang 永康 167 AD
Emperor Ling Liu Hong 劉宏 17 February 168 AD 13 May 189 AD Emperor Xiaoling 孝靈皇帝 — Jianning 建寧 168–172 AD
Xiping 熹平 172–178 AD
Guanghe 光和 178–184 AD
Zhongping 中平 184–189 AD
Emperor Shao Liu Bian 劉辯 15 May 189 AD 28 September 189 AD King Huai of Hongnong 少皇帝 — Guangxi 光熹 189 AD
Zhaoning 昭寧 189 AD
Emperor Xian Liu Xie 劉協 28 September 189 AD 11 December 220 AD Emperor Xiaoxian 孝獻皇帝 — Yonghan 永漢 189 AD
Chuping 初平 190–193 AD
Xingping 興平 194–195 AD
Jian'an 建安 196–220 AD
Yankang 延康 220 AD

Timeline

Emperor Xian of HanLiu BianEmperor Ling of HanEmperor Huan of HanEmperor Zhi of HanEmperor Chong of HanEmperor Shun of HanMarquess of BeixiangEmperor An of HanEmperor Shang of HanEmperor He of HanEmperor Zhang of HanEmperor Ming of HanEmperor Guangwu of HanLiu PenziGengshi EmperorRuzi YingEmperor Ping of HanEmperor Ai of HanEmperor Cheng of HanEmperor Yuan of HanEmperor Xuan of HanMarquis of HaihunEmperor Zhao of HanEmperor Wu of HanEmperor Jing of HanEmperor Wen of HanEmperor Houshao of HanEmperor Qianshao of HanEmperor Hui of HanEmperor Gaozu of Han

Legend

  • Orange denotes Western Han monarchs
  • Teal denotes Han monarchs following the collapse of the Xin dynasty but prior to the Eastern Han
  • Pink denotes Eastern Han monarchs

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Besides Liu Bang and Liu Xiu, the word xiao (孝 'filial') was prefixed to all posthumous names, although it is usually omitted by scholars. The word huangdi (皇帝 emperor) is also abbreviated. Commonly only the second character is used; e.g., Wudi (武帝, Emperor Wu) for Xiaowu Huangdi (孝武皇帝).
  2. ^ The years of the Chinese lunisolar calendar do not correspond exactly with the years given in the column for era names. Some years given in the table also belong to two reign periods because some era names were adopted before the beginning of the following year.
  3. ^ Ruzi was prince, rather than emperor of Han. Officially, the throne of emperor of Han was vacant during 6–9 AD.
  4. ^ de Crespigny, Rafe (2010). A Biography of Cao Cao 155-220 AD. Brill]]. p. 450. ISBN 978-90-04-18830-3. On 11 December [...] Cao Cao's son and successor Cao Pi received the abdication of the last emperor of Han. [...] Some authorities give the date of abdication as 25 November [...] This is the date upon which Emperor Xian issued an edict calling upon Cao Pi to take the throne, but the ceremonial transfer of sovereignty was carried out two weeks later

References

Citations

  1. ^ Paludan 1998, pp. 34–36.
  2. ^ de Crespigny 2006, p. 568.
  3. ^ Hymes 2000, p. 36.
  4. ^ Beck 1990, p. 21.
  5. ^ Beck 1990, pp. 354–355.
  6. ^ Hymes 2000, p. 16.
  7. ^ de Crespigny 2006; Bielenstein 1980, p. 143; Hucker 1975, pp. 149–150.
  8. ^ Wang 1949, pp. 141–142.
  9. ^ Wang 1949, pp. 141–143; Ch'ü 1972, p. 71; de Crespigny 2006, pp. 1216–1217.
  10. ^ de Visser 2003, pp. 43–49.
  11. ^ Wilkinson 1998, p. 105.
  12. ^ Wilkinson 1998, pp. 105–106.
  13. ^ Wilkinson 1998, pp. 106–107.
  14. ^ Wilkinson 1998.
  15. ^ Wilkinson 1998, p. 177; Sato 1991, p. 278.
  16. ^ Wilkinson 1998, p. 177; Sato 1991, pp. 278–279.
  17. ^ Wilkinson 1998, p. 178.
  18. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. 135; Hansen 2000, pp. 115–116.
  19. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, pp. 136–137; Torday 1997, p. 78.
  20. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, pp. 174–187; Huang 1988, p. 44–46.
  21. ^ Dubs 1945, p. 29.
  22. ^ Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, pp. xix–xx; Hulsewé 1995, pp. 226–230.
  23. ^ Grand Scribe's Records, p. 108.
  24. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range come from Paludan 1998, p. 28
  25. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 433–443.
  26. ^ Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, pp. xix–xx; Hulsewé 1995, pp. 226–230; Vervoorn 1990, pp. 311–312.
  27. ^ Grand Scribe's Records, pp. 114–115.
  28. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range come from Paludan 1998, pp. 28, 31
  29. ^ Grand Scribe's Records, p. 122.
  30. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range come from Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. xxxix
  31. ^ Grand Scribe's Records, p. 136.
  32. ^ Vervoorn 1990, p. 312.
  33. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range come from Paludan 1998, pp. 28, 33.
  34. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 444–447.
  35. ^ Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, pp. xix–xx; Vervoorn 1990, p. 312.
  36. ^ Grand Scribe's Records, p. 213.
  37. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 447–452.
  38. ^ Hymes 2000, p. 11; Hulsewé 1995, pp. 226–230.
  39. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range come from Paludan 1998, pp. 28, 36 and Loewe 2000, pp. 273–280.
  40. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 452–471.
  41. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range come from Paludan 1998, p. 40.
  42. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 471–473.
  43. ^ Bo 1977, p. 473.
  44. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 473–480.
  45. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. 225.
  46. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 40, 42.
  47. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 481–484.
  48. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. 225; Vervoorn 1990, p. 313; Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, p. xx.
  49. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. 227; Vervoorn 1990, p. 313.
  50. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 485–489.
  51. ^ Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, p. xx; Vervoorn 1990, p. 312.
  52. ^ Bo 1977, p. 490.
  53. ^ Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, p. xx; Hymes 2000, p. 12; Vervoorn 1990, p. 313.
  54. ^ Hymes 2000, p. 13; Vervoorn 1990, p. 313.
  55. ^ Bo 1977, p. 495. While traditional sources do not give an exact date when the Yuanshi era was announced, it was implied that the first year of Yuanshi did not start until the first month of the lunar calendar – i.e., in 1 AD. See, e.g., Ban Gu, Book of Han, vol. 12.
  56. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. 231; Vervoorn 1990, p. 313.
  57. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 495–496.
  58. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, pp. 246–251; Vervoorn 1990, p. 313.
  59. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from de Crespigny 2006, pp. 558–560.
  60. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 500–501.
  61. ^ Barbieri-Low & Yates 2015, p. xx; de Crespigny 2006, p. xxxiii; Loewe & Twitchett 1986, pp. xl–xli.
  62. ^ Loewe & Twitchett 1986, pp. xl–xli; de Crespigny 2006, p. xxxiii.
  63. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, p. 44 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 557–566.
  64. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 501–509.
  65. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 44, 49 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 604–609.
  66. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 509–513.
  67. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 44, 49 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 495–500.
  68. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 514–516.
  69. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, p. 50 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 588–592.
  70. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 517–523.
  71. ^ Bo 1977, p. 523.
  72. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, p. 50 and de Crespigny 2006, p. 531.
  73. ^ Bo 1977, p. 524.
  74. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, p. 50 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 580–583.
  75. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 524–529.
  76. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Loewe & Twitchett 1986, p. xl.
  77. ^ Bo 1977, p. 529.
  78. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 50–51 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 473–478.
  79. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 530–534.
  80. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 50–51.
  81. ^ Bo 1977, p. 535.
  82. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 50–51 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 595–603.
  83. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 535–541.
  84. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 50, 52 and de Crespigny 2006, pp. 511–517.
  85. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 541–547.
  86. ^ Bo 1977, p. 547.
  87. ^ Latin spelling, Chinese characters, and date range from Paludan 1998, pp. 50, 55.
  88. ^ Bo 1977, pp. 547–564.

Sources

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