Qin and Han · Official and Scholar

Liu Gengsheng 劉更生

Attested BC 49 - BC 44

Passages: 8
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Liu Gengsheng was an official and Scholar.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 48 to BC 44 初元中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 105, passage 81
BC 49 to BC 47 宣帝寢疾，選大臣可屬者
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 89, passage 214

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 89 Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi 6 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 2 passages

Career and standing

Cavalier Attendant and Remonstrance Grandee 散騎諫大夫
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 217
palace attendant 給事中
Held concurrently
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 81
director of the imperial clan 宗正
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 81
Director of the Imperial Clan 宗正
Transferred
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 135
Entered
Barred from office
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 86
Imprisoned and later dismissed to commoner status
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passages 232, 234, 236, 241

Show 1 more source-backed claim

dismissal and barred from office 廢錮
Sentenced
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 86

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 81

Events and relationships

Joined Wangzhi, Zhou Kan, and Jin Chang in promoting ancient institutions
Political · Reformer
Directly stated · Book of Han 89, passage 218

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 6 passages

望之選白宗室明經達學散騎諫大夫劉更生給事中，與侍中金敞並拾遺左右。 Wangzhi recommended Liu Gengsheng of the imperial clan, a classicist of proven learning, as cavalier attendant and remonstrance grandee in the palace secretariat, together with Palace Attendant Jin Chang to remedy oversights at the emperor's side.

上初即位，謙讓重改作，議久不定，出劉更生為宗正。 Newly enthroned, the emperor was reluctant to make sweeping changes. While the debate remained unresolved, Liu Gengsheng was transferred out to serve as Director of the Imperial Clan.

朋，楚士，怨恨，更求入許、史，推所言許、史事曰：「皆周堪、劉更生教我，我關東人，何以知此？」 Peng, a man of Chu, nursed a grudge, sought favor with the Xu and Shi clans, and shifted blame for his charges, saying, "Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng taught me all of this. I am a Guandong man—how would I know such things?"

恭、顯奏「望之、堪、更生朋黨相稱舉，數譖訴大臣，毀離親戚，欲以專擅權勢，為臣不忠，誣上不道，請謁者召致廷尉。」 Hong Gong and Shi Xian memorialized that "Wangzhi, Zhou Kan, and Liu Gengsheng had formed a faction, repeatedly slandered great ministers, divided kinsmen, and sought to monopolize power; as disloyal ministers guilty of impiety toward the throne, they asked that an usher deliver them to the commandant of justice."

後上召堪、更生，曰繫獄。 When the emperor later summoned Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng, he was told they were already in prison.

其赦望之罪，收前將軍光祿勳印綬，及堪、更生皆免為庶人。」 Pardon Wangzhi, take back his seals as former general and superintendent of the household, and dismiss Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng to commoner status."

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 2 passages

初元中，前將軍蕭望之及光祿大夫周堪、宗正劉更生皆給事中。 During Chuyuan, Xiao Wangzhi, Zhou Kan, and Liu Gengsheng held joint appointments as palace attendants.

後皆害焉，望之自殺，堪、更生廢錮，不得復進用，語在《望之傳》。 All were ruined: Xiao Wangzhi committed suicide; Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng were cashiered and blocked from office—the full story is in Wangzhi's biography.