Liu Rong

Liu Rong (Chinese: 劉榮) (died c.April 148 BC[1]) was the eldest son of Emperor Jing of the Han dynasty. His mother was Lady Li (栗姬). He was made crown prince of the empire under the formal title Crown Prince Li (栗太子) on 16 May 153 BC,[2] but demoted less than three years later to Prince of Linjiang, on 17 January 150 BCE.[3] He had the dubious honor of becoming the first deposed crown prince in Chinese imperial history.

It was recorded that the reason for his demotion was the ill-will between his mother and Princess Liu Piao, Emperor Jing's older sister. Liu Piao had attempted to matchmake her daughter Chen Jiao with Liu Rong, but was rebuffed by Lady Li; Lady Li herself was displeased with the princess for her frequently recommending beautiful women to Emperor Jing. Incensed, Liu Piao then turned her attention towards Wang Zhi (then a concubine with the rank of meiren); eventually, Chen Jiao was married to Wang Zhi's son Liu Che, the later Emperor Wu of Han. Liu Piao then began frequently defaming Lady Li in front of Emperor Jing, while promoting Wang Zhi at the same time.[4] Emperor Jing himself grew displeased with Lady Li after a particular incident: while being seriously ill, Emperor Jing had asked Lady Li to look after the other concubines and their sons after his death. Lady Li not only refused to do so, but was also immensely rude to Emperor Jing in the process. After his recovery, Emperor Jing began to reconsider the positions of Lady Li and Liu Rong. Knowing the precarious situation Lady Li was in, Wang Zhi then encouraged an official to formally propose to Emperor Jing that since Liu Rong was now crown prince, Lady Li should be made empress. This move infuriated Emperor Jing, who had the official put to death, and demoted Liu Rong to Prince of Linjiang.

He was imprisoned in 148 BC for trespassing on the grounds of the temple of Emperor Wen (his grandfather) while building walls for his own palace. He was ultimately forced to commit suicide by the official Zhi Du (郅都). His grandmother, the Dowager Empress Dou, later had Zhi Du executed for a minor offense.

  1. ^ 3rd month of the 9th year of Emperor Jing's reign (indicated as 2nd year of the Zhong era), per vol.16 of Zizhi Tongjian. The month corresponds to 30 Mar to 28 Apr 148 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
  2. ^ jisi day of the 4th month of the 4th year of Emperor Jing's reign, per vol.16 of Zizhi Tongjian. This was the same day Liu Che (the future Emperor Wu) was made Prince of Jiaodong.
  3. ^ Vol.16 of Zizhi Tongjian indicated that Liu Rong was deposed as Crown Prince on the jiyou (己酉) day of the 11th month of the 7th year of Emperor Jing's reign. However, there was no jiyou day in that month; there was a yiyou (乙酉) day in that month, which corresponds to 17 Jan 150 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar
  4. ^ Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Stefanowska, A. D.; Wiles, Sue (2015-03-26). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-47591-0.