Grand Princess Liu Yuan was the sister of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. She was posthumously made the Grand Princess of Xinyue.[1] During a war against Emperor Wang Mang of the Xin Dynasty, Grand Princess Liu Yuan and her three daughters were in danger of being killed by her enemies. Grand Princess Liu Yuan refused to be rescued by her brother, the future Emperor Guangwu, because she did not want to abandon her daughters. This courageous and daring act has made people throughout centuries admire and honour her as a martyr.[2]
The birthdate of Grand Princess Liu Yuan is unknown.[3] She was born in Caiyang (present-day Zaoyang in Hubei Province).[4] She was the ninth descendant of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty.[5] Her father was Liu Qin, who was an official of Nandun County. Her mother was Fan Chong. She had three brothers. They were Liu Yan, Liu Zhong, and Liu Xiu (the future Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty).[6] She also had a younger sister named Liu Boji.[7] Liu Qin died when Liu Yuan was young, and she was raised by her uncle, Liu Liang. She married Deng Chen “of Xinyue, Nanyang Commandery.”[8] She bore him one son and three daughters.[9]
In 22 C.E., Liu Yuan’s two brothers, Liu Yin and Liu Xiu, participated in a rebellion in Yuan District (modern-day Nanyang in Henan Province).[10] They took Tutangzi Village.[11] Then, Liu Xiu took over Huyang and went to Jiyang, where he met his brother-in-law, Deng Chen, and they joined forces.[12] They were defeated at the Battle of Little Chang’an.[13] Liu Xiu fled the battle.[14] Along the way, he came across his younger sister, Liu Boji.[15] He picked her up, put her on his horse, and continued to flee.[16]
Liu Xiu and Liu Boji quickly came across Liu Yuan and her three daughters. Liu Xiu told Liu Yuan to get on his horse with Liu Boji and him.[17] However, Liu Yuan refused.[18] Liu Yuan said, “You go on and leave me here, Wenshu (Liu Xiu’s courtesy name).[19] It is important that you be victorious. The enemy is not far behind. You cannot save me, and it will avail nothing if we are both killed.”[20] Liu Xiu kept insisting that Liu Yuan get on the horse, but Liu Yuan remained adamant.[21] She said, “Go, go! You want to rescue me, but I have my three daughters with me. They will be killed, and then at what point will there be for me to go on living?”[22] The enemies drew closer, and Liu Xiu knew that he had no choice but to leave her behind.[23] As soon as Liu Xiu and Liu Boji rode away, Liu Yuan and her three daughters were killed.[24]
When Liu Xiu ascended the throne as Emperor Guangwu in 25 C.E., he made his brother-in-law, Deng Chen, the Marquis of Fangzi.[25] Emperor Guangwu posthumously made Liu Yuan the “Righteous and Martyred Grand Princess of Xinyue.”[26] He built a temple to mourn her death.[27] He made her son, Deng Fan, the Marquis of Wufang and gave him the responsibility of looking after her tomb.[28] In 29 C.E., Deng Chen died. Emperor Guangwu reburied Grand Princess Liu Yuan next to her husband, Deng Chen, in Beimang.[29] He gave her a funeral that befitted her status as a princess.[30] Emperor Guangwu and Empress Yin Lihua attended her funeral.[31]
Even though Grand Princess Liu Yuan had a short and tragic life, she was shown to be very intelligent.[32] She was quick-witted and steadfast in her actions when she realized that it was futile to be rescued.[33] She also did not want to abandon her three daughters to be mercilessly killed by their enemies.[34] Historians have praised her as a role model for mothers because of her “devotion to her daughters.”[35] Thus, scholars have praised her for her “great courage, devotion, and determination.”[36] Grand Princess Liu Yuan will always be remembered in Chinese history as “a righteous martyr.”[37]
Sources:
Theobald, U. (2000). “Emperor Han Guangwudi 漢光武帝 Liu Xiu 劉秀”. ChinaKnowledge.de – An Encyclopedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art. Retrieved on October 26, 2024 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/personshanguangwudi.html.
Wang, B. (2015). “Liu Yuan”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E.. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 170-171.
[1] Wang, 2015
[2] Wang, 2015
[3] Wang, 2015
[4] Theobald, 2000, “Emperor Han Guangwudi 漢光武帝 Liu Xiu 劉秀”
[5] Theobald, 2000, “Emperor Han Guangwudi 漢光武帝 Liu Xiu 劉秀”
[6] Wang, 2015
[7] Wang, 2015
[8] Wang, 2015, p. 170
[9] Wang, 2015
[10] Wang, 2015
[11] Wang, 2015
[12] Wang, 2015
[13] Wang, 2015
[14] Wang, 2015
[15] Wang, 2015
[16] Wang, 2015
[17] Wang, 2015
[18] Wang, 2015
[19] Wang, 2015, p. 170; Theobald, 2000, “Emperor Han Guangwudi 漢光武帝 Liu Xiu 劉秀” (para. 1)
[20] Wang, 2015, p. 170
[21] Wang, 2015
[22] Wang, 2015, p. 170
[23] Wang, 2015
[24] Wang, 2015
[25] Wang, 2015
[26] Wang, 2015, p. 170
[27] Wang, 2015
[28] Wang, 2015
[29] Wang, 2015
[30] Wang, 2015
[31] Wang, 2015
[32] Wang, 2015
[33] Wang, 2015
[34] Wang, 2015
[35] Wang, 2015, p. 171
[36] Wang, 2015, p. 171
[37] Wang, 2015, p. 171
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