Han Dynasty Emperor
The emperors of the Han Dynasty ruled the Empire of China from 206 BC. BC to AD 220 (with an interruption from AD 9 to 23).
The two phases of the Han Dynasty are referred to as the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties according to the respective capital . The Western Han Dynasty with the capital Chang'an was founded in 207 BC. Founded by Liu Bang and ended by Wang Mang in 8 AD , who proclaimed the short-lived Xin dynasty . His rule collapsed in AD 23 amid general uprisings.
After a brief interregnum of Liu Xuan, who ruled as Emperor Gengshi of Han (23-25), Liu Xiu founded the Eastern Han Dynasty in 25 . Their capital was Luoyang in the east of the empire. Under the emperor Ling , uprisings arose all over the empire, which the emperor tried to suppress by giving the sovereign princes great autonomy. So the central power visibly deteriorated. The last Han emperor, Xian, was just a puppet. With his deposition (220), the Three Kingdoms began in China .
Notes on the columns:
- The temple name is the name given to the emperor's ancestral temple. Not all emperors were given a temple name.
- The posthumous title was given to the emperor as a name of honor after his death. This is also the more common name. The emperors are therefore named according to the following convention: "Hàn" (name of the dynasty) + posthumous name + "dì" (" emperor ").
- According to Chinese customs, the emperor's maiden name is kept in the order family name - first name .
- The era of the Chinese imperial era followed the era announced by the emperor . The year "Jian'an 11" (Emperor Xian of Han) corresponds to the year 207 according to the Christian calendar. An era usually represented a distinctive period in the government of an emperor, it can be seen as a government motto.
List of emperors
| Temple name | Posthumous title | Birth Name | Government years | Era names (government currency ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The translations of the era names are rough interpretations that cannot do justice to the complexity of Chinese . They are used for the orientation of the uninitiated. | ||||
| Western Han Dynasty 206 BC AD – 9, continued from 23–25 | ||||
| Tài Zǔ (
太祖 ) or
Gāo Zǔ ( 高祖 ), s. Note |
Gāozǔ
( 高 皇帝 ) |
Liú Bāng
( 劉邦 / 刘邦 ) |
206 - v 195th Chr. | no |
|
Huì
( 漢 惠帝 / 汉 惠帝 ) |
Liú Yíng
( 劉 盈 / 刘 盈 ) |
195–188 BC Chr. | no | |
|
Qianshào
( 前 少 ) |
Liú Gōng
( 劉 恭 / 刘 恭 ) |
188-184 BC Chr. | no | |
|
Houshào
( 後 少 ) |
Liú Hóng
( 劉弘 / 刘弘 ) |
184-180 BC Chr. | no | |
| Tài Zōng
( 太宗 ) |
Whom
( 漢 文帝 / 汉 文帝 ) |
Liú Héng
( 劉恆 / 刘恒 ) |
180-157 BC Chr. | Hòu Yuán ( 後 元 / 后 元 - "first dynasty") 163–156 BC Chr. |
|
Jng
( 漢 景帝 / 汉 景帝 ) |
Liu Qǐ
( 劉啟 / 刘启 ) |
157-141 BC Chr. |
Zhōng Yuán ( 中元 - "Middle Dynasty") 149–143 BC Chr. Hòu Yuán ( 後 元 / 后 元 - "first ruler") 143–141 BC Chr. |
|
| Shì Zōng
( 世宗 ) |
Wǔ
( 漢 武帝 / 汉 武帝 ) |
Liú Chè
( 劉徹 / 刘彻 ) |
141-87 BC Chr. |
Jiàn Yuán ( 建元 - "establishment of the dynasty") 140–135 BC Chr. Yuán Guāng ( 元 光 - "light dynasty") 134–129 BC Chr. Yuán Shuò ( 元朔 - "beginning of the dynasty") 128–123 BC Chr. Yuán Shòu ( 元狩 - "first imperial journey") 122–117 BC Chr. Yuán Dǐng ( 元鼎 - " tripod dynasty") 116–111 BC Chr. Yuán Fēng ( 元 封 - "seal of the dynasty") 110-105 BC Chr. Tài Chū ( 太初 - "beginning of the world") 104–101 BC Chr. Tiān Hàn ( 天 漢 / 天 汉 - "Chinese sky") 100–97 BC Chr. Tài Shǐ ( 太 始 - "highest beginning") 96–93 BC Chr. Zhēng Hé ( 徵 和 - "setting up the unit") 92–89 BC Chr. Hòu Yuán ( 後 元 / 后 元 - "descendants of the dynasty") 88–87 BC Chr. |
|
Zhāo
( 漢昭帝 / 汉昭帝 ) |
Liú Fúlíng
( 劉 弗 陵 / 刘 弗 陵 ) |
87-74 BC Chr. |
Shĭ Yuán ( 始 元 - "beginning of the dynasty") 86–80 BC Chr. Yuán Fèng ( 元 鳳 - "Phoenix dynasty") 80–75 BC Chr. Yuán Píng ( 元 平 - "peaceful dynasty") 74 BC Chr. |
|
|
Chāng Yì Wáng
( 昌邑 王 ) |
Liú Hè
( 劉 賀 / 刘 贺 ) |
74 BC Chr. | Yuán Píng ( 元 平 - "peaceful dynasty") 74 BC Chr. | |
| Zhōng Zōng
( 中 宗 ) |
Xuān
( 漢 宣帝 / 汉 宣帝 ) |
Liú Xún
( 劉 詢 / 刘 询 ) ( 劉 病 已 / 刘 病 已 ) |
74–49 BC Chr. |
Bĕn Shǐ ( 本 始 - "beginning of the foundation") 73–70 BC Chr. Dì Jié ( 地 節 - "connection of the land") 69–66 BC Chr. Yuán Kāng ( 元 康 - "peaceful dynasty") 65–61 BC Chr. Shén Jué ( 神爵 - "divine nobility") 61–58 BC Chr. Wŭ Fèng ( 五鳳 - "five phoenixes") 57–54 BC Chr. Gān Lù ( 甘露 - "benefit from the ruler") 53–50 BC Chr. Huáng Lóng ( 黃龍 - "yellow dragon") 49 BC Chr. |
|
Yuan
( 漢 元帝 / 汉 元帝 ) |
Liú Shì
( 劉 奭 / 刘 奭 ) |
49–33 BC Chr. |
Chū Yuán ( 初 元 - "beginning of the dynasty") 48–44 BC Chr. Yǒng Guāng ( 永光 - "eternal light") 43–39 BC Chr. Jiàn Zhāo ( 建 昭 - “establishing firmness”) 38–34 BC. Chr. Jìng Níng ( 竟 寧 - “finally peace and quiet”) 33 v. Chr. Chr. |
|
|
Chéng
( 漢 成帝 / 汉 成帝 ) |
Liú Áo
( 劉 驁 / 刘 骜 ) |
33-7 BC Chr. |
Jiàn Shǐ ( 建 始 - “set up the beginning”) 32–28 BC Chr. Hé Píng ( 河 平 - "calm river") 28–25 BC Chr. Yáng Shuò ( 陽朔 - "bright beginning") 24–21 BC Chr. Hóng Jiā ( 鴻 嘉 - “protruding far”) 20–17 BC Chr. Yǒng Shǐ ( 永 始 - "eternal beginning") 16–13 BC Chr. Yuán Yán ( 元 延 - "extended dynasty") 12–9 BC Chr. Suī Hé ( 綏 和 / 绥 和 - "peaceful harmony") 8–7 BC Chr. |
|
|
Āi
( 漢 哀帝 / 汉 哀帝 ) |
Liu Xin
( 劉欣 / 刘欣 ) |
7-1 v. Chr. Chr. |
Jiàn Píng ( 建平 - “to build peace”) 6–3 BC. Chr. Yuán Shòu ( 元 壽 / 元 寿 - "long-lived dynasty") 2–1 BC Chr. |
|
|
Píng
( 漢 平 帝 / 汉 平 帝 ) |
Liú Kàn
( 劉 衎 / 刘 衎 ) |
1 v. BC - 6 AD | Yuán Shǐ ( 元始 - "beginning of the dynasty") 1 BC BC –6 AD | |
|
Rú Zi
( 孺子 ) |
Liú Yīng
( 劉 嬰 / 刘 婴 ) |
6- 9 |
Jū Shè ( 居 攝 / 居 摂 - “take residence”) February 6 – October 8 |
|
| Xin Dynasty 9-23 | ||||
| none |
Wáng Măng
( 王莽 ) |
9- 23 |
Shǐ Jiàn Guō ( 始建 國 / 始建 国 - "beginning of the creation of a new nation") 9–13 Tiān Fēng ( 天 鳳 / 天 凤 - "Phoenix heaven") 14–19 Dì Huáng ( 地 皇 - "Emperor of the Country") 20–23 |
|
| Continuation of the Western Han Dynasty | ||||
|
Gèng Shǐ
( 更始 ) |
Liú Xuan
( 劉玄 ) |
23- 25 | Gèng Shǐ ( 更始 - “start a new page”) 23–25 | |
| Eastern Han Dynasty 25–220 | ||||
| Shì Zǔ
( 世祖 ) |
Guāngwǔ
( 漢 光武帝 ) |
Liú Xiù
( 劉秀 ) |
25- 57 |
Jiàn Wŭ ( 建武 - "Building the Armed Forces") 25–56 Jiàn Wŭ Zhōng Yuán ( 建武 中元 - "set up the dynasty in the middle in a warlike manner") 56–58 |
| Xiǎn Zōng
( 顯宗 / 显宗 ) |
Min
( 漢 明帝 ) |
Liú Zhuāng
( 劉莊 ) |
57- 75 | Yǒng Píng ( 永平 - "Eternal Peace") 58–75 |
| Sù Zōng
( 肅宗 ) |
Zhāng
(漢 章帝) |
Liú Dá
(劉 炟) |
75- 88 |
Jiàn Chū ( 建 初 - "beginning of the construction") 76–84 Yuán Hé ( Chinese 元 和 - "Dynasty in harmony") 84–87 Zhāng Hé ( 章和 - "Section of Harmony") 87-88
|
| Mù Zōng
(穆宗) |
Hé
(漢 和帝) |
Liú Zhào
(劉 肇) |
88- 106 |
Yǒng Yuán ( 永 元 - "Eternal Dynasty") 89–105 Yuán Xīng ( 元 興 / 元 兴 - "Dynasty blossoming") 105–106 |
|
Shang
(漢 殤 帝) |
Liú Lóng
(劉 隆) |
106 | Yán Píng ( 延平 - "extended peace") 106-107 | |
| Gōng Zōng
(恭 宗) |
On
(漢 安帝) |
Liú Hù
(劉 祜) |
106- 125 |
Yǒng Chū ( 永 初 - "Beginning of Eternity") 107–113 Yuán Chū ( 元初 - "beginning of the dynasty") 114–120 Yǒng Ning ( 永寧 / 永宁 - "eternal peace") 120-121 Jiàn Guāng ( 建 光 - "light structure") 121–122 Yán Guāng ( 延光 - "extended brightness") 122–125 |
|
Shào (少帝) or
Marquis of Beǐ Xiāng (北 鄉侯) |
Liú Yì
(劉 懿) |
125 |
Yán Guāng ( 延光 - "extended brightness") 125
|
|
| Jìng Zōng
(敬宗) |
Shùn
(漢 順帝) |
Liú Báo
(劉 保) |
125- 144 |
Yǒng Jiàn ( 永 建 - "Structure of Eternity") 126–132 Yáng Jiā ( 阳 嘉 - “excellent sun”) 132–135 Yǒng Hé ( 永和 - "Eternal Peace") 136–141 Hàn Ān ( 漢 安 / 汉 安 - "Hàn-Friede") 142–144 Jiàn Kāng ( 建康 - "building up peace and quiet") 144 |
|
Chong
(漢 沖 帝) |
Liú Bǐng
(劉炳) |
144- 145 | Yōng Xī ( 永 熹 - "eternal warm brightness") 145 | |
|
Zhì
(漢 質 帝) |
Liú Zuǎn
(劉 纘) |
145- 146 | Bĕn Chū ( 本 初 - "Beginning of laying the foundation stone") 146 | |
| Xián Zōng
(鹹 宗) |
Huán
(漢 桓帝) |
Liú Zhǐ
(劉誌) |
146- 168 |
Jiàn Hé ( 建和 - “ Establishing Peace”) 147–149 Hé Píng ( Chinese 和平 - "Peace") 150 Yuán Jiā ( 元嘉 - "outstanding dynasty") 151–153 Yǒng Xing ( 永興 / 永兴 - "eternal blossoming") 153-154 Yǒng Shòu ( 永 壽 - "longevity") 155–158 Yán Xī ( 延熹 - “prolonged warmth”) 158–167 Yǒng Kāng ( 永 康 - "Eternal Peace") 167 |
|
Líng
(漢靈帝) |
Liú Hóng
(劉宏) |
168- 189 |
Jiàn Níng ( 建寧 / 建宁 - "peaceful construction") 168–172 Xī Píng ( 熹平 - "calm brightness") 172–178 Guāng Hé ( 光和 - "bright harmony") 178–184 Zhōng Píng ( 中平 - "balancing the middle") 184-189 |
|
|
Shào (少帝) or
Prince of Hóng Nóng (弘農 王) |
Liú Biàn
(劉 辯) |
189 | Guāng Xī ( Chinese 光 熹 - "warm light") 189 | |
|
Xiàn
(漢獻帝) |
Liu Xié
(劉 協) |
189- 220 |
Zhāo Níng ( 昭寧 / 昭宁 - "peaceful firmness") 189 Yǒng Hàn ( 永漢 / 永汉 - "eternal Hàn") 189 Chū Píng ( 初 平 - "Beginning of rest and peace") 190–193 Xīng Píng ( 興平 / 兴平 - "blooming peace") 194–195 Jiàn Ān ( 建安 - "making peace") 196–220 Yán Kāng ( Chinese 延 康 - "Expansion of Peace") 220 |
|
Note Actually, the temple name of the first Han emperor is "Tài Zǔ" (太祖). However, Sima Qian used the name Gāo Zǔ in his Shiji history . Therefore, this flawed name became the more common one for later generations.
Family tables
The family tables of the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties give an overview of the relationships between the emperors.
See also
literature
- Rafe de Crespigny : A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD). Brill, Leiden / Boston 2007.
- Denis Twitchett , Michael Loewe (Eds.): The Cambridge History of China. Volume 1: The Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 BC – AD 220. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge u. a. 1986.
