Liu Yan (Three Kingdoms)
Encyclopedia
Liu Yan was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors. For most of his career he served as Governor of Yi Province (present-day Sichuan
), which he developed into an independent power base. His domain was passed on to his son Liu Zhang
, and eventually to Liu Bei
, who founded Shu Han
of the Three Kingdoms
.
, who was Prince of Lu during the first half of the Han Dynasty. Because his branch of the Liu family was powerful, and because he proved himself to be an able statesman, he quickly rose through the ranks of the court. The highest post he reached was that of Taichang (太常), or person responsible for ceremonies related to the emperor. During the reign of Emperor Ling
, the central court became a politically dangerous place, which Liu Yan wanted to distance himself from. An advisor of his, Dong Fu (董扶), suggested requesting to be governor of Yi Province, at that time considered a backward and distant province of the Han empire. Liu Yan took the advice, and with his private army set off for his new post in 188.
After arriving in Yi Province, Liu Yan was confronted with his first crisis. Ma Xiang (馬相) and Zhao Zhi (趙祗) started a rebellion in the region, claiming to be part of the Yellow Turban Rebellion
. Liu Yan enlisted the help of powerful local families to raise an army and put down the rebellion.
Once firmly in control of the region, he plotted to gain independence from the central Han government. The first step in his plan was to send Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu (張脩) to attack the forces of the official Han governor of Hanzhong
, Su Gu (蘇固) and take over his territory. Zhang Lu first killed Zhang Xiu, and after absorbing the latter's armies he successfully managed to kill Su Gu and take control of the territory, which created an independent buffer state between Liu Yan's Yi Province and the Han central government.
His next step in gaining control of the region was to rein in the power of the local families, who had their own wealth and large private armies. He executed the leaders of over 10 families, but another powerful family leader Jia Long (賈龍) banded together with others and rebelled. Although the armies of the families were powerful, Liu Yan's forces eventually prevailed. The next threat would be from the Qiang people, who attacked Liu Yan's capital of Mianzhu (綿竹). However, Liu Yan's forces were able to successfully defend their territory from being ravaged.
In 194, when Li Jue and Guo Si
gained control of Chang'an
after Dong Zhuo
's death, three of Liu Yan's sons (Liu Fan, Liu Dan, and Liu Zhang) were in Chang'an serving in various government posts. Liu Yan joined forces with Han Sui
and Ma Teng
in an attempt to attack the capital and seize it. With the help of his sons in the city, the armies attacked, but were defeated. In the hasty retreat, Liu Fan and Liu Dan were captured by Li Jue's forces as they tried to flee Chang'an, and were tortured and killed. Liu Zhang, however, barely managed to escape and join up with his father, who returned once again to Yi Province.
In summer of the same year, Liu Yan's residence in Mianzhu was struck by lightning and burned down, forcing him to relocate his capital to Chengdu
. Soon afterward, his third son Liu Mao died from illness. It is said that the grief caused by the loss of three sons caused him to develop an illness on his back, which would eventually cause his death later in the year.
His death left his fourth and youngest son Liu Zhang in control of Yi Province.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Liu Yan was the governor of You Province (幽州) in northern China during the events of the Yellow Turban Rebellion
. He met Liu Bei
, who rallied an army of volunteers to help him fight the Yellow Turban rebels. In Chen Shou
's Records of Three Kingdoms
, however, there is no record of Liu Yan assuming governorship of You Province.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors. For most of his career he served as Governor of Yi Province (present-day Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
), which he developed into an independent power base. His domain was passed on to his son Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
, and eventually to Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, who founded Shu Han
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
of the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
.
Biography
Liu Yan was a descendant of Liu YuLiu Yu (Prince Gong of Lu)
Liu Yu , initially Prince of Huaiyang , later Prince Gong of Lu . He was the fifth son of the Emperor Jing of Han....
, who was Prince of Lu during the first half of the Han Dynasty. Because his branch of the Liu family was powerful, and because he proved himself to be an able statesman, he quickly rose through the ranks of the court. The highest post he reached was that of Taichang (太常), or person responsible for ceremonies related to the emperor. During the reign of Emperor Ling
Emperor Ling of Han
Emperor Ling of Han, trad. ch. 漢靈帝;, sim. ch. 汉灵帝, py. hàn líng dì, wg. Han Ling-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out during Emperor Ling's reign.Emperor Ling's reign saw yet another repetition of...
, the central court became a politically dangerous place, which Liu Yan wanted to distance himself from. An advisor of his, Dong Fu (董扶), suggested requesting to be governor of Yi Province, at that time considered a backward and distant province of the Han empire. Liu Yan took the advice, and with his private army set off for his new post in 188.
After arriving in Yi Province, Liu Yan was confronted with his first crisis. Ma Xiang (馬相) and Zhao Zhi (趙祗) started a rebellion in the region, claiming to be part of the Yellow Turban Rebellion
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
. Liu Yan enlisted the help of powerful local families to raise an army and put down the rebellion.
Once firmly in control of the region, he plotted to gain independence from the central Han government. The first step in his plan was to send Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu (張脩) to attack the forces of the official Han governor of Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Su Gu (蘇固) and take over his territory. Zhang Lu first killed Zhang Xiu, and after absorbing the latter's armies he successfully managed to kill Su Gu and take control of the territory, which created an independent buffer state between Liu Yan's Yi Province and the Han central government.
His next step in gaining control of the region was to rein in the power of the local families, who had their own wealth and large private armies. He executed the leaders of over 10 families, but another powerful family leader Jia Long (賈龍) banded together with others and rebelled. Although the armies of the families were powerful, Liu Yan's forces eventually prevailed. The next threat would be from the Qiang people, who attacked Liu Yan's capital of Mianzhu (綿竹). However, Liu Yan's forces were able to successfully defend their territory from being ravaged.
In 194, when Li Jue and Guo Si
Guo Si
Guo Si , also known as Guo Duo , was a general serving under the warlord Dong Zhuo during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He assisted Dong in his many campaigns, and was placed under Dong's son-in-law after Dong relocate the imperial capital to Chang'an...
gained control of Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
after Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
's death, three of Liu Yan's sons (Liu Fan, Liu Dan, and Liu Zhang) were in Chang'an serving in various government posts. Liu Yan joined forces with Han Sui
Han Sui
Han Sui was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. For most of his life he was active in Liang Province and was involved in several rebellions against the Han Dynasty and against the warlord Cao Cao.-Biography:With the backing of the Qiang people who populated much of...
and Ma Teng
Ma Teng
Ma Teng was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He controlled Liang Province together with his sworn brother Han Sui...
in an attempt to attack the capital and seize it. With the help of his sons in the city, the armies attacked, but were defeated. In the hasty retreat, Liu Fan and Liu Dan were captured by Li Jue's forces as they tried to flee Chang'an, and were tortured and killed. Liu Zhang, however, barely managed to escape and join up with his father, who returned once again to Yi Province.
In summer of the same year, Liu Yan's residence in Mianzhu was struck by lightning and burned down, forcing him to relocate his capital to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. Soon afterward, his third son Liu Mao died from illness. It is said that the grief caused by the loss of three sons caused him to develop an illness on his back, which would eventually cause his death later in the year.
His death left his fourth and youngest son Liu Zhang in control of Yi Province.
Family
- Ancestor: Liu YuLiu Yu (Prince Gong of Lu)Liu Yu , initially Prince of Huaiyang , later Prince Gong of Lu . He was the fifth son of the Emperor Jing of Han....
, fourth son of Emperor JingEmperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
- Sons:
- Liu Fan (劉範), served as General of the Household of the Left, killed by Li Jue
- Liu Dan (劉誕), served as Imperial Clerk Preparer of Documents, killed by Li Jue
- Liu Mao (劉瑁), served as Senior Major
- Liu ZhangLiu Zhang (warlord)Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
, inherited Liu Yan's position as Governor of Yi Province
- Daughters-in-law:
- Lady Wu (吳氏), Liu Mao's wife, married Liu BeiLiu BeiLiu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
after her husband's death, became known as Empress Mu - Lady Pang (龐氏), Liu Fan's wife, related to Pang Yi
- Lady Fei (費氏), Liu Zhang's wife, Fei Guan (費觀)'s younger sister
- Lady Cui (崔氏), Cui YanCui YanCui Yan , style name Jigui , was a vassal serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cui did not attain much fame due to his failures to develop his various proposals. After the defeat of Yuan, Cui served Cao Cao and became a civil affairs official...
's younger sister
- Lady Wu (吳氏), Liu Mao's wife, married Liu Bei
Appointments and titles held
- Gentleman of the Household (中郎)
- Prefect of Luoyang (雒陽令)
- Inspector of Ji Province (冀州刺史)
- Administrator of Nanyang (南陽太守)
- Minister of the Imperial Clan (宗正)
- Minister of Ceremonies (太常)
- Governor of Yi Province (益州牧)
- Marquis of Yangcheng (陽城侯)
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Liu Yan was the governor of You Province (幽州) in northern China during the events of the Yellow Turban Rebellion
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
. He met Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, who rallied an army of volunteers to help him fight the Yellow Turban rebels. In Chen Shou
Chen Shou
Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...
's Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
, however, there is no record of Liu Yan assuming governorship of You Province.