Qin and Han · Royal Family Member and Ruler

Prince of Linjiang 臨江王

Línjiāng wáng

Attested BC 154

Passages: 7
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Prince of Linjiang was a Royal Family Member and Ruler.

Life and dates

Death

Suicide
Directly stated · Book of Han 102, passage 40
suicide in the Commandant office 自殺中尉府
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passage 47

Attested activity

BC 154 吳楚反時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passages 43, 46

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Emperor Jing (景帝)
legitimate eldest crown prince 適長太子
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passage 46

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 102 Volume 90: Cruel Officials 4 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108 Biography of Han Changru 3 passages

Career and standing

Deposed
Result Title King of Linjiang 臨江王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passage 46

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 4 passages

臨江王征詣中尉府對簿，臨江王欲得刀筆為書謝上，而都禁吏弗與。 Prince Rong of Linjiang was hauled to headquarters for interrogation and begged for knife and stylus to draft an apology to the throne; Zhi Du barred clerks from supplying them.

魏其侯使人間予臨江王。 The Marquis of Weiqi smuggled writing tools to the prince.

臨江王既得，為書謝上，因自殺。 With them he penned his apology and took his own life.

竇太后曰：「臨江王獨非忠臣乎？」 The dowager retorted, "Was Prince Rong not loyal?"

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 3 passages

安國泣數行下，曰：「大王自度於皇帝，孰與太上皇之與高皇帝及皇帝之與臨江王親？」 Anguo wept, his tears streaming down several lines, and said, "Your Majesty, compare for yourself your closeness to the Emperor—which is greater, the relation between the Grand Emperor Father and Emperor Gaozu, or that between the Emperor and the King of Linjiang?"

安國曰：「夫太上、臨江親父子之閒，然而高帝曰『提三尺劍取天下者朕也』，故太上皇終不得制事，居于櫟陽。 Anguo said, "The Grand Emperor Father and the King of Linjiang both stood within the closest bonds of father and son. Yet Emperor Gaozu said, 'It was I who took the empire with a three-foot sword,' and so the Grand Emperor Father in the end could not direct affairs, but lived at Liyang.

臨江王，適長太子也，以一言過，廢王臨江； The King of Linjiang was the legitimate eldest crown prince, yet because of a single verbal fault he was deposed and made King of Linjiang;