Liu Yuan (Han Zhao)
| Liu Yuan | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of Han Zhao | |
| Born | 251 |
| Died | 310 (age 59) |
| Reign | 304 - 19 August 310 |
| Successor | Liu He |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 劉淵 |
| Simplified Chinese | 劉淵 |
| Pinyin | Líu Yuān |
| Wade–Giles | Liu Yüan |
| Courtesy name | Yuanhai |
| Posthumous name | Emperor Guangwen |
| Era names |
|
| Temple name | Gaozu (Chinese: 高祖; pinyin: Gāozǔ; Wade–Giles: Kao-tsu) |
Liu Yuan (劉淵) (died 310), courtesy name Yuanhai (元海), formally Emperor Guangwen of Han (Zhao) (漢(趙)光文帝) was the founding emperor of the Xiongnu state Han Zhao in 308.
Liu Yuan was a member of Xiongnu nobility, as a descendant of chanyus of the Luanti (欒提) royal clan, who, along with their people, had long been loyal vassals of Han Dynasty, and then to its successor states Cao Wei and Jin Dynasty (265-420). In late Cao Wei or early Jin times, the Xiongnu nobles claimed that they had Han Dynasty ancestry as well—through a princess that married the first great chanyu in Xiongnu history, Modu Shanyu, and therefore changed their family name to Liu, the same name as the Han imperial clan. Liu Yuan's father Liu Bao was a son of one of the last chanyus, Yufuluo, and the nephew of the very last chanyu Huchuquan (before Cao Cao abolished the office in 216 and divided the Xiongnu into five tribes (bu, 部)), and he had the command of the Left Tribe (左部). Liu Yuan's mother Lady Huyan (呼延) appeared to be from a noble family, and was in probability Liu Bao's wife and not a concubine, but that is not clear, though other sources state this was a name for Cai Wenji. As all five tribes settled down in modern southern Shanxi, that was likely where Liu Yuan was born and raised.
As powerful Xiongnu nobles were usually encouraged or pressured by Cao Wei and Jin authorities to send their sons to the capital Luoyang (both to encourage them to further sinicization and as collateral for their loyalty), Liu Yuan was sent to Luoyang to reside and to study traditional Chinese literature. He became well known for his studies, particularly of the Zou version of Confucius' Spring and Autumn Annals and of the military strategies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi. The key Jin official Wang Hun (王渾) (one of the lead generals who later participated in conquering Eastern Wu) became impressed with him, and Wang Hun's son Wang Ji (王濟) became a close friend of Liu Yuan's. Wang Hun believed Liu to be general material and repeatedly recommended Liu Yuan to Emperor Wu, but Kong Xun (孔恂) and Empress Yang Zhi's uncle Yang Ji (楊濟) suspected Liu for his Xiongnu ancestry and persuaded Emperor Wu against giving Liu military commands during campaigns against Eastern Wu and the Xianbei rebel Tufa Shujineng (禿髮樹機能). Eventually, even Emperor Wu's brother Sima You the Prince of Qi, impressed and fearful of Liu's abilities, encouraged Emperor Wu to have Liu executed, but Wang Hun persuaded Emperor Wu that it would be wrong. When Liu Bao died, Emperor Wu permitted Liu Yuan to take over command of the Left Tribe.
...
Wikipedia