Dynasties of ChinaEastern HanEastern Han lineage
Yongjian and others · Reign 125—144
He ascended the throne through a eunuch coup, his cousin Liang gradually gained power, Zhang Heng built a seismometer, and the Qiang rebellion broke out again.
Liu Bao was the only son of Emperor An, and his mother was Li, who was poisoned by Yanhuanghou. In 124, he was falsely accused of being king of Jiyin. The following year, the Marquis of Beixiang died. Nineteen people including the eunuch Sun Cheng staged a coup in Deyang Palace, killed the Yan family members, and made him emperor at the age of eleven. This incident greatly increased the power of the eunuchs, and nineteen people including Sun Cheng were granted the title of marquis.
During his reign, he continued to use Ban Yong to pacify the Western Regions, establish schools, and repair the Imperial Academy. However, his relatives and eunuchs alternated in politics: in 132, he made Liang Na, the daughter of Liang Shang, the queen, and the Liang brothers gradually took power; in 135, he allowed the eunuchs to adopt adopted sons to seize the title, and the eunuchs became more powerful. Starting from 140 AD, the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou began again, and the situation was unstable. Emperor Shun died of illness in 144 at the age of thirty. Lianghuanghou's brother Liang Ji came to power, and Eastern Han politics became increasingly corrupt.
PoliticsNineteen princes supported him
After the death of the Marquis of Beixiang, the eunuch Sun Cheng and other nineteen people gathered under the west bell of Deyang Palace to kill Jiang Jing and others, and welcomed Liu Bao, King of Jiyin, to the throne. All nineteen people were granted the title of marquis, and the power of the eunuchs expanded rapidly.
MilitaryBan Yongping Yanqi
Ban Yong led the soldiers from the four counties in Hexi and the soldiers from Shanshan, Shule, Cheshi and other countries to attack Yanqi. King Yuanmeng of Yanqi surrendered. Qiuci, Gumo, Wensu and other countries also surrendered one after another, and the northern route of the Western Region was basically stable.
Science & technologyZhang Heng made seismometer
Taishi ordered Zhang Heng to make a wind-waiting seismometer, which was made of fine copper and shaped like a wine bottle. It was surrounded by eight dragon heads, each holding copper pills. During an earthquake, the pills were spit toward the dragon's mouth at the source of the earthquake. Although Luoyang did not feel the Longxi earthquake in 138, instruments have detected it.
Lasting legacyZhang Heng's name was used to name a crater on the far side of the moon. The National Museum of China displays a seismometer model restored based on historical data.
PoliticsMake Liang Na your queen
Emperor Shun established Liang Na, the daughter of the general Liang Shang, as his queen. Liang Shang worshiped King Wu and was promoted to general in 135, and the Liang brothers gained power. Liang Shang was a cautious man, but his son Liang Ji was arrogant and he succeeded him as a general and held power for nearly twenty years.
PoliticsEunuchs have to adopt sons to become nobles
Emperor Shun issued an edict allowing eunuchs to inherit titles through adopted sons. The power of eunuchs was further consolidated. They could inherit hereditary titles, establish family power, and compete with relatives for power.
MilitaryMa Xian died in battle
The Qiang people rebelled again in Liangzhou in 140 AD. The chariot and cavalry general Ma Xian led his army to fight. In 141 AD, he was defeated and killed in Shegu Mountain. The Qiang people's power expanded to Sanfu, and the imperial court exhausted its financial resources before gradually quelling the rebellion.
PoliticsDied of illness in Xianling
In August, Emperor Shun died of illness in the front hall of Yutang. He was thirty years old. The two-year-old prince Liu Bing came to the throne. Liangtaihou came to the court. Liang Ji assisted the government as a general, and the Liang family's exclusive power began. Emperor Shun was buried in Xianling.
A eunuch from Xincheng, Zhuojun County, he was the head of the Nineteenth Marquis. He served as the core of the coup, supported Emperor Shun, and granted the title of Marquis of Fuyang. Later, he and his companions were demoted for some reasons, and were later reinstated. He died in 132 AD.
The daughter of the great general Liang Shang, she was established as queen in 132 AD. After the death of Emperor Shun, she ruled as regent and jointly controlled the government with her brother Liang Ji until his death in 150 AD.
The father of Lianghuanghou, he served as a general since 135. He was humble, employed people well, and dealt with the Xiqiang in a safe way. He died in 141 and was succeeded by his son Liang Ji.
A native of Xi'e, Nanyang, he served as the Taishi Order for two times. He made the water-borne armillary sphere and the wind-waiting seismometer. He wrote "Lingxian" to explain the causes of lunar eclipses. His "Er Jing Fu" and "Guitian Fu" have been passed down through the ages.
The brother of Liang Na, he succeeded Liang Shang as the general in 141. Emperor Shun had gradually become authoritarian. Emperor Chong, Emperor Zhi, and Emperor Huan were in power for nearly 20 years. He was known as the "domineering general" and was eventually killed by Emperor Huan.