Qin and Han · Royal Family Member

Liu Kang 康

Kang

First attested BC 49; died BC 23

Passages: 18
Chapters: 4
Histories: 1

Overview

Liu Kang was a Royal Family Member.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Prince Gong	共王	Gongwang
Temple name	Emperor Gong	共皇帝	Gong Huangdi

Life and dates

Death

BC 23 十九年薨
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 217

Attested activity

BC 49 to BC 33 元帝時至竟寧元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 93, passages 95, 150
BC 41 永光三年三月
Directly stated · Book of Han 10, passage 160
BC 41 永光三年立為濟陽王
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 179

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Empress Dowager Fu (傅太后)
king's grandmother 王祖母
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 12, passage 16
Child of Emperor Yuan (元帝)
grandfather via son 庶孙之祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 12, passage 1
Parent of Emperor Ai (哀帝)
father 父 · Through Liu Kang (康)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 93, passages 173, 175
Sibling of Emperor Cheng (成帝)
brothers 兄弟 · Paternal half siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 93, passages 50, 95
Child of Emperor Yuan (元帝)
father 父
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 93, passages 50, 95
Child of Emperor Yuan (孝元皇帝)
imperial son 皇子
Directly stated · Book of Han 10, passage 160
Spouse of Lady Ding (丁姬)
lady/consort 姬 · Concubinage
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 12, passage 2
Parent of Emperor Ai (孝哀皇帝)
son 子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 1; Book of Han 91, passage 217
Child of Lady Fu (傅昭儀)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 50; Book of Han 91, passage 177
Child of Emperor Yuan (孝元帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 177

Key source chapters

Career and standing

King of Jiyang 濟陽王
BC 41 永光三年 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 179
King of Jiyang 濟陽王
BC 41 永光三年三月 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Han 10, passage 160
Emperor Gong 共皇帝
Posthumously honored
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 221
Held
Favored by Emperor Yuan
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 95

Places and affiliations

At Dingtao 定陶 · Relation Transferred to
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 181
At Shanyang 山陽 · Relation Transferred to
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 180

Learning and skills

Skill music 音聲 · Level practiced
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 182

Events and relationships

Nearly displaced the crown prince
Succession · With Emperor Cheng (成帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 93, passage 95

Source notes

BC 7 綏和二年
From King Gong of Dingtao 定陶恭王 · To Emperor Gong 恭皇
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 31

References in the histories

Search passages

History

18 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 10Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan · 1 passage

三月，立皇子康為濟陽王。 In the third month, the emperor's son Kang was made King of Jiyang.

Book of Han, Chapter 12Volume 11: Annals of Emperor Ai · 7 passages

孝哀皇帝，元帝庶孫，定陶恭王子也。 Emperor Ai was a grandson of Emperor Yuan through a concubine, and the son of Prince Gong of Dingtao.

後月餘，立楚孝王孫景為定陶王，奉恭王祀，所以獎厲太子專為後之誼。 Over a month later, he installed Jing, grandson of King Xiao of Chu, as King of Dingtao to maintain the sacrifices to King Gong, thereby encouraging the Crown Prince to concentrate solely on securing the succession.

太皇太后詔尊定陶恭王為恭皇。 By edict of the Grand Empress Dowager, King Gong of Dingtao was honored with the posthumous title Emperor Gong.

定陶恭皇之號不宜復稱定陶。 The title of Emperor Gong of Dingtao should no longer include the name Dingtao.

立恭皇廟于京師。 A temple for Emperor Gong shall be established in the capital.

帝太后宜起陵恭皇之園。」 The Imperial Empress Dowager should be buried in the grounds of Emperor Gong's tomb.'

秋八月，恭皇園北門災。 In the eighth month of autumn, a calamity struck the north gate of Emperor Gong's tomb grounds.

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 5 passages

王皇后生孝成帝，傅昭儀生定陶共王康，馮昭儀生中山孝王興。 Empress Wang gave birth to Emperor Cheng. Lady Fu the Brilliant Companion bore Prince Gong of Dingtao, Kang; Lady Feng the Brilliant Companion bore Prince Xiao of Zhongshan, Xing.

定陶共王康 Prince Gong of Dingtao, Kang

定陶共王康，永光三年立為濟陽王。 Prince Gong of Dingtao, Kang, was enfeoffed as king of Jiyang in the third year of Yongguang.

上以太子奉大宗後，不得顧私親，乃立楚思王子景為定陶王，奉共王後。 Because the crown prince was to carry on the main imperial line and could not favor his own kin, the emperor made Jing, son of Prince Si of Chu, king of Dingtao to continue Prince Gong's line.

即位二年，追尊共王為共皇帝，置寢廟京師，序昭穆，儀如孝元帝。 In the second year of his reign he posthumously honored Prince Gong as Emperor Gong, set up his spirit temple in the capital, arranged the zhao and mu order, and followed the ceremonial model of Emperor Xiaoyuan.

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 5 passages

是時，定陶共王愛幸，幾代太子。 At that time Prince Kang of Dingtao enjoyed the emperor's favor and nearly displaced the crown prince.

是時，傅昭儀子定陶共王有材藝，子母俱愛幸，而太子頗有酒色之失，母王皇后無寵。 At that time Consort Fu's son, Prince Kang of Dingtao, was gifted and accomplished, and mother and son both enjoyed the emperor's affection, whereas the crown prince showed a weakness for wine and women and his mother, Empress Wang, had fallen out of favor.

後宮及左右習知音者莫能爲，而定陶王亦能之，上數稱其材。 None of the harem or the emperor's attendants who knew music could match the feat, yet the Prince of Dingtao could, and the emperor repeatedly praised his ability.

竟寧元年，上寢疾，傅昭儀及定陶王常在左右，而皇后、太子希得進見。 In Jingning 1 the emperor was bedridden. Consort Fu and the Prince of Dingtao were constantly at his side, while the empress and crown prince were rarely admitted.

見定陶王雅素愛幸，今者道路流言，爲國生意，以爲太子有動搖之議。 The Prince of Dingtao has long enjoyed your favor, and now rumor runs through the streets that the succession may be changed.