Dynasties of ChinaEastern HanEastern Han lineage
Jianchu and others · Reign 75—88
He was generous and fond of Confucianism, took corvee lightly and despised taxes, held the White Tiger Temple Conference, and had a clean and peaceful politics, but he hid the danger of the dictatorial power of his relative Dou.
Liu Da is the fifth son of Emperor Ming. His mother is Jia. He was raised by the childless Mahuanghou, who regarded him as his own. He was fond of Confucianism since he was a child. He was established as Crown Prince in 1960 and ascended the throne in 1975 at the age of 18. He had always respected Empress Dowager Ma's frugality and prudence, but the Empress Dowager repeatedly prevented him from granting rewards to his uncles, so the arrogance of his relatives at home and abroad was somewhat restrained.
During his reign, he changed the harsh style of Emperor Ming, advocating "removing harshness from politics", abolishing torture, levying corvee and lax taxes, building water conservancy, and personally toured the counties and encouraged farmers to practice farming. In 1979, Confucian scholars were summoned to discuss the similarities and differences of the Five Classics, and Ban Gu compiled it into "White Tiger Tongyi". He continued Emperor Ming's Western Region strategy externally. Not only did he not give up on the Western Region, he also supported Ban Chao's management. However, he indulged Douhuanghou and his brothers, and Dou Xian and other relatives gained power, which paved the way for the Dou family's dictatorship in the future. He died of illness in February 1988 at the age of thirty-one and was buried in the mausoleum.
Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty had a generous temperament and adopted a policy of relaxation and recuperation in government affairs. He reduced prison labor and rectified Confucian classics. During his reign, the society was stable and the economy developed, making the "Mingzhang Rule" the heyday of the Eastern Han. However, he was too indulgent towards the Dou family's relatives, and he also listened to one side of the story regarding palace affairs, which caused the Dou family's power to expand rapidly and became the beginning of the exclusive power of the Eastern Han family's relatives.
PoliticsAscended to the throne and exercised leniency
After he succeeded to the throne, he changed the harshness of Emperor Ming, decreed leniency in prison sentences, prohibited the abuse of torture, ordered prisoners from various places to be moved to border areas to farm, and issued decrees to encourage reclamation, provide relief to the poor, and reduce taxes and corvee.
MilitaryBan Chao stayed in the Western Regions
After the death of Emperor Ming, Yanqi and Qiuci attacked and killed the Protector Chen Mu. Emperor Zhang ordered the withdrawal of the Protector and Wuji Xiaowei. Ban Chao followed the imperial edict and returned eastward to Khotan. The locals were reluctant to leave, so he returned to Shule and persisted.
EconomyRecruiting refugees
An edict was issued to appease the refugees. Those who were willing to return to their hometowns would be provided with food rations by the government. Those who had no land would be lent public land and seeds, and exempted from rent and taxes. The prefectures and states were also ordered to encourage farmers to teach farming and mulberry farming, and to reduce sentences and prison sentences, so that production could gradually resume.
MilitaryMa Fang Ping Qiang
The Shaodang Qiang Miwu and others rebelled and attacked Longxi, Hanyang and other places. Emperor Zhang appointed his uncle Ma Fang as a general of chariots and cavalry to lead an army to conquer. In 78 AD, the Qiang people were defeated in Lintao, and Longyou was temporarily stabilized. As a result, the Ma brothers became more powerful.
Culturewhite tiger view meeting
The imperial edict gathered all the Confucian scholars, doctors, and scholars at the White Tiger Temple in Beigong, Luoyang, to discuss the similarities and differences of the Five Classics. Emperor Zhang came to judge in person, and Ban Gu was ordered to organize it into "White Tiger Tongyi", which combined the prophecies and Confucian classics to become the official unified interpretation of the classics.
Lasting legacy"White Tiger Tongyi" has been handed down to this day, and its discussion of the "Three Cardinal Guides and Six Disciplines" is an important document for studying the ethics of the Han Dynasty.
PeopleQueen Mother Matthew dies
When Queen Mother Ma died of illness, Emperor Zhang was grieved, but because Douhuanghou was favored, he gradually indulged his relatives. Douhuanghou framed Song Guiren and Liang Guiren, causing Emperor Zhang to depose Crown Prince Liu Qing and make Liu Zhao, raised by Empress Dou, Crown Prince.
DiplomacySend Xu Qian to aid Ban Chao
Ban Chao sent a letter requesting more troops, and Emperor Zhang sent Xu Gan and a thousand soldiers to help. Ban Chao relied on the power of Shule, Khotan and other countries to gradually pacify the southern route of the Western Regions, laying the foundation for his future appointment as the Protector.
Lasting legacyShule, where Ban Chao operated, is now Kashgar, Xinjiang, and was an important town on the Silk Road.
CultureSupport ancient literature and classics
In 1983, an edict was issued to select talented students and study "Zuo Shi Zhuan", "Gu Liang Zhuan", "Ancient Classics" and "Mao Shi" in order to cultivate ancient classics. Jia Kui and others taught "Zuo Zhuan", and modern and ancient classics tended to integrate.
EconomyIssuance of fetal maintenance order
An edict was issued that stipulates that pregnant women should be given three husks of "fetus-nurturing grain" and their husbands should be exempted from the tax for one year. Previously, it was also stipulated that those who gave birth to children would be exempted from the tax for three years to encourage childbirth and reduce the burden on the poor.
CultureTouring east to worship Confucius
Touring Mount Tai in the east, he paid homage to Emperor Guangwu. When he passed through Qufu, he visited Confucius' old residence in person, offered homage to Confucius and his seventy-two disciples, played the music of the Six Dynasties, and summoned the descendants of Confucius to discuss the classics and meanings with other Confucian scholars to show his respect for Confucianism.
DiplomacyXianbei defeated the Northern Xiongnu
During the civil strife of the Northern Xiongnu, Xianbei invaded from the east, defeated the Northern Xiongnu and killed Youliu Chanyu. The Southern Xiongnu and Ding Ling and others also took advantage of the situation to attack, and the Northern Xiongnu weakened rapidly, creating conditions for Dou Xian's future Northern Expedition.
PoliticsDied of illness in Jingling Mausoleum
In February, he died of illness in the front hall of Zhangde, Luoyang, at the age of thirty-one. Crown Prince Liu Zhao was only ten years old, Doutaihourule as regent, and his brother Dou Xian was in charge of the secrets as a servant, and the exclusive power of the maternal relatives began.
Inheriting his father's work, he wrote the "Book of Han". Emperor Zhang was ordered to compile the minutes of the Baihu Temple meeting and compile the "White Tiger Tongyi". Later, he went on an expedition with Dou Xian. After his defeat, Dou died in prison.
Emperor Zhang was isolated and helpless in the Western Regions at that time, but he still insisted on not retreating. He conquered Shule with more than 30 people, and also pacified Khotan and Yarkand, laying the foundation for his future appointment as the governor.
The great-granddaughter of Dou Rong, the great Sikong, was favored for her talent and beauty. Because she had no children, she took Liu Zhao, born to a nobleman of Liang, as her own son. She also designed to frame two noblemen of Song and Liang. After the death of Emperor Zhang, she came to the court as the queen mother.
A native of Pingling, Fufeng, he was proficient in ancient classics such as "Zuo Zhuan". He was appreciated by Emperor Zhang and was ordered to teach ancient classics and write "Exegesis of Zuo Shi Zhuan", which contributed to the status of ancient classics in the imperial court.
Douhuanghou's brother, Emperor Zhang, was already in charge of secret affairs. Emperor He was in power in the early years. He wanted to clear his name and requested an attack on the Huns. He was later executed by Emperor He.