In the world of ancient emperors, there was a good emperor who was ignored by history, Emperor Liu Zhuang of the Han Ming Dynasty. When it comes to Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, people always talk about it, but everyone seems to know very little about his son, Emperor Ming of Han. Although Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was on the throne, he had a heart that cared about the people and denounced the powerful. His story is full of the warmth of family affection and the hardships of politics. Why is such a good emperor so little known?
In 57 AD, a special prince was born in the imperial palace of the Han Dynasty, he was the later Emperor Liu Zhuang of the Han Ming Dynasty. Since childhood, under the influence of his father Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, and his mother Yin Lihua, Liu Zhuang has shown extraordinary intelligence and sentiment. His childhood can be said to be golden and favored, but who would have thought that he was born as a prince like this, but his inner world was full of waves.
Liu Zhuang's fate was not simple from the beginning. Although he is the son of Yin Lihua and should be the first heir to the throne, due to the complexity of politics, his childhood is not as simple as a golden bowl and a silver spoon. His father, in order to stabilize his power, had to tilt his power to the descendants of the Hebei Hao family, that is, Liu Yi, the eldest son born to Guo Shengtong. Liu Zhuang was therefore named the Duke of the East China Sea, which seemed to be extremely glorious, but in fact his power was greatly reduced.
Heaven did not fulfill people's wishes, Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu announced the abolition of the crown prince Liu Yi in the second year of Jianwu Zhongyuan (56 AD), and renamed Liu Zhuang as the crown prince. This change is undoubtedly a victory in the political struggle, but it is also a turning point in Liu Zhuang's personal fate. Since then, his life has been closely bound to the throne, and behind any small stage, there are countless calculations and contests.
After Liu Zhuang ascended the throne, he was Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty. His way of governing the country is different from that of ordinary emperors. He knows the kindness of his parents, and he is extremely filial to his mother Yin Lihua. After Yin Lihua died, he often burst into tears in the dead of night. This deep affection for his family is also reflected in his philosophy of governing the country - he pays special attention to the lives of the people, and strives to reduce taxes and improve people's livelihood.
Under his series of policies, the social economy of the Eastern Han Dynasty was restored and developed to a certain extent. But behind the aura of a good emperor, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was often full of worries. He knows very well that the loneliness and burden on the throne are incomprehensible to ordinary people. During his reign, although he worked hard, his inner struggle and powerlessness could only be poured out to the moon in the dead of night. He often sighed, "If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight", which is not only a description of power, but also a deep understanding of the identity of the emperor.
Under the rule of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, the Eastern Han Dynasty was relatively politically stable, and the people's lives gradually improved, which was not unrelated to his policies. He not only cared about the suffering of the people, but also paid special attention to the development of culture. According to historical records, during his reign, he vigorously promoted Confucianism and education, which was a very forward-looking decision at that time. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was also open to diplomacy, and he sent envoys to the Western Regions to open up exchanges along the Silk Road and strengthen trade with foreign countries, so that silk, tea and other goods of the Han Dynasty could be exported overseas.
However, the life of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was not all smooth sailing. He has adopted a rather severe approach in dealing with the issue of the powerful in the DPRK and China. He clearly knew that if the power of the powerful could not be checked, the long-term peace and stability of the country would be impossible. During his reign, he repeatedly weakened the power of the elite group, which was highly controversial at the time. Although this policy strengthened the imperial power in the short term, it also created many enemies for him.
Regarding his personal life, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty is also quite legendary. He has a very deep relationship with his mother, Yin Lihua, and this affection also affects his education of his children. He asked his children to inherit his benevolence and wisdom, and hoped that they would continue this philosophy of governance for the people and the country in the future. In private, he is also a humane father, often spending time with his children and talking about his ideals and ambitions.
In the later years of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, it can be said that he was famous, but the loneliness and helplessness in his heart were even more obvious. He knew that his health was deteriorating, and the pressure of state affairs made it difficult for him to breathe. Before his death, he said affectionately to the ministers around him: "Although I am the Son of Heaven, who can understand the burden of the world?" These words fully show the helplessness and bitterness behind an emperor.