Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han (Chinese: 漢景帝; 188 BC – 9 March 141 BC), born Liu Qi (劉啟), was the sixth emperor of the Han dynasty from 157 to 141 BC. His reign saw the limiting of the power of the feudal kings and princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights to appoint ministers for their fiefs. This move helped to consolidate central power which paved the way for the long reign of his son Emperor Wu of Han.
| Emperor Jing of Han 漢景帝 | |||||||||
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| Huangdi (皇帝) | |||||||||
Depiction of Emperor Jing in Sancai Tuhui | |||||||||
| Emperor of the Han dynasty | |||||||||
| Reign | 14 July 157 – 9 March 141 BC | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Emperor Wen | ||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Wu | ||||||||
| Born | Liu Qi (劉啟) 188 BC Jinyang, Han dynasty | ||||||||
| Died | 10 March 141 BC (aged 47) Chang'an, Han dynasty | ||||||||
| Burial | Yang Mausoleum (陽陵) | ||||||||
| Consorts | Empress Bo Lady Li Lady Cheng Lady Tang Consort Jia Empress Xiaojing Consort Wang | ||||||||
| Issue | Liu Rong, Prince Min of Linjiang Liu De, Prince Xian of Hejian Liu Yu, Prince Gong of Lu Liu Eyu, Prince Ai of Linjiang Liu Fei, Prince Yi of Jiangdu Liu Fa, Prince Ding of Changsha Liu Duan, Prince Yu of Jiaoxi Liu Pengzu, Prince Jingsu of Zhao Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan Emperor Wu of Han Liu Yue, Prince Hui of Guangchuan Liu Ji, Prince Kang of Jiaodong Liu Cheng, Prince Ai of Qinghe Liu Shun, Prince Xian of Changsha Grand Princess Yangxin Princess Nangong Princess Longlü | ||||||||
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| House | Liu | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Han (Western Han) | ||||||||
| Father | Emperor Wen of Han | ||||||||
| Mother | Empress Xiaowen | ||||||||
Emperor Jing had a complicated personality. He continued his father Emperor Wen's policy of general non-interference with the people, reduced tax and other burdens, and promoted government thrift. He continued and magnified his father's policy of reduction in criminal sentences. His light governance of the people was due to the Taoist influences of his mother, Empress Dou. Still, during his reign he arrested and imprisoned Zhou Yafu, and he was generally ungrateful to his wife Empress Bo.
He was the last emperor of Han who was the common ancestor of all subsequent emperors; all subsequent emperors of the Western Han were descendants of Emperor Wu, while all emperors of the Eastern Han were descendants of his sixth son Liu Fa, Prince Ding of Changsha.