Career
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 (劉勝), whose age was unknown but was likely to be young as well. Empress Dowager Deng also kept Liu Hu (劉祜), 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. Then-Prince Long was born in autumn 105 to Emperor He and a concubine whose identity is unknown.
Prince Sheng was older but regarded as frequently ill and unfit for the throne, for Empress Deng first created the infant Prince Long crown prince. The same night, he was proclaimed emperor.
Empress Deng became empress dowager.
Concerned that Emperor Shang might not live long, Empress Dowager Deng also kept Liu Hu, the twelve-year old cousin of Emperor Shang and future Emperor An of Han in the capital Luoyang as insurance against the infant emperor"s death. (Prince Hu was the son of Prince Qing of Qinghe—who was once a crown prince under Emperor He"s father Emperor Zhang but was deposed due to machinations of Emperor Zhang"s wife Empress Dou Therefore, he was viewed by some as the rightful heir)
As Emperor Shang was an infant, actual and formal power were in Empress Deng"s hands. Her brother Deng Zhi (鄧騭) became the most powerful official in the imperial government.
She issued a general pardon, which benefitted the people who had rights stripped from them for associating with the family of Empress Dou.
Late in 106, Emperor Shang died. Emperor Shang, having died as a toddler, was not given a separate tomb, as is customary for emperors.
Rather, in order to avoid unnecessary expenses, he was buried in the same tomb complex as his father Emperor He. Yanping (延平 py yán píng) 106
Father
Emperor He of Han (2nd son of).
