Qin and Han · Western Han prince and King of Changshan, exiled to Fangling in BC 114

Liu Bo 劉勃

Liú Bó

Attested BC 114

Passages: 14
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Liu Bo was a Western Han prince and King of Changshan, exiled to Fangling in BC 114.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 114 太子勃代立
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 133

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Liu Shun (舜)
father 父
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 136
Sibling of Liu Tiao (棁)
half-brother 兄弟 · Paternal half siblings
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passages 134, 136
Child of Queen Xiu (修)
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 136

Career and standing

King of Changshan 常山王
BC 114 太子勃代立為王 · Succeeded
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 133
Interrogated
Investigated · Authority Qian (騫)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 146
King of Changshan 常山王
Exiled to Fangling
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passages 150-151

Places and affiliations

At Fangling 房陵 · Relation Exiled to
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 59, passage 150

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 59House of the Five Clans · 14 passages

立三十二年卒，太子勃代立為王。 After thirty-two years on the throne he died, and his heir apparent, Bo, succeeded him as king.

王後修生太子勃。 The queen, whose name was Xiu, later bore the crown prince, Bo.

醫進藥，太子勃不自嘗藥，又不宿留侍病。 When the physician prepared medicine, Crown Prince Bo did not taste it first to test it, as filial duty required, nor did he keep vigil at his father's bedside through the night.

及王薨，王后、太子乃至。 Only when the king breathed his last did the queen and the crown prince finally appear.

郎或說太子、王后，令諸子與長子棁共分財物，太子、王后不聽。 Certain gentlemen-attendants urged the crown prince and queen to let the other sons share the estate with the eldest, Tiao, but neither would hear of it.

太子代立，又不收恤棁。 Even after the crown prince succeeded to the throne, he still refused to look after Tiao or offer him any support.

棁怨王后、太子。 Tiao nursed a deep grudge against the queen and the crown prince.

漢使者視憲王喪，棁自言憲王病時，王后、太子不侍，及薨，六日出舍，太子勃私姦，飲酒，博戲，擊筑，與女子載馳，環城過市，入牢視囚。 When Han envoys arrived to oversee King Xian's funeral, Tiao came forward and personally testified that during the king's illness, neither the queen nor the crown prince had attended him. After the king's death, they had left their mourning quarters within six days. He further reported that Crown Prince Bo had conducted illicit affairs, drunk wine, gambled, and played the bamboo zither. He had raced in carriages with women through the streets, ridden around the city walls and through the markets, and entered the prison to inspect the inmates.

天子遣大行騫驗王后及問王勃，請逮勃所與姦諸證左，王又匿之。 The Son of Heaven dispatched the Grand Herald, Qian, to investigate the queen and interrogate King Bo. He requested the arrest of all accomplices and witnesses to Bo's illicit activities, but the king concealed them.

吏求捕勃大急，使人致擊笞掠，擅出漢所疑囚者。 When the officials pressed urgently to apprehend Bo, he had his men resort to beatings and floggings, and he took it upon himself to release prisoners whom the Han court had placed under suspicion.

有司請誅憲王後修及王勃。 The responsible officials petitioned to have Queen Xiu and King Bo put to death.

上以修素無行，使棁陷之罪，勃無良師傅，不忍誅。 The emperor, reflecting that Xiu had always been of poor conduct, making it easy for Tiao to entrap her, and that Bo had never had the benefit of a worthy tutor, could not bring himself to have them executed.

有司請廢王後修，徙王勃以家屬處房陵，上許之。 The officials petitioned instead to depose Queen Xiu and exile King Bo along with his family to Fangling. The emperor consented.

勃王數月，遷于房陵，國絕。 Bo had reigned as king for only a few months before he was removed to Fangling, and the kingdom came to an end.