Emperor Ming of Han (15June 28 – 5September 75), born and also known as and as , was the second emperor of China's 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.
Family background
Liu Yang was born in AD28 to Emperor Guangwu and his first love, Consort Yin Lihua. When Emperor Guangwu, was still an official under Gengshi Emperor, he had married Yin in 23. After he became emperor in 25, had wanted to make her empress, but she declined because she had no sons at that point. Instead, she endorsed Consort Guo, who already had a son (Liu Jiang ()), so Emperor Guangwu made Consort Guo empress and Prince Jiang crown prince in 26. However, Prince Yang's birth in AD 28 was still considered a major event.
As Duke/Prince of Donghai and crown prince
In AD 39, Emperor Guangwu created all of his sons, other than Crown Prince Jiang, dukes, and Prince Yang was made the Duke of Donghai. He quickly became known for his intelligence even in his young age, and he often made quick judgments of situations that turned out to be correct. Emperor Guangwu became very impressed with him.
At the age of 41, Empress Guo had lost the emperor's favor, and her constant complaints angered Emperor Guangwu. In AD 41, he deposed her and made Duke Yang's mother Consort Yin empress instead. All of the imperial dukes were promoted to princes to accommodate Emperor Guangwu's new title for Empress Guo—Princess Dowager of Zhongshan (after appointing her son Liu Fu () the Prince of Zhongshan); Duke Yang was made the Prince of Donghai.
After Empress Guo was deposed, her son, Crown Prince Jiang, became concerned about remaining crown prince, and repeatedly made requests to be replaced. Emperor Guangwu was initially hesitant to depose of both the mother and son, but in 43, he resolved the situation by switching Princes Jiang's and Yang's positions. He made Prince Jiang the Prince of Donghai, and made Prince Yang crown prince. At this time, he also changed Prince Yang's name to Zhuang, perhaps because Yang (which means "sun") is such a commonly used character that the law of naming taboo would cause the people too a lot of trouble. The new name was not without its own problems, and many members of the Zhuang clan were forced to change their names.
In 51, the woman who would eventually become his empress – Consort Ma, the youngest daughter of famed general Ma Yuan – would become a consort of his. At the time she was 12, and he was 23. She would become a favorite of his, but would never bore him a son. Her niece (the daughter of her older sister), Consort Jia, also a consort of Crown Prince Zhuang, did gave birth to a child—Liu Da (). So consort Ma adopted Consort Jia's son as her own.
As crown prince, Zhuang was often requested by Emperor Guangwu to render opinions in important matters. In AD 51, he was involved in making a correct major decision in Han's relationship with Xiongnu. By that point, Xiongnu had a civil war and divided themselves into two side—with North Xiongnu ruled by Chanyu Punu () and South Xiongnu ruled by Chanyu Bi (). Han had become allied with South Xiongnu, and in response, Chanyu Punu, also wanting peace with Han, requested a heqin marriage. Prince Zhuang suggested that Emperor Guangwu refuse the proposal, reasoning that North Xiongnu had only made the proposal to alienate South Xiongnu from Han. Emperor Guangwu agreed.
In 57, Emperor Guangwu died, and Crown Prince Zhuang succeeded to the throne as Emperor Ming.
Early reign
Due to a naming taboo, people with the surname Zhuang (莊) were forced to change their surname to Yan (嚴).
Emperor Ming quickly established himself as a diligent and capable administrator of the empire. He did many things to try to stamp out corrupt officials, often putting them to death if they were discovered.