Emperor Wu of Song

Names
	Family name: Liú (劉); Given name: Yù (裕); courtesy name: Dexing (德興); childhood name: Qinu (奇奴), later Jinu (寄奴)
Era name and dates
	Yǒngchū (永初): 420–422
Posthumous name
	Emperor Wu (武皇帝)
Temple name
	Gaozu (高祖)

Emperor Wu of Song
宋武帝
Emperor Wu of Song; 宋武帝
Emperor of Liu Song
Reign	10 July 420 – 26 June 422
Successor	Liu Yifu
Born	Liu Qinu (劉奇奴); 16 April 363; Jingkou, Eastern Jin
Died	26 June 422 (aged 59); Jiankang, Liu Song
Burial	Chuning Mausoleum (初寧陵)
Consorts	Empress Wujing; Empress Dowager Zhang; Grand Empress Dowager Zhang;
Issue	See § Family
Names
Names
	Family name: Liú (劉); Given name: Yù (裕); courtesy name: Dexing (德興); childhood name: Qinu (奇奴), later Jinu (寄奴)
Era name and dates
	Yǒngchū (永初): 420–422
Posthumous name
	Emperor Wu (武皇帝)
Temple name
	Gaozu (高祖)
Father	Liu Qiao
Mother	Zhao Anzong

Emperor Wu of (Liu) Song ((劉)宋武帝; 16 April 363^[3]– 26 June 422^[4]), personal name Liu Yu (劉裕), courtesy name Dexing (德興), childhood name Jinu (寄奴),^[2] was a statesman and strategist of Imperial China, and the founding emperor of the Chinese Liu Song dynasty. He came from a humble background, but became prominent after leading a rebellion in 408 to overthrow Huan Xuan, who had usurped the Eastern Jin throne in 403. After that point, using a mixture of political and military skills, Liu Yu gradually concentrated power in his own hands while expanding Jin's territory. In 420, he forced Emperor Gong of Jin to yield the throne to him, thus ending the Eastern Jin dynasty and establishing the Liu Song dynasty. He ruled only briefly, for two years, before dying and passing the throne to his son, Emperor Shao of Liu Song. An outstanding commander, perhaps the greatest of his era, he conquered two of the Sixteen Kingdoms and remained undefeated throughout his military career. The History of the Southern Dynasties described Liu Yu as seven chi and six cun tall^[5] (approximately 1.862 m (6 ft 1.3 in).)^{[citation needed]}

^ According to Liu Yu's biography in Book of Song, he crowned himself emperor on the dingmao day of the 6th month of the 1st year of the Yongchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 10 Jul 420 in the Julian calendar. (永初元年夏六月丁卯，設壇於南郊，即皇帝位...) Song Shu, vol. 03
^ ^a ^b ^c (皇考以高祖生有奇異，名為奇奴。皇妣既殂，養于舅氏，改為寄奴焉。) Song Shu, vol. 27
^ According to Liu Yu's biography in Book of Song, he was born in the night of the renyin day of the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Xingning era of Sima Pi's reign. This corresponds to 16 Apr 363 in the Julian calendar. (帝以晉哀帝興寧元年歲在癸亥三月壬寅夜生) Song Shu, vol. 01
^ According to Liu Yu's biography in Book of Song, he died aged 60 (by East Asian reckoning) on the guihai day of the 5th month of the 3rd year of the Yongchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 26 Jun 422 in the Julian calendar. [(永初三年五月)癸亥，上崩於西殿，时年六十] Song Shu, vol. 03
^ (身長七尺六寸) Nan Shi, vol. 01

[1] According to Liu Yu's biography in Book of Song, he crowned himself emperor on the dingmao day of the 6th month of the 1st year of the Yongchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 10 Jul 420 in the Julian calendar. (永初元年夏六月丁卯，設壇於南郊，即皇帝位...) Song Shu, vol. 03

[childhood-2] (皇考以高祖生有奇異，名為奇奴。皇妣既殂，養于舅氏，改為寄奴焉。) Song Shu, vol. 27

[3] According to Liu Yu's biography in Book of Song, he was born in the night of the renyin day of the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Xingning era of Sima Pi's reign. This corresponds to 16 Apr 363 in the Julian calendar. (帝以晉哀帝興寧元年歲在癸亥三月壬寅夜生) Song Shu, vol. 01

[4] According to Liu Yu's biography in Book of Song, he died aged 60 (by East Asian reckoning) on the guihai day of the 5th month of the 3rd year of the Yongchu era of his reign. This corresponds to 26 Jun 422 in the Julian calendar. [(永初三年五月)癸亥，上崩於西殿，时年六十] Song Shu, vol. 03

[5] (身長七尺六寸) Nan Shi, vol. 01

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