Liu Wu, Prince of Chu

Not to be confused with Liu Wu, Prince of Liang.
The coffin of prince Liu Wu, covered with jade panels. Unearthed from Shizishan Mountain (狮子山) in 1996
Terracotta warriors, Pit 1, Han Tomb of Liu Wu, King of Chu

Liu Wu (simplified Chinese: 刘戊; traditional Chinese: 劉戊; pinyin: Liú Wù, died 154 BC) was the son of Liu Yingke, Prince Yi of Chu. After the short reign of his father, he inherited the title Prince of Chu in 174 BC.[1] In 155 BC, Empress Dowager Bo died. Liu Wu was caught drinking during the grieving period, so Emperor Jing of Han reduced the size of his land. Wu was later convinced to join the Rebellion of the Seven States by Liu Pi despite objections from his prime minister and tutor. Liu Wu put both of them to death.

In 154 BC, he launched his campaign against the principality of Liang but was defeated by Zhou Yafu. When the remaining troops surrendered and his supplies were cut off, Wu committed suicide.[2][3][4] His son Liu Li was allowed to succeed to the Prince of Chu title despite the rebellion. He had a granddaughter named Princess Jieyou.

  1. ^ Ban Biao; Ban Gu; Ban Zhao. "諸侯王表" [Table of nobles related to the imperial clan]. Book of Han (in Chinese). Vol. 14. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  2. ^ Ban Biao; Ban Gu; Ban Zhao. "荊燕吳傳" [Biographies of the Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu]. Book of Han (in Chinese). Vol. 35. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  3. ^ Ban Biao; Ban Gu; Ban Zhao. "楚元王傳" [Biography of Prince Yuan of Chu]. Book of Han (in Chinese). Vol. 36. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  4. ^ Sima Qian. "楚元王世家" [House of Prince Chu Yuan]. Records of the Grand Historian. Vol. 50. Retrieved 2 July 2011.