Emperor Guangwu of Han
| Liu Xiu | |||||||||||||||||
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Portrait of Emperor Guangwu from Sancai Tuhui
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| Emperor of China | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 5 August 25 – 29 March 57 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | none, Emperor Gengshi as Emperor of Yuan Han | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Ming | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 January 5 BC | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | 29 March 57 (aged 62) | ||||||||||||||||
| Empress Consort |
Guo Shengtong Yin Lihua Consort Xu |
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| Dynasty | Eastern Han | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Liu Qin (劉欽) | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Lady Fan | ||||||||||||||||
| Full name | |
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Family name: Liu (劉) Given name: Xiu (秀) Courtesy name: Wenshu (文叔) |
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| Era dates | |
| Jianwu (建武): 25–56 Jianwuzhongyuan (建武中元): 56–58 |
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| Posthumous name | |
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Short: Emperor Guangwu (光武帝) Full: Emperor Guangwu (光武皇帝) "continuator and martial" |
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| Temple name | |
| Shizu (世祖) |
| Emperor Guangwu of Han | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 漢光武帝 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 汉光武帝 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "The Bright and Martial Emperor of Han" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Transcriptions | |
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| Standard Mandarin | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Hàn Guāngwǔ dì |
| Gwoyeu Romatzyh | Hann Guangwuu dih |
| Wade–Giles | Han4 Kuang1-wu3 ti4 |
| IPA | [xân kwáŋ.ù tî] |
| Yue: Cantonese | |
| Yale Romanization | Hòhn Gwōng-móuh daih |
| Jyutping | Hon4 Gwong1-mou5 dai6 |
| Southern Min | |
| Tâi-lô | Hàn Kng-bú tè |
Emperor Guangwu (born Liu Xiu; 13 January 5 BC – 29 March AD 57),courtesy name Wenshu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han (the restored Han Dynasty). He ruled over parts of China at first, and through suppression and conquest of regional warlords, the whole of China was consolidated by the time of his death in 57.
Liu Xiu was one of the many descendants of the Han imperial family. Following the usurpation of the Han throne by Wang Mang and the ensuing civil war during the disintegration of Wang's short-lived Xin Dynasty, he emerged as one of several descendants of the fallen dynasty claiming the imperial throne. After assembling forces and proclaiming himself emperor in the face of competitors, he was able to defeat his rivals, destroy the peasant army of the Chimei, known for their disorganization and marauding, and finally reunify the whole of China in AD 36.
He established his capital in Luoyang, 335 kilometers (208 mi) east of the former capital Chang'an, ushering in the Later/Eastern Han Dynasty. He implemented some reforms (notably land reform, albeit not very successfully) aimed at correcting some of the structural imbalances responsible for the downfall of the Former/Western Han. His reforms gave a new 200-year lease on life to the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Guangwu's campaigns featured many able generals, but curiously, he lacked major strategists. That may very well be because he himself appeared to be a brilliant strategist; he often instructed his generals as to strategy from afar, and his predictions generally would be accurate. This was often emulated by later emperors who fancied themselves great strategists but who actually lacked Emperor Guangwu's brilliance—usually to great disastrous results.
Also unique among emperors in Chinese history was Emperor Guangwu's combination of decisiveness and mercy. He often sought out peaceful means rather than bellicose means of putting areas under his control. He was, in particular, one of the rare examples of a founding emperor of a dynasty who did not kill, out of jealousy or paranoia, any of the generals or officials who contributed to his victories after his rule was secure.
Liu Xiu was the sixth generation descendant of Emperor Jing of the Former (or Western) Han. He was the son of Liu Qin (劉欽), magistrate (i.e., head official) of Nandun county (南頓令). Liu Qin was the son of Liu Hui (劉回), vice governor in charge of military affairs for Julu commandery (鉅鹿都尉). Liu Hui was the son of Liu Wai (劉外), governor of Yulin commandery (鬱林太守). Liu Wai was the son of Liu Mai (劉買), known posthumously as Marquess Jie of Chongling (舂陵節侯). Liu Mai was the son of Liu Fa (劉發), known posthumously as Prince Ding of Changsha (長沙定王). The prince of Changsha was a brother of Emperor Wu, a famous emperor of the Former Han, and he was the son of Emperor Jing. (This made Liu Xiu third cousin to Emperor Gengshi, who was also descended from Liu Fa.)
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