Emperor Xuan of Han
| Emperor Xuan of Han | |||||||||||||||||
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Portrait of Emperor Xuan from Sancai Tuhui
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| Emperor of the Western Han Dynasty | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 74–49 BC | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Prince of Changyi | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Yuan | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 91 BC Chang'an, Han Empire |
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| Died | 49 BC Chang'an, Han Empire |
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| Burial | Du ling, Xi'an | ||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Empress Xu Pingjun Empress Huo Chengjun Empress Wang Consort Zhang, concubine Consort Wei, concubine Consort Gongsun, concubine Consort Rong, concubine Consort Hua, concubine |
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| Issue |
Liu Shi, Emperor Yuan Liu Qin, Prince Xian of Huaiyang Liu Xiao, Prince of Dongtao Liu Yu, Prince Xi of Dongping Liu Jing, Prince Ai of Zhongshan Princess Guantau Princess Guiwu, Marchioness of Fuping/Linping/Gaoyang |
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| House | House of Liu | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Liu Jin | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Consort Wang | ||||||||||||||||
| Full name | |
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| Liu Bingyi 劉病已, later Liu Xún 劉詢 | |
| Era dates | |
| Dìjié 地節 (69 BC – 66 BC) Yúankāng 元康 (65 BC – 61 BC) Shénjué 神爵 (61 BC – 58 BC) Wŭfèng 五鳳 (57 BC – 54 BC) Gānlù 甘露 (53 BC – 50 BC) Dìjié 地節 (69 BC – 66 BC) Huánglóng 黃龍 (66 BC – 49 BC) |
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| Posthumous name | |
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Short: Emperor Xuan (宣帝) "responsible" Full: Xiaoxuan (孝宣) "filial and know by many" |
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| Temple name | |
| Zhōngzhōng (中宗) |
Emperor Xuan of Han (91–49 BC), born Liu Bingyi (劉病已), later renamed to Liu Xun (劉詢), was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.
Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu. His grandfather Liu Ju, was the son of Emperor Wu and Empress Wei and the crown prince of the Han Empire, who in 91 BC was framed for witchcraft practice against Emperor Wu and committed suicide after being forced into a failed uprising. His father Liu Jin (劉進) also died in that turmoil. Emperor Xuan was only an infant at the time and hence he was spared (but only barely) but was banished to live as a commoner.
After Emperor He's short reign of only 27 days in 74 BC, Xuan was declared emperor by Huo Guang (the half-brother of Huo Qubing). Emperor Xuan has been considered a hardworking and brilliant emperor. Because Xuan grew up as a commoner, he thoroughly understood the suffering of his people. He lowered taxes, liberalized the government and employed capable ministers to the government. He was said by Liu Xiang to have been fond of reading Shen Buhai, using Xing-Ming to control his subordinates and devoting much time to legal cases. Emperor Xuan was open to suggestions, was a good judge of character, and consolidated his power by eliminating corrupt officials, including the Huo family, which have exerted considerable power since the death of Emperor Wu, after Huo Guang's death. However, his execution of the entire Huo clan later drew heavy criticism from historians for its ungratefulness to Huo Guang. (e.g., Sima Guang in his Zizhi Tongjian.)
Under Emperor Xuan, the Han dynasty prospered economically and militarily. His rule lasted 25 years and he died in 49 BC. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Yuan.
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Wikipedia