Ruzi Ying
Encyclopedia
Emperor Ruzi of Han commonly known as "Ying the Kid" and with the personal name of Liu Ying (劉嬰), was last emperor
of the Chinese Western Han Dynasty from AD 6 to AD 9. After Emperor Ping
died without heirs, Wang Mang
chose the youngest of the available successors in order to maintain his power in the government. He was soon deposed by Wang Mang who declared the Xin Dynasty
in place of the Han. During Xin Dynasty, he was under effective house arrest—so much so that he did not even know common animals once he was grown. Before and after Xin Dynasty was overthrown in 23, there were many ambitious people claiming to be restoring Han. In 25, a rebellion against the temporary Emperor Gengshi
rose involving the former Emperor Ruzi, and when the rebellion was defeated, he was killed. He is often viewed as a tragic innocent child who was the victim of circumstances. (The expression, "Emperor Ruzi" is a misnomer, as he never assumed the throne and held the title of crown prince while ruler of the empire. Nevertheless, he is commonly referred-to as such.)
, once further grown, would retaliate against him for having slaughtered his uncles in 3, murdered Emperor Ping by poison. Because the young emperor had not had any children by his wife Empress Wang
(Wang Mang's daughter) or any of his concubines, there was no heir. Further, by that point, Emperor Ping's grandfather, Emperor Yuan
had no surviving male issue—of his three sons, Emperor Cheng
had no issue, and the other two, Prince Kang of Dingtao (劉康) and Prince Xing of Zhongshan (劉興) have already had their own sons succeed to the imperial throne (as Emperor Ai
and Emperor Ping, respectively) and die without issue. The progeny of Emperor Ping's great-grandfather Emperor Xuan
were therefore examined as possible successors.
There were 53 great-grandsons of Emperor Xuan then still living by this stage, but they were all adults, and Wang Mang disliked that fact—he wanted a child whom he could control. Therefore, he declared that it was inappropriate for members of the same generation to succeed each other (even though Emperor Ping had succeeded his cousin Emperor Ai several years earlier). He then examined the 23 great-great-grandsons of Emperor Xuan—all of whom were infants or toddlers.
While the examination process was proceeding, the mayor of South Chang'an
submitted a rock with a mysterious red writing on it -- "Wang Mang, the Duke of Anhan, should be emperor." (During his regency, Wang, building a personality cult about himself, had made it an open secret that he encouraged the manufacturing of false prophecies that would call for him to have more and more power; this appears to be one of those instances.) Wang had his political allies force his aunt, Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun
, to issue an edict granting him the title of "Acting Emperor" (假皇帝), with the commission to rule as emperor until a great-great-grandson of Emperor Xuan could be selected and raised.
In the spring of 6, Acting Emperor Wang selected Ying—then just one-year-old—as the designated successor to Emperor Ping, claiming that soothsayers told him that Ying was the candidate most favored by the gods. He gave Ying the epithet Ruzi -- the same epithet that King Cheng of Zhou
had when he was in his minority and under the regency of Ji Dan, the Duke of Zhou
-- to claim that he was as faithful as the Duke of Zhou. However, Emperor Ruzi did not ascend the throne, but was given the title of crown prince
. Empress Wang was given the title empress dowager
.
After Zhai and Liu Xin was defeated, Wang became even more convinced that the empire was entirely under his control, and decided to finally seize the throne and start a new dynasty. In winter 8, after receiving a false prophecy written by the hoodlum Ai Zhang (哀章) which pretended to be a divine decree from Emperor Gao (Liu Bang) stating that the throne should be given to Wang, and that Grand Empress Dowager Wang should follow this divine will, Wang issued a decree accepting the position of emperor, establishing Xin Dynasty
.
s were allowed to stay with him. After he was grown, he did not even know of such common animals as cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, dogs, and pigs. Wang gave his granddaughter, the daughter of his son Wang Yu (王宇) (whom he forced to commit suicide in 3 after Wang Yu, unhappy with his dictatorial rule, conspired with Emperor Ping's uncles of the Wei clan to overthrow him), to the Duke of Ding'an in marriage. Other than these, not much is known about the Duke of Ding'an's life during Xin Dynasty.
). However, due to Emperor Gengshi's incompetence, there were many conspiracies and rebellions throughout the entire empire, seeking to displace him.
Two farfetched co-conspirators started one of these rebellions in 25—Fang Wang (方望), the former strategist for the local warlord Wei Xiao (隗囂), and a man named Gong Lin (弓林) -- and their group of several thousand men, after kidnapping the former Duke of Ding'an, occupied Linjing (臨涇, in modern Qingyang
, Gansu
). Emperor Gengshi sent his prime minister Li Song (李松) to attack them, and wiped out this rebel force, killing Liu Ying.
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
of the Chinese Western Han Dynasty from AD 6 to AD 9. After Emperor Ping
Emperor Ping of Han
Emperor Ping was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 1 BC to AD 5. After Emperor Ai died childless, the throne was passed to his cousin Emperor Ping—then a child of nine years old. Wang Mang was appointed regent by the Grand Empress Dowager Wang...
died without heirs, Wang Mang
Wang Mang
Wang Mang , courtesy name Jujun , was a Han Dynasty official who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded the Xin Dynasty , ruling AD 9–23. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow and his rule marks the separation between the Western Han Dynasty and Eastern Han Dynasty...
chose the youngest of the available successors in order to maintain his power in the government. He was soon deposed by Wang Mang who declared the Xin Dynasty
Xin Dynasty
The Xin Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty which lasted from AD 9 to 23. It followed the Western Han Dynasty and preceded the Eastern Han Dynasty....
in place of the Han. During Xin Dynasty, he was under effective house arrest—so much so that he did not even know common animals once he was grown. Before and after Xin Dynasty was overthrown in 23, there were many ambitious people claiming to be restoring Han. In 25, a rebellion against the temporary Emperor Gengshi
Emperor Gengshi of Han
Emperor Gengshi of Han, ch. 漢更始帝, py. gèng shĭ dì, wg. Keng-Shih-ti, , also known as the Prince of Huaiyang , courtesy name Shenggong , was an emperor of the restored Chinese Han Dynasty following the fall of Wang Mang's Xin...
rose involving the former Emperor Ruzi, and when the rebellion was defeated, he was killed. He is often viewed as a tragic innocent child who was the victim of circumstances. (The expression, "Emperor Ruzi" is a misnomer, as he never assumed the throne and held the title of crown prince while ruler of the empire. Nevertheless, he is commonly referred-to as such.)
Choice as the titular ruler
In 5, Wang Mang, then already nearly unlimited in power as the imperial regent and fearful that the 13-year-old Emperor PingEmperor Ping of Han
Emperor Ping was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 1 BC to AD 5. After Emperor Ai died childless, the throne was passed to his cousin Emperor Ping—then a child of nine years old. Wang Mang was appointed regent by the Grand Empress Dowager Wang...
, once further grown, would retaliate against him for having slaughtered his uncles in 3, murdered Emperor Ping by poison. Because the young emperor had not had any children by his wife Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Ping)
Empress Wang , formally Empress Xiaoping , formally during her father Wang Mang's Xin Dynasty Duchess Dowager of Ding'an then Princess Huanghuang was an empress during the Han Dynasty -- the last of the Western Han Dynasty—who was the daughter of the eventual usurper Wang Mang...
(Wang Mang's daughter) or any of his concubines, there was no heir. Further, by that point, Emperor Ping's grandfather, Emperor Yuan
Emperor Yuan of Han
Emperor Yuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan was remembered for the promotion of Confucianism as the official creed of Chinese government. He appointed Confucius adherents to important government posts...
had no surviving male issue—of his three sons, Emperor Cheng
Emperor Cheng of Han
Emperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor...
had no issue, and the other two, Prince Kang of Dingtao (劉康) and Prince Xing of Zhongshan (劉興) have already had their own sons succeed to the imperial throne (as Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Han
Emperor Ai of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC....
and Emperor Ping, respectively) and die without issue. The progeny of Emperor Ping's great-grandfather Emperor Xuan
Emperor Xuan of Han
Emperor Xuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu...
were therefore examined as possible successors.
There were 53 great-grandsons of Emperor Xuan then still living by this stage, but they were all adults, and Wang Mang disliked that fact—he wanted a child whom he could control. Therefore, he declared that it was inappropriate for members of the same generation to succeed each other (even though Emperor Ping had succeeded his cousin Emperor Ai several years earlier). He then examined the 23 great-great-grandsons of Emperor Xuan—all of whom were infants or toddlers.
While the examination process was proceeding, the mayor of South Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
submitted a rock with a mysterious red writing on it -- "Wang Mang, the Duke of Anhan, should be emperor." (During his regency, Wang, building a personality cult about himself, had made it an open secret that he encouraged the manufacturing of false prophecies that would call for him to have more and more power; this appears to be one of those instances.) Wang had his political allies force his aunt, Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun
Empress Wang Zhengjun
Empress Wang Zhengjun , , official imperial title Empress Xiaoyuan , later and more commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang, born in Yuancheng , was an empress during the Western Han Dynasty of China, who played important roles during the reigns of five successive Han emperors—her...
, to issue an edict granting him the title of "Acting Emperor" (假皇帝), with the commission to rule as emperor until a great-great-grandson of Emperor Xuan could be selected and raised.
In the spring of 6, Acting Emperor Wang selected Ying—then just one-year-old—as the designated successor to Emperor Ping, claiming that soothsayers told him that Ying was the candidate most favored by the gods. He gave Ying the epithet Ruzi -- the same epithet that King Cheng of Zhou
King Cheng of Zhou
King Cheng of Zhou or King Ch'eng of Chou was the second sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1042-1021 BC or 1042/35-1006 BC King Cheng was young when he ascended the throne...
had when he was in his minority and under the regency of Ji Dan, the Duke of Zhou
Duke of Zhou
The Duke of Zhou played a major role in consolidating the newly-founded Zhou Dynasty . He was the brother of King Wu of Zhou, the first king of the ancient Chinese Zhou Dynasty...
-- to claim that he was as faithful as the Duke of Zhou. However, Emperor Ruzi did not ascend the throne, but was given the title of crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
. Empress Wang was given the title empress dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
.
Brief "reign"
Several members of the imperial Liu clan were naturally suspicious of Acting Emperor Wang's intentions. They started or assisted in several failed rebellions against Wang:- In 6, Liu Chong (劉崇), the Marquess of Anzhong, made an attack against Wancheng (宛城, in modern NanyangNanyang, HenanNanyang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east, Pingdingshan to the northeast, Luoyang to the north, Sanmenxia to the...
, HenanHenanHenan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). His attack failed, but historians did not specify what happened to him, other than that as punishment, Wang had his house filled with filthy water. - In 7, Zhai Yi (翟義), the governor of the Commandery of Dong (roughly modern PuyangPuyangPuyang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Henan province, China. Located on the northern shore of the Yellow River, it borders Anyang in the west, Xinxiang in the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Hebei in the east and north respectively....
, HenanHenanHenan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) and Liu Xin (劉信), the Marquess of Yanxiang (and the father of Liu Kuang (劉匡), the Prince of Dongping (roughly modern Tai'anTai'anTai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...
, ShandongShandong' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
) started the largest of these rebellions—and they were joined by agrarian rebellion leaders Zhao Peng (趙朋) and Huo Hong (霍鴻) from the area immediately west of the capital Chang'anChang'anChang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
. They declared Liu emperor. Wang responded by sending messengers all around the nation to pledge that he will in fact return the throne to Emperor Ruzi once he was grown. Wang's armies defeated Zhai and Liu's armies in winter 7, and Zhai was captured and executed by drawing and quartering. Liu fled and was never captured. Zhao and Huo were also eventually defeated and executed. - In 9 (after Wang Mang had usurped the throne—see below), Liu Kuai (劉快), the Marquess of Xuxiang, attacked the Dukedom of Fuchong, of his brother Liu Ying (劉殷), the former Prince of Jiaodong. He was defeated and died while fleeing from the battle.
After Zhai and Liu Xin was defeated, Wang became even more convinced that the empire was entirely under his control, and decided to finally seize the throne and start a new dynasty. In winter 8, after receiving a false prophecy written by the hoodlum Ai Zhang (哀章) which pretended to be a divine decree from Emperor Gao (Liu Bang) stating that the throne should be given to Wang, and that Grand Empress Dowager Wang should follow this divine will, Wang issued a decree accepting the position of emperor, establishing Xin Dynasty
Xin Dynasty
The Xin Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty which lasted from AD 9 to 23. It followed the Western Han Dynasty and preceded the Eastern Han Dynasty....
.
Life during Xin Dynasty
In the spring of 9, Wang Mang, the emperor, created the former Emperor Ruzi the Duke of Ding'an (and made his daughter, the former empress dowager, duchess dowager). The dukedom allegedly included 10,000 households, in which Han emperors were to be enshrined in temples, and Han calendars and uniforms would be allowed. However, Wang did not actually follow through on these promises. Indeed, he never allowed the Duke of Ding'an to rule his dukedom, but effectively put the child duke under house arrest under heavy guard. Not even his wet nurseWet nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who is used to breast feed and care for another's child. Wet nurses are used when the mother is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures the families are linked by a special relationship of...
s were allowed to stay with him. After he was grown, he did not even know of such common animals as cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, dogs, and pigs. Wang gave his granddaughter, the daughter of his son Wang Yu (王宇) (whom he forced to commit suicide in 3 after Wang Yu, unhappy with his dictatorial rule, conspired with Emperor Ping's uncles of the Wei clan to overthrow him), to the Duke of Ding'an in marriage. Other than these, not much is known about the Duke of Ding'an's life during Xin Dynasty.
Death
After Xin Dynasty was overthrown in 23 and Wang Mang killed, the imperial descendant Liu Xuan (劉玄) became emperor (as Emperor Gengshi of HanEmperor Gengshi of Han
Emperor Gengshi of Han, ch. 漢更始帝, py. gèng shĭ dì, wg. Keng-Shih-ti, , also known as the Prince of Huaiyang , courtesy name Shenggong , was an emperor of the restored Chinese Han Dynasty following the fall of Wang Mang's Xin...
). However, due to Emperor Gengshi's incompetence, there were many conspiracies and rebellions throughout the entire empire, seeking to displace him.
Two farfetched co-conspirators started one of these rebellions in 25—Fang Wang (方望), the former strategist for the local warlord Wei Xiao (隗囂), and a man named Gong Lin (弓林) -- and their group of several thousand men, after kidnapping the former Duke of Ding'an, occupied Linjing (臨涇, in modern Qingyang
Qingyang
Qingyang is a prefecture-level city in China's Gansu province.-Geography and climate:Qingyang is in eastern Gansu province and is sometimes referred to in Chinese as "Longdong" . Ningxia province is to the north west and Shaanxi is to the east. It is in the lower middle part of the Yellow River on...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
). Emperor Gengshi sent his prime minister Li Song (李松) to attack them, and wiped out this rebel force, killing Liu Ying.
Era names
- Jushe (居攝 py. jū shè) February AD 6- October AD 8
- Chushi (初始 py. chū shĭ) November AD 8-January AD 9
Family
- Father
- Liu Xian (劉顯), one-time Marquess of Guangqi, son of Liu Xun (劉勳) the first Marquess of Guangqi, son of Liu Xiao (劉囂) the Prince of Chu, son of Emperor Xuan of HanEmperor Xuan of HanEmperor Xuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu...
- Liu Xian (劉顯), one-time Marquess of Guangqi, son of Liu Xun (劉勳) the first Marquess of Guangqi, son of Liu Xiao (劉囂) the Prince of Chu, son of Emperor Xuan of Han
- Wife
- granddaughter of Wang MangWang MangWang Mang , courtesy name Jujun , was a Han Dynasty official who seized the throne from the Liu family and founded the Xin Dynasty , ruling AD 9–23. The Han dynasty was restored after his overthrow and his rule marks the separation between the Western Han Dynasty and Eastern Han Dynasty...
(daughter of his son Wang Yu (王宇))
- granddaughter of Wang Mang