生平

早年生涯

刘彧生于南朝宋文帝元嘉十六年十月戊寅（439年12月9日），九岁时受封淮阳王，食邑二千户。452年，改封湘东王。刘彧三哥、宋孝武帝刘骏即位后，历任郡太守、中护军、侍中、卫尉、游击将军、左衞将军、都官尚书、领军将军等职衔，并获赐鼓吹一部。453年，刘彧生母沈容姬逝世，刘彧时年十四岁，由路太后抚养于宫中，特受宠爱，时常侍奉路太后医药，也因此为刘骏所亲爱，不招致猜忌。宋前废帝刘子业继位后，任命刘彧为州刺史，都督州郡军事，并得以本号开府仪同三司。

政变夺位

宋前废帝刘子业即位后荒淫无道，杀戮群臣，并恐诸叔觊觎皇位，欲加杀尽。刘彧于景和年间入朝，遭拘留宫中，百般殴打凌辱。刘彧与始安王刘休仁、山阳王刘休佑皆体型肥胖，被刘子业封为「猪王」、「杀王」、「贼王」，并将三人用竹笼囚禁。刘子业又命人掘地为坑，灌满泥水，再以木槽盛饭，并用杂食搅和后置于坑前，命刘彧裸体于泥坑中以口对木槽中就食，戏谑为猪。

刘彧曾因抗拒羞辱而惹怒刘子业，刘子业命将其剥除服装、使其裸体后，用竹杖绑住四肢、抬付太官，说：「即日屠猪。」刘休仁在旁笑说：「猪今日未应死。」刘子业问何故，刘休仁答说：「待皇太子生，杀猪取其肝肺。」刘子业听后怒火渐息，命交付廷尉，刘彧这才逃过死劫。

466年，刘子业欲南游荆州及湘州，决定明日杀害刘彧等诸叔父后，即行出发。刘彧遂与心腹阮佃夫、李道儿等共谋弑君。1月1日夜，阮佃夫与李道儿暗中结交宫中侍臣寿寂之，于华林园将刘子业杀害。刘子业死后，刘休仁随即奉迎刘彧入宫即位，并令人备皇帝羽仪。由于事起仓促，刘彧半途失落鞋子，跛著走入西堂，仍戴著象徵臣子的乌纱帽，刘休仁让人给其戴上白纱帽后，便拥刘彧登上御座召见文武百官，接受欢呼礼拜，凡事以「令书」颁布施行。隔天（1月2日），刘彧下令杀掉刘子业的同母次弟刘子尚，以绝后患。

泰始元年十二月丙寅（466年1月9日），刘彧于宫中太极前殿登基为帝，大赦天下。

刘彧即位后下诏：

高祖武皇帝德洞四瀛，化绵九服。太祖文皇帝以大明定基；世祖孝武皇帝以下武宁乱。日月所照，梯山航海；风雨所均，削衽袭带。所以业固盛汉，声溢隆周。子业凶嚚自天，忍悖成性，人面兽心，见于龆日，反道败德，著自比年。其狎侮五常，怠弃三正，矫诬上天，毒流下国，实开辟所未有，书契所未闻。再罹遏密，而无一日之哀；齐斩在躬，方深北里之乐。虎兕难匣，凭河必彰，遂诛灭上宰，穷衅逆之酷，虐害国辅，究孥戮之刑。子鸾同生，以昔憾殄殪。敬猷兄弟，以睚眦歼夷。徵逼义阳，将加屠脍。陵辱戚藩，檟楚妃主。夺立左右，窃子置储，肆酗于朝，宣淫于国。事秽东陵，行污飞走。积衅罔极，日月滋深。比遂图犯玄宫，志窥题凑，将肆枭、镜之祸，骋商、顿之心。又欲鸩毒崇宪，虐加诸父，事均宫阃，声遍国都。鸱枭小竖，莫不宠昵，朝廷忠诚，必也戮挫。收掩之旨，虓虎结辙；掠夺之使，白刃相望。百僚危气，首领无有全地；万姓崩心，妻子不复相保。所以鬼哭山鸣，星钩血降，神器殆于驭索，景祚危于缀旒。

朕假寐凝忧，泣血待旦，虑大宋之基，于焉而泯，武、文之业，将坠于渊。赖七庙之灵，藉八百之庆，巨猾斯殄，鸿沴时褰。皇纲绝而复纽，天纬缺而更张。猥以寡薄，属承乾统，上缉三光之重，俯顾庶民之艰。业业矜矜，若履冰谷，思与亿兆，同此维新。可大赦天下，改景和元年为泰始元年。赐民爵二级。鳏寡孤独不能自存者，人谷五斛。逋租宿债勿复收。犯乡论清议，赃污淫盗，并悉洗除。长徒之身，特赐原遣。亡官失爵，禁锢旧劳，一依旧典。其昏制谬封，并皆刊削。

义嘉之难

465年底，宋孝武帝刘骏第三子、晋安王刘子勋为反抗刘子业谋害己命，在邓琬等人辅佐下，于江州起兵叛乱。刘彧弑君自立后，授侄子刘子勋官爵遭拒。刘子勋甚至在邓琬的主导下传檄天下，改讨刘彧。466年2月7日，邓琬、袁顗等奉年仅十岁的刘子勋于寻阳城登极称帝，年号「义嘉」，另立政府。江州的义嘉政权得到几乎全国的承认与响应，南朝各州郡皆向刘子勋上表称臣，改用义嘉年号，并向寻阳奉贡。刘彧所统治区域仅限京师建康（今江苏省南京市）附近的丹阳、淮南等郡百馀里土地而已，形势极为严峻。

刘彧闻变后随即任命刘休仁为征讨大都督，统帅全军，王玄谟为副手。任用吴喜、江方兴等为东路军将领，讨平会稽、吴、吴兴、晋州等东南各州郡，俘虏刘骏第六子、寻阳王刘子房；任用刘勔、张永、萧道成等为北路军将领，击败殷琰、薛安都等敌对将领，抵挡住北方的攻势。任命沈攸之、张兴世等为西路军将领讨伐刘子勋的寻阳政权，击败袁顗、刘胡等人，攻入寻阳，捕斩敌对天子刘子勋，义嘉政权灭亡。随后宋军陆续平定江南及淮南各地，「义嘉之难」平息。

由于刘彧登基时，其诸弟（宋文帝刘义隆子嗣）皆在京师，多拥戴兄长刘彧为帝；而刘子勋起兵地方，方镇都督则多为刘子勋的兄弟（宋孝武帝刘骏子嗣），皆起兵支持刘子勋的义嘉政权。南朝宋即形成文帝系诸王与孝武帝系诸王的内战局面。刘彧鉴于此，于战事平定后接受刘休仁的建议，将刘骏在世诸子皆诛杀殆尽，刘骏二十八子自此灭绝。

北魏入侵

刘彧于平定叛乱后欲逞兵威，命张永及沈攸之率领重兵，往迎已于义嘉之难后投降的徐州刺史薛安都。薛安都恐刘彧趁机图己，便向北魏输诚，乞师自救，汝南太守常珍奇也举悬瓠城降魏。467年初，北魏派遣尉元、孔伯恭领兵救徐州，另派拓跋石、张穷奇领兵救悬瓠，兖州刺史毕众敬望风迎降。魏将尉元随后于吕梁一带大败宋将张永及沈攸之，宋军几乎全军覆没，张永、沈攸之只身逃回江南，徐、兖二州沦陷；467年2月，青州刺史沈文秀、冀州刺史崔道固投降北魏，旋即又于4月归降刘宋。北魏遂派遣长孙陵、慕容白曜往攻青州，刘彧命沈攸之领兵救援，却于睢清口遭魏将孔伯恭击败，退守淮阴。青州与冀州待援不至，被围攻数年，先后降魏，青、冀二州也沦陷。

南朝宋本地处江南，国狭民脊，自此再失四州，国力更形衰弱；再加上战乱不断，刘彧为奖赏有功将士，大肆封赏封官，造成国库空虚、士族制度严重破坏，削弱南朝宋的执政根基，北朝国力从此超越南朝。

晚年杀弟与安排

刘彧晚年害怕诸弟在他死后夺取太子刘昱的皇位，于是接受幸臣王道隆与阮佃夫的建议，大杀立过军功的诸弟，只有刘休范因为人才凡弱而留下未杀。王道隆与阮佃夫掌权后擅用威权、官以贿成，富逾公室。刘彧同时杀害可能会不利于太子的重要大臣，如功臣武将寿寂之、吴喜与高门名士王景文（皇后王贞风之兄、刘彧的大舅子），结果造成刘昱继位后中央和地方军镇互相猜忌、攻伐的政治乱象，使得武将萧道成因此崛起，最后篡宋建齐。

472年，宋明帝死，太子刘昱继立，宋明帝遗诏命蔡兴宗、袁粲、褚渊、刘勔、沈攸之五人托孤顾命大臣，分别掌控内外重区，另外命令萧道成为卫尉，参掌机要。其中遗诏虽任命袁粲、褚渊在中央秉政，但实际上接受宋明帝秘密遗命，就近辅佐新帝刘昱，掌控宫中内外大权的人物，是宋明帝最亲信的侧近权幸——王道隆与阮佃夫二人。

借腹疑案

史书大多记载，刘彧晚年失去了生育能力，所以他的儿子们都是借腹生子取来的，他把诸弟新生的男婴抱为自己的儿子，然后杀掉男婴的生母。但是史家吕思勉认为这是《宋书》作者沈约，为了迎合当时南齐皇帝所捏造的诬蔑之词，不足采信，而《南史》与《资治通鉴》则是沿用沈约的说法。吕思勉认为宋明帝生前因为猜忌诸弟而狠心杀弟、流放诸侄，不可能杀其父而养其子、流其兄而立其弟。曾怀疑《宋书》等史料的记载，认为宋明帝的皇后王贞风既然有两个女儿，说明宋明帝可以生育，因此《宋书》应该是为了强化南齐的合法性，故意加工伪造史料，并被后人延用。

评价

• 毛泽东在阅读南北朝的史书关于刘彧的传记中，写下了：（登基）「可谓奇矣」。

• 《宋书》记载刘彧：「少而和令，风姿端雅……好读书，爱文义……及即大位，四方反叛，以宽仁待物，诸军帅有父兄子弟同逆者，并授以禁兵，委任不易，故众为之用，莫不尽力。平定天下，逆党多被全，其有才能者，并见授用，有如旧臣。才学之士，多蒙引进，参侍文籍，应对左右」、「末年好鬼神，多忌讳，言语文书，有祸败凶丧及疑似之言应回避者，数百千品，有犯必加罪戮」、「泰始、泰豫之际，更忍虐好杀，左右失旨忤意，往往有斮刳断截者。时经略淮、泗，军旅不息，荒弊积久，府藏空竭。内外百官，并日料禄俸；而上奢费过度，务为雕侈。每所造制，必为正御三十副，御次、副又各三十，须一物辄造九十枚，天下骚然，民不堪命……亲近谗慝，剪落皇枝，宋氏之业，自此衰矣」

• 沈约评论刘彧：「太宗因易隙之情，据已行之典，剪落洪枝，愿不待虑。既而本根无庇，幼主孤立，神器以势弱倾移，灵命随乐推回改。斯盖履霜有渐，坚冰自至，所从来远也」

• 北宋的司马光评论：「（明）帝猜忍奢侈，宋道益衰」、「夫以孝武之骄淫、明帝之猜忍，得保首领以没于牖下，幸矣，其何后之有？」

• 萧梁的史家裴子野评论：「景和（刘子业）申之以淫虐，太宗易之以昏纵，师旅荐兴，边鄙蹙迫，人怀苟且，朝无纪纲，内宠方议其安，外物已睹其败矣。」

家庭

后妃

• 王皇后 王贞风，生公主刘伯姒、刘伯媛

• 陈贵妃 陈妙登，生太子刘昱

• 谢修仪，生刘法良、刘燮

• 陈昭华 陈法容，生刘准

• 徐婕妤，生无名皇子、刘跻

• 郑修容，生刘智井

• 杜修华，生刘翽

• 泉美人，生刘友

• 泉美人，生刘禧

• 徐良人，生刘赞、刘嵩

子

• 长子 后废帝刘昱（母贵妃陈妙登），466年立，477年被萧道成弑杀

• 第2子 刘法良，早夭

• 第3子 安成王 刘准，471年封，477被萧道成立为帝，479年被篡位的萧道成杀

• 第4子（无名，早夭）

• 第5子 东平王刘智井，470年封，出继刘休倩，卒

• 第6子 晋熙王 刘燮，470年封，出继刘昶，479年被南齐改封为阴安县公并处死

• 第7子 邵陵殇王 刘友，474年封，479年卒

• 第8子 江夏王 刘跻，470年封临庆王，474年改江夏，出继刘休倩、刘义恭，479年被南齐改封为沙阳县公并处死

• 第9子 武陵王 刘赞，本名刘智随，470年生、封，出继已无后的宋孝武帝，479年被萧道成所杀

• 第10子 随阳王 刘翽，471年生，476年封南阳王，478年改随阳，479年被南齐改封为舞阴县公并处死

• 第11子 新兴王 刘嵩，476年封，479年被南齐改封为定襄县公并处死

• 第12子 始建王 刘禧，476年封，479年被南齐改封为荔封县公并处死

女

• 晋陵长公主刘伯姒

• 建安长公主刘伯媛

• 阳羡公主

注释

Background

Liu Yu was born in 439, as Emperor Wen's 11th son. His mother Consort Shen Rongji (沈容姬) was a low-ranked imperial consort with the title Meiren (美人). For reasons unknown, Wen once wanted to put her to death, but she convinced him that killing her would offend the spirit of his deceased wife, Empress Yuan Qigui, and she was spared. In 448, Liu Yu was created the Prince of Huaiyang. In 452, his title was changed to Prince of Xiangdong. Consort Shen died in 453, the same year that Emperor Wen was assassinated by his crown prince Liu Shao, who took over as emperor and subsequently put a number of his brothers, including Liu Yu, under house arrest, but Liu Yu and the other brothers were released when another older brother, Liu Jun the Prince of Wuling, defeated and killed Liu Shao and took the throne himself (as Emperor Xiaowu). Emperor Xiaowu posthumously honored Liu Yu's mother Consort Shen as Princess Dowager of Xiangdong, and Emperor Xiaowu's mother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan took over the duties of raising Liu Yu to adulthood. As he grew, as was customary for Liu Song imperial princes, he was rotated through governorships of commanderies and provinces. Liu Yu was regarded as a kind and open-minded man, with substantial literary abilities. He was also said to be grossly overweight.

During Emperor Qianfeis reign

In 464, Emperor Xiaowu died, and was succeeded by his son Emperor Qianfei. Emperor Qianfei was impulsive and violent, and he, after discovering and brutally suppressing a plot to depose him in favor of his granduncle Liu Yigong the Prince of Jiangxia, suspected his uncles as well, and had them returned to the capital and confined. Of his uncles, he particularly suspected Liu Yu, Liu Xiuren the Prince of Jian'an, and Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Shanyang, since they were the oldest. (Another even older uncle, Liu Hui the Prince of Donghai, was considered so unintelligent that Emperor Qianfei did not view him as much of a threat.) Because these three princes were all overweight, he had them put in cages and weighed as pigs would, and because Liu Yu was the heaviest, he called Liu Yu the Prince of Pigs, Liu Xiuren the Prince of Murderers, and Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Thieves. He often humiliated Liu Yu by putting him in stables and feeding him the way that pigs would be fed. He often wanted to kill Liu Yu, Liu Xiuren, and Liu Xiuyiu, but each time Liu Xiuren flattered him and caused him to change his mind. In one particular incident, he tied Liu Yu up like how a pig would be tied up, and had him delivered to the kitchen, stating, "Today is pig-killing day." Liu Xiuren, however, stated, "This is not the pig-killing day." He angrily asked Liu Xiuren why that was the case, and Liu Xiuren stated, "After your son is born, then kill the pig and take out his entrails!" Emperor Qianfei liked Liu Xiuren's joke and did not kill Liu Yu.

In winter 465, around the time that Emperor Qianfei created his second wife, Lady Lu, empress, the palace eunuchs were of insufficient number to prepare for the ceremony, so Emperor Qianfei had the eunuchs from the princes' mansions conscripted to help, and Liu Yu had his own eunuch, Qian Lansheng (钱蓝生), observe Emperor Qianfei's actions and report to him. Meanwhile, some attendants of Emperor Qianfei were plotting to kill him, and when he was carrying out a ghost-shooting ceremony (after dreaming of the spirit of a lady in waiting that he had killed), the attendant Shou Jizhi (寿寂之) killed him. (Traditional historians generally hint that Liu Yu was involved in the plot, but not having conclusive evidence, they did not state so conclusively.) With support from the officials and particularly with his brother Liu Xiuren as a major advocate, Liu Yu was declared emperor (as Emperor Ming).

Early reign: victory over Liu Zixun and loss of northern provinces

Emperor Ming posthumously honored his mother Consort Shen as Empress Dowager Xuan but, because he was raised by Emperor Xiaowu's mother Grand Empress Dowager Lu, he continued to honor her as empress dowager. He also tried to pacify the empire by promoting the various officials, his brothers, and some of his nephews. (However, he forced Emperor Qianfei's oldest younger brother Liu Zishang the Prince of Yuzhang, and his sister Liu Chuyu the Princess Kuaiji, both born also of Empress Wang Xianyuan and both of whom participated in his ill-fated governance, to commit suicide.) He created his wife Princess Wang Zhenfeng empress.

One of the nephews that he tried to promote, Liu Zixun the Prince of Jin'an, whose chief of staff Deng Wan (邓琬) had just prior to Emperor Qianfei's death declared a rebellion against Emperor Qianfei, refused, and instead declared a rebellion against Emperor Ming, in association with Yuan Yi (袁顗) the governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei and southwestern Henan) and Liu Zisui's chief of staff Xun Bianzhi (荀卞之). They accused Emperor Ming of being an usurper and having unduly killed Liu Zishang. Jing Province (荆州, modern central and western Hubei) and Kuaiji Commandery (the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay), governed by Liu Zixun's brothers Liu Zixu the Prince of Linhai and Liu Zifang the Prince of Xunyang, also quickly rose in support. In spring 466, Deng Wan, claiming to have received a secret edict from Liu Zixun's grandmother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan, declared Liu Zixun emperor. Upon the declaration, nearly the entire empire declared for Liu Zixun, with Emperor Ming only in control of the region immediately around the capital Jiankang.

However, Liu Zixun's generals proceeded slowly, believing that Jiankang would collapse on its own due to the lack of food supply. Emperor Ming's general Wu Xi was quickly able to advance east and capture Liu Zifang, taking the commanderies around Kuaiji that had declared for Liu Zixun and securing a food supply. The troops of Liu Zixun and Emperor Ming stalemated for months in the Chaohu region, until Emperor Ming's general Zhang Xingshi built a defense post at Qianxi (钱溪, in modern Chizhou, Anhui), upstream from Liu Zixun's main troops commanded by Yuan Yi and Liu Hu, cutting off their food supplies. As Liu Hu then tried to capture Qianxi to reopen food routes, he was defeated by Zhang and Shen Youzhi, and Liu Hu and Yuan then fled, with their troops collapsing. Liu Hu fled back to Xunyang, but then left under guise that he was going to set up perimeter defenses while instead fleeing. Xunyang was left without a defense, and Deng Wan contemplated killing Liu Zixun to save himself, but instead was killed by another staff member Zhang Yue. Shen then arrived and executed Liu Zixun, ending his rival claim.

However, Emperor Ming then grew arrogant in light of his victory. Instead of his initial policy of pardoning those who had declared for Liu Zixun, he began to deal with those who had not surrendered by this point harshly. In particular, at Liu Xiuren's suggestion, he put to death all of the still living sons of Emperor Xiaowu, accusing them (the oldest of whom was 10) of treason, along with several other officials whom he suspected of covertly supporting Liu Zixun, including Empress Dowager Lu's nephews. (Empress Dowager Lu herself had died during the war under suspicious circumstances. A rumor that the Nan Shi found reliable but indicated was not conclusively proven indicated that she had been secretly pleased about Liu Zixun's rebellion, and had tried to poison Emperor Ming so that Liu Zixun could be successful, but Emperor Ming, realizing her intent, poisoned her instead.) Late in 466, Emperor Ming created his oldest son, Liu Yu (different character than his own name), crown prince.

Emperor Ming's reprisals brought an immediate heavy toll for Liu Song. When Xue Andu (薛安都) the governor of Xu Province (徐州, modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui), who had earlier declared for Liu Zixun, tried to surrender to him, Emperor Ming, instead of just pardoning Xue, sent a force toward Xue's defense post at Pengcheng, Xue became fearful that Emperor Ming had no intent of pardoning him. (Indeed, Emperor Ming did not, and was intending to lead Xue into resisting, and then wiping him out.) Instead of simply resisting, however, Xue surrendered Xu Province to rival Northern Wei. He was joined in this action by Bi Zhongjing (毕众敬) the governor of Yan Province (兖州, modern western Shandong), Shen Wenxiu (沈文秀) the governor of Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), and Cui Daogu (崔道固) the governor of Ji Province (冀州, modern northwestern Shandong), although Shen and Cui soon changed their allegiance back to Emperor Ming. Northern Wei forces quickly joined Xue's, and they took up defense position against the attacking forces sent by Emperor Ming, commanded by the generals Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi. With Liu Song forces unable to siege Pengcheng effectively, Zhang and Shen Youzhi were forced to withdraw in spring 467, and on their retreat, Northern Wei forces commanded by Yuchi Yuan (尉迟元) sandwiched them with Xue, leading to a major rout. Against Shen Youzhi's protestations, Emperor Ming ordered him to attack Pengcheng again in fall 467, and Yuchi again defeated Shen Youzhi, ending Emperor Ming's efforts at recapturing Xu and Yan Provinces. With Ji and Qing Provinces now completely isolated from the rest of Liu Song, they could not be supplied with fresh troops, and the Northern Wei general Murong Baiyao (慕容白曜) forced Cui's surrender in spring 468 and captured Shen Wenxiu's defense post at Dongyang (东阳, in modern Weifang, Shandong), annexing those provinces for Northern Wei. (While Pengcheng would temporarily be taken by Emperor Wu of Liang, the rest of the territory was lost to Southern Dynasties forever.)

Emperor Ming also began to be suspicious of his brothers, and in 469, when a plot to make Liu Hui emperor was discovered, Emperor Ming had his brother demoted and then forced him to commit suicide. He also became displeased at the increasing authorities of Liu Xiuren, and Liu Xiuren, realizing that he was being suspected, surrendered part of his authorities but could not regain Emperor Ming's trust.

Late reign

Meanwhile, Emperor Ming's own conduct also began to decay. For example, in 470, he ordered officials and governors to offer him gifts, and when Sun Fengbo the governor of Shixing Commandery (始兴, roughly modern Shaoguan, Guangdong) only offered guqin and books, and not the treasures that Emperor Ming was hoping for, he sent poison to Sun to order him to commit suicide, although he soon retracted that order. Also on one occasion, he held an imperial feast inside the palace, and ordered his ladies in waiting to strip for the guests. Empress Wang, embarrassed, covered her eyes with a fan. In anger, Emperor Ming said, "Your household is so naïve and unaware of the world. Today everyone is trying to have fun, so why are you covering your eyes?" She responded, "There are many ways to have fun. What kind of a scene is it for aunts and sisters to gather to watch naked ladies in waiting and laugh about it? The fun that our household has is different." He became angrier and chased her away.

Historical accounts, written during the succeeding Southern Qi Dynasty, indicate that Emperor Ming was impotent, and that although he had 12 sons, those were the results of his having seized his brothers' pregnant concubines and kept the children if they bore males, or his having had his concubines have sexual relations with others. (However, the fact that Empress Wang had two daughters, although no sons, may argue against such allegations, because it appeared rather unlikely that Emperor Ming would do this over female children—indeed, the allegations stated that he would only do this if his brothers' concubines bore males—or that the morally upright Empress Wang would engage in sexual relations with others, thus suggesting that the allegations were made to delegitimize Emperor Ming's sons Emperor Houfei and Emperor Shun vis-à-vis Southern Qi.) In addition, Emperor Ming was said to be suspicious, jealous, cruel, and violent. In addition, he was also superstitious, and his officials and attendants were forced to observe a number of taboos in both language and acts. Whoever violated these taboos would be executed, often in cruel manners, including having their hearts cut open or their entrails pulled out.

In 471, Emperor Ming grew ill, and as Crown Prince Yu was only eight, he was fearful that his brothers would seize the throne, and therefore turned against them. His first target was Liu Xiuyou the Prince of Jinping, who was considered arrogant and violent and often offended Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming therefore, when he was out on a hunt with Liu Xiuyou, found an opportunity to have his guards push Liu Xiuyou off his horse and then pounded to death. When this news reached his youngest brother, Liu Xiuruo the Prince of Baling, the governor of Jing Province, Liu Xiuruo's staff members suggest that he start a rebellion, particularly in light of orders for him to return to Jiankang and then take up Liu Xiuyou's old post at governor of South Xu Province (南徐州, modern western central Jiangsu), but the cautious Liu Xiuruo did not rebel, but instead reported to South Xu. Meanwhile, because the public believed that Liu Xiuren would become regent if Emperor Ming died, the mid-level officials were all trying to ingratiate themselves with Liu Xiuren and his staff, drawing Emperor Ming's anger and suspicion, and he forced Liu Xiuren to commit suicide. He then summoned Liu Xiuruo back to Jiankang and forced him to commit suicide as well. The only brother who was spared with Liu Xiufan the Prince of Guiyang, who was considered to be unvirtuous and incompetent, and therefore not viewed as a threat.

Emperor Ming's suspicions soon turned to other officials as well. In order to test the attitude of Xiao Daocheng the governor of South Yan Province (南兖州, modern eastern central Jiangsu), he had his strategist Wu Xi deliver a pot of wine to Xiao. Xiao, believing that wine was poisoned, was about to flee to Northern Wei, when Wu revealed that the wine was not poisonous and that Emperor Ming was merely trying to test him, and Wu drank some of the wine first to show Xiao. Xiao then drank the wine, and Wu returned to the capital and vouched for Xiao's loyalty, but his leaking of the non-poisonous nature of the wine was soon revealed. Emperor Ming, who was already suspicious of Wu's abilities, forced him to commit suicide. In fear, Empress Wang's brother Wang Jingwen (王景文), the commander of the armed forces, tried to resign. Emperor Ming would not let him do so, and then, suspecting that Wang would take power after Emperor Ming's death, forced Wang to commit suicide in spring 472. Emperor Ming himself died in summer 472, and was succeeded by Crown Prince Yu (as Emperor Houfei).

Era names

• Taishi (泰始 tài shǐ) 465-471

• Taiyu (泰豫 tài yù) 472

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Minggong, of the Wang clan of Langya (明恭皇后 琊琅王氏; 436–479), personal name Zhenfeng (贞风)

　• Princess Jinling (晋陵公主), personal name Bosi (伯姒)

　• Princess Jian'an (建安公主), personal name Boyuan (伯媛)

• Guifei, of the Chen clan (贵妃 陈氏), personal name Miaodeng (妙登)

　• Liu Yu, Prince Cangwu (苍梧王 刘昱; 463–477), first son

• Zhaohua, of the Chen clan (昭华 陈氏), personal name Farong (法容)

　• Liu Zhun, Emperor Shun (顺皇帝 刘准; 467–479), third son

• Xiuhua, of the Du clan (修华 杜氏)

　• Liu Hui, Prince Suiyang (随阳王 刘翽; 471–479), tenth son

• Xiuyi, of the Xie clan (修仪 谢氏)

　• Liu Faliang, Prince Dezhi (德治王 刘法良), second son

　• Liu Xie, Prince Jinxi (晋熙王 刘燮; 470–479), sixth son

• Xiurong, of the Zheng clan (修容 郑氏; d. 474)

　• Liu Zhijing, Prince Dongping (东平王 刘智井; d. 470), fifth son

• Jieyu, of the Xu clan (婕妤 徐氏)

　• Fourth son

　• Liu Ji, Prince Jiangxia (江夏王 刘跻; 470–479), eighth son

• Meiren, of the Quan clan (美人 泉氏)

　• Liu You, Prince Shaolingshang (邵陵殇王 刘友; 470–479), seventh son

　• Liu Xi, Prince Shijian (始建王 刘禧; 471–479), 12th son

• Liangren, of the Xu clan (良人 徐氏)

　• Liu Zan, Prince Wuling (武陵王 刘赞; 470–479), ninth son

　• Liu Song, Prince Xinxing (新兴王 刘嵩; 471–479), 11th son

• Unknown

　• Princess Yangxian (阳羡公主)

　　• Married Wang Jian of Langya (琊琅; 452–489) in 469

Ancestry