生平

汉明帝生于建武四年五月甲申（28年6月15日）。他从小就聪明好学，十岁时能够通读《春秋》。

建武十五年（39年）封东海公，十七年（41年）进爵为东海王，十九年（43年）被立为皇太子。建武中元二年初五戊戌（57年3月29日），三十岁的刘庄即皇帝位。

明帝即位后，一切遵奉汉光武帝的制度。明帝热心提倡儒学，注重刑名文法，为政苛察，总揽权柄，权不借下。他严令后妃之家不得封侯与政，对贵戚功臣也多方防范。同时，基本上消除了因为王莽虐政而引起的周边蛮夷侵扰的威胁，使汉跟周边蛮夷的友好关系得到了恢复和发展。

明帝允北匈奴互市之请，但并未消弥北匈奴的寇掠，反而动摇了早已归附的南匈奴。只得改变光武时期息兵养民的策略，重新对匈奴开战。永平十六年（73年），命祭肜、窦固、耿秉、来苗征伐北匈奴，汉军进抵天山，击呼衍王，斩首千馀级，追至蒲类海（今新疆巴里坤湖），取伊吾卢地。永平十七年（74年），命窦固、耿秉、刘张征白山虏于蒲类海，复置西域都护府，用来管辖西域地区。其后，窦固又以班超出使西域，由是西域诸国皆遣子入侍。自新朝地皇四年（23年）以来，西域与中原断绝关系50年后又恢复了正常交往。班超以三十六人征服鄯善、于置诸国、耿恭守疏勒城力拒匈奴等故事都发生在这一时期。

此外，随著对外交往的正常发展，佛教已在西汉末年传入西域，永平十年（67年），明帝梦见金人，其名曰佛，于是派使者赴天竺求得其书及沙门，并于雒阳建立中国第一座佛教庙宇白马寺。

明帝，章帝时期，朝廷派窦固等率兵出击匈奴，并同时遣班超出使西域，使丝绸之路再次复通。

明帝之世，吏治非常清明，境内安定。加以多次下诏招抚流民，以郡国公田赐贫人、贷种食，并兴修水利。因此，史书记载当时民安其业，户口滋殖。据《后汉书》记载：光武帝建武中元二年（57年），人口为2100万，至汉明帝永平十八年（75年），在不到20年的时间里增加至3412万。明帝以及随后的章帝在位时期，史称「明章之治」。

永平十八年八月初六壬子（75年9月5日），汉明帝逝世于雒阳东宫前殿，终年四十八岁。八月壬戌（9月15日），葬于显节陵（今河南洛阳市东南）。庙号显宗，谥号孝明皇帝。

家庭

后妃

皇后

• 明德皇后马氏，汉章帝养母

妃嫔

• 贾贵人，平阳公主、汉章帝生母

• 阴贵人

• 秦贵人，有宠，其兄秦彭。

• 阎贵人，尚书阎章妹

• 贾贵人，贾复孙女，马姜和贾武仲长女，与汉章帝生母贾贵人是否为同一人，无考

儿女

儿

• 千乘哀王刘建

• 陈敬王刘羡

• 彭城靖王刘恭

• 乐成靖王刘党

• 汉章帝刘炟

• 下邳惠王刘衍

• 梁节王刘畅

• 淮阳顷王刘昞

• 济阴悼王刘长

女

• 刘姬 获嘉长公主

• 刘奴 平阳公主

• 刘迎 隆虑公主

• 刘次 平氏公主

• 刘致 沁水公主

• 刘小姬 平皋公主

• 刘仲 浚仪公主

• 刘惠 武安公主 汉安帝尊为长公主

• 刘臣 鲁阳公主

• 刘小迎 乐平公主

• 刘小民 成安公主

Family background

Liu Yang was born in AD28 to Emperor Guangwu and his first love, Consort Yin Lihua. Emperor Guangwu, then still an official under Gengshi Emperor, had married Yin in 23 and, after he became emperor in 25, had wanted to create her empress, but she declined because she had no sons at that point. Instead, she endorsed Consort Guo, who had already had a son (Liu Jiang), and Emperor Guangwu created Consort Guo empress and Prince Jiang crown prince in 26. However, Prince Yang's birth in 28 was still considered a major event.

As Duke/Prince of Donghai and crown prince

In 39, Emperor Guangwu created all of his sons, other than Crown Prince Jiang, dukes, and Prince Yang was created 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 favor, and her constant complaints angered Emperor Guangwu. In 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 created the Prince of Donghai.

After Empress Guo was deposed, her son, Crown Prince Jiang, became apprehensive about remaining crown prince, and repeatedly requested to be replaced. Emperor Guangwu was initially hesitant to depose both mother and son, but in 43, he resolved to swap Princes Jiang's and Yang's positions. He created Prince Jiang the Prince of Donghai, and created 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 much 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. She was 12, and he was 23. She would become a favorite of his, but never bore a son. Her niece (the daughter of her older sister), Consort Jia, also a consort of Crown Prince Zhuang, did give birth to a child—Liu Da. At Crown Prince Zhuang's direction, Consort Ma adopted Consort Jia's son as her own.

As crown prince, Crown Prince Zhuang was often requested by Emperor Guangwu to render opinions in important matters. In 51, he was involved in making a major correct decision in Han's relationship with Xiongnu. By that point, Xiongnu had a civil war and divided into two—with North Xiongnu ruled by Chanyu Punu (蒲奴) and South Xiongnu ruled by Chanyu Bi (比). 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 (庄) were forced to changed their surname to Yan (严).

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.

One thing traditional historians praised him for was his fair treatment of his brothers by the deposed Empress Guo, treating them as if they were also born of his mother Empress Dowager Yin. In 58, when his older brother, Prince Jiang of Donghai (the former crown prince) died, he ordered that the princes and major officials to attend Prince Jiang's funeral—a highly unusual honor—at Lucheng (鲁城, in modern Jining, Shandong), the capital of Donghai.

In 59, at the suggestion of his brother Liu Cang the Prince of Dongping, Emperor Ming instituted a number of Confucian rituals, in which the emperor personally honored the officials who had helped him, to show humility.

In 60, he created his favorite Consort Ma (who was also a favorite of his mother Empress Dowager Yin) empress, and created her adopted son Prince Da crown prince.

The same year, to honour the generals and officials who had assisted his father Emperor Guangwu in reestablishing the Han Dynasty, Emperor Ming, perhaps echoing what Emperor Xuan had done, had the portraits of 28 of them drawn on a palace tower (known as "Yuntai 28 Generals"). Later, four more portraits were added. However, Ma Yuan, because he was the father of the empress, did not receive this honor.

During the early part of his reign, North Xiongnu continued to be a constant threat to both Han and her ally South Xiongnu. Emperor Ming engaged in a variety of military and economic tactics to try to maintain peace with North Xiongnu and was largely successful. In 65, he established a permanent border defense force, known as the Duliao Army (度辽营), in charge of protecting the northern boundaries and South Xiongnu, and also to prevent the people of South Xiongnu from defecting to North Xiongnu.

In 66, in what would eventually evolve into the first imperial university in Chinese history, Emperor Ming built a Confucian school at the capital Luoyang, for the children of high officials and marquesses. South Xiongnu nobles' children also attended.

Late reign

The Chu and Huaiyang-related mass executions

Emperor Ming was, early in his reign, known for his generosity and affection for his brothers. This, however, apparently caused some of them to engage in behavior that were considered taboo at the time and caused them to be severely punished by Emperor Ming, leading also to two major mass executions that blotted Emperor Ming's reign.

The first of these incidents happened in 66–67 and was relatively bloodless. The ambitious Prince Jing of Guanglin wanted to be emperor, and he plotted with people under him to rebel. When he was informed, he confessed, and Emperor Ming initially spared him and permitted him to remain the Prince of Guanglin but stripped his political powers. However, later Prince Jing hired warlocks to curse Emperor Ming. After he was discovered, Emperor Ming initially took no action, but in 67 forced Prince Jing to commit suicide.

The next incident would not be so bloodless. In 70, Prince Ying of Chu—incidentally, the only son of Emperor Guangwu not born of either of his empresses but of Consort Xu—hired warlocks to create golden turtles and jade cranes, and carved characters calling for unusual blessings on them—a major taboo at the time. Further, he was discovered to have written revolutionary writings. Emperor Ming did not put him to death, but deposed him from his principality, exiled him, and made him a commoner (but with a small fief of 500 households). In 71, Prince Ying committed suicide in exile. However, the investigation did not end. By Emperor Ming's orders, Prince Ying's associates (but not his family) were harshly tortured and interrogated, and anyone that they named as a coconspirator was arrested and further tortured and interrogated. The interrogators themselves used this opportunity to falsely accuse many others of conspiracy. Tens of thousands of people died, either of torture or execution, during the investigation. Only after Empress Ma's intercession and persuasive petitions by one of the interrogators, Han Lang (寒朗), did the interrogations taper off.

A similar incident happened in 73, when Prince Yan of Huaiyang was informed to have hired warlocks to curse Emperor Ming. Several of Prince Yan's associates were executed, and there were also many others who were executed or exiled after Chu-style interrogations were carried out. Prince Yan himself was not executed, but was demoted from his commandery-level principality to be the Prince of Fulin, with only two counties in his principality.

Campaigns against North Xiongnu and reassertion of suzerainty over Xiyu

In 73, annoyed at North Xiongnu's constant incursions against Han, Emperor Ming commissioned his generals Geng Bing (耿秉) and Dou Gu (窦固) to lead a major expedition against North Xiongnu. They only had minor successes, but it demonstrated to North Xiongnu that Han was now in a position to strike back.

Dou, as part of his campaign, sent his assistant Ban Chao to visit the Xiyu (modern Xinjiang and former Soviet central Asia) kingdom of Shanshan (on the eastern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. (Xiyu kingdoms had long submitted to North Xiongnu's authority, and unable to bear the heavy taxes, had often requested that Han step in and reassert suzerainty that had been established during the Western Han Dynasty, starting with Emperor Wu's reign. However, they had been constantly rebuffed by Emperors Guangwu and Ming, who judged Han to be not sufficiently strong to engage in a Xiyu campaign.) Initially, the king of Shanshan was very pleased and welcomed the Han ambassadors as honored guests, but eventually the welcome faded. Ban realized that North Xiongnu ambassadors must have arrived. He found out where the North Xiongnu ambassadors were, and, in a night raid, massacred the Xiongnu ambassadors. The king of Shanshan was shocked but somewhat pleased, and submitted to Han suzerainty once again.

Emperor Ming promoted Ban and commissioned him to next visit Yutian ("Khotan"), then the strongest kingdom in southern Xiyu, which had a strong alliance with North Xiongnu. Guangde, the King of Yutian, trusted his chief warlock, who demanded Ban's horse. Ban agreed to give him the horse, and then, when the warlock arrived to pick up the horse, immediately executed him, and sent his head back to Guangde. Guangde was impressed and submitted to Han's suzerainty. With Yutian having submitted, the Xiyu kingdoms largely all submitted as well.

In 74, Dou and Geng led a major military expedition against a major remaining ally of North Xiongnu, Cheshi (车师, roughly modern Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang). Cheshi submitted, and at Dou's suggestion, the office of the Protector General of Xiyu (都护) was reinstituted. A North Xiongnu expedition in 75 to recapture Cheshi was repelled by Geng Gong (耿恭), one of the deputies of the protector general.

Death

In 75, Emperor Ming died. His will ordered that no temple be built for him, and that he only be worshipped as part of the worship of his mother Empress Dowager Yin. (This became a systematic reform that the rest of the Eastern Han Dynasty emperors largely followed; they did not have separate temples built for themselves, but instead were worshipped along with Emperor Guangwu. This was a major saving compared to the Western Han system of building a separate temple for each emperor.) His son Crown Prince Da succeeded to the throne as Emperor Zhang.

Era name

• Yongping (永平) 58–75

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Mingde, of the Ma clan of Fufeng (明德皇后 扶风马氏; 39–79)

• Guiren, of the Jia clan (贵人 贾氏)

　• Liu Da, Emperor Xiaozhang (孝章皇帝 刘炟; 57–88), fifth son

　• Princess Pingyang (平阳公主), personal name Nu (奴), second daughter

　　• Married Feng Shun (冯顺)

• Guiren, of the Yin clan (贵人 阴氏)

　• Liu Chang, Prince Jie of Liang (梁节王 刘畅; d. 98), seventh son

• Unknown

　• Liu Jian, Prince Ai of Qiancheng (千乘哀王 刘建; d. 61), first son

　• Liu Xian, Prince Jing of Chen (陈敬王 刘羡; d. 97), second son

　• Liu Gong, Prince Jing of Pengcheng (彭城靖王 刘恭; d. 117), third son

　• Liu Dang, Prince Jing of Lecheng (乐成靖王 刘党; 58–96), fourth son

　• Liu Yan, Prince Hui of Xiapi (下邳惠王 刘衍; 64–126), sixth son

　• Liu Bing, Prince Qing of Huaiyang (淮阳顷王 刘昞; d. 87), eighth son

　• Liu Chang, Prince Dao of Jiyin (济阴悼王 刘长; d. 84), ninth son

　• Princess Huojia (获嘉公主), personal name Ji (姬), first daughter

　　• Married Feng Zhu, Marquis Yangyi (冯柱), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Longlü (隆虑公主), personal name Ying (迎), third daughter

　　• Married Geng Xi, Marquis Mouping (耿袭)

　• Princess Pingshi (平氏公主), personal name Ci (次), fourth daughter

　• Princess Qinshui (沁水公主), personal name Zhi (致), fifth daughter

　　• Married Deng Gan, Marquis Gaomi (邓乾; d. 95)

　• Princess Pinggao (平皋公主), personal name Xiaoji (小姬), sixth daughter

　　• Married Deng Bo, Marquis Chang'an (邓蕃)

　• Princess Junyi (浚仪公主), personal name Zhong (仲), seventh daughter

　　• Married Wang Du, Marquis Yang (王度)

　• Princess Wu'an (武安公主), personal name Hui (惠), eighth daughter

　　• Married Lai Leng, Marquis Zhengqiang (来棱), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Luyang (鲁阳公主), personal name Chen (臣), ninth daughter

　• Princess Leping (乐平公主), personal name Xiaoying (小迎), tenth daughter

　• Princess Cheng'an (成安公主), personal name Xiaomin (小民), 11th daughter

Ancestry