han11
漢
EMPEROR MING
57 – 75 Hàn Xiǎnzōng Xiào Míng-huángdì Liú Zhuāng Zǐlì (漢 顯宗 孝 明皇帝 劉 莊 子麗), Nineteenth Emperor of Han, the Brilliant Emperor. Born Liú Yáng (劉 陽) in AD 28, he was Duke of Dōnghǎi (東海公) from 39 until 41 when he was promoted to King. In 43 he replaced one of his half brothers as Imperial Heir; the brother's mother having fallen from favour some time previously. He became Emperor in 57, aged thirty; the last Emperor of Han to begin his reign as an adult. He allowed the growth of large landowners in the countryside and tolerated the development of a more decentralised Empire than that of his predecessors. Nevertheless, he remained active in domestic matters, frequently touring the Empire, established a university in Luòyáng (its first) and organising a vast dyke construction programme to control the flooding of the Yellow River. Interested in religious matters, he sponsored a scholarly academy and even wrote a commentary on the Five Elements in 71. In the north he worked to keep the Xiongnu nomads divided and harmless and maintained the pressure on the Northern Xiongnu by moving to reconquer the Central Asian territories to the northwest. In 61 he received the submission of the Āiláo nomads of the southwest, extending Han rule into what is now northern Burma. China was peaceful and calm in his reign; he nevertheless faced a few amateurish challenges from his brothers. The last of these, in 70, left the Emperor suspicious of everyone; thousands were tortured and killed in a purge which continued until his own (natural) death in 75.
He married Míngdé Mǎ-huángtàihòu (明德 馬皇太后), born in 40, the daughter of the General Mǎ Yuán (馬 援), a leading player in the restoration of the Han dynasty who died in 49, leaving her an orphan at the age of only nine years, to manage her household alone. She entered Mingdi's harem in 52 and was appointed Empress in 60. She was childless, but was not bitter about this and adopted the Emperor's fourth son, the Imperial Heir as her foster child. A close confidant of her husband, he often discussed matters of state with her but refused all honours suggested for her or her relatives. She became Empress Dowager after her husband's death in 75 and took her duties very seriously, compiling the court history of her husband's reign in her spare time. She died in 79.
He took as a concubine (first) Jia-guìrén (賈貴人), a cousin of Empress Mǎ, who remained obscure even though her son was Imperial Heir, receiving limited honours only in 64, and died in 65.
He took as a concubine (second) Yīn-guìrén (陰貴人).
He took as a concubine (third) Qín-fūrén (秦夫人), in 64.
1) Qiānshèng Āi-wáng Liú Jiàn (千乘 哀王 劉 建), King of Qiānshèng from 60 until his death in 61, without issue.
2) Chén Jìng-wáng Liú Xiàn (陳 敬王 劉 羨), King of Guǎngpíng (廣平王) from 60 until, 82 when the kingdom was abolished because it was considered too difficult to defend and he was made King of Xīpíng (西平王). In 88 he was shifted to be King of Chén. He was a talented Confucian scholar, who participated in the Conference at White Tiger Hall in 79 - at which the orthodox version of the Confucian texts was selected. He died in 96.
He married Lǐ-yí (李儀), killed in 99, at the order of her stepson.
a) Chén Sī-wáng Liú Jūn (陳 思王 劉 鈞), King of Chén from 96, he took personal control of his kingdom by tormenting the Imperial officials who were supposed to manage it on his behalf. In 99 he had his stepmother killed and then killed her murderer to avoid discovery - to no avail as he was discovered and his kingdom downsized as punishment. He took as a concubine Lǐ-ráo (李嬈), a servant in the Imperial harem, for which he was further punished. He died in 117, but had issue:
i) Chén Sī-wáng Liú Jūn (陳 思王 劉 鈞), King of Chén from 117 until he died, childless, in 119.
b) Chén Qǐng-wáng Liú Chóng (陳 頃王 劉 崇), Village Marquis of Ānshòu (安壽亭侯), in 120 he became King of Chén. He died in 124, but had issue:
i) Chén Xiào-wáng Liú Chéng (陳 孝王 劉 承), King of Chén from 124 until his death. He had issue:
(1) Chén Mǐn-wáng Liú Chǒng (陳 愍王 劉 寵), King of Chén. He was reported for impiety in 173; this eventually proved false. He was an expert crossbowman. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184 he assembled a crack troop of archers which maintained peace within his kingdom. He remained an independent warlord, styling himself Fǔ Hàn Dàjiāngjūn (輔 漢 大將軍), Hàn Supporting Grand General, until his death in 197 at the hands of the forces of the pretender Emperor Yuán Shù (袁 術).
c) Yángdū-xiānghóu Liú Fān (陽都鄉侯 劉 番), District Marquis of Yángdū from 100.
d) Xīnpíng-hóu Liú Qiānqiū (新平侯 劉 千秋), Marquis of Xīnpíng from 100. An Imperial Colonel and a scholar employed at the Eastern Pavilion to assist in the production of an official version of the Chinese Classics. He wrote a guide to the dynasty's bureaucracy and served as Superintendent of the Imperial Clan and of the Guards.
e) Zhōu-tínghóu Liú Cēn (周亭侯 劉 參), Village Marquis of Zhōu from 100.
f) Lèyáng-tínghóu Liú Shòu (樂陽亭侯 劉 壽), Village Marquis of Lèyáng from 100.
g) Bópíng-hóu Liú Bǎo (博平侯 劉 寶), Marquis of Bópíng from 100.
h) Gāo-tínghóu Liú Dàn (高亭侯 劉 旦), Village Marquis of Gāo from 100.
i) A son, possibly the same as one of the above, who had issue:
i) Gēng-tínghóu Liú Ānguó (耕亭侯 劉 安國), Village Marquis of Gēng from 113.
3) Péngchéng Jìng-wáng Liú Gōng (彭城 靖王 劉 恭), Lìng Shòu King (靈壽王) from 66 until promoted to King of Jùlù (鉅鹿王) in 72. He was King of Jiānglíng (江陵王) from 79 until 85, when he was shifted to be King of Liùān (六安王). In 88 he became King of Péngchéng. He selected his younger brother, the King of Xiàpī's successor in 91. Accused of impiety in 116 he was acquitted but died in 117. He had issue:
a) Péngchéng Kǎo-wáng Liú Dào (彭城 考王 劉 道), King of Péngchéng from 117 until his death in 145. He had issue:
i) Biàn-tínghóu Liú Jù (卞亭侯 劉 據), Village Marquis of Biàn from 146.
ii) Péngchéng Qǐng-wáng Liú Dìng (彭城 頃王 劉 定), King of Péngchéng from 145 until his death in 149. He had issue:
(1) Péngchéng Xiào-wáng Liú Hé (彭城 孝王 劉 和), King of Péngchéng from 149. He was rewarded for displaying extreme filiality in his mourning behaviour on the death of his mother. In the 190s his realm was attacked by bandits and he had to flee the Kingdom, but he later returned. He died in 213, but had issue:
(a) A son, who had issue:
(i) Chóngdé-hóu Liú Zhī (崇德侯 劉 祗), King of Péngchéng from 213 until the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220, when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
iii) Zhāoyáng-tínghóu Liú Guāng (昭陽亭侯 劉 光), Village Marquis of Zhāoyáng from 146.
iv) Gōngliáng-tínghóu Liú Gù (公梁亭侯 劉 固), Village Marquis of Gōngliáng from 146.
v) Pú-tínghóu Liú Xīng (蒲亭侯 劉 興), Village Marquis of Pú from 146.
vi) Chāngchéng-tínghóu Liú Yán (昌城亭侯 劉 延), Village Marquis of Chāngchéng from 146.
vii) Liángfù-tínghóu Liú Sì (梁父亭侯 劉 祀), Village Marquis of Liángfù from 146.
viii) Xīān-tínghóu Liú Jiān (西安亭侯 劉 堅), Village Marquis of Xī'ān from 146.
ix) Lín-tínghóu Liú Dài (林亭侯 劉 代), Village Marquis of Lín from 146.
b) Zhúyì-hóu Liú Ānú (竹邑侯 劉 阿奴), Marquis of Zhúyì from 112.
c) Liú Pú (劉 酺) In 116 he insulted his sister-in-law and was imprisoned by his father. He escaped, was recaptured, repremanded and committed suicide.
d) Dū-xiānghóu Liú Bǐng (都鄉侯 劉 丙), District Marquis of Dū.
e) Ān-xiānghóu Liú Guó (安鄉侯 劉 國), District Marquis of Ān.
f) Lǔyáng-xiānghóu Liú Dīng (魯陽鄉侯 劉 丁), District Marquis of Lǔyáng.
g) A son, possibly the same as c), who had issue:
i) Dōngān-tínghóu Liú Shùn (東安亭侯 劉 順), Village Marquis of Dōngān.
4) Lèchéng Jìng-wáng Liú Dǎng (樂成 靖王 劉 黨), Zhòng Xī King (重熹王) from 66 until 72, when he was appointed King of Lèchéng. A historian and textual critic, he was very close with his brother Zhāngdì, the Twentieth Emperor. He committed adultery with a former member of the Imperial harem and killed four people to cover it up. He died in 96
He married (second) Lǐ Yǔshēng (李羽生), a former slave.
i) Liú Chèn (劉 稱), who predeceased his father.
ii) Lèchéng Lí-wáng Liú Xún (樂成 厘王 劉 巡), Marquis of Xiū (修侯) until 96 when he succeeded his younger brother as King of Lèchéng. He died in 111, but had issue:
(1) Lèchéng Yǐn-wáng Liú Bīn (樂成 隱王 劉 賓), King of Lèchéng from 111 until he died childless in 119.
iii) Lèchéng Āi-wáng Liú Chóng (樂成 哀王 劉 崇), King of Lèchéng. He succeeded his father but died the same year, childless.
5) Hàn Sùzōng Xiào Zhāng-huángdì Liú Dá (漢 肅宗 孝 章皇帝 劉 炟), Twentieth Emperor of Han (son of Jia & adopted son of Ma) (see below)
6) Xiàpī Huì-wáng Liú Yǎn (下邳 惠王 劉 衍), King of Xiàpī from 72. A favourite of his brother Zhāngdì, the Twentieth Emperor, he received extra territory in 79, but on that emperor's death in 88 was forced to leave the Capital for his kingdom. He died there in 125, but had issue:
a) Liú Áng (劉 卬), having been found guilty of criminal conduct, he was forbidden to succeed his father in 90.
b – c) Two sons, who received Marquisates.
d) Xiàpī Zhēn-wáng Liú Chéng (下邳 貞王 劉 成), King of Xiàpī. Chosen to succed his father in 90, after his elder brother was disqualified for criminal conduct, he became King in 125. He died in 127, but had issue:
i) Xiàpī Mǐn-wáng Liú Yì (下邳 愍王 劉 意), King of Xiàpī. Born 95, he became King in 125. In 184, during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he fled the kingdom. He was restored afterwards, but died within months, aged ninety. He had issue:
(1) Xiàpī Āi-wáng Liú Yí (下邳 哀王 劉 宜), King of Xiàpī from 184, he died childless, probably in 185, but perhaps later; he had no successor and the kingdom is said to have been abolished in 206.
ii – ix) Eight sons, who received Marquisates.
7) Liáng Jié-wáng Liú Chàng (梁 節王 劉 暢), King of Liáng (son of Yīn). Appointed King of Rǔnán (汝南王) in 72, a favourite of his father and of his Imperial brother, he received more territory than his brothers. In 79 he was promoted to King of Liáng; only in 88 was he actually sent to live there. He became involved in mysticism and fortune telling. Told that the spirits wished him to be Emperor, he rejoiced, and for this was charged with criminal impiety in 93. The Emperor punished him very lightly and, very ashamed, Chang offered to reduce his fief further and accept greater punishment, but the Emperor rebuffed him. He died in 98, but had issue:
a) Liáng Gōng-wáng Liú Jiān (梁 恭王 劉 堅), King of Liáng from 98 until his death in 124. He had issue:
i) Liáng Huái-wáng Liú Kuāng (梁 懷王 劉 匡), King of Liáng from 124 until he died childless, in 135.
ii) Liáng Yí-wáng Liú Chéng (梁 夷王 劉 成) King of Liáng. He was Village Marquis of Xiàoyáng (孝陽亭侯) from 127 until 135, when he was allowed to succeed his childless brother as King of Liáng. He died in 164, but had issue:
(1) Liáng Jìng-wáng Liú Yuán (梁 敬王 劉 元), King of Liáng from 164 until his death in 180. He had issue:
(a) Chóngdé-hóu Liú Mí (崇德侯 劉 彌), King of Liáng from 180 until the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220, when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
iii – viii) Six sons, who received Marquisates.
b – c) Two sons, who received Marquisates.
8) Huáiyáng Qǐng-wáng Liú Bǐng (淮陽 頃王 劉 昞), King of Huáiyáng. King of Chángshān from 72 until moved to be King of Huáiyáng in 79. He died in 87 and his kingdom was abolished. He had issue:
1) Liú Fáng (劉 防). He predeceased his father, but had issue:
a) Chángshān-wáng Liú Zhāng (常山 靖王 劉 章), King of Chángshān, in succession to his uncle from 102 until his death in 127. He had issue:
i – ii) Two sons, who received Village Marquisates.
iii) Chángshān Qǐng-wáng Liú Yí (常山 頃王 劉 儀), King of Chángshān from 127 until his death in 144. He had issue:
(1 – 4) Four sons, who received Village Marquisates in 151.
(5) Chángshān Jié-wáng Liú Bào (常山 節王 劉 豹), King of Chángshān from 144 until his death in 152. He had issue:
(a) Chángshān-wáng Liú Gaǒ (常山王 劉 暠), King of Chángshān from 152
2) Chángshān Shāng-wáng Liú Zè (常山 殤王 劉 側), King of Chángshān from 90 until his death in 102. He was succeeded by his nephew.
9) Jìyīn Dào-wáng Liú Cháng (濟陰 悼王 劉 長), King of Jìyīn from 72 until he died, childless, in 84. He was buried near Luoyang.
1) Huòjiā-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Jī (獲嘉長公主 劉 姬), Senior Princess of Huòjiā. She married Yángyì-hóu Féng Zhù (楊邑侯 馮 柱), Marquis of Shìyáng. A Palace Attendent, he successfully defeated the Xiongnu rebel prince Fenghou in 94 and was rewarded with appointment as Court Architect. They had issue:
a) Yángyì-hóu Féng Dìng (楊邑侯 馮 定), Marquis of Shìyáng. General of the Household of the Feathered Forest.
2) Píngyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Nú (平陽長公主 劉 奴), Princess of Píngyáng from 60, she was later appointed Senior Princess. She married Féng Shùn (馮 順), Minister Herald. They had issue:
a) Píngyáng-hóu Féng Jìng (平陽侯 馮 勁), Right Inspector of the Feather Forest Guards, succeeded his younger brother as Marquis of Píngyáng in 95. He had issue:
i) Píngyáng-hóu Féng Mǎo (平陽侯 馮 卯), Marquis of Píngyáng and a Palace Attendent.
(1) Píngyáng-hóu Féng Liú (平陽侯 馮 留), Marquis of Píngyáng.
b) Píngyáng-hóu Féng Fèn (平陽侯 馮 奮), Marquis of Píngyáng. He died childless and was succeeded by his older brother.
c) Féng Yóu (馮 由), Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. He married Píngyì-gōngzhǔ Liú Wáng (平邑公主 劉 王), daughter of the Twentieth Emperor.
3) Longlǜ-gōngzhǔ Liú Yíng (隆慮公主 劉 迎), Princess of Longlǜ. From 60. She married Móupíng-hóu Gěng Xí (牟平侯 耿 襲), Marquis of Móupíng. They had issue:
a) Móupíng-hóu Gěng Bǎo Jūndá (牟平侯 耿 寶 君達), Marquis of Móupíng. As a maternal step-uncle of Āndì, the Twenty-Third Emperor, he was appointed Minister Herald in 121. He quickly abused his power, by having Yang Zhen charged with insubordination for preventing the appointment of one of his followers to office. In 124, he was appointed Grand General. Shortly after, he successfully had the Emperor's only son dismissed as heir. The next year, the Emperor became ill and died; Gěng Bǎo was appointed Regent, but the Dowager and her clan rapidly turned on him. They accused him of intriguing, fired him and demoted him to a Village Marquisate. He committed suicide.
b) A son, who had issue:
i) Línlǜ-hóu Gěng Chéng (林慮侯 耿 承), Marquis of Línlǜ and a Palace Attendent. He lost his Marquisate when his uncle fell from power in 125, but his aunt later got him restored in 134. At her death, however, the Regent demanded her jewelery. Geng Cheng refused and, as a result, lost his Marquisate once more. He fled, but later the Regent found him and killed him and most of his family.
a) Gānlíng-dàguìrén Gěng Jī (甘陵大貴人 耿 姬), Great Honoured Lady of the Pleasant Tomb. She was married to Qīnghé Xiào-wáng Liú Qìng (清河 孝王 劉 慶), son of Zhāngdì, the Twentieth Emperor, and therefore her first cousin. She was thus step-mother to Āndì, the Twenty-Third Emperor, who honoured her greatly, but predeceased her. The aftermath of his death was disastrous for her clan, but she gradually restored the fortunes of her family. At her death, however, the Empress Dowager Yán (閻皇太后) demanded her family hand over her jewelery. When they refused, they were massacred.
4) Píngshì-gōngzhǔ Liú Zí (平氏公主 劉 次), Princess of Píngshì from 60.
5) Qìnshuǐ-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Zhì (沁水長公主 劉 致), Princess of Qìnshuǐ from 60, she was later appointed Senior Princess. She married Gāomì-hóu Dèng Gān (高密侯 鄧 乾), Marquis of Gāomì, a descendent of Deng Yu (鄧 禹), one of the most important generals during the restoration of the Han Dynasty and the suppression of the Red Eyebrows. Gān was demoted to commoner from 102 until 105 when he was restored and made a Palace Attendent.
a) Gāomì-hóu Dèng Chéng (高密侯 鄧 成), Marquis of Gāomì, who might be the General who was killed fighting Qiang rebels in 110. He had issue:
i) Gāomì-hóu Dèng Bāo (高密侯 鄧 褒), Marquis of Gāomì. General of the Household to Āndì, the Twenty-Third Emperor and Minister Steward to Huándì, the Twenty-Eighth. He married Wǔyīn-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Biédé (舞陰長公主 劉 別得), Senior Princess of Wǔyīn, sister of the Emperor Āndì (see HAN 12).
(1) Gāomì-hóu Dèng Mǒu (高密侯 鄧 某), Marquis of Gāomì
(2) Wǔyīn-hóu Dèng Chāng (舞陰侯 鄧 昌), Marquis of Wǔyīn, Gentleman of the Yellow Gates.
6) Pínggāo-gōngzhǔ Liú Xiǎojī (平臯公主 劉 小姬), Princess of Pínggāo from 69. She married Ān-hóu Dèng Fán (安侯 鄧 蕃), Marquis of Ān and a Palace Attendent.
7) Jùnyí-gōngzhǔ Liú Zhòng (浚儀公主 劉 仲), Princess of Jùnyí from 74. She married Yāng-hóu Wáng Dù (央侯 王 度), Marquis of Yāng and a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. They had issue:
a) Yāng-hóu Wáng Xīn (央侯 王 歆), Marquis of Yāng
8) Wǔān-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Huì (武安長公主 劉 惠), Senior Princess of Wǔān. She married Lái Léng (來 棱), a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. He was a descendent of an important general in the restoration of Han and her third cousin (see above). They had issue:
a) Zhēngqiāng-hóu Lái Lì Bózhēn (征羌侯 來 歷 伯珍), Marquis of Zhēngqiāng, a Palace Attendent in 100 and Commander of the Cavalry in the Guards of the Feather Forest, promoted to Colonel in the Northern Army in 109, Bearer of the Mace in 120, Minister Coachman in 122. In 124 he protested the dismissal of the Imperial Heir by Āndì the Twenty-Third Emperor and was punished by being removed from his offices and placed under surveillance. In 125, however, Emperor Āndì died and he was appointed Court Architect, then Minister of the Guards by the formerly dismissed Imperial Heir, now Shùndì the Twenty-Fifth Emperor. He was General of Chariots and Cavalry from 126 until 128, promoted to Minister Herald and died in 133. She had issue:
i) Zhēngqiāng-hóu Lái Dìng (征羌侯 來 定), Marquis of Zhēngqiāng from 133, General of the Household under Shùndì the Twenty-Fifth Emperor. He married Píngshì-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Zhídé (平氏長公主 劉 直得), Senior Princess of Píngshì, sister of the Twenty-third Emperor (see below). He had issue:
(1) Zhēngqiāng-hóu Lái Hǔ (征羌侯 來 虎), Marquis of Zhēngqiāng and a Colonel in the Northern Army.
(2) Lái Yàn Jìdé (來 艷 季德), a talented and generous scholar, he was Minister of Ceremonies from 171, promoted briefly to Excellency of Works, promoted to that position again in 178 only to die shortly thereafter.
(a) Lái Mǐn Jìngdá (來 敏 敬達). Born in 163, he lived at the end of the Han Dynasty, when China had collapsed once more into warlordism. He travelled to the court of the Warlord of Yi, where he worked as a scholar until 214, when he became Colonel for Education in the southwestern successor state of Shu-Han. In 219 he was promoted to Head of the Shu-Han Imperial Heir's Household and later to a Ministerial General. He lived to great age, finally dying in 260, shortly before the fall of Shu-Han.
(i) A daughter, who married Huáng Wǎn Zǐyǎn (黃 琬 子琰), a model of the moral official, promoting for talent rather than connections and stamping out corruption. He helped overthrow the Chancellor and defacto ruler of Han, Dǒng Zhuō (董 卓) in 192, in favour of Wáng Yǔn (王 允), who, however, proved worse. He was killed by supporters of Dǒng later in 192.
ii) Lái Zhǐ (來 祉), Colonel in the Northern Army from 125.
iii) Lái Chāo (來 超), Gentleman of the Yellow Gates from 125.
9) Lǔyáng-gōngzhǔ Liú Chén (魯陽公主 劉 臣), Princess of Lǔyáng from 76.
10) Lèpíng-gōngzhǔ Liú Xiǎoyíng (樂平公主 劉 小迎), Princess of Lèpíng from 76.
11) Chéngān-gōngzhǔ Liú Xiǎomín (成安公主 劉 小民), Princess of Chéngān from 76.
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