Emperor Hui of Han
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2021) |
Emperor Hui of Han 漢惠帝 | |
---|---|
Posthumous name | |
Short: Hui (惠) "benevolent" Full: Xiaohui (孝惠) "filial and benevolent" |
Liu Ying | |
---|---|
Tâi-lô | Lâu îng |
Emperor Hui of Han (Chinese: 漢惠帝; pinyin: Hàn Huìdì; 210 BC[1] – 26 September 188 BC),[2] born Liu Ying (劉盈), was the second emperor of the Han dynasty. He was the second son of Emperor Gaozu, the first Han emperor, and the only son of Empress Lü from the powerful Lü clan. Emperor Hui is generally remembered as a somewhat weak character dominated and terrorized by his mother, Empress Lü, who became Empress Dowager after she encouraged her husband to command personally the war against Ying Bu, in which he died eventually from an arrow wound sustained during the war.[3]
Huidi was personally kind and well-intentioned, simple, hesitant, soft-hearted and generous, unable to escape the impact of his mother's viciousness. He tried to protect his younger half-brother
Early life and years as crown prince
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
Early years
Liu Ying was born during the
Chu–Han Contention
During
Father Liu's big setback
In 205 BC, Liu Bang appeared to be near total victory, having captured Xiang's capital of
Father Liu's big victory
After Liu Bang's victory and self-declaration as the
Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang
Soon after establishing the Han dynasty, the new emperor, Gaodi, was eager to recruit talented persons. In 196 BCE, Gao even issued a decree to the effect that any official knowing of a virtuous man must so report on penalty of being fired (unless they were too old or sick).[6]: 28 Sometime before or after that, Gao attempted to obtain the services of the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang: Master Dongyuan, Qi Liji, Master Xiahuang and Mr. Lu Li. During the time of troubles which characterized the Qin dynasty, these four had entered into a life of seclusion on Mount Shang. They were old and had white hair and beards. Thus, they were known as the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang. Liu Bang was well aware of the reputation of these four sages, and when he became emperor Gao, the four refused his ardent entreaties to assume positions of importance in his newly established government. When the question of who was to be imperial heir came up, two of Gaodi's women both advocated for their own son: Lü for Ying and Qi for her own son. Gao favored Qi's son, as he thought the youth embodied more of his personality. Lü Hou got the advantage: she went to the powerful official Zhang Liang, who said, “His Majesty had long heard about the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang and wanted to invite them to serve the country. However, they refused. If the Crown Prince could obtain the support of the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang, then His Majesty would not depose him.” Lü Hou then applied her forces of persuasion. The Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang showed up at court. The four agreed that according to the Confucian precepts of filial piety, as the elder son the future Huidi should succeed to the rulership. Furthermore, Liu Ying's nature was benevolent and compassionate. Gaodi noticed the presence of four elders with white hair and white beards at his court, and inquired as to their identity. Upon finding out who they were and what their position was, Gaodi went to Lady Qi and told her: “I cannot appoint your son as the successor because the Crown Prince has already obtained the support of such capable people. His position is firmly entrenched.”[7]
Lü Hou: Growing ascendancy
As crown prince, Prince Ying, along with his mother, would be the ones who would rule on important matters at the capital in his father's absence during various campaigns. When Ying Bu rebelled in 196 BC, Emperor Gao was ill and considered sending Prince Ying as the commander of the forces against Ying Bu rather than campaigning himself, but at the suggestion of Empress Lü (who averred that the generals, who were generally Emperor Gao's old friends, might not fully obey the young prince), went on the campaign himself. Prince Ying was instead put in charge of home territories around the capital Chang'an, assisted by Confucian scholar Shusun Tong (叔孫通) and strategist Zhang Liang (張良). He appeared to carry out the tasks competently but without distinction.[citation needed]
Succession to the imperial power
Prince Ying succeeded to the throne of Han when his father died in 195 BC from complications of an arrow wound suffered during the campaign against Ying Bu, after Lü Hou had insisted on Gaodi personally leading the fight.[8]
Reign as emperor under Empress Lü's regency
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
Immediately upon Prince Ying's ascension to the throne as Emperor Hui, Empress Lü, now empress dowager, became the effective lead figure in his administration. She wanted to carry out a plot of revenge against Consort Qi and her son Ruyi. She first arrested Consort Qi and put her in prison garb (shaved head, confined by stock, and wearing red clothes). She then summoned Liu Ruyi to the capital—an attempt that was initially resisted by Ruyi's chief of staff Zhou Chang (周昌), whom she respected because he was one of the officials who insisted on Liu Ying being the rightful heir. Instead of directly moving against Zhou and Liu Ruyi, though, Lü circumvented Zhou by first summoning him to the capital, and then summoning Liu Ruyi.[9]
Emperor Hui tried to save Liu Ruyi's life. Before Liu Ruyi could get to the capital, Emperor Hui intercepted his young brother at Bashang (霸上, in modern Xi'an) and received Liu Ruyi into his palace, and they dined and slept together. Empress Dowager Lü wanted to kill Liu Ruyi, but was afraid that any attempt might also harm her own son, and therefore could not carry out her plot for several months.[10]
Empress Dowager Lü got her chance in c.January 194 BC. One morning, Emperor Hui was out hunting and wanted to take Liu Ruyi with him. The young prince was then only 14 years old and refused to get up from bed, and Emperor Hui left for the hunt on his own. Empress Dowager Lü heard this and immediately sent an assassin into the emperor's palace to force poisoned wine down the prince's throat. By the time that Emperor Hui returned, his brother was dead. She then had Consort Qi's eyes gouged out, made her ears deaf, drugged her to make her unable to speak and had her arms and legs cut off. The mutilated woman was thrown into a latrine and then fed and kept alive in a pig's bin and was called the "人彘", meaning literally the "human swine". (She would die from the torture.) When Emperor Hui saw his father's favorite and the mother of his beloved little brother in such a condition, he cried out loud and became depressed and sick for about a year. He told his mother that he could not govern the empire, given that he was the son of someone like her who has done such inhuman deeds. From that point, Emperor Hui only "indulged himself with wine and women" and no longer made major and key governing decisions, leaving them to his mother, and Empress Dowager Lü had so much power that Emperor Hui was ineffective.[citation needed]
Emperor Hui, however, continued to try to protect his siblings. In c.December 194 BC,[11] when Liu Fei, Prince of Qi—his older half-brother—made an official visit to the capital, they both attended a feast put on by Empress Dowager Lü. Emperor Hui, honoring the prince as an older brother, asked him to take a seat at the table even more honored than his own. The empress dowager was greatly offended and instructed her servants to pour two cups of poisoned wine which were set on the table between the trio. She ordered Liu Fei to toast her, while ignoring Emperor Hui. As Liu Fei was about to drink the poisoned wine, Emperor Hui, knowing his mother's murderously jealous temperament and remembering how his other brother had died, suddenly reached for the second cup, which the Empress did not intend. (The second cup was a decoy, placed there only to suggest to Liu Fei that she would return his toast, as ritual required, although he would die immediately on drinking his, so she would not need to drink the other cup. Her resentment toward Liu Fei fully captured her attention and she did not even think of her son's presence.) Empress Dowager Lü jumped up and slapped the second cup away from Emperor Hui, spilling it. Liu Fei realized the trick and left, pretending to be already drunk. In the end, he was only able to leave the capital by offering to the Empress an entire commandery from his principality, to be the feudal estate of Princess Yuan of Lu. Empress Dowager Lü, who greatly loved her daughter as well, was pleased and let Liu Fei return to his principality.[12]
Accomplishments
As the second emperor of his dynasty, Huidi helped to establish the Han dynasty on a strong footing: Huidi bolstered the Han dynastic aspirations by establishing shrines venerating his father throughout the land. Although his father, Gaodi, had continued many of the Qin institutions, Huidi repealed some particularly harsh Qin laws, such as the Burning of books and burying of scholars law. Nevertheless, Huidi's gentle nature was at first little match against the ruthless Lü Hou and her clan. Still, the Han dynasty was set on a firm foot as the challenging Lü clan was eventually generally exterminated and Han Huidi was effectively succeeded by Emperor Wen of Han.[6]: 31, 33
Hong Ru
Hui had a eunuch lover by the name of Hong Ru, who was favored so deeply that many officials attempted to imitate his style of dress in the hope of gaining the emperor's attention.[13]
Death
Hui died in the autumn of 188 BC of an unspecified illness. After Empress Lü's death and the massacre of the Lü clan in 180BC, Emperor Gaozu's officials and survivors of the imperial Liu clan then chose Liu Heng as the next emperor, deliberately due to his lack of a powerful maternal clan.[6]: 33
Marriage and children
In c.November 192 BC, Emperor Hui married Empress Zhang, a marriage that would not yield any children. However, whether Emperor Hui actually had children during or before his reign is a controversial question. The officials, including
Family
Consorts and Issue:[citation needed]
- Empress Xiaohui, of the Zhang clan (孝惠皇后 張氏; 202–163 BC), niece, personal name Yan (嫣)
- Unknown
- Liu Gong, Emperor (皇帝 劉恭; 193–184 BC)
- Liu Qiang, Prince Huai of Huaiyang (淮陽懷王 劉強; d. 183 BC)
- Liu Buyi, Prince Ai of Hengsha (恆山哀王 劉不疑; d. 186 BC)
- Liu Hong, Emperor (皇帝 劉弘; 190–180 BC)
- Liu Chao, Prince of Hengshan (恆山王 劉朝; d. 180 BC)
- Liu Wu, Prince of Huaiyang (淮陽王 劉武; 192–180 BC)
- Liu Tai, Prince of Liang (梁王 劉太; d. 180 BC)
Ancestry
Liu Qing | |||||||||||||||||||
Liu Ren | |||||||||||||||||||
Liu Taigong (282–197 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Gaozu of Han (256–195 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
Empress Zhaoling | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Hui of Han (210–188 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
Lü Wen | |||||||||||||||||||
Empress Gao (241–180 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
Medias
- Portrayed by Chan Kwan in the 2004 Hong-Kong TV series The Conqueror's Story.
- Portrayed by Shi Yun Peng in the 2010 Chinese TV series The Myth.
- Portrayed by Luo Jin in the 2010 Chinese TV series Beauty's Rival in Palace.
See also
- Family tree of the Han Dynasty
Reference citations
Classical Chinese secondary reference sources
These Classical Chinese historical sources are standard, and incorporated herein:
- Sima Tan and Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, vol. 9 (on or around 94 BCE).
- Ban Biao, Ban Gu, and Ban Zhao. Book of Han, vol. 2 (111 CE).
- Sima Guang, et al. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance), vols. 9, 11, 12 (1084).
Other references
- ^ Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Han indicated that he was 5 (by East Asian reckoning) when his father Liu Bang became King of Han.
- ^ wuyin day of the 8th month of the 7th year of Emperor Hui's reign, per Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Han
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol.12
- ^ (齐悼惠王肥,其母高祖微时外妇也。) Book of Han, vol.38
- ^ (上欲废太子,立戚夫人子赵王如意。大臣多谏争,未能得坚决者也。吕后恐,不知所为。人或谓吕后曰:“留侯善画计䇲,上信用之。”吕后乃使建成侯吕泽劫留侯,曰:“君常为上谋臣,今上欲易太子,君安得高枕而卧乎?”留侯曰:“始上数在困急之中,幸用臣䇲。今天下安定,以爱欲易太子,骨肉之间,虽臣等百馀人何益。”吕泽强要曰:“为我画计。”留侯曰:“此难以口舌争也。顾上有不能致者,天下有四人。四人者年老矣,皆以为上慢侮人,故逃匿山中,义不为汉臣。然上高此四人。今公诚能无爱金玉璧帛,令太子为书,卑辞安车,因使辩士固请,宜来。来,以为客,时时从入朝,令上见之,则必异而问之。问之,上知此四人贤,则一助也。”于是吕后令吕泽使人奉太子书,卑辞厚礼,迎此四人。四人至,客建成侯所。) Shiji, vol.55. Zhang Liang's biography in Book of Han also contained this anecdote.
- ^ ISBN 0-500-05090-2.
- Yeh Chia-ying, translation Josey Shun and Bhikshuni Heng Yin, "Lectures on Tao Yuanming's Poems", a series of lectures at Gold Buddha Monastery, Canada (lecture tapes were transcribed by Tu Xiaoli, An Yi, and Yang Aidi) <"Vajra Bhodi Sea" No. 382, March 2002>
- ^ (是时,上有疾,欲使太子往击黥布。太子客东园公、绮里季、夏黄公、角里先生说建成侯吕释之曰:“太子将兵,有功则位不益,无功则从此受祸矣。君何不急请吕后,承间为上泣言:‘黥布,天下猛将也,善用兵。今诸将皆陛下故等夷,乃令太子将此属,无异使羊将狼,莫肯为用;且使布闻之,则鼓行而西耳!上虽病,强载辎车,卧而护之,诸将不敢不尽力。上虽苦,为妻子自强!’”于是吕释之立夜见吕后。吕后承间为上泣涕而言,如四人意。上曰:“吾惟竖子固不足遣,而公自行耳。......上击布时,为流矢所中,行道,疾甚。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.12. However, the same volume of Zizhi Tongjian also recorded that Liu Bang was already ill when he chose to lead an army against Ying Bu, and that it was he who refused further treatment after a doctor assessed that he could be saved. (吕后迎良医。医入见,曰:“疾可治。”上嫚骂之曰:“吾以布衣提三尺取天下,此非天命乎?命乃在天,虽扁鹊何益?”遂不使治疾,赐黄金五十斤,罢之。)
- ^ (高祖崩,太后使使召赵王,其相昌令王称疾不行。使者三反,昌曰:“高帝属臣赵王,王年少,窃闻太后怨戚夫人,欲召赵王并诛之。臣不敢遣王,王且亦疾,不能奉诏。”太后怒,乃使使召赵相。相至,谒太后,太后骂昌曰:“尔不知我之怨戚氏乎?而不遣赵王!”昌既被征,高后使使召赵王。) Book of Han, vol.42
- ^ (王来,未到;帝知太后怒,自迎赵王霸上,与入宫,自挟与起居饮食。太后欲杀之,不得间。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.12
- ^ Volume 12 of Zizhi Tongjian placed this incident in the 10th month of the 2nd year of Emperor Hui's reign, which corresponds to 20 Nov to 19 Dec 194 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used during this era, the 2nd year of Emperor Hui's reign starts from 20 Nov 194 BCE and ends on 8 Nov 193 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
- ^ (齐悼惠王来朝,饮于太后前。帝以齐王,兄也,置之上坐。太后怒,酌鸩酒置前,赐齐王为寿。齐王起,帝亦起取卮;太后恐,自起泛帝卮。齐王怪之,因不敢饮,佯醉去;问知其鸩,大恐。齐内史士说王,使献城阳郡为鲁元公主汤沐邑。太后喜,乃罢归齐王。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.12
- S2CID 150065540.