Emperors of Northern Zhou 北周
4 people claimed the title of emperor in Northern Zhou (559–581), from Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou to Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou.
Northern and Southern Dynasties. Violent deaths: 2 of 4. Causes of death: Assassinated 2, Natural causes 2.
All 4 emperors
- 2ndEmperor Ming of Northern Zhou北周明帝 Běi Zhōu Míngdì宇文毓 Yǔwén Yù559–560 · 242 days · Assassinated, age 27559–560242 daysAssassinated, age 27
- 3rdEmperor Wu of Northern Zhou北周武帝 Běi Zhōu Wǔdì宇文邕 Yǔwén Yōng560–578 · 18 years · Natural causes, age 36560–57818 yearsNatural causes, age 36
- 4thEmperor Xuan of Northern Zhou北周宣帝 Běi Zhōu Xuāndì宇文贇 Yǔwén Yūn578–580 · 2 years · Natural causes, age 22578–5802 yearsNatural causes, age 22
- 5thEmperor Jing of Northern Zhou北周靜帝 Běi Zhōu Jìngdì宇文闡 Yǔwén Chǎn579–581 · 1 year · Assassinated, age 9579–5811 yearAssassinated, age 9
The number before each name is the ruler's position in the dynasty, which also counts rulers who did not claim the title of emperor. Ages are given in East Asian reckoning (sui): a person is one year old at birth and gains a year at each New Year, so the figure is one or two years higher than the Western age.