Emperor Qi Mingdi 齊明帝 Xiao Luan 蕭鸞

Emperor Ming 齊明帝 (r. 494-498), personal name Xiao Luan 蕭鸞(452-498), courtesy name Jingqi 景棲, was a ruler of the Southern Qi dynasty 南齊 (479-502), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

He was a nephew of the dynastic founder, Xiao Daocheng 蕭道成 (Emperor Gao 齊高帝, r. 479-482), and began his career as district magistrate of Anji 安吉. He was governor (taishou 太守) of Huainan 淮南 and Xuancheng 宣城 and Bulwark-of-the-state General (fuguo jiangjun 輔國將軍). When Xiao Daocheng founded the Qi dynasty, he was invested Marquis of Xichang 西昌侯 and appointed regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yingzhou 郢州.

In 492, he was made Left Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu zuo puye 尚書左僕射) and General of the Right Guard (youwei jiangjun 右衛將軍). A year later, with the accession to the throne of Xiao Zhaoye 蕭昭業 (r. 493－494), Xiao Luan became one of the regents, with the title General-in-chief (da jiangjun 大將軍). Xiao Zhaoye did not care for government affairs and was, therefore, repeatedly reprimanded by Xiao Luan. When the emperor ordered to execute the regent, Xiao Luan had the guard stormed the palace and killed the emperor, enthroning his younger brother Xiao Zhaowen 蕭昭文 (r. 494). Xiao Luan remained regent, with the titles of General-in-chief, Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat (lu shangshu shi 錄尚書事), regional inspector and Commander-in-chief (dudu 都督) of Yangzhou 揚州, and invested as Prince of Xuancheng 宣城. The new emperor was equally disinterested in his duties, and Xiao Luan decided to dethrone him, assuming the title of emperor himself. Shortly later, he had Xiao Zhaowen killed.

Xiao Luan changed the reign motto to Jianwu 建武 and nominated his son Xiao Baojuan 蕭寶卷 Heir Apparent. He reorganized the civil administration, issuing an edict requiring officials from princes down to lower-ranked bureaucrats to recommend worthy and capable individuals. Officials from both within and outside the court were encouraged to offer loyal and honest advice. Local officials were forbidden from presenting tribute gifts, and envoys were dispatched to tour the commanderies and districts to observe local customs. A regulation was also established mandating that officials retire at the age of seventy. At one point, he issued an edict stating that when a person gives birth to a son, the child's parents shall be exempt from labor service for one year and be granted ten hu 斛 (see weights and measures) of rice. Newlyweds shall have the husband's labor duties suspended for one year.

After ascending the throne, Xiao Luan lived in seclusion and rarely appeared in public — whenever he did, he would consult divinations beforehand. Fearing the descendants of Emperor Wu and Emperor Gao, he moved to weaken the imperial family and gradually eliminated members of the royal family. He successively executed Commandant Xiao Chen 蕭諶, Xiao Ziming 蕭子明 (Prince of Xiyang 西陽), Xiao Zihan 蕭子罕 (Prince of Nanhai 南海), Xiao Zizhen 蕭子貞 (Prince of Shaoling 邵陵), Xiao Xuan 蕭鉉 (Prince of Hedong 河東), Xiao Ziyue 蕭子岳 (Prince of Linhe 臨賀), Xiao Ziwen 蕭子文 (Prince of Xiyang 西陽), Xiao Zijun 蕭子峻 (Prince of Hengyang 衡陽), Xiao Zilin 蕭子琳 (Prince of Nankang 南康), Xiao Zimin 蕭子珉 (Prince of Yongyang 永陽), Xiao Zijian 蕭子建 (Prince of Xiangdong 湘東), Xiao Zixia 蕭子夏 (Prince of Nanjun 南郡), Xiao Zhaoxiu 蕭昭秀 (Prince of Baling 巴陵), and Xiao Zhaocan 蕭昭粲 (Prince of Guiyang 桂陽). In this way, he had extinguished the complete lines of Emperor Gao and Emperor Wu.

In 498, the governor Guiji 會稽, Wang Jingze 王敬則 (435-498), raised a rebellion but was soon defeated and killed. In the same year, Xiao Luan died. He was buried in the tomb mound Xing'anling 興安陵 (near Danyang 丹陽, Jiangsu). His temple name was Gaozong 齊高宗. Emperor Ming was succeeded by his son, Xiao Baojuan.