Royals › Monarch / Emperor
Emperor Xian of Han
Last emperor of the Eastern Han, enthroned at eight by Dong Zhuo, kept by Cao Cao at Xu during the Jian'an era, and made to abdicate to Cao Pi in 220
In a side chamber of a palace, a yellow ceremonial robe embroidered with a dragon hangs on a wooden stand, its hem worked with waves and rocks, before a carved folding screen, while a black lacquer chest sits on a low table by a lattice window and no person is in view.
Also known as Liu Xie
- Roles
- Monarch / Emperor
Emperor Xian of Han, personal name Liu Xie, was a son of Emperor Ling; after Empress He poisoned his mother, he was raised by the Empress Dowager Dong. In 189 Dong Zhuo deposed Liu Bian and enthroned the eight-year-old Liu Xie, who reigned under the eras Chuping, Xingping, Jian'an and Yankang and was soon moved to Chang'an. After Dong Zhuo was killed in 192, Li Jue and Guo Si seized Chang'an; the emperor escaped east in 195 and in 196 was taken by Cao Cao to Xu. From then on he was in Cao Cao's hands: Dong Cheng was killed in 200 for a plot said to rest on a secret edict sewn into a belt, and Empress Fu was put to death in 214. In 220 he abdicated to Cao Pi and became Duke of Shanyang, dying in 234; Wei named him Emperor Xian. Liu Bei, hearing a false report of his murder, held mourning for him and named him Emperor Min.
Life and times
Dates 181 CE–234 CE