2007-02-08 15:49:40 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
The Emperor of China (Chinese: 皇帝; pinyin: Huángdì) was the title given to the rulers of China from the founding of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. In addition to theoretically having unlimited powers, the Emperor was the symbol of imperial power. Often styled the Son of Heaven, amongst a myriad of other titles, the Emperor was not nominally constrained by any constitutional documents limiting his power, although in practice the level of power exercised is variable. The title had always been used for people who, by inheritance or by self-declaration, claim to be the sovereign of all of China.
It should be noted that the Emperor of China is not always ethnically Han Chinese. The Yuan and Qing Dynasties have been ruled by Emperors who were ethnically Mongol and Manchu, respectively. Once they assume the title, however, they often adopt Chinese norms and their rule, with some variation, is largely based on existing Chinese institutions.
As the emperor had, by law, a high position challenged by no one else, his subjects were to show the utmost respect in his presence, whether in direct conversation or otherwise. In a conversation with the emperor, it was considered a crime to compare oneself to the emperor in any way. It was taboo to refer to the emperor by his given name, even if it came from his own mother, who instead was to use Huangdi (Emperor), or Er (simply "son"). The emperor was never to be addressed as you. The emperor referred to himself as Zhen (朕), the royal "We", in front of his subjects, a practice reserved solely for the emperor. Anyone who spoke to the emperor was to address him as Bixia (陛下), translated as "Your Imperial Majesty"; Huang Shang (皇上, lit. Emperor Above or Emperor Highness), Wan Sui (萬歲, lit. Ten thousand years, which was commonly used by his subjects at the beginning of each day, meaning they wished the emperor to live for ten thousand years), or Sheng Shang (聖上, lit. the Divine Above or the Holy Highness). Servants often addressed the emperor as Wan Sui Ye (萬歲爺, lit. Lord of Ten Thousand Years).
2007-02-08 17:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by softball Queen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Emperors Of China
2016-10-04 02:16:58 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
See the table of Chinese monarchs from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_Chinese_monarchs
2007-02-08 21:23:05 · answer #3 · answered by papyrus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You DO know that there were hundreds of Chinese emperors, do you not?
2007-02-08 16:00:24 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel Y 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋