Liu Bang

Lore & Background

Liu Bang's early life was marked by outspokenness, charisma, and a lack of interest in education or work. He was dependent on his brother for subsistence and his father called him a 'little rascal.' He became good friends with Zhang Er, a friend and retainer, and later returned to Pei County where his close friends Xiao He and Cao Shen helped him get an appointment as a tingzhang, a minor local administrative post. While performing corvée labour in the Qin capital at Xianyang, he witnessed Qin Shi Huang undertaking an inspection tour, which impressed him. Liu married Lü Zhi, daughter of the wealthy Lü Wen, and they had two children: Liu Ying and a daughter.

In Their Own Story

While escorting penal labourers to the construction site of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum at Mount Li, some prisoners escaped. Under Qin law, allowing prisoners to escape was punishable by death. Rather than face punishment, Liu freed the remaining prisoners, some of whom willingly acknowledged him as their leader and joined him on the run from the law. As outlaws, Liu Bang and his men took over an abandoned stronghold on Mount Mangdang. According to the legend known as the 'Uprising of the Slaying of the White Serpent,' Liu's ascension to rulership was prophesied after he became an outlaw. In the legend, his followers encountered a gigantic white serpent which killed some of them with its poisonous breath. That night, while he was drunk, Liu drew his sword and slew the serpent. The next morning, the outlaws encountered a crying old woman who said, 'My child, the White Emperor's son, has been slain by the son of the Red Emperor,' after which she mysteriously disappeared. As this legend spread, Liu's reputation grew among his followers, who became convinced of his destiny.

Reader's Guide

In 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang started the Dazexiang uprising. The magistrate of Pei County considered joining the rebellion and, acting on the advice of Xiao He and Cao Shen, invited Liu and his followers back to the county to support him. However, the magistrate later changed his mind and ordered Xiao and Cao to be killed, but they escaped and joined Liu. On Xiao's advice, Liu wrote to his fellow commoners in Pei County, calling for them to rise up. The people responded by killing the magistrate and welcoming Liu back. Now the leader of Pei County's population, Liu became known as the Duke of Pei. In 208 BC, Liu led his followers to join a rebel group led by Xiang Liang, who had installed Xiong Xin as King Huai II of Chu. After Xiang Liang was killed at the Battle of Dingtao, King Huai II sent Xiang Yu and Song Yi to reinforce the Zhao rebel group. Liu Bang was made Marquis of Wu'an and ordered to lead an army to attack the Guanzhong region. King Huai II promised to make whoever entered Guanzhong first the King of Guanzhong. In 207 BC, Liu won the race against Xiang Yu and arrived at Xianyang. Ziying, the last Qin emperor, surrendered to Liu without resistance. Liu's occupation policies were informed by Fan Kuai and his strategist Zhang Liang. Troops were forbidden from mistreating the population and looting. The harsh Qin laws were abolished; murder, robbery and burglary remained subject to strict punishments. Order was quickly restored in the city, and Liu won the respect of the Guanzhong population. Xiao He ordered the collection of all legal documents in the Qin palace and government facilities for preservation.

Did You Know?

• Liu Bang was among the few dynastic founders to have been born in a peasant family.
• According to legend, Liu Bang was conceived after his mother encountered a jiaolong during a rainstorm.
• Liu Bang once attended a feast without bringing any money but loudly announced an offer of ten thousand coins, which impressed the host Lü Wen, who later offered his daughter in marriage.
• While an outlaw, Liu Bang slew a gigantic white serpent with his sword, and a legend spread that he was destined to rule.
• In 207 BC, Liu Bang arrived at Xianyang first and received the surrender of the last Qin emperor Ziying without resistance.