28 generals of the Cloud Terrace


In A.D. 60, Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han dynasty honored 28 founding generals of the dynasty, who had served his father Emperor Guangwu, by painting their portraits on the Cloud Terrace of the South Palace in the capital Luoyang. They became known as the twenty-eight generals of the Cloud Terrace.
One criterion Emperor Ming used for his selection was that the men honored must not be relatives of the imperial family. Thus, Ma Yuan and Lai Xi were not selected, despite their great contributions.
Unusual in Chinese history, the 28 generals all had natural deaths or died while in service to Emperor Guangwu. Guangwu himself was lauded for his trust of these men who helped him forge his empire.

Order

  1. Deng Yu
  2. Wu Han
  3. Jia Fu
  4. Geng Yan
  5. Kou Xun
  6. Cen Peng
  7. Feng Yi
  8. Zhu Hu
  9. Zhai Zun
  10. Jing Dan
  11. Ge Yan
  12. Yao Qi
  13. Geng Chun
  14. Zang Gong
  15. Ma Wu
  16. Liu Long
  17. Ma Cheng
  18. Wang Liang
  19. Chen Jun
  20. Du Mao
  21. Fu Jun
  22. Jian Tan
  23. Wang Ba
  24. Ren Guang
  25. Li Zhong
  26. Wan Xiu
  27. Pi Tong
  28. Liu Zhi

    Other honorees

In addition to the 28 generals, Emperor Ming hung the portraits of four other men in the Cloud Terrace. They are:
  1. Wang Chang
  2. Li Tong ; Li was also Emperor Ming's uncle-in-law as his wife is Emperor Ming's aunt Liu Boji.
  3. Dou Rong
  4. Zhuo Mao