汉灵帝 (Hàn Língdì) · Emperor Ling of Han (reigned 168-189)

Meanings

1 Emperor Ling of Han (reigned 168-189)
2 penultimate emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty

About Emperor Ling of Han

156–189 · 君主 monarch

Eastern Han emperor whose reign saw the eunuchs known as the 十常侍 run the court, government posts openly sold and the Yellow Turban Rebellion of 184. The chaos after his death opens 三国演义.

Also called 刘宏

Characters

spirit (posthumous title)

帝

dì

emperor

Examples

HSK 6

汉灵帝死后不久，黄巾之乱爆发。

Hàn Língdì sǐhòu bùjiǔ, Huángjīn Zhī Luàn bàofā.

Not long after Emperor Ling's death, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out.

HSK 7-9

汉灵帝在位时，宦官把持朝政。

Hàn Língdì zài wèi shí, huànguān bǎchí cháo zhèng.

During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, eunuchs controlled the court.

Tips

history

Office-selling in his reign has its own name, 西园卖官 'selling posts in the Western Garden'. When 崔烈 paid five million cash to become a top minister, his son told him people sneered at his 铜臭 'stink of copper coins', still the word for money-grubbing.

culture

The 灵 in 汉灵帝 is a posthumous title with negative connotation, given to rulers seen as failing in virtue. Compare 汉文帝 ('Cultured') and 汉武帝 ('Martial'), both honorific.