The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning since the founding of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE until the fall of Yuan Shikai’s Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven, a title that predates the Qin unification, the Emperor was recognized as the ruler of “All under heaven” (i.e., the world). In practice not every Emperor was the holder of the highest power of his land, though this was largely the case.

In two thousand years of China feudal dynasty, there are 29 children emperors under the age of ten years old. The first is the Emperor Zhao of Western Han Dynasty, the last one is the last Emperor of China Xuantong.

The smallest is the Emperor Shang of Han, was only born over 100 days when being the emperor; Two years old emperor were Emperor Chong of Eastern Han Dynasty and Emperor Mu of Jin; Three-year-old: Emperor Wen of Northern Wei and Emperor Ching of Xuantong; Four-year-old Guangxu Emperor of Qing dynasty; Five-year-old Emperor Cheng of Eastern Jin, Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei and Emperor Gong of Song Dynasty; Six-year-old with the emperor Shunzhi and Tongzhi of Qing Dynasty; Seven-year-old with the Emperor Gong of the Later Zhou and Yuan Zong of Ning; Eight-year-old emperors were Emperor Zhao of Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Zhi of Han, the Three Kingdoms- Emperor Fei of Wu , immature Lord of Qi, emperor Jing of Northern Zhou, Emperor Rhu of Southern Song Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty; Nine-year-old with the Emperor Ping of Western Han, Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei, Emperor Duanzong of Song, Zhengtong Emperor of Ming; Ten-year-old with the Emperor He of Eastern Han, Emperor Fei of the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Emperor Houfei and Shun of Liu Song, Emperor Zhezong of Northern Song.

Emperors from the same family are generally classified in historical periods known as Dynasties. Most of China’s imperial rulers have commonly been considered members of the Han ethnicity, although recent scholarship tends to be careful about the dangers of applying current ethnic categories to historical situations. During the Yuan and Qing dynasties China was ruled by ethnic Mongolians and Manchurians respectively. A prominent historical view over the years sees these dynasties as non-native dynasties that were sinicized (i.e. made Chinese) over time, though some more recent writers argue that the interaction between politics and ethnicity was far more complex. The following are some young emperors furthered introductions for you.

Pu Yi Emperor

Puyi (7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), of the Manchu Aisin-Gioro ruling family, was the last Emperor of China. He ruled in two periods between 1908 and 1917, firstly as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 to 1912, and nominally as a non-ruling puppet emperor for twelve days in 1917. He was the twelfth and final member of the Qing Dynasty to rule over China proper.

Pu Yi was three years old when he became emperor. Pu Yi’s father served as his son’s regent. There was great resentment in China against forreigners and Manchu government, and in 1911 rebellion swept through the country. February 12, 1912, the five-year old emperor renounced his throne. He continued to live in Forbidden City and was treated with enormous respect.

The Forbidden City is located on Tianenmen Square in Beijing, then called Peiking.Commoners were not allowed to enter the city, which was surrounded by 35-foot walls and a moat. The city was built between 1406 and 1420 by the Ming Emperors. It contains the palaces of 24 Ming and and Ch’ing empeors, as well as white-marble terraces, gardens, and shrines, encompassing 250 acres and over 9,000 rooms. The city’s wall are red and the roof is gold, the color of the imperial court.

The Forbidden City was run by eunuchs. When he went out to play, he was followed by silent eunuchs, some armed with ancient halberds, others carring traditional Chinese medicines in case he should be hurt, or delicacies in lacquered bowls in case he should be hungry. (Backman,1975) Although Pu Yi was no longer emperor, everyone kelt and kowtowed to him, icluding his parents, whom he rarely saw. He had many mothers, but he never knew motherly love. (Pu Yi, 1965) In 1917, when Pu Yi was 9, a warlord named Chang Hsun decided to restore him to the throne.Chang’s army surrounded Peiking, and Pu Yi released a decree stating that he was the emperor once again.6 days after Pu Yi’s restration, a plane dropped three boms on the Forbidden City. Pu Yi’s supporters abandoned him, and once again he lost his thrine. He remained in the Forbidden CIty.

Kangxi Emperor

The Kangxi Emperor was the third emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.

His reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Chinese emperor in history (although his grandson Qianlong had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, having ascended the throne aged seven, he was not the effective ruler until later, that role being fulfilled by his four guardians and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

The Kangxi Emperor is considered one of China’s greatest emperors. He defeated the revolt of the Three Feudatories, forced the Zheng Jing government on Taiwan to submit to Qing rule, blocked Tzarist Russia on the Amur River and expanded the empire in the northwest. He also accomplished such literary feats as the compilation of the Kangxi Dictionary.

Kangxi’s reign brought about long-term stability and relative wealth after years of war and chaos. He initiated the period known as the “Prosperous Era of Kangxi and Qianlong” which lasted for generations after his own lifetime. By the end of his reign, the Qing empire controlled all of China proper, Manchuria (including Outer Manchuria) and both Inner and Outer Mongolia.

Emperor Shang of Han

Emperor Shang of Han (early 105 – August or September 106) was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty and the fifth emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.

The Empress Dowager Deng placed him on the throne when he was barely over 100 days old, despite his having an older brother, Liu Sheng, whose age was unknown but was likely to be young as well.

Empress Dowager Deng also kept Liu Hu , the twelve-year old cousin of Shangdi and future Emperor An of Han in the capital Luoyang as insurance against the baby emperor’s death. Liu Hu ascended to the throne when Emperor Shang died in August or September 106; however, Dowager Deng still remained as the regent for the teenager Emperor An. A decree by Empress Dowager Deng during this reign shed light on bureaucratic inefficiency.

Emperor Zhao of Han

Emperor Zhao of Han (94 BC–74 BC) was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 87 BC to 74 BC.

Emperor Zhao was the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Han. By the time Zhao was born, Emperor Wu was already 62. Zhao ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Wu in 87 BC. He was only 8 years old. Huo Guang served as regent.

Emperor Wu’s long reign left the Han Dynasty greatly expanded; however constant warfares had depleted the empire’s coffer. Emperor Zhao, under the tutelage of Huo, took the initiative and lowered taxes as well as reduced government spending. As a result, citizens prospered and the Han Dynasty enjoyed an era of peace. Unfortunately, Emperor Zhao died after reigning for 13 years. He was only 20.