, and the son of Prince Gong of Qinghe Liu Yanping.
Life
In the first year of Jiankang (144 AD), Liu Suan inherited his father's title, becoming the second Prince of Qinghe. In the first year of Yongjia (145 AD), after Emperor Chong's early death, Liu Suan was summoned to the capital Luoyang. Liu Suan was known for his seriousness and propriety, and Grand Tutor Li Gu and other court officials favored him as the next emperor. However, Empress Dowager Liang Na and her brother, Grand General Liang Ji, decided to place Prince Zan of Le'an on the throne. Grand Tutor Li Gu argued that Liu Suan was older and more virtuous, but his advice was ignored. Liu Zan ascended the throne as Emperor Zhi of Han, and Liu Suan was sent back to his principality.
In the first year of Benchu (146 AD), after Emperor Zhi was poisoned by Liang Ji, Grand Tutor Li Gu, Grand Minister Hu Guang, Grand Secretary Zhao Jie, and Grand Agricultural Director Du Qiao again proposed Liu Suan as the new emperor due to his age, virtue, and closer bloodline. Li Gu described Liu Suan as "naturally intelligent, fond of poetry and respectful of rituals." However, Chief Eunuch Cao Teng had visited Liu Suan and was not well-received, leading him to tell Liang Ji: "Prince Qinghe is strict and fair. If he becomes emperor, the general will suffer. Only by supporting Hou of Luiwu can we ensure lasting wealth and honor." At that time, Hou of Luiwu Liu Zhi was in Luoyang because he had married Liang Ji's sister, Lady Liang Yuying. Cao Teng and Liang Ji conspired to place Liu Zhi on the throne. The next day, during a grand assembly of officials, Liang Ji intimidated everyone with his aggressive demeanor. Hu Guang, Zhao Jie, and other officials were frightened and said they would follow the Grand General's decision, while only Li Gu and Du Qiao insisted on supporting Liu Suan. Liang Ji angrily ended the meeting. Li Gu believed he could rely on public support to make Liu Suan emperor and wrote a letter to persuade Liang Ji. This made Liang Ji even angrier, leading him to convince Empress Dowager Liang to dismiss Li Gu and place Liu Zhi as Emperor Huan of Han. He also instructed eunuchs Tang Heng and Zuo Tan to tell Emperor Huan that Li Gu and Du Qiao had opposed his ascension, causing the emperor to dislike them.
In the first year of Jianhe (147 AD), Ganling's Liu Wen and a sorcerer from Nanyang named Liu Wei claimed that Prince Qinghe should be the emperor. When this was discovered, they seized the state minister She Hao and took him to the palace gate, declaring: "We will make Prince Qinghe the emperor, and She Hao will be one of the three highest officials." She Hao refused and scolded Liu Wen, who then killed him. Liu Suan resisted Liu Wen by closing his doors. Liu Wen and Liu Wei were captured by the imperial guards and executed. The authorities subsequently impeached Liu Suan, and he was demoted to Marquess of Weishi and exiled to Guiyang Prefecture, later transferred to Jianyang County, where he soon committed suicide, and his principality was abolished. Liang Ji used this incident to accuse Li Gu and Du Qiao of conspiring with Liu Wei, leading to Li Gu's imprisonment (he was later pardoned by Empress Dowager Liang) and Du Qiao's dismissal from office. Eventually, Liang Ji had both Li Gu and Du Qiao imprisoned and executed.
Liang Ji, who disliked the name Qinghe, changed it to Ganling the following year.
Evaluation
Li Gu: "Prince Qinghe Liu Suan is older and more virtuous."
Cao Teng et al.: "Prince Qinghe is strict and just."
Fan Ye in the Book of the Later Han: "Liu Suan was serious and conducted himself with propriety."
Family
not provided in the original text.
Film and Television Appearances
The Eight-Year-Old Dragon in Tokyo, played by Jiao Enjun as Liu Suan.
References
• 劉蒜 (Chinese)
The text above incorporates content created automatically using artifical intelligence.
Liu Suan (2nd century - 147 AD), a member of the Eastern Han imperial family, was the great-grandson of Emperor Zhang of Han, the great-great-grandson of Prince Zhen of Qiancheng Liu Kang, the grandson of Prince Chong of Le'an Liu Chong, and the son of Prince Gong of Qinghe Liu Yanping.