Ruzi Ying

Liu Ying
劉嬰
Emperor of the Han dynasty
Reign6–9 CE
PredecessorEmperor Ping of Han
SuccessorGengshi Emperor of Han
Born5 CE
Died25 CE
Burial
Unknown
HouseLiu
DynastyHan (Western Han)

Ruzi Ying (Chinese: 孺子嬰; pinyin: Rúzi Yīng; lit. 'Infant Ying'; 5 – February or March 25 CE[1]), personal name Liu Ying (劉嬰), was a ruler of the Han dynasty of China and the last of the Western Han dynasty.[2] He was the titular ruler of the Han Empire from 6 CE to 9 CE, even though he did not officially ascend to the throne and only assumed the title of crown prince. After Emperor Ai and Emperor Ping died without heirs, Wang Mang chose the youngest of the available successors in order to maintain his power in the government. The child Ying was soon deposed by Wang Mang who declared the Xin dynasty in place of the Han. During the Xin dynasty, Ying was under effective house arrest—so much so that as an adult, he did not even know the names of common animals. Before and after the Xin dynasty was overthrown in 23 CE, a number of ambitious individuals claimed to be restoring the Han dynasty. In 25 CE, a rebellion against the Gengshi Emperor used Liu Ying as a focus, and when the rebellion was defeated, Liu Ying was killed. He is often viewed as an innocent child who was the victim of tragic circumstances.

  1. ^ 1st month of the 1st year of the Jianwu era, per Emperor Guangwu's biography in Book of the Later Han. The month corresponds to 17 Feb to 17 Mar 25 in the Julian calendar.
  2. ^ San, Tan Koon (2014-08-15). Dynastic China: An Elementary History. The Other Press. p. 97. ISBN 978-983-9541-88-5.