生平經歷

家世

劉啟為漢文帝劉恆長子。劉啟出生時，父親劉恆為代王，母親竇姬為妾。前180年，呂太后駕崩，陳平、周勃等人誅滅諸呂，立劉恆為帝，是為漢文帝。嫡母代王王后早已逝世，而她所生的世子也在此時病死，劉啟成為父親劉恆事實上的長子。同年正月，劉啟以劉恆長子的身份被立為太子。其後，母親竇姬亦被立為皇后。

誤殺吳國太子劉賢而埋下七國之亂

劉啟為太子時性格剛烈，因與吳國太子劉賢下圍棋（一說六博）發生爭執，而拿棋盤打死了劉賢，漢文帝敕命送遺體回去埋葬，到了吳國，劉賢的父親吳王劉濞大怒，說道：「天下都是劉家的，死在長安就埋在長安，何必回吳國埋葬！」遂又把遺體送回長安埋葬，以示對朝廷的不滿，從此劉濞怨恨劉啟，也怨恨朝廷。另外劉啟為太子曾經和梁王劉武一起被時任公車令的張釋之彈劾說「過司馬門不下車」，劉啟即位後，將張釋之貶謫為淮南國相國。

前157年7月6日（六月己亥），漢文帝崩于長安未央宮，7月14日（丁未），皇太子劉啟即位，是為漢景帝。

景帝前元三年（前154年），御史大夫晁錯建議削藩，景帝聽從，引起那些早就想反叛的諸侯王們的不滿，于是以吳王劉濞、楚王劉戊為首的七國之亂開始了。七國諸侯王以「誅晁錯，清君側」為藉口叛亂，欲奪天下。晁錯政敵袁盎獻策景帝，誅晁錯以平叛亂。景帝「嘿然良久，曰：『顧誠何如，吾不愛一人以謝天下。』」。于是有丞相青翟等一眾臣子劾奏晁錯。景帝「制曰：『可』」，令中尉以上朝議事為名，誘晁錯上朝，行中錯道，至東市，中尉宣漢景帝劉啟詔書，當場腰斬晁錯。但晁錯死後，七國之亂不但沒有停止，反而越演越烈，占領了不少土地。景帝無可奈何，只得派太尉周亞夫、竇嬰鎮壓，前後三個月即平定七國之亂。

和親外交

七國之亂以後，景帝開始專心打理朝政，據說景帝十分樸素，仁厚愛民。除了平定七國之亂以外，從來沒有大規模用過兵，和匈奴的戰爭始終控制在一定的規模內，依然對匈奴採取和親政策。

立儲

前元六年（前151年），皇后薄氏被廢。第二年（前150年），廢太子劉榮。同年四月，立王氏為皇后，隨後立王氏的獨子膠東王劉徹為太子。

。文景之治

景帝崇尚黃老之說，減少刑罰，減少賦稅，興修水利，提倡農業，要求人心不服的案子進行重審，以免冤獄發生。百姓在和平穩定的環境下創造了大量財富，其間百姓富裕，豐衣足食，安居樂業，天下太平安樂，一派盛世景象，與其父漢文帝統治時期並稱文景之治。

病重身亡

景帝後元三年正月甲子（前141年3月9日），景帝崩于未央宮，遺詔賜予諸侯王與列侯駿馬兩匹、吏二千石、黃金兩斤，吏民戶百錢；又命放出一批宮人，使其歸家再嫁。景帝享年48歲，諡號孝景皇帝，無廟號，二月癸酉（3月18日），葬于陽陵。景帝崩後由皇太子劉徹即位，是為漢武帝。漢書·景帝紀記載，景帝逝前對劉徹說：人不患其不知，患其為詐也；不患其不勇，患其為暴也；不患其不富，患其亡厭也。

人物評價

司馬遷在《史記》中評價：「至孝景，不複憂異姓，而晁錯刻削諸侯，遂使七國俱起，合從而西鄉，以諸侯太盛，而錯之不以為漸也。」

班固在《漢書》中評價：「孝景遵業，五六十載之間，至于移風易俗，黎民醇厚。周云成康，漢言文景，美矣！」

唐代司馬貞在《史記索隱》中評價景帝以德待臣子、鼓勵耕作，面對吳楚之叛，引領將領翦除逆賊。但是平叛的周亞夫，受到景帝的猜忌，倉促下獄，這對於一個治理國家的明君來說，是很可惜的：『【索隱述贊】景帝即位，因脩靜默。勉人於農，率下以德。制度斯創，禮法可則。一朝吳楚，乍起凶慝。提局成釁，拒輪致惑。晁錯雖誅，梁城未克。條侯出將，追奔逐北。坐見梟黥，立翦牟賊。如何太尉，後卒下獄。惜哉明君，斯功不錄！』

家族成員

后妃

• 皇后

　• 薄皇后，景帝祖母薄太后族人，後被廢。

　• 王娡，漢武帝生母。

• 妃嬪

　• 慄姬

　• 程姬

　• 賈夫人

　• 唐姬

　• 王兒姁，王皇后之妹。

子女

子

• 皇太子→臨江閔王劉榮（母栗姬）

• 魯恭王劉余（母程姬）（東漢劉表、劉璋為其後裔）

• 河間獻王劉德（母慄姬）

• 臨江哀王劉閼于（母慄姬）

• 江都易王劉非（母程姬）

• 長沙定王劉發（母唐姬）（更始帝劉玄、光武帝劉秀為其後裔）

• 膠西于王劉端（母程姬）

• 趙敬肅王劉彭祖（母賈夫人）

• 中山靖王劉勝（母賈夫人）（漢昭烈帝劉備為其後裔）

• 廣川惠王劉越（母王夫人）

• 膠東王→皇太子→漢武帝劉徹（母王皇后）

• 膠東康王劉寄（母王夫人）

• 清河哀王劉乘（母王夫人）

• 常山憲王劉舜（母王夫人）

女

漢景帝的女兒，有史可查的僅平陽、南宮、隆慮三人：

• 平陽公主（母王皇后）。

• 南宮公主（母王皇后）

• 隆慮公主（母王皇后）

紀年

影視形象

• 《漢武帝》，由劉毓濱飾演

• 《漢武大帝》，由焦晃飾演

• 《美人心計》，由高昊飾演，但奇怪的是在此劇中的劉啟在十八歲登基，與史實中三十二歲並不符合。

注釋

Early life and career as crown prince

Emperor Jing was born to Emperor Wen, then Prince of Dai, and Consort Dou, one of his favorite consorts, in 188 BC. He was his father's oldest son. After his father became emperor in 180 BC, then-Prince Qi was made crown prince in 179 BC. At the same time, his mother was made empress.

In his childhood as crown prince, Prince Qi was praised for being compassionate. He was deeply influenced by his mother Empress Dou, who was a Taoist and required all of her children and grandchildren to study Taoist doctrines. He also developed deep bonds with his older sister Princess Liu Piao (劉嫖) and his younger brother Liu Wu (劉武), both also born of Empress Dou.

As Prince Qi grew in age, as was customary, he established his own household, and a member of his household, Chao Cuo (晁錯), known for his intelligence and ruthless efficiency as well as his rhetorical talent, became a trusted adviser of Prince Qi. Despise this, Liu Qi has been known to taken an epicurean lifestyle to the point that emperor Wen once consider deposed him as Crown Prince to Liu Wu, Prince of Liang, but dropped the matter as many officials opposed the idea.

In 157 BC, Emperor Wen died, and Prince Qi became emperor. In accordance with Emperor Wen's will, the period of mourning was shortened. Emperor Jing's grandmother Empress Dowager Bo became grand empress dowager, and Empress Dou became empress dowager. Prince Qi's wife, Crown Princess Bo (a member of his grandmother's clan) became empress.

Early reign

When he rise as Emperor, opposite to what the officials thought Emperor Jing is a bad leader like Jie, Zhou and You, with the danger of collapse of the Han dynasty could be imminent, the officials were shocked as Liu Qi's sudden change of personality and proved to be a capable ruler. Emperor Jing largely continued his father's policy of non-interference with the people and reduction of tax and other burdens. Under Jing, taxes were cut in half, to one-thirtieth of the crop. He continued his policy of reducing criminal penalties, and in 156 BC, in reaction to the reality that his father's abolition of corporal punishments of cutting off nose and feet were in fact causing more people to die from whipping, reduced the number of whips that criminals would receive. (He would later reduce the penalty again in 144 BC.) He also continued his father's policy of heqin (marriage treaties) with Xiongnu, which largely avoided large conflicts with that northern neighbor. However, one immediate issue confronting Emperor Jing was the power possessed by princes of collateral lines of the imperial clan. The princes often built up their own military strengths and resisted edicts issued by the emperor. This was already an issue in Emperor Wen's days, but Emperor Wen did not take any decisive actions on the issue.

Emperor Jing did not designate a crown prince for the first few years of his reign, because Empress Bo did not have any sons. His mother, the Dowager Empress Dou, wanted him to make his younger brother Liu Wu, the Prince of Liang, the crown prince, but this did not happen because of opposition by officials. However, Liu Wu was given many privileges not given to other princes.

The Rebellion of the Seven States

The issue of dealing with powerful princes would soon erupt into a war later known as the Rebellion of the Seven States. Emperor Jing already had an inimical relationship with his cousin-once-removed (the nephew of his grandfather Emperor Gaozu) Liu Pi (劉濞), the prince of the wealthy Principality of Wu (modern southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, southern Anhui, and northern Jiangxi), which enjoyed, among other natural resources, abundant copper and salt supplies. While Emperor Jing was crown prince, Liu Pi's heir apparent Liu Xian (劉賢) had been on an official visit to the capital Chang'an, and they gambled together by playing the liubo board game (heavily tied to divination and predictions of the future). While playing the board game, Liu Xian offended then-Crown Prince Qi, and Prince Qi threw the wooden board at Liu Xian, killing him.. Liu Pi thus had great hatred for the new emperor.

Chao Cuo's advice for Emperor Jing was to, using as excuses offenses that princes have committed which had generally been ignored by Emperor Wen, cut down the sizes of the principalities to make them less threatening. Chao explicitly contemplated the possibility that Wu and other principalities may rebel, but justified the action by asserting that if they were going to rebel, it would be better to let them rebel earlier than later, when they might be more prepared. Under this theory, Emperor Jing, in 154 BC, carved out one commandery each from the Principalities of Chu (modern northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui) and Zhao and six counties from the Principality of Jiaoxi (roughly modern Weifang, Shandong), before carving two commanderies out of Wu.

Wu did indeed start a rebellion, in alliance with Chu, Jiaoxi, Zhao, and three other smaller principalities—Jiaodong, Zichuan, and Jinan. Two other principalities that originally agreed to join, Qi (modern central Shandong) and Jibei (modern northwestern Shandong), reneged at the final moment. Wu also sought assistance from the independent kingdoms of Donghai (modern Zhejiang) and Minyue (modern Fujian), and both kingdoms contributed forces. Zhao sought assistance from Xiongnu, but while Xiongnu initially agreed to help, it did not actually enter the war.

In accordance with instructions left by Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing commissioned Zhou Yafu as the commander of his armed forces to face the main rebel force—joint forces of Wu and Chu. However, he soon panicked at the prospect of losing, and at the suggestion of Chao Cuo's enemy Yuan Ang, he executed Chao to try to appease the seven princes, to no avail.

Wu and Chu forces were fiercely attacking the Principality of Liang (modern eastern Henan), whose prince Liu Wu, prince of Liang was Emperor Jing's beloved younger brother, and Emperor Jing ordered Zhou to immediately head to Liang to save it. Zhou refused, reasoning that the proper strategy would involve first cutting off the Wu and Chu supply lines, thus starving them, so he headed to the northeast side of Liang and around the Wu and Chu forces to cut off their supplies. The strategy was effective. Wu and Chu, unable to capture Liang quickly and realizing that their supplies were dwindling, headed northeast to attack Zhou. After being unable to get a decisive victory against Zhou, the Wu and Chu forces collapsed from starvation. Liu Pi fled to Donghai, which killed him and sought peace with Han. Liu Wu, the Prince of Chu, committed suicide. The other principalities involved were all eventually defeated as well.

Middle reign and succession issues

In 153 BC, because Empress Bo did not have a son, Emperor Jing made his oldest son Liu Rong (劉榮) crown prince. This made Liu Rong's mother, Consort Li (栗姬), who was one of Emperor Jing's favorite concubines, think she would be made empress, particularly after Empress Bo was deposed in 151 BC, following Grand Empress Dowager Bo's death. She hated Emperor Jing's sister Princess Liu Piao, because Princess Piao had often given her brother beautiful women as concubines, drawing Consort Li's jealousy. When Princess Piao wanted to end this dispute by giving her daughter Chen Jiao as wife to Prince Rong, Consort Li refused.

Princess Piao, seeing the precarious state that she would be in if Consort Li became empress dowager one day, carried out an alternative plan. She gave Chen Jiao as wife to Liu Che, the son of Emperor Jing's other favorite concubine, Wang Zhi, the Prince of Jiaodong. She then incessantly criticized Consort Li for her jealousy—pointing out that, if Consort Li became empress dowager, many concubines might suffer the fates of Consort Qi, Emperor Gao's favorite concubine who was tortured and killed by Emperor Gao's wife Empress Dowager Lü after Emperor Gao's death. Emperor Jing eventually agreed, and he deposed Prince Rong from his position in 150 BC. Consort Li died in anger. That year, Consort Wang was made empress, and Prince Che the crown prince.

Prince Rong would not be spared. In 148 BC, he was accused of intruding onto the grounds of his grandfather Emperor Wen's temple when building the walls to his palace. He was imprisoned and not permitted to write to his father. His granduncle Dou Ying (竇嬰, Empress Dowager Dou's brother or cousin) slipped in a knife pen; he wrote a letter and then committed suicide.

A major incident involving another potential heir, Prince Wu of Liang, erupted in 148 BC as well. Prince Wu, because of his contributions to the victory during the Rebellion of the Seven States, was further given privilege to use imperial ceremonies and colors. Members of his household encouraged him to seek to become crown prince. This was favored by the empress dowager Dou as well, but opposed by the minister Yuan Ang, who believed such a move would bring instability to dynastic succession. When Prince Wu sought permission to build a highway directly from his capital Suiyang to Chang'an, Yuan, fearing that the highway might be used for military purposes if Liang rebelled, opposed it. Prince Wu had him assassinated. Emperor Jing was extremely angry and sent many investigators to Liang to track down the conspirators, whom Prince Wu eventually surrendered. Emperor Jing, afraid of offending his mother and still affectionate for his brother, pardoned Prince Wu but no longer considered him as possible heir.

Late reign

The late reign of Emperor Jing was marked by an incident for which he was much criticized: the death of Zhou Yafu, who had been instrumental in the victory against the Seven States. As prime minister, Zhou offended nearly every powerful figure around Emperor Jing, in particular his brother Prince Liu Wu and his mother Empress Dowager Dou (for refusing to save Liang first when Liang was sieged by the combined forces of Wu and Chu), and his wife Empress Wang and her brother Wang Xin (王信), whom Emperor Jing wanted to make a marquess but whose candidacy Zhou rebuffed. By 143 BC, he was retired when his son, in anticipation of his death, purchased retired armor and weapons from the imperial armory to serve as burial decorations. Zhou's son refused to pay the delivery workers, and the delivery workers, in retaliation, accused the Zhous of treason. Emperor Jing had Zhou Yafu arrested and interrogated, and the interrogator, when told by Zhou that the armor and weapons were for burial purposes, accused him of "underground treason"—i.e., ready to commit treason against the spirits of the emperors after he himself dies. Zhou committed suicide in prison.

Emperor Jing died in 141 BC and was buried in the Han Yang Ling Mausoleum in Chang'an. He was succeeded by Crown Prince Che (as Emperor Wu).

Legacy

His reign, along with that of his father Emperor Wen, known as the Rule of Wen and Jing, was considered to be one of the golden ages in Chinese history. However, it is also apparent from his actions that he lacked the warmth and openness his father had, and in many ways his reign was marked by political intrigue and treachery. Emperor Jing can also be credited for furthering the study of Taoist text after he recognized the Tao Te Ching as a Chinese classic during his rule.

In 2016, the discovery of the earliest tea traces known to date from the mausoleum of Emperor Jing in Xi'an was announced, indicating that tea was drunk by Han Dynasty emperors as early as 2nd century BC.

Era names

These "era names" are not true "era names" in the sense that the era name system, as instituted by Emperor Jing's son Emperor Wu, had not come into place. Emperor Jing, in accordance to prior imperial calendaring systems, would have simply referred to the number of years in his reign, but for unknown reasons reset the count twice, thus requiring historians to refer to them separately.

• Qianyuan (前元, "Former Era") 156 BC – 150 BC

• Zhongyuan (中元, "Middle Era") 149 BC – 144 BC

• Houyuan (後元, "Later Era") 143 BC – 141 BC

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress, of the Bo clan (皇后 薄氏; d. 147 BC), second cousin

• Empress Xiaojing, of the Wang clan (孝景皇后 王氏; d. 126 BC), personal name Zhi (娡)

　• Grand Princess Yangxin (陽信長公主)

　　• Married Cao Shi, Marquis Pingyang (曹時; d. 131 BC), and had issue (one son)

　　• Married Xiahou Po, Marquis Ruyin (夏侯頗; d. 115 BC)

　　• Married Wei Qing, Marquis Changping (d. 106 BC)

　• Princess Nangong (南宮公主)

　　• Married Zhang Zuo, Marquis Nangong (張坐)

　　• Married Er Shen (耏申) in 123 BC

　• Princess Longlü (隆慮公主)

　　• Married Chen Jiao, Marquis Longlü (陳蟜; d. 116 BC), and had issue (one son)

　• Liu Che, Emperor Xiaowu (孝武皇帝 劉徹; 157–87 BC), tenth son

• Lady, of the Li clan (栗氏)

　• Liu Rong, Prince Min of Linjiang (臨江閔王 劉榮; 172–148 BC), first son

　• Liu De, Prince Xian of Hejian (河間獻王 劉德; 171–130 BC), second son

　• Liu Eyu, Prince Ai of Linjiang (臨江哀王 劉閼於; 170–154 BC), fourth son

• Lady, of the Cheng clan (程氏)

　• Liu Yu, Prince Gong of Lu (魯恭王 劉馀; d. 128 BC), third son

　• Liu Fei, Prince Yi of Jiangdu (江都易王 劉非; 168–128 BC), fifth son

　• Liu Duan, Prince Yu of Jiaoxi (膠西於王 劉端; 165–107 BC), seventh son

• Lady, of the Tang clan (唐氏)

　• Liu Fa, Prince Ding of Changsha (長沙定王 劉發; d. 129 BC), sixth son

• Furen, of the Jia clan (夫人 賈氏)

　• Liu Pengzu, Prince Jingsu of Zhao (趙敬肅王 劉彭祖; 166–92 BC), eighth son

　• Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan (中山靖王 劉勝; 165–113 BC), ninth son

• Furen, of the Wang clan (夫人 王氏), personal name Erxu (兒姁)

　• Liu Yue, Prince Hui of Guangchuan (廣川惠王 劉越; d. 135 BC), 11th son

　• Liu Ji, Prince Kang of Jiaodong (膠東康王 劉寄; d. 120 BC), 12th son

　• Liu Cheng, Prince Ai of Qinghe (清河哀王 劉乘; 153–135 BC), 13th son

　• Liu Shun, Prince Xian of Changshan (常山憲王 劉舜; 152–113 BC), 14th son

Ancestry