Emperor Xuan of Han (漢宣帝)

Overview

Emperor Xuan of Han was a Western Han emperor who reigned from 74 to 48 BC.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Liu Bingyi	病已	Bìngyǐ
Posthumous name	Emperor Xiaoxuan	孝宣帝
Temple name	Zhongzong	中宗	Zhongzong
Regnal name	Emperor Xiaoxuan	孝宣皇帝

Life and dates

Birth

BC 91 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 123; Book of Han 70, passage 218
BC 91 武帝末巫蠱時生數月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 85, passage 101

Death

BC 49 historical identification
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 123; Book of Han 70, passage 218
BC 49 宣帝崩
Died
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 14

Attested activity

BC 74 to BC 49 BC 74-49
Uncertain · Book of Southern Qi 48, passage 146
BC 74 to BC 49 Emperor Xuan of Han (reigned BC 74-49)
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 109, passage 51
BC 91 to BC 49 Emperor Xuan
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 141
BC 74 to BC 49 孝宣
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 101, passage 12
BC 74 定策立宣帝
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 188
BC 74 to BC 49 宣帝之世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 91, passages 2, 6, 14

Show 8 more source-backed claims

BC 91 to BC 49 宣帝地節中
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 123
BC 49 宣帝崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 215
BC 74 to BC 49 宣帝时
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 115, passage 112
BC 91 to BC 49 昭、宣電斷
Strongly inferred · Book of Song 69, passage 88
BC 74 to BC 49 漢宣
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 143, passage 165
BC 74 to BC 49 漢宣帝
Strongly inferred · History of Song 197, passage 70
BC 91 to BC 49 皇曾孫
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 218
BC 91 to BC 49 皇曾孫至宣帝
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 85, passages 101, 227

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Crown Prince Li (戾太子)
great-grandson 曾孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 85, passage 101
Descendant of Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝)
great-grandson 曾孫 · 3 generations
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 118
Parent of Liu Qin (劉欽)
begot 生
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Parent of Liu Jing (劉竟)
begot 生
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Parent of Emperor Yuan (孝元帝)
begot 生
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Parent of Liu Ao (劉囂)
begot 生
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Parent of Liu Yu (劉宇)
begot 生
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Parent of Emperor Yuan of Han (漢元帝)
crown prince 太子
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 215
Spouse of Empress Xu (許皇后)
empress 后
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage · Ended
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 237; Book of Han 91, passages 4, 12
Parent of Crown Prince of Emperor Xuan (皇太子)
heir 皇太子
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 124
Spouse of Lady Zhang (張婕妤)
honored lady 婕妤 · Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passages 4, 6
Spouse of Empress Huo (霍皇后)
Primary marriage · Ended
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 7
Spouse of Lady Rong (戎婕妤)
Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Spouse of Empress Wang of Changling (長陵王婕妤)
Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 8
Spouse of Lady Gongsun (公孫婕妤)
Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4
Spouse of Lady Wei (衛婕妤)
Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 4

Kinship Role sons · Count 5
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passages 2-3

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 91 Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan 6 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 85 Volume 74: Wei Xiang and Bing Ji 21 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 89 Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi 6 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 101 Volume 89: Upright Officials 6 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 102 Volume 90: Cruel Officials 5 passages

Career and standing

Zhongzong / Central Exemplar 中宗
Bestowed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 110, passage 22
BC 74 宣帝即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 85, passages 121, 227
took the throne 即位
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 219

Places and affiliations

Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 85, passage 121
Western Han 汉
Relation Under
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 115, passage 112
Western Han 漢
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 91, passages 2, 14
Western Han 漢
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 101, passage 12
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 38, passage 123

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author · With Huang Ba (黃霸)
Directly stated · Book of Han 101, passages 78, 81, 229
Edict · Author · With Wang Cheng (王成)
Directly stated · Book of Han 101, passages 39-41
Edict · Author · With Zhu Yi (朱邑)
Directly stated · Book of Han 101, passages 135-136
Edict · Issuer · Mode direct-attribution Speaker Emperor Xuan of Han (漢宣帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passages 128-130

Events and relationships

Accepted Wangzhi's advice and recalled Princess Xiangfu
Diplomatic · Emperor · With Princess Xiangfu (相夫公主)
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 83
Announced sacrifice as Zhongzong
AD 85 癸酉 · Ritual · Recipient · At Bright Hall 明堂
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 51
Considered succession change
Political · Ruler · With Liu Qin (劉欽)
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passages 11-12
Revived Han
Political · Exemplar
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 5, passage 56
Selected Shi Gao, Xiao Wangzhi, and Zhou Kan as deathbed regents
Succession · Emperor
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 214