Emperor Yuan of Han

Emperor Yuan of Han
漢元帝
Jieyu Fighting against Bear by Jin Tingbiao, Palace Museum, China. Emperor Yuan was depicted at the top of the flight of steps.
Emperor of the Han dynasty
Reign29 January 48[1] – 8 July 33 BC
PredecessorEmperor Xuan
SuccessorEmperor Cheng
Born75 BC
Chang'an, Han Empire
Died8 July 33 BC (aged 42)
Chang'an, Han Empire
Burial
Wei Mausoleum (渭陵), Xianyang
ConsortsEmpress Xiaoyuan
Consort Fu
Consort Feng
Consort Wei
IssueEmperor Cheng of Han
Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao
Liu Xing, Prince Xiao of Zhongshan
Princess Pingdou
Princess Pingyang
Princess Yingyi
Names
Family name: Liu ()
Given name: Shi ()
Posthumous name
Emperor Xiaoyuan (孝元皇帝)
HouseLiu
DynastyHan (Western Han)
FatherEmperor Xuan
MotherEmpress Gong'ai
Emperor Yuan of Han
Traditional Chinese漢元帝
Simplified Chinese汉元帝
Literal meaningThe Primal Emperor of Han
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHàn Yúandì
Wade–GilesHan Yüan-ti
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHon Yùhn-dai
JyutpingHon3 Jyun4 dai3
Southern Min
Hokkien POJHàn Guân-tè
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese劉奭
Simplified Chinese刘奭
Literal meaning(personal name)
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLiú Shì
Wade–GilesLiu Shi
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationLàuh Shik
JyutpingLau4 Sik1
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLâu Siak

Emperor Yuan of Han, personal name Liu Shi (劉奭; 75 BC – 8 July 33 BC), was an emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan promoted Confucianism as the official creed of the Chinese government. He appointed adherents of Confucius to important government posts.

However, at the same time that he was solidifying Confucianism's position as the official ideology, the empire's condition slowly deteriorated due to his indecisiveness, his inability to stop factional infighting between officials in his administration, and the trust he held in certain corrupt officials. He was succeeded by Emperor Cheng.

  1. ^ guisi day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Huang'long era, per vol.27 of Zizhi Tongjian