Emperor Huan

The 11th Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty of China (reigned 146-167). His posthumous name was Emperor Xiaohui. His given name was Liu Zhi. He ascended to the throne at the age of 15, but his maternal relative Liang Ji was extremely tyrannical, and he was unable to seize real power even after coming of age. After the death of Liang Ji's sister, Empress Dowager Liang, and Empress Liang, he executed the Liang clan with the help of the eunuchs. After this, the eunuchs monopolized politics, and a fierce conflict arose between the eunuchs and their allies (the Duliu) and the Qingliu Party, which led to the ban on party politics. In a time when Confucianism was the sole religion that was revered, Emperor Huan himself revered Futu (Buddhism) and Laozi, and he also loved music and was skilled on the zither and sheng.

[Ueda Sanae]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、後漢(ごかん)11代皇帝（在位146～167）。諡(おくりな)は孝桓(こうかん)皇帝。姓名は劉志(りゅうし)。15歳で即位したが、外戚(がいせき)の梁冀(りょうき)が専横を極めており、成人してからも実権を掌握できなかった。梁冀の妹の梁太后および梁后の死後、宦官(かんがん)の助力を得て梁氏を族誅(ぞくちゅう)にした。これ以後は宦官が政治を専断し、宦官とこれに結託する勢力（濁流）と清流党人とが激しく対立し、党錮(とうこ)の禁を起こした。儒教がもっぱら尊崇されていた風潮に対して、桓帝自らは浮図(ふと)（仏教）と老子を尊崇し、また音楽を愛好、琴笙(きんしょう)に巧みであった。

［上田早苗］

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