Royals › Monarch / Emperor
Emperor Ai of Han
Western Han Monarch Striving for Reform in Vain
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 Xin · Emperor Ai · Han Aidi · Xiao Ai
- Roles
- Monarch / Emperor
Emperor Ai of Han, Liu Xin, was the son of Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao, and a nephew of Emperor Cheng. He took the throne in 7 BCE as the thirteenth emperor of the Western Han. The Book of Han says he liked letters and law as a youth. Early in his reign Shi Dan and others proposed limits on landholding and slaves, but the plan was shelved under opposition from the Ding and Fu consort families and from Dong Xian. He favoured Dong Xian, and the Book of Han tells how he cut off his own sleeve rather than wake him. After his death in 1 BCE Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun and Wang Mang took back control and enthroned Emperor Ping.
Life and times
Dates 27 BCE - 1 BCE