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| Emperor Ming of Han 漢明帝 | |||||||||||||||||
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 Portrait of Emperor Ming from Sancai Tuhui | |||||||||||||||||
| Emperor of the Han dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 29 March 57 AD[1] – 5 September 75 AD | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Emperor Guangwu | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Zhang | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 June 28 AD | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 September 75 AD (aged 47) | ||||||||||||||||
| Consorts | |||||||||||||||||
| Issue Detail | Emperor Zhang | ||||||||||||||||
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| House | House of Liu | ||||||||||||||||
| Dynasty | Han dynasty | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Emperor Guangwu | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Guanglie | ||||||||||||||||
| Emperor Ming of Han | |||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 漢明帝 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 汉明帝 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | Bright Emperor of the Han | ||||||||
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Emperor Ming of Han (15 June 28[2] – 5 September 75 AD[3]), born Liu Yang and also known as Liu Zhuang and as Han Mingdi, was the second Emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.
He was the fourth son and second crown prince of Emperor Guangwu. It was during Emperor Ming's reign that Buddhism began to spread into China.
Emperor Ming was a hard-working, competent administrator of the empire who showed integrity and demanded integrity from his officials. He also extended Chinese control over the Tarim Basin and eradicated the Xiongnu influence there, through the conquests of his general Ban Chao.
The reigns of Emperor Ming and his son Emperor Zhang were typically considered the golden age of the Eastern Han Empire and known as the Rule of Ming and Zhang.
- ^ wuxu day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year of the (Jian'wu) Zhong'yuan era, per Emperor Ming's biography in Book of the Later Han
- ^ According to volume 91 of Taiping Yulan (citing Dongguan Hanji), Emperor Ming was born on the jiashen day of the 5th month of the 4th year of the Jianwu era of Liu Xiu's reign. This corresponds to 15 Jun 28 in the Julian calendar. (建武四年五月甲申，皇子阳生，...) Taiping Yulan, vol.91
- ^ According to Emperor Ming's biography in Book of the Later Han, he died on the renzi day of the 8th month of the 18th year of the Yongping era of his reign. This corresponds to 5 Sep 75 on the Julian calendar. ([永平十八年]秋八月壬子，帝崩于东宫前殿。年四十八。) Houhanshu, vol.02