Emperor Zhang of Han: Third Eastern Han Emperor

Emperor Zhang of Han (Liu Da, 刘炟) was the 18th Han emperor and the 3rd Eastern Han emperor. His place in the Han sequence matters because it shows how the dynasty moved from founding, recovery, and expansion into regency politics, restoration, and final collapse.

Emperor Zhang of Han is best known for continuing early Eastern Han stability, promoting ritual and classical learning, and presiding over the White Tiger Hall discussions. For sequence, read this page with Han emperors timeline, Emperor Ming of Han, and Emperor He of Han.

Key Facts

Identity

third Eastern Han emperor and successor to Emperor Ming

Lived

57-88 CE

Reign

75-88 CE

Emperor Order

Han emperor number 18; Eastern Han emperor number 3

Best Known For

continuing early Eastern Han stability, promoting ritual and classical learning, and presiding over the White Tiger Hall discussions

Historical Role

His reign matters because Eastern Han institutions and scholarly culture became more settled after the founding generation.

Quick Answer

Emperor Zhang of Han was the 18th Han emperor and the 3rd Eastern Han emperor. In simple terms, His reign matters because Eastern Han institutions and scholarly culture became more settled after the founding generation.

Because imperial titles can hide the real balance of power, this page separates formal succession from practical control of the court.

Name, Dates, and Place in the Han Order

Liu Da is the personal name behind the usual English title Emperor Zhang of Han. In Chinese, the name is written 刘炟. The reign is usually dated to 75-88 CE, while the life dates are given as 57-88 CE.

For a reader trying to keep the Han Dynasty in order, the most important point is not only the title. It is where this ruler sits in the sequence: after Emperor Ming of Han and before Emperor He of Han.

How Liu Da Came to Power

He inherited a relatively stable court from Emperor Ming.

This succession background matters because Han history is not a simple list of names. Some transitions were orderly, some depended on regents, and some were shaped by court families, ministers, military leaders, or child succession. Emperor Zhang of Han's accession belongs to that larger pattern.

What This Reign Shows

His reign matters because Eastern Han institutions and scholarly culture became more settled after the founding generation.

That makes this page more than a biography. It is also a small window into how Han authority worked at this particular moment. The title emperor could mean commanding personal power, carefully balanced regency, or a throne controlled by stronger actors around it.

Power, Limits, and Caution

The stability of his reign did not prevent the later rise of powerful empress dowager families after his death.

This is especially important for a clean English guide. A ruler can be counted in the Han emperor list without being treated as if he personally directed policy. For short reigns, child rulers, and deposed rulers, the careful question is always: who held the title, and who actually made decisions?

Why Emperor Zhang of Han Still Matters

He is remembered with Emperor Ming as part of an early Eastern Han high point before regency politics grew stronger.

For beginners, Emperor Zhang of Han is useful because he marks a specific link in the chain. Once that link is clear, the Han Dynasty becomes easier to read as a sequence rather than a cloud of famous names.

Reading and Verification Notes

Use the full ruler-order table as the control point, then read this biography for the political meaning behind the name.

When checking this page, start with three questions: where does the ruler sit in the order, who held practical power at court, and what changed after the reign ended? Those questions keep the page from becoming either a bare list or a misleading heroic portrait.

Historical Sources and Traditional Memory

This page uses the standard Eastern Han narrative frame preserved in the Book of the Later Han. For late Eastern Han rulers, that means reading court drama together with the larger pattern of relatives, eunuchs, military leaders, and succession crises.

Traditional histories are essential here, but they are not neutral modern biographies. They preserve court judgments, moral framing, and later editorial choices. This guide therefore avoids turning contested or thinly recorded details into certainty, especially for short-lived rulers and child emperors.

Simple Summary

• Emperor Zhang of Han was the 18th Han emperor and the 3rd Eastern Han emperor.
• He is mainly remembered for continuing early Eastern Han stability, promoting ritual and classical learning, and presiding over the White Tiger Hall discussions.
• His reign is best read through succession, real court power, and what changed after him.
• The source base is strongest when read with attention to traditional historical framing.

FAQ

Who was Emperor Zhang of Han?

Emperor Zhang of Han was the 18th Han emperor and the 3rd Eastern Han emperor. He is best understood through his place in the Han succession and the political forces around his reign.

What was Emperor Zhang of Han best known for?

He is best known for continuing early Eastern Han stability, promoting ritual and classical learning, and presiding over the White Tiger Hall discussions.

Was Emperor Zhang of Han an independent ruler?

He held the imperial title, but the degree of practical power depends on the reign. This page separates formal status from real political control.

Where does Emperor Zhang of Han fit in the Han emperors timeline?

He fits as Han ruler number 18, within the Eastern Han sequence. The full English timeline page places him before and after the neighboring rulers.