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This is a Chinese name; the family name is Liu. Emperor Gao (256 BC or 247 BC 1 June 195 BC), commonly known by his temple name Gaozu, personal name Liu Bang, was the founder and first emperor of the Han Dynasty who ruled China from 202 BC to 195 BC. He was one of the few dynasty founders in Chinese history who emerged from the peasant class. Liu Bang initially served as a minor patrol officer in his hometown of Pei County (in present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu) under the government of the Qin Dynasty. Sometime in the 210s or 200s BC, he rebelled against the Qin government by releasing a group of convicts he was supposed to escort to Mount Li to construct Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, after which he and his followers took refuge as outlaws on Mount Mangdang. In 208 BC, when rebellions erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang formed his own army and participated in the insurrection. He was known as the "Duke of Pei" then and was one of the most prominent rebel leaders. After the fall of Qin in 206 BC, Xiang Yu, the de facto chief of the rebel forces, divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. He declared himself the king of Western Chu and appointed 17 of the former rebel leaders, including Liu Bang, as the rulers of the other kingdoms. Liu Bang was the "King of Han" and his domain was in the remote Bashu region (parts of present-day Sichuan). Later that year, Liu Bang led his forces out of Bashu and attacked and conquered the Three Qins, three of the Eighteen Kingdoms which were nearest to his domain. From 206 BC to 202 BC, Liu Bang engaged Xiang Yu in a long power struggle, historically known as the ChuHan Contention, for supremacy over China, while concurrently invading and subjugating the other kingdoms. In 202 BC, the war concluded with victory for Liu Bang, who succeeded in unifying most of China under his control. Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty and was proclaimed Emperor that year. During his reign, Liu Bang reduced taxes and corve, promoted Confucianism, and suppressed revolts by the rulers of some vassal states, among other things. He also initiated the policy of heqin to maintain peace between the Han Empire and the Xiongnu after he lost to the Xiongnu at the Battle of Baideng in 200 BC. Liu Bang died in 195 BC and was succeeded by his son Liu Ying, who became known as Emperor Hui.
A portrait of Emperor Gao in Sancai Tuhui. Emperor of the Western Han Dynasty Reign 28 February 202 BC[1] 1 June 195 BC Liu Ying, Emperor Hui Empress L Zhi
Concubine Consort Cao Consort Qi Consort Zhang Consort Wei Consort Bo Consort Zhao Issue Liu Fei, Prince Daohui of Qi Liu Ying, Crown Prince Liu Jian, Prince Ling of Yan Liu Ruyi, Prince Yin of Zhao Liu Heng, Prince of Dai
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Gaozu_of_Han
Contents
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Contents
1 Birth and early life 2 Insurrection against the Qin Dynasty 3 ChuHan Contention 4 Establishment of the Han Dynasty 5 Reign 5.1 Reducing taxes and corve 5.2 Emphasis on Confucianism 5.3 Dispute over the succession 5.4 Military campaigns 6 Death 7 Song of the Great Wind 8 Family 9 Modern references 10 See also 11 Notes and references 12 External links
Liu Hui, Prince Gong of Zhao Liu You, Prince of Huaiyang Liu Chang, Prince Li of Huainan Princess Yuan of Lu Full name Family name: Liu () Given name: Bang () Courtesy name: Ji () Posthumous name Gao Huangdi (; lit. "Emperor Gao") Temple name Taizu ()[2] Gaozu ()[3] Dynasty Born Died Han Dynasty 256 BC[4] 247 BC[5] 1 June 195 BC (aged c. 60-61 / c. 5152) Taoism[6]
Religion
Liu Bang
Mandarin
Jyutping
Chinese Transcriptions
Liu Bang had a high nose, whiskers and a beard, which made Mandarin him resemble a dragon in appearance. He had 72 dark spots Hanyu Pinyin Goz on his left leg.[8] The young Liu Bang was outspoken, charismatic, and of great forbearance and tolerance. However, he enjoyed loafing, disliked reading, and showed no interest in farming, hence his father often called him a "little rascal". Liu Bang persisted in his idling ways and depended on his brother's family for food and lodging. When he grew older, he was appointed as a minor patrol officer and forged close relationships with the officials in
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the county office, earning himself a little reputation in his hometown. When he had drinks with his friends in the local taverns, they noticed a silhouette of a dragon over him whenever he was drunk.[8] The tavern owners felt that Liu Bang was an extraordinary person and provided him with drinks free of charge. One day, L Wen (also called L Gong), a respectable man who had recently moved to Pei County, was visited by the elites in town. Xiao He, who was in charge of helping L Wen collect the gifts from the visitors, announced, "Those who do not offer more than 1,000 coins worth of gifts shall be seated outside the hall." Liu Bang went there without bringing any money and said, "I offer 10,000 coins." L Wen saw Liu Bang and was so impressed with the latter on first sight that he immediately stood up and welcomed Liu into the hall to sit beside him. Xiao He told L Wen that Liu Bang was not serious, but Liu ignored him and chatted with L. L Wen said, "I used to predict fortunes for many people but I've never seen someone so exceptional like you before." He then offered his daughter L Zhi's hand in marriage to Liu Bang and they were wed. L Zhi bore Liu Bang a son (Liu Ying, the future Emperor Hui) and a daughter (the future Princess Yuan of Lu).
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Xiang Yu in the race to Guanzhong and arrived at Xianyang, the Qin capital. Ziying, the last Qin emperor, surrendered to Liu Bang, bringing an end to the Qin Dynasty's existence. Liu Bang issued strict orders to his troops, forbidding them from killing innocent civilians and pillaging the cities they conquered. Peace and stability were temporarily restored in Xianyang while Liu Bang's army was stationed there.
ChuHan Contention
Main article: ChuHan Contention Xiang Yu was dissatisfied that Liu Bang had beat him in the race to Guanzhong so he set a trap to kill Liu after being instigated by his advisor Fan Zeng and Cao Wushang (), a defector from Liu's side. In 206 BC, Xiang Yu invited Liu Bang to a banquet, historically known as the Feast at Hong Gate, while secretly planning to assassinate Liu during the banquet. Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo, who was a close friend of Liu Bang's strategist Zhang Liang, managed to persuade his nephew to spare Liu's life. Fan Zeng then ordered Xiang Yu's cousin Xiang Zhuang to pretend to perform a sword dance and use the opportunity to kill Liu Bang, but Xiang Bo blocked Xiang Zhuang's attempts. Liu Bang lied that he needed to go to the latrine and seized the chance to escape. Liu Bang and his troops evacuated from Xianyang and retreated west later. Xiang Yu led his forces into Xianyang, where they plundered and pillaged the city and burnt down the Epang Palace. After occupying Xianyang, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself "Hegemon-King of Western Chu" and split the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. The Guanzhong area, which was rightfully Liu Bang's per King Huai II's earlier promise, was given by Xiang Yu to three former Qin generals instead. Liu Bang was relocated to Hanzhong in the remote Bashu region (in present-day Sichuan) and received the title of "King of Han" (). When a rebellion broke out in the Qi kingdom in late 206 BC, Xiang Yu left his domain in Western Chu to suppress to revolt. Liu Bang used the opportunity to invade and conquer Guanzhong and then attack several territories in Western Chu, including the capital Pengcheng (; present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu). From 206 BC until 202 BC, Liu Bang engaged Xiang Yu in a power struggle, historically known as the ChuHan Contention, for supremacy over China, while simultaneously attacking and subjugating the remaining kingdoms. In 203 BC, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang came to an armistice, known as the Treaty of Hong Canal, which divided China into east and west along the Hong Canal under Chu and Han respectively. A few months later, Liu Bang renounced the treaty and attacked Xiang Yu again. In 202 BC, Xiang Yu was defeated by Liu Bang at the Battle of Gaixia and he committed suicide, after which Chu surrendered to Han. Liu Bang had unified most of China under his control by then.
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Reign
Further information: Han Dynasty
Emphasis on Confucianism
In his early days, Gaozu disliked reading and regarded Confucianism with contempt. After he ascended to the throne, he retained the same perspective towards Confucianism as before until he was enlightened by the scholar Lu Gu. Lu Gu wrote a 12 volume book titled Xinyu (), stressing the benefits of governing the nation by moral virtue rather than by using coercive laws. Lu Gu read each volume to the emperor after he finished writing it. Gaozu was deeply impressed. Under Gaozu's reign, Confucianism flourished and gradually replaced Legalism (which dominated the Qin Dynasty) as the state philosophy. Confucian scholars, including Lu Gu, were recruited to serve in the government. Gaozu also introduced reforms to the legal system, relaxing some of the laws inherited from the Qin Dynasty and reducing the severity of certain penalties. In 196 BC, after suppressing Ying Bu's rebellion, Gaozu passed by Shandong, where Confucius was born, and personally prepared for a ceremony to pay respect to the philosopher.
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Military campaigns
Further information: Kings of the Han Dynasty, Battle of Baideng, and Heqin After establishing the Han Dynasty, Gaozu appointed several vassal kings to help him govern his empire and granted them fiefs spread throughout the land. There were seven of them: Zang Tu, King of Yan; Hn Xin, King of Hn; Han Xin, King of Chu; Peng Yue, King of Liang; Ying Bu, King of Huainan; Zhang Er, King of Zhao; Wu Rui, King of Changsha. However, later, Gaozu became worried that these kings might rebel against him because they were not from his own clan. Han Xin and Peng Yue were accused of treason and were executed by him. Ying Bu and Zang Tu did rebel against him but failed in their attempts and were killed. Only Wu Rui and Zhang Er were left in the end. The Xiongnu in the north already posed a threat to China since the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang had sent Meng Tian to lead the defence of the Qin Empire's northern border and oversee the construction of the Great Wall to repel the invaders. Meng Tian achieved success in deterring the Xiongnu from advancing beyond the border. However, after the Qin Dynasty collapsed, the Xiongnu used the opportunity to move south and raid the border again. In 201 BC, Hn Xin (King of Hn) surrendered to the Xiongnu leader Modu. In the following year, Gaozu led an army to attack the Xiongnu but was besieged and trapped by the enemy in Battle of Baideng. Acting on Chen Ping's advice, Gaozu bribed Modu's wife with gifts and asked her to request her husband to lift the siege. Modu did so. After returning to his capital, Gaozu initiated the policy of heqin, which involved sending noble ladies to marry the Xiongnu chieftains and paying annual tribute to them in exchange for peace between the Han Empire and the Xiongnu.
Death
Gaozu was wounded by a stray arrow while he was attacking Ying Bu. He became seriously ill and remained in his inner chambers for a long period of time and ordered his guards to deny anyone entry. After several days, Fan Kuai barged into the chambers to see Gaozu and the other subjects followed behind him. They saw Gaozu lying on his bed, accompanied by only a eunuch. Fan Kuai said, "How glorious it was when Your Majesty first led us to conquer the empire and how weary we are now. Your subjects are worried when they learn that Your Majesty is ill, but Your Majesty refuses to see us and prefers the company of a eunuch instead. Has Your Majesty forgotten the incident about Zhao Gao?" Gaozu laughed after hearing that and got out of bed to meet his subjects. Gaozu's health deteriorated later so Empress L Zhi hired a well known physician to heal him. When Gaozu enquired about his condition, the physician told him that his illness could be cured, but Gaozu was displeased and he scolded the physician, "Isn't it Heaven's will that I managed to conquer this empire in simple clothing and with nothing but a sword? My life is determined by Heaven. It is useless even if Bian Que was here!" Gaozu refused to continue the treatment and sent the physician away with some gold. Before his death, Gaozu said that Cao Shen could succeed Xiao He as the chancellor after Xiao died, and that Wang Ling could succeed Cao Shen. He also said that Wang Ling might be too young to perform his duties so Chen Ping could assist Wang, but Chen was also qualified to assume the responsibilities by himself. Gaozu also named Zhou Bo as a possible candidate for the role of Grand Commandant. He died in Changle Palace () on 1 June 195 BC and was succeeded by Liu Ying, who became known as Emperor Hui.
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The Song of the Great Wind was a song composed by Liu Bang in 195 BC when he visited his hometown of Pei County after suppressing Ying Bu's rebellion. He prepared a banquet and invited all his old friends and townsfolk to join him. After some drinks, Liu Bang started playing a guqin and sang the Song of the Great Wind.[12] Song of the Great Wind A great wind came forth, the clouds rose on high. Now that my might rules all within the seas, I have returned to my old village. Where will I find brave men to guard the four corners of my land?
[13]
Family
Parents: Liu Taigong (lit. "Old Sir Liu") Liu Ao (lit. "Old Madam Liu") Siblings: Liu Bo, Duke of Huai. Liu Xi, Prince of Dai. Liu Jiao, Prince of Chu. Spouse: Empress L Zhi, bore Liu Ying and Princess Lu. Major concubines: Consort Cao, bore Liu Fei. Consort Qi, bore Liu Ruyi. Consort Wan Consort Guan Consort Bo, bore Liu Heng. Consort Zhao, bore Liu Chang. Consort Zhao Zi'er
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Children: Liu Fei, Prince Daohui of Qi. Liu Ying, Crown Prince, later Emperor Hui. Liu Jian, Prince Ling of Yan. Liu Ruyi, Prince Yin of Zhao. Liu Heng, Prince of Dai, later Emperor Wen. Liu Hui, Prince of Liang, later Prince Gong of Zhao. Liu You, Prince of Huaiyang, later Prince You of Zhao. Liu Chang, Prince Li of Huainan. Princess Yuan of Lu (personal name unknown)
Modern references
Liu Bang is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei.
See also
Family tree of the Han Dynasty Chu-Han contention L Clan Disturbance
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11. ^ () 12. ^ (Chinese) (http://www.guoxue.com/art/ss000/hvsc001/dfg005.htm) 13. ^ John Minford; Joseph S. M. Lau (2000). Minford, John, ed. An Anthology of Translations Classical Chinese Literature Volume I: From Antiquity To The Tang Dynasty (http://books.google.com/?id=8PMehCCKZ7QC). Columbia University Press. p. 415. ISBN 978-0-231-09676-8.
Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 4, Part 2. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd. Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Volume 8. Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Volume 1.
External links
Emperor Gaozu (http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22859.htm) at Chinaculture.org
Emperor Gaozu of Han House of Liu
Born: 256 BC Died: 1 June 195 BC
Regnal titles New title Preceded by Hegemon-King of Western Chu King of Han 206 BC 202 BC Emperor of China Western Han 202 BC 195 BC Merged in the Crown Succeeded by Emperor Hui of Han
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