The Fall of Liang Ji and the Rise of the “Five Eunuch Marquises”
Emperor Huan of the Eastern Han Dynasty (r. 146–168 CE) marked a turning point in imperial politics when he orchestrated the downfall of the powerful regent Liang Ji. Having eliminated this dominant figure, the emperor swiftly elevated five eunuchs—Shan Chao, Xu Huang, Ju Yuan, Zuo Guan, and Tang Heng—to the rank of marquis, collectively known as the “Five Eunuch Marquises.” This move was not merely a reward for loyalty but a strategic shift in governance.
Even eunuchs like Hou Lan, who played no direct role in Liang Ji’s overthrow, secured noble titles through lavish bribes, such as the 5,000 bolts of silk Hou Lan presented. Others, like Zhao Zhong and Liu Pu, gained favor through proximity to the emperor. These eunuchs, now holding key positions like Zhongchangshi (Palace Attendants), monopolized imperial communications and daily administration. Distrustful of traditional scholar-officials, Emperor Huan effectively outsourced governance to this eunuch faction, setting the stage for their unchecked dominance.
The Outcry Against Eunuch Tyranny
The eunuchs’ rapid consolidation of power provoked fierce opposition. Li Yun, the magistrate of Baima County, submitted a scathing memorial to Emperor Huan:
> “Liang Ji was executed for his tyranny, yet Your Majesty enfeoffs Shan Chao and his clique with vast estates. If Emperor Gaozu [founder of the Han] knew, would he not condemn this? When frontier soldiers hear of it, will their loyalty not waver?”
Li Yun’s critique of corruption and eunuch influence enraged the emperor, who ordered his arrest. When minor official Du Zhong petitioned to share Li Yun’s fate, both were imprisoned and tortured to death despite pleas from senior ministers like Chen Fan and Yang Bing. Their executions signaled the emperor’s unwavering support for the eunuchs—and the peril of dissent.
Eunuch Excesses and the Breakdown of Justice
Empowered by imperial favor, the Five Marquises emulated Liang Ji’s decadence. They drained the treasury to build lavish residences, surrounded themselves with concubines (despite their castration), and adopted heirs to inherit their titles. Their relatives, appointed as local officials, pillaged the populace with impunity.
A notorious case involved Shan Chao’s nephew, Shan Kuang, who embezzled 50–60 million coins. When investigator Wei Yu exposed him, Shan Kuang hired an assassin to silence Wei. Though the assassin was caught, Shan Chao’s influence secured his release. The whistleblowing official, Fifth Zhong, was exiled—and only escaped death by fleeing en route.
Similarly, Xu Huang’s nephew Xu Xuan abducted and murdered the daughter of a former governor. When Huang Fu, the incorruptible administrator of Donghai, executed Xu Xuan, Emperor Huan—pressured by eunuchs—punished Huang Fu instead. Such episodes underscored the lawlessness of the eunuch regime.
The Scholar-Official Resistance and the First “Partisan Prohibition”
Eunuch abuses galvanized opposition from scholar-officials and the Taixue (Imperial Academy). Under leaders like Guo Tai and Jia Biao, students and officials formed factions, praising anti-eunuch figures like Li Ying (dubbed “the Model of the Realm”) and Chen Fan (“Unyielding Against Tyranny”).
In 165 CE, Li Ying’s appointment as Sili Xiaowei (Capital Inspector) briefly revived hope. He executed the corrupt brother of eunuch Zhang Rang, defying even imperial pardon. However, eunuchs retaliated by framing Li Ying and his allies for “factionalism.” Emperor Huan’s crackdown—the First Partisan Prohibition (166 CE)—saw 200+ dissidents imprisoned. Though released later, they were barred from office for life.
The Final Struggle and the Second Partisan Prohibition
Emperor Huan’s death in 168 CE brought the 12-year-old Emperor Ling to power, with regent Dou Wu (father of Empress Dowager Dou) and restored minister Chen Fan attempting to purge eunuchs. Their hesitation proved fatal: eunuchs like Cao Jie and Wang Fu staged a coup, killing Dou and Chen.
In 169 CE, a second purge—the Second Partisan Prohibition—unfolded. Eunuchs accused scholars nationwide of treason, executing hundreds (including Li Ying and Fan Pang) and blacklisting thousands from office. The Taixue was decimated, with 1,000+ students detained.
Legacy: The Cost of Factional Strife
The Partisan Prohibitions were ostensibly power struggles within the elite, yet the scholar-officials’ resistance against eunuch corruption resonated with broader grievances. Figures like Li Ying and Chen Fan became symbols of moral courage, their defiance celebrated in later histories. However, the eunuchs’ victory accelerated the Eastern Han’s decline, foreshadowing the dynasty’s collapse in 220 CE.
The conflict also exposed the fragility of imperial institutions when power was outsourced to non-accountable factions—a cautionary tale for later dynasties grappling with court intrigue.