Emperor Zhang of Han China
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Emperor Zhang of Han China, ch. 漢章帝, py. hàn zhāng dì, wg. Han Chang-ti, (AD 57 - AD 88) was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty.
Emperor Zhang was a hardworking and diligent emperor. He reduced taxes and paid close attention to all affairs of state. Zhang also reduced government spending as well as promoting Confucianism. As a result, Han society prospered and its culture fluorished. Along with Emperor Ming, Emperor Zhang's reign has been highly praised and was regarded as the golden age of the Eastern Han period.
During his reign, Chinese troops under the generalship of Ban Chao, progressed towards the West as far as the Caspian Sea and the Ukraine, getting into direct contact with the Parthian Empire, and tentatively sending an embassy to Rome.
The Eastern Han period, especially after Emperor Zhang would be plagued with internal strife between royal factions and eunuchs struggling for power. Of the ten emperors that would ascend the throne following him in the next century and a half, the oldest was 14 years old.
Personal information
| Family name | Liu (劉 liú) in Chinese |
| Given name | Da (炟 py. dá) |
| Era name | Jianchu (建初 py. jìan chū) 76-84 Zhanghe (章和 py. zhāng hé) 87-88 |
| Father | Emperor Ming of Han China (fifth son of) |
| Mother | consort Jia |
| Wife | Empress Dou, d. 97, sister of Dou Xian |
| Major concubines | 1) consort Song, d. 822) consort Liang, d. 833) consort Shen |
| Children | 8 sons, all by consorts |
| Duration of reign | AD 75-AD 88 |
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| Posthumous name | 孝章 (py. xiào zhāng dì), literary meaning: "filial and methodical" |
| Posthumous name in short | 章 (py. zhāng), literary meaning: "methodical" |
| Preceded by: Emperor Ming of Han China |
Eastern Han Dynasty | Succeeded by: Emperor He of Han China |