Emperor Chongdi
Quick Facts about Emperor Chongdi
- Emperor Chongdi was born in 143 CE.
- His name at birth was Liu Bing.
- He was a son of the Eastern Han dynasty emperor, Shundi.
- His mother was Emperor Shundi’s concubine, Yu.
- After his father the emperor, Shundi’s death in 144 CE, Liu Bing became the eighth emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
- Chongdi means “Modest Emperor”.
Emperor Chongdi’s Life
Chongdi became emperor at the age one year and died a year later at the age of two.
Emperor Chongdi had at least one concubine. Upon his death in 145 CE, an uncle or possibly a cousin, Zhidi, succeeded him as emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
Emperor Zhidi
Quick Facts about Emperor Zhidi
- Emperor Zhidi was born in 138 CE.
- His name at birth was Liu Zuan.
- He was a great-great-grandson of the Eastern Han dynasty emperor, Zhangdi.
- His mother is unknown.
- After Emperor Chongdi’s death in 145 CE, Liu Zuan became the ninth emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
- Zhidi means “Upright Emperor”.
Emperor Zhidi’s life
Emperor Zhidi, another young emperor at the age of eight, ruled for less than two years.
Zhidi had no known wives or concubines. He had at least one child. Upon his death in 146 CE, another relative, Huandi, succeeded him as emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
Emperor Huandi
Quick Facts about Emperor Huandi
- Emperor Huandi was born in 132 CE.
- His name at birth was Liu Zhi.
- He was a great-grandson of the Eastern Han dynasty emperor, Zhangdi.
- His mother is unknown.
- After Emperor Zhidi’s death in 146 CE, Liu Zhi became the tenth emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
- Huandi means “Martial Emperor”.
China under Emperor Huandi
Emperor Huandi became emperor at the age of fourteen. He was no more capable of running his government than any of the other child emperors of the Eastern Han dynasty. He retreated into his palaces and left the running of his court to eunuchs who had gained much power over the preceding years.
The people were left with oppressive rule and natural disasters from earthquakes to locusts that brought famine without government support of food and other relief. Petty rebellions sprang up around the empire.
The Confucian-trained scholars, who had once run the government of the Western and Eastern Han dynasties, no longer kept their positions or tried to gain new ones.
Emperor Huandi’s Life and Death
Huandi had three wives. He had at least one son but as this son was born to a wife that had been divorced, the son could not inherit as emperor. Upon Emperor Huandi’s death in 168 CE, another relative, Lingdi, succeeded him as emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
