| Chen Shubao 陳叔寶 | |||||||||||||
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 Tang dynasty portrait of Emperor Houzhu by Yan Liben | |||||||||||||
| Emperor of the Chen dynasty | |||||||||||||
| Reign | February 20, 582[1][2] – February 10, 589[3][2] | ||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Emperor Xuan | ||||||||||||
| Born | Chen Huangnu (陳黃奴) December 10, 553[4][2] | ||||||||||||
| Died | December 16, 604 (aged 51)[5][2] | ||||||||||||
| Consorts | Shen Wuhua of Wuxing | ||||||||||||
| Issue | See § Family | ||||||||||||
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| Dynasty | Chen dynasty | ||||||||||||
| Father | Emperor Xuan | ||||||||||||
| Mother | Lady Liu Jingyan of Hedong | ||||||||||||
Chen Shubao (Chinese: 陳叔寶; pinyin: Chén Shúbǎo, 10 December 553 – 16 December 604), also known as Houzhu of Chen (陳後主; Chén Hòuzhǔ; 'Last Ruler of Chen'), posthumous name Duke Yáng of Chángchéng (長城煬公; Chángchéng Yáng Gōng), courtesy name Yuánxiù (元秀), childhood name Huángnú (黃奴), was the fifth and last emperor of the Chinese Chen dynasty, which was conquered by the Sui dynasty in 589.
At the time of his ascension, Chen was already facing military pressure by Sui on multiple fronts, and, according to traditional historians, Chen Shubao was an incompetent ruler who was more interested in literature and women than in state affairs.
In February 589, Sui forces captured Chen's capital, Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), and captured him, ending Chen's rule and unifying China after nearly three centuries of division that had started with the upheaval of the Five Barbarians. He was taken to the Sui's capital Chang'an, where he was treated kindly by Emperor Wen of Sui and his son and successor, Emperor Yang of Sui until his death in December 604, during the reign of Emperor Yang.