Liu Biao

Liu Biao
Liu Biao
劉表
	A Qing dynasty illustration of Liu Biao
Governor of Jing Province (荊州牧)
	In office; 192–208
Monarch	Emperor Xian of Han
Succeeded by	Liu Cong
General Who Guards the South (鎮南將軍)
	In office; 192–208
Monarch	Emperor Xian of Han
Inspector of Jing Province (荊州刺史)
	In office; 190–192
Monarch	Emperor Xian of Han
Personal details
Born	142; Gaoping County, Shanyang Commandery (near modern day Yutai County, Shandong)
Died	208 (aged 66); Xiangyang
Spouses	Lady Chen; Lady Cai;
Children	Liu Qi; Liu Cong; Liu Xiu; Wang Ye's mother;
Relatives	Liu Pan (nephew); Liu Hu (nephew);
Occupation	Military general, politician, warlord
Courtesy name	Jingsheng (景升)
Peerage	Marquis of Chengwu; (成武侯)

Liu Biao (Chinese: 劉表; pinyin: Liú Biǎo) (pronunciation^ⓘ) (c. 151^[3] – c. September 208^[4]), courtesy name Jingsheng, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is best known for serving as the governor of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) from 192 until his death in 208. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han emperors through his ancestor Liu Yu, the fifth son of Emperor Jing.^[1] Liu Biao was described as a handsome man and was over eight chi tall (1.86 metres).^[5]

^ ^a ^b ^c de Crespigny (2007), p. 485.
^ de Crespigny likely used "Stele of Liu Zhennan" (刘镇南碑) as his source of Liu Biao's age. The article indicated that Liu Biao was 67 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. This article was found in vol.03 of "Anthology of Cai Zhonglang" (蔡中郎集), which was attributed to Cai Yong. However, Cai Yong died in c.June 192, 16 years before Liu Biao and so the authorship of the article is doubtful.
^ According to Wang Chang's biography in Book of the Later Han, Liu Biao was 17 (by East Asian reckoning) when he became Wang's student. At the time, Wang Chang was Administrator of Nanyang. (寻拜南阳太守....同郡刘表时年十七，从畅受学.) Houhanshu, vol.56. Wang Chang's biography recorded that he became Administrator of Nanyang soon after he regained the post of Master of Writing (尚书), upon recommendation from Chen Fan, who was then Grand Commandant. (太尉陈蕃荐畅清方公正，有不可犯之色，由是复为尚书。寻拜南阳太守...) Houhanshu, vol.56. Emperor Huan's biography recorded that Chen Fan was made Grand Commandant in the 7th month of the 8th year of the Yan'xi era of his reign. ([延熹八年]秋七月，太中大夫陈蕃为太尉。) Houhanshu, vol.07. This corresponds to 26 Jul to 24 Aug 165 in the Julian calendar. Emperor Huan's biography also recorded that Chen Fan was dismissed as Grand Commandant in the 7th month of the 9th year of the Yan'xi era. ([延熹九年]秋七月，....太尉陈蕃免。) Houhanshu, Vol. 7. This corresponds to 14 Aug to 12 Sep 166 in the Julian calendar. Also, Wang Chang's biography recorded that he was shifted to another court position before being promoted to Minister of Works (司空) in the 1st year of the Jian'ning era of Emperor Ling's reign. (后征为长乐□尉。建宁元年，迁司空，...) Houhanshu, vol.56; Emperor Ling's biography dates the promotion to the wuchen day of the 4th month of the year. (夏四月戊辰，...长乐卫尉王畅为司空。) Houhanshu vol.08. However, there is no wuchen day in that month; the month corresponds to 25 May to 22 Jun 168 in the Julian calendar. By combining the above observations, it is likely that Wang Chang was Administrator of Nanyang between 166 and 167. Thus by calculation, Liu Biao's birth year should be c.151.
^ According to Liu Biao's biography in Book of the Later Han, he died of a back ulcer in the 8th month of Jian'an 13, during the reign of the Xian Emperor of Han. This corresponds to 29 Aug to 27 Sep 208 in the Julian calendar. [(建安)十三年，曹操自将征表，未至。八月，表疽发背卒。] Houhanshu, vol.74 part 2
^ (长八尺馀，姿貌甚伟。) Sanguozhi vol.06

[FOOTNOTEde_Crespigny2007485-1] Crespigny (2007), p. 485.

[2] Crespigny likely used "Stele of Liu Zhennan" (刘镇南碑) as his source of Liu Biao's age. The article indicated that Liu Biao was 67 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. This article was found in vol.03 of "Anthology of Cai Zhonglang" (蔡中郎集), which was attributed to Cai Yong. However, Cai Yong died in c.June 192, 16 years before Liu Biao and so the authorship of the article is doubtful.

[3] According to Wang Chang's biography in Book of the Later Han, Liu Biao was 17 (by East Asian reckoning) when he became Wang's student. At the time, Wang Chang was Administrator of Nanyang. (寻拜南阳太守....同郡刘表时年十七，从畅受学.) Houhanshu, vol.56. Wang Chang's biography recorded that he became Administrator of Nanyang soon after he regained the post of Master of Writing (尚书), upon recommendation from Chen Fan, who was then Grand Commandant. (太尉陈蕃荐畅清方公正，有不可犯之色，由是复为尚书。寻拜南阳太守...) Houhanshu, vol.56. Emperor Huan's biography recorded that Chen Fan was made Grand Commandant in the 7th month of the 8th year of the Yan'xi era of his reign. ([延熹八年]秋七月，太中大夫陈蕃为太尉。) Houhanshu, vol.07. This corresponds to 26 Jul to 24 Aug 165 in the Julian calendar. Emperor Huan's biography also recorded that Chen Fan was dismissed as Grand Commandant in the 7th month of the 9th year of the Yan'xi era. ([延熹九年]秋七月，....太尉陈蕃免。) Houhanshu, Vol. 7. This corresponds to 14 Aug to 12 Sep 166 in the Julian calendar. Also, Wang Chang's biography recorded that he was shifted to another court position before being promoted to Minister of Works (司空) in the 1st year of the Jian'ning era of Emperor Ling's reign. (后征为长乐□尉。建宁元年，迁司空，...) Houhanshu, vol.56; Emperor Ling's biography dates the promotion to the wuchen day of the 4th month of the year. (夏四月戊辰，...长乐卫尉王畅为司空。) Houhanshu vol.08. However, there is no wuchen day in that month; the month corresponds to 25 May to 22 Jun 168 in the Julian calendar. By combining the above observations, it is likely that Wang Chang was Administrator of Nanyang between 166 and 167. Thus by calculation, Liu Biao's birth year should be c.151.

[4] According to Liu Biao's biography in Book of the Later Han, he died of a back ulcer in the 8th month of Jian'an 13, during the reign of the Xian Emperor of Han. This corresponds to 29 Aug to 27 Sep 208 in the Julian calendar. [(建安)十三年，曹操自将征表，未至。八月，表疽发背卒。] Houhanshu, vol.74 part 2

[5] (长八尺馀，姿貌甚伟。) Sanguozhi vol.06

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