Liu Xuan (died 4 December 308), courtesy name Shize, was a Xiongnu politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. In 304, he joined a plot led by the Xiongnu aristocracy to break away from the ruling Jin dynasty. He was important in getting his great-nephew, Liu Yuan, to lead the Xiongnu and form Han-Zhao. After the state's establishment, Liu Xuan became its first Prime Minister and played an influential role in its administration.
Liu Xuan | |
|---|---|
| 劉宣 | |
| Prime Minister (丞相) | |
| In office 304–308 | |
| Monarch | Liu Yuan |
| Grand Marshal (大司馬) | |
| In office ?–308 | |
| Monarch | Liu Yuan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 4 December 308 Xi County, Shanxi |
| Relations | Yufuluo (brother) Huchuquan (brother) Liu Yuan (great-nephew) |
| Parent | Qiangqu (father) |
| Courtesy name | Shize (士則) |
Life
editBackground and early life
editLiu Xuan was a member of the Luandi clan that once ruled over the Xiongnu as chanyus. According to the Book of Jin, he was the great-uncle of Liu Yuan, which implies that he was also the son of Qiangqu, and the brother of Yufuluo and Huchuquan.[1] During the fall of the Han dynasty, his family moved to Pingyang County in Shanxi. In 216, the warlord-statesman, Cao Cao, abolished the chanyu title and divided the Xiongnu into five tribes in Shanxi. At this point, the Xiongnu had become subjects of the ruling dynasties in China.
The Book of Jin describes Liu Xuan as a simple and quiet person, but also one who was eager to learn and cultivate. He gained an appreciation for Han culture, and studied under a scholar from Le'an Commandery, Sun Yan (孫炎). Liu Xuan proved to be an exceptional student, and was compared by his teacher to the Xiongnu minister, Jin Midi.[2] He was familiar with the Mao Commentary and Zuo Zhuan, and from his reading of the Book of Han, he idolized the famed officials, Xiao He and Deng Yu.[3] After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown and lived in recluse for many years.
Service under the Jin dynasty
editDuring the early days of the Jin dynasty, the Inspector of Bingzhou, Wang Guang (王廣), recommended Liu Xuan to Emperor Wu of Jin. Following a meeting between the two, Emperor Wu became impressed by Liu Xuan's character, and so appointed him as Commander of the Right Tribe. During his tenure, Liu Xuan was well-loved by his tribe due to his integrity.[4] Afterwards, he became Chief Commandant of the Northern Division and Worthy Prince of the Right.
Rebellion against Jin
editBetween 300 and 306, northern China was engulfed in civil wars due to the War of the Eight Princes. During the Cao Wei and Jin dynasty, the Xiongnu nobles, including Liu Xuan, began to resent their subservient status. In 304, taking advantage of the civil war, they began plotting to break away from Jin, and Liu Xuan played vital part in their planning. During a secret meeting, Liu Xuan said to the conspirators:[5]
“In the past, our ancestors and those of the Han acted like brothers through joy and sorrow. However, since the fall of Han and the rise of Wei and Jin, our titles of chanyu have no value, and we have not gained a foot of land since. Although we have been bestowed with many noble ranks, our households are all equally low. Our numbers may have dwindled, but we are still no less than 20,000 strong, so why then should we continue to bow our heads in servitude and live in fear for another hundred years?”
Liu Xuan also recommended that they choose his great-nephew, the Worthy Prince of the Left, Liu Yuan, to become their leader. The conspirators accepted and acclaimed Liu Yuan as their Grand Chanyu. During this time, Liu Yuan was a general of the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying in Yecheng. The Xiongnu then sent an affiliate, Huyan You (呼延攸), to inform him of the plot, which Liu Yuan agreed. However, he initially failed to convince Sima Ying to let him return home, so he ordered Huyan You to instruct Liu Xuan and the conspirators to rally the five tribes first. After receiving permission, Liu Yuan went to Lishi (離石, in modern Lüliang, Shanxi), where Liu Xuan and the others saluted him as Grand Chanyu.
Shortly after returning to the Xiongnu, Sima Ying was defeated by the Jin warlord, Wang Jun, with the help of the Xianbei and Wuhuan. Liu Yuan contemplated attacking the Xianbei and Wuhuan, but Liu Xuan and other Xianbei leaders objected, seeing them as potential allies. They instead proposed that he shift his focus entirely on Jin and elevate himself to the same standing as the chanyu, Huhanye. Although Liu Yuan took their advice, he added that instead of following Huhanye, he should strive to be like Emperor Gaozu of Han and Cao Cao. Hearing this declaration, Liu Xuan and the others kowtowed and exclaimed that Liu Yuan had surpassed all three.[6]
Service under Han-Zhao
editLater in 304, Liu Yuan established his state of Han (later renamed Zhao in 319) and named himself King of Han. Liu Xuan and the others wanted him to proclaim himself as emperor, but Liu Yuan preferred to follow in Emperor Gaozu’s footsteps. Because Liu Xuan had been pivotal in getting him on the throne, Liu Yuan greatly appreciated and respected him. Thus, Liu Xuan became the state’s first Prime Minister. For the next four years, he was heavily involved in the state’s military as well as foreign and domestic affairs. It was said that no one in Han, including his other relatives, was able to reach his level of achievements.[7]
Soon, Liu Xuan also became Grand Marshal and Chief Controller of all military affairs. In 308, he, along with 64 other officials, finally convinced Liu Yuan to declare himself emperor.[8] However, just one month after Liu Yuan’s declaration, Liu Xuan died of natural causes in 4 December 308.[9] Oddly, if he was indeed Liu Yuan's great-uncle and Qiangqu's son, he would have lived up to at least 120, as Qiangqu died in 188.
References
edit- ^ (...元海從祖故北部都尉、左賢王劉宣等竊議曰...) Jin Shu, vol.101
- ^ (師事樂安孫炎，沈精積思，不舍晝夜... 炎每歎之曰：「宣若遇漢武，當逾于金日磾也。」) Jin Shu, vol.101
- ^ (...好《毛詩》、《左氏傳》... 學成而返，不出門閭蓋數年。每讀《漢書》，至《蕭何》、《鄧禹傳》，未曾不反覆詠之，曰：「大丈夫若遭二祖，終不令二公獨擅美於前矣。」) Jin Shu, vol.101
- ^ (并州刺史王廣言之于武帝，帝召見，嘉其占對，因曰：「吾未見宣，謂廣言虛耳。今見其進止風儀，真所謂如圭如璋，觀其性質，足能撫集本部。」乃以宣為右部都督... 蒞官清恪，所部懷之。) Jin Shu, vol.101
- ^ (淵從祖右賢王宣謂其族人曰：「自漢亡以來，我單于徒有虛號，無復尺土；自餘王侯，降同編戶。今吾衆雖衰，猶不減二萬，柰何斂首就役，奄過百年!..」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (將發兵擊鮮卑、烏桓，劉宣等諫曰：「晉人奴隸御我，今其骨肉相殘，是天棄彼而使我復呼韓邪之業也。鮮卑、烏桓，我之氣類，可以爲援，柰何擊之！」淵曰：「善！大丈夫當爲漢高、魏武，呼韓邪何足效哉！」宣等稽首曰：「非所及也！」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
- ^ (元海即王位，宣之謀也，故特荷尊重，勳戚莫二，軍國內外靡不專之。) Jin Shu, vol.101
- ^ (丞相劉宣等六十四人上尊號。十月，僭即皇帝位於南郊，大赦改元...) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.1
- ^ (丙午，漢都督中外諸軍事、領丞相、右賢王宣卒。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
- Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian
- Cui, Hong (501-522). Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms (Shiliuguo Chunqiu)