Huang Ch'ao (died 884) was a Chinese rebel leader. From 875 to 884 he conducted a major rebellion against the T'ang dynasty.

Huang Ch'ao was born to a family of merchants living in northeast China on the Shantung peninsula. His family was wealthy enough to provide him with some education, and he tried to pass the civil service examination. His failure to do so embittered him against the ruling T'ang dynasty.

Although the T'ang had nearly been overthrown by the An Lu-shan rebellion in the middle of the 8th century, there had been a period of imperial recovery lasting until about 820. The following half century was one of steady decline for the ruling house.

In 874 the 11-year-old emperor Hsi-tsung succeeded to the throne. This boy was, of course, unable to give any positive direction to imperial policy. The result was tragic, because the beginning of his reign coincided with a period...