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Emperor Wen of Han China, ch. 漢文帝, py. hàn wén dì, wg. Han Wen-ti, ( 202 BC - 157 BC) was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty.
After eliminating the powerful Lü clan, Emperor Wen was deliberately chosen as the emperor, since his mother, Consort Bo , had no powerful relatives. His reign brought a much needed political stability that laid the groundwork for prosperity under Emperor Wu. According to historians, Emperor Wen trusted and consulted with Confucian-educated ministers on state affairs; under the influence of his Daoist wife, Empress Dou , the emperor also sought to avoid wasteful expenditures.
Legends noted that the tax rates were at a ratio of "1 out of 30" and "1 out of 60", corresponding to 0.03 and 0.016 percent, respectively. Warehouses were so full of grain, that some of it was left to decay.
In a move of lasting importance in 165 BC, Emperor Wen introduced recruitment to the civil service through examinations. Previously, potential officials never sat for any sort of academic examinations. Their names were sent by local officials to the central government based on reputations and abilities, which were sometimes judged subjectively.
| Family name | Liu (劉 liú) in Chinese |
| Given name | Heng (恆 héng) in Chinese |
| Era nameEra system Era name was an East Asian imperial practice of numbering years in an emperor's reign. It originated as a motto or slogan chosen by the emperor. Different East Asian countries utilized slightly different systems: Chinese era name Japanese era n | Houyuan (後元 hòu yúan) 163 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 168 BC 167 BC 166 BC 165 BC 164 BC 163 BC 162 BC 161 BC 160 BC 159 BC 158 BC Events Births Tibe- 156 BCCenturies: 3rd century BC 2nd century BC 1st century BC Decades: 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC Years: 161 BC 160 BC 159 BC 158 BC 157 BC 156 BC 155 BC 154 BC 153 BC 152 BC 151 BC Births Gaius Mariu |
| FatherA father is the male parent of a child. Fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of pate | Emperor Gao of Han China |
| MotherA mother is typically the biological or social female parent of a child or offspring while the male parent is the father. The maternal bond describes the feelings the mother has for her (or another's) child. In the case of a mammal such as a human, the mo | Consort Bo |
| Wife | Empress Dou (d. 135 BC) |
| Children | 5 sons, including Emperor Jing of Han China |
| Duration of reign | 180 BC- 157 BC |
| Tomb | |
| Temple name | |
| Courtesy name | Posthumous name | 孝文 (py. xiào wén), literary meaning: "filial and civil" |
| Posthumous name in short | 文 (py. wén), literary meaning: "civil" |