In A.D. 60, Emperor Ming of the

Eastern Han The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

dynasty honored 28 founding generals of the dynasty, who had served his father Emperor Guangwu, by painting their portraits on the Cloud Terrace (Yuntai) of the South Palace in the capital

Luoyang Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River (Henan), Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the ...

. They became known as the twenty-eight generals of the Cloud Terrace (or Yuntai) (雲台二十八將). One criterion Emperor Ming used for his selection was that the men honored must not be relatives of the imperial family. Thus, Ma Yuan (whose

daughter A daughter is a female offspring; a girl or a woman in relation to her parents. Daughterhood is the state of being someone's daughter. The male counterpart is a son. Analogously the name is used in several areas to show relations between group ...

was Emperor Ming's empress) and Lai Xi (来歙, Emperor Guangwu's uncle-in-law) were not selected, despite their great contributions. Unusual in Chinese history, the 28 generals all had natural deaths or died while in service to Emperor Guangwu. Guangwu himself was lauded for his trust of these men who helped him forge his empire.

Order

Deng Yu Deng Yu (2–58 CE), courtesy name Zhonghua, was a Chinese statesman and military commander of the early Eastern Han dynasty who was instrumental in Emperor Guangwu's reunification of China. Although acquainted during his childhood with Liu Xiu, ...

(鄧禹) # Wu Han (吳漢) # Jia Fu (賈復) #

Geng Yan Geng Yan ({{zh, c=耿弇; 3–58 AD) was a Chinese general of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was the son of Geng Kuang (耿況), who was the governor of Shanggu Commandery (上谷, roughly modern Zhangjiakou, Hebei). He initially served Emperor G ...

(耿弇) # Kou Xun (寇恂) # Cen Peng (岑彭) #

Feng Yi Feng Yi (?- A.D. 34) was a Chinese general of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who helped Emperor Guangwu of Han establish the Eastern Han dynasty. One of his greatest contributions was the final defeat of the Red Eyebrows rebels. He was famous for hi ...

(馮異) # Zhu Hu (朱祜) #

Zhai Zun Zhai Zun (; died 33 CE), courtesy name Disun (弟孫), was a Chinese military general during the Han Dynasty. A native of Yingchuan in Anhui, Zhai Zun joined Liu Xiu (the later Emperor Guangwu) and rose to high military command. He was in comma ...

(祭遵) # Jing Dan (景丹) # Ge Yan (蓋延) # Yao Qi (銚期) # Geng Chun (耿純) # Zang Gong (臧宮) # Ma Wu (馬武) # Liu Long (劉隆) # Ma Cheng (馬成) # Wang Liang (王梁) # Chen Jun (陳俊) # Du Mao (杜茂) # Fu Jun (傅俊) # Jian Tan (堅鐔) # Wang Ba (王覇) # Ren Guang (任光) # Li Zhong (李忠) # Wan Xiu (萬脩) # Pi Tong (邳彤) # Liu Zhi (劉植)

Other honorees

In addition to the 28 generals, Emperor Ming hung the portraits of four other men in the Cloud Terrace. They are: # Wang Chang (王常) # Li Tong (李通); Li was also Emperor Ming's uncle-in-law as his wife is Emperor Ming's aunt (and Emperor Guangwu's sister) Liu Boji. # Dou Rong (窦融) # Zhuo Mao (卓茂)

References

* ''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...

'' by Sima Guang, vols. 38-44 (original available

here Here is an adverb that means "in, on, or at this place". It may also refer to: Software * Here Technologies, a mapping company * Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Technologies, Here Television * Here TV (form ...

), and Modern Chinese Edition, edited by Bo Yang (Taipei, 1982–1989). {{Authority control Han dynasty generals Sets of portraits Chinese paintings 1st-century works

Order

Other honorees

See also

References