Emperor Ling of Han (156 – May 13, 189), is an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty.
He is a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang.
The Yellow Turban Rebellion breaks out during Emperor Ling's reign.
Emperor Ling's reign sees yet another repetition of government domination by corrupt eunuchs.
This time, Zhang Rang and his accomplices succeed in completely dominating the political scene after prevailing over Empress Dowager Dou's father Dou Wu and his ally, the Confucian scholar Chen Fan, in 168.
Emperor Ling, even after he grows to adulthood, is not interested in governmental affairs, instead indulges himself in women and a decadent lifestyle.
At the same time corrupt officials levy heavy taxes on the peasants, causing public outcries and rebellions.
He further exacerbates the situation by selling political offices for money.
Emperor Ling dies in 189 at the age of 34, after reigning for 21 years.
After his death, power fall into the hands of Dong Zhuo, who had despised him.
Emperor Ling is one of the rare examples of history in which an emperor whose throne was inherited by a son who received a highly derogatory (but accurate) posthumous name.
Emperor Ling's reign leaves the Eastern Han Dynasty weak and ready to crumble.
After his death, the empire breaks apart, and for several decades warlords battle, until eventually his son Emperor Xian is forced to abdicate in favor of Cao Pi, ushering in the era of the Three Kingdoms period.
