The Liu clan of Nanyang (HHS)
[HHS001]
The Epochal Founder [shizu], the Glorious and Martial [guangwu] August Emperor, taboo Xiu, courtesy name Wenshu, was a native of Caiyang in Nanyang. He descended from Gaozu in nine generations, springing from Emperor Jing, who begot King Ding of Changsha, Fa. Fa begot Marquis Jie of Chonglnig, Mai. Mai begot the Grand Warden of Yulin, Wai. Wai begot the Chief Commandant of Julu, Hui. Hui begot the Prefect of Nandun, Qin. Qin begot Guangwu.
Guang was orphaned at the age of nine sui, and was raised by his junior uncle Liang. He was seven chi, three cun tall, had pleasing whiskers and eyebrows, a big mouth, arched nose, and “sun horn”.
Zheng Xuan's Commentary to the Hallowed Documents' Central Expectations says: With “sun horn” is meant that the bone is raised in middle of the courtyard, and shaped like the sun.
He was by nature attentive to sowing and harvesting while his older brother Bosheng was fond of chivalry and supporting gentlemen, and who often sneered at Guangwu for his devotion to farming business, comparing him to Gaozu's older brother's Zhong. In the middle of Wang Mang's Tianfeng era [14 – 19 AD], he then went to Chang'an and received the Hallowed Documents and had a general understanding of the great right-mindedness.
The Eastern Watchtower Records says: He received the Hallowed Documents from the Middle Grandee Xu Ziwei of Lujiang. When his wealth was used up, he combined his money with his fellow student Master Han to buy a donkey, and made an attendant rent it out to provide for their public expenses.
[HHS010]
The Glorious and Ardent [guanglie] August Empress Yin, taboo Lihua, was a native Xinye in Nanyang. At first when Guangwu had gone to Xinye, he heard of the Empress's beauty, and in his heart was pleased with her. Later when he arrived in Chang'an, he saw that the chariots and cavalry of the Bearer of the Golden Baton were very abundant. Following that, he sighed and said:
Serving in officialdom, [I] must make Bearer of the Golden Baton, taking a wife [I] must get Yin Lihua.
[HHS014]
The Martial [wu] King of Qi, Yan, courtesy name Bosheng, was Guangwu's oldest brother. He was by nature tough and resolute, had a righteous fortitude and great steadfastness. From Wang Mang usurped Han he was always fuming with fury, and he held close contemplations of restoring the altars of soil and grain. He did not engage in the businesses of the people of his family, but poured out his person and expended his property, and made connections with the valiant paragons Under Heaven.
…
Earlier, the Lord of Nandun took as wife the daughter of Fan Zhong from the same commandery, her courtesy name was Xiandu. Xiandu was by nature gentle and compliant since she was a little girl. If improper in appearance or dress, she did not leave her room. The clan respected her. She bore three sons and three daughters: The oldest boy was Bosheng, next Zhong, next Guangwu. The oldest daughter was Huang, next Yuan, next Boji.
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The Filial [xiao] King of Zhao, Liang, courtesy name Cibo, was Guangwu's junior uncle. In the time of Emperor Ping, he was recommended as Filial and Upright, and became Prefect of Xiao. When Guangwu and his brothers were orphaned young, Liang consoled them with considerable sincerity.
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The King of Sishui, Xi, courtesy name Jingsun, was Guangwu's senior kinsman, of his father's generation. Xi's son was Zhong, he and Guangwu as young were close to and fond of each other.
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The Respectful [gong] King of Chengyang, Zhi, courtesy name Jubo, was the son Guangwu's senior kinsman, the Hale [kang] Marquis of Chongling, Chang.
The Eastern Watchtower Records: In the beginning he was named Zhong. Later he changed it to Zhi.
Chang's great grandfather was the Steadfast [jie]Marquis, Mai. As the son of King Ding of Changsha he was ennobled at Chongling district in Liandao, and became Marquis of Chongling. When Mai passed, his son the Esteemed [dai] Marquis, Xiongqu, inherited. When Xiongqu passed, his son the Accomplished [kao] Marquis, Ren, inherited.
Ren, since conditions of the lands of Chongling were low-lying and damp, and the mountains and forest had venomous aura, sent up a letter seeking to reduce his estate and move inwards.
The Eastern Watchtower Records says: The Accomplished Marquis, Ren, at the time had 476 households. He sent up a letter desiring to reduce the number of households and move to Nanyang, while keeping his son Chang behind to ward the family tombs. Emperor Yuan allowed it.
Ren passed, his son Chang inherited.
Chang was unassuming, moderate, and fond of right-mindedness. He fully pushed forward the gold, treasure, wealth, and property from his father's time as gifts to his brothers. The Inspector of Jing province sent up his righteous actions, and he was designated Chief Commandant of Lujiang.
The Continued Book of Han said: The Marquis and others assisted the sacrifices in the Bright Hall [mingtang], and in accordance with precedent, he had added 200 households. Chang for having acted righteously, was designated Chief Commandant of Lujiang.
After about a year, it happened that his senior kinsman, the Marquis of Anzhong, Liu Chong, rose up with troops. [Liu Chong was another descendant of King Ding of Changsha.] Wang Mang dreaded and detested the Liu clan. He summoned Chang to Chang'an, and dismissed him to go home to his state.
The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Chang presided over Lujiang for more than a year. A drought happened. Patrolling the counties, people would bring withered rice plants, telling themselves that the rice plants were all withered. The functionaries forcefully demanded the taxes. Chang in response said:
The Grand Warden's affair.
He conveyed the withered rice plants to where the Grand Warden was. They had been drinking several rounds when he told it to the Grand Warden. The Grand Warden said:
It is nothing.
Chang showed him the withered rice plants. The Grand Warden said:
Is it the Chief Commandant's affair?
Chang angrily scolded the Grand Warden, saying:
Rat, how dare you!
The Inspector reported it in a memorial. Mang summoned Zhi to Chang'an, and dismissed him to go to his state.
Before this, in the time of Emperor Ping, Chang and Chong had gone to court at the Imperial Capital together, and assisted the sacrifices at the Bright Hall. Chong saw that Mang was about to imperil the House of Han, and privately spoke to Chang, saying:
The Duke of Anhan monopolizes the state's authority, the crowd of subjects do nothing but turn around and follow. The overturning of the altars of soil and grain has arrived. The Empress Dowager Chunqiu is of exalted [age] and the Son of Heaen is young and weak. The reason why August Emperor Gao allotted fiefs to his sons and brothers was presumably this.
Chang in his heart considered it to be so. When Chong's affair was defeated, Chang was afraid, and he therefore wished to make connections and guide and set up a faction. He therefore made Zhi take as wife the daughter of the Marquis of Gaoling, Zhai Xuan.
The Eastern Watchtower Records says: Chang made his son by his legal wife, Zhong, take Xuan's daughter Xi as wife. Xuan sent his son by his legal wife Ji to send of his daughter to enter the gates. After about twenty days, Yi rose with troops.
It happened that Xuan's younger brother Yi rose with troops and wished to attack Mang. In Nanyang they arrested and killed Xuan's daughter. Zhi was implicated, bound up, and imprisoned. Chang following that sent up a letter apologizing for the crime, and desiring to lead his sons, brothers, and clansmen as soldiers in the vanguard. Mang had newly assumed the administration and wished to comfort and calm the imperial house. For that reason he was not mutilated or killed.
When Mang usurped the throne, those of the Liu clan who had been marquises were all demoted be called counts, with revenue as the benefice of a Solitary Dignitary. Later everyone lost their feudal ranks. When Chang passed, Zhi consequently specially was deposed, and also did not get an official position or become a functionary.
Zhi, though the son of the former Marquis, Chang, acted genuinely and full-hearted, the lineage house all respected him.
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The Filial [xiao] Marquis of Chengwu, Shun, courtesy name Pingzhong, was Guangwu's senior kinsman. His father Qing, Continued Book of Han: Qing, courtesy name Weng'ao,was the Marquis of Chongling, Chang's full younger brother. Shun and Guangwu were from the same village, and at a young age had a deep friendship with each other.
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The Cherished [huai] Marquis of Shunyang, Jia, courtesy name Xiaosun, was Guangwu's senior kinsman. His father Xian was the Marquis of Chongling, Chang's full younger brother. The Continued Treatise of Han says: Xian, courtesy name Wengjun. Jia was orphaned early. He was by nature humane and deep-felt. The Lord of Nandun raised and look upon him as a son. Later he and Bosheng studied in Chang'an together, and practised the Hallowed Documents and Spring and Autumn.
[HHS011]
Liu Xuan, courtesy name Shenggong, was a senior kinsman of Guangwu. His younger brother was killed by a person, and Shenggong connected with retainers, wishing to revenge him. A retainer broke the law, and Shenggong hid from the magistrate in Pinglin [lit. “Flat Forest”]. The magistrate arrested Shenggong's father Zizhang. Shenggong pretended to die and sent people to carry the coffin to return home to Chongling. The magistrate therefore let Zizhang go, and Shenggong following that escaped and went into hiding.
The Records of Emperors and Kings says: Marquis Dai of Chongling, Xiongqu, begot the Grand Warden of Cangwu, Li. Li begot Zizhang. He took a daughter from the He clan of Pinglin and begot Gengshi.
The Continued Book of Han says: At the time Shenggong assembled retainers, his home had wine, and he requested a patrol officer drink. A retainer drunkenly sang the words “In the morning we feasted the two chief commandants. The patrol officer comes after, use him to tune the soup's taste.” The patrol officer was greatly angered, he tied him up and beat him several hundred times.
[HHS014]
The Filial [xiao] Marquis of Ancheng, Ci, courtesy name Ziqin, was Guangwu's senior kinsman. His grandfather Li was Grand Warden of Cangwu. Ci was orphaned young. His older brother Xian avenged an enmity by killing a person. A functionary arrested Xian and killed him. Ci and Xian's son Xin sold the fields and dwellings, together throw away wealth and property, and connected with retainers to seek revenge against the functionary. Both became fugitives to escape and lay low. There happened to be an amnesty and they returned home.
The Continued Book of Han says: In the time of Wang Mang, the Lius were repressed and discarded, and were intruded on by the commanderies and counties. In Caiyang state the Chief of Scouts for Fu Precinct got drunk and scolded Gengshi's father Zizhang. Zizhang was furious, and stabbed and killed the Chief of Scouts. More than ten years later, the Chief of Scout's son killed Gengshi's younger brother Qian. Ci's younger brother Xian wished to avenge the enmity. His retainers turned to kidnapping a person, and they were discovered. Province and commandery killed Xian within the prison. Ci and Xian's son Xin connected with retainers Chen Zheng and others, nine people, and burnt and killed the Precinct Chief's wife and children, four people.
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