Qin and Han · King of Wu

Liu Bi 劉濞

Died BC 154

Passages: 59
Chapters: 9
Histories: 3

Overview

The translated histories identify Liu Bi as an aristocrat, general, rebel, and royal family member. This record brings together 59 passages from 9 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Liu Bi	劉濞	Liu Bi
Personal name	Bi	濞	Bi
Given	Bi	濞	Bi
Personal	Bi	濞
Personal name	Bi	濞	Bì
Title	Eastern Emperor	東帝
Title	King Bi of Wu	吳王濞
Title	King of Wu	吳王	Wu Wang
Title	King of Wu	吳王
Title	King of Wu	吳王	Wú Wáng
Personal	Liu Bi	濞	Liu Bi
Personal	Liu Pi	吳濞	Wu Bi
Personal name	Liu Pi	吳濞	Wu Pi
Personal name	Liu Pi	劉濞	Liú Pì
Title	Marquis of Pei	沛侯	Pei Hou
Title	Marquis of Pei	沛侯	Pèi Hóu
Given	Pi	濞	Pi
Alternate name	Wu Pi	吳濞
Title		吳王濞	Wu Wang Bi
Personal		濞	Bi

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0057, hanshu:044:s0042, houhanshu:034:s0056, shiji:011:s0024, shiji:051:s0019, shiji:114:s0008
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:057:s0170

Roles

Aristocrat
General
Rebel
Royal Family Member
Ruler

Life and dates

Death

speared to death / 鏦殺
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0208
Manner: beheaded · Place: Dantu / 丹徒 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0063
Manner: beheaded by Yue people · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:057:s0172
Manner: killed · Place: Dantu / 丹徒 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:114:s0009

Age

Years: 62 · Reckoning: sui · Date Text: at Seven Kingdoms revolt
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0106
Years: 20 · Reckoning: sui · Date Text: when campaigning against Qing Bu
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0047

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0057, shiji:011:s0024
Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Western Year: BC 195
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:051:s0019
Source Date: Text: 吳濞之畔 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · houhanshu:034:s0056
Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:057:s0152, shiji:057:s0170, shiji:114:s0008, shiji:114:s0009
Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:114:s0008

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Ziju (子駒)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father

Career and standing

Title: King of Wu / 吳王 · Action: appointed · Start Date: Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Western Year: BC 195
Explicit · shiji:051:s0019
three commanderies and fifty-three cities / 三郡五十三城
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0049
Text: 立為吳王
Explicit · hanshu:002:s0304
Title: King of Wu / 吳王 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:011:s0024
Title: Marquis of Pei / 沛侯 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:051:s0019
King of Wu / 吳王
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0049
Marquis of Pei / 沛侯
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0045

Places and affiliations

Wu
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0160, hanshu:044:s0189
Polity: Wu / 吳 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · shiji:051:s0019

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: rebel-leader · Action: led Wu rebellion
Explicit · houhanshu:034:s0056
Kind: military · Role: rebel-leader · Action: raised troops · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0057
Kind: military · Role: rebel-leader · Action: rebelled · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:011:s0024
Kind: military · Role: rebel-leader · Action: rebelled · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:114:s0008
Type: son · Person Id: Liu Zhong (劉仲)
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0042
Type: father · Person Id: Crown Prince of Wu (吳太子)
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0056
Type: father · Person Id: Liu Bi's youngest son (少子)
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0107

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 3 passages

長沙王臣等言：「沛侯濞重厚，請立為吳王。」 King Changsha and others said: "Marquis of Pei Liu Bi is substantial and sincere. Please establish him as King of Wu."

已拜，上召謂濞曰：「汝狀有反相。」 Already enfeoffed, the emperor summoned and said to Liu Bi: "Your appearance has the look of rebellion."

濞頓首曰：「不敢。」 Liu Bi bowed his head and said: "I dare not."

Book of Han, Chapter 6Volume 5: Annals of Emperor Jing · 5 passages

吳王濞、膠西王卬、楚王戊、趙王遂、濟南王辟光、菑川王賢、膠東王雄渠皆舉兵反。 Kings Pi of Wu, Ang of Jiaoxi, Wu of Chu, Sui of Zhao, Bi Guang of Jinan, Xian of Zichuan, and Xiong Qu of Jiaodong all raised troops in rebellion.

追斬吳王濞於丹徒。 They pursued and executed King Pi of Wu at Dantu.

夏六月，詔曰：「乃者吳王濞等為逆，起兵相脅，詿誤吏民，吏民不得已。 In the sixth month of summer, he issued an edict: 'Recently King Pi of Wu and others committed rebellion, raised troops and coerced one another, deceived and misled officials and civilians alike, leaving officials and people with no choice.

今濞等已滅，吏民當坐濞等及逋逃亡軍者，皆赦之。 Now that Pi and his confederates have been destroyed, all officials and civilians liable for following them, as well as deserters and fugitives from military service, shall be pardoned.

楚元王子蓺等與濞等為逆，朕不忍加法，除其籍，毋令汙宗室。」 King Yuan of Chu's son Yi and others participated in Pi's rebellion. I cannot bear to apply the full force of the law to them, so I remove their names from the imperial registers to prevent them from tarnishing the imperial clan.'

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 41 passages

吳王濞 Liu Bi, prince of Wu.

吳王濞，高帝兄仲之子也。 Liu Bi, king of Wu, was the son of Liu Zhong, the founder’s elder brother.

子濞，封為沛侯。 His son Liu Bi received the marquisate of Pei.

濞年二十，以騎將從破布軍。 At twenty Liu Bi rode as a cavalry general in the host that broke Qing Bu.

上患吳會稽輕悍，無壯王填之，諸子少，乃立濞於沛，為吳王，王三郡五十三城。 The throne feared the martial temper of Wu and Kuaiji and wanted a mature prince to hold them, yet the imperial sons were young. Liu Bi was therefore elevated from Pei to king of Wu with three commanderies and fifty-three towns.

已拜受印，高祖召濞相之，曰：「若狀有反相。」 When the seal had been delivered Gaozu studied his face and said, “You have the look of a rebel.”

獨悔，業已拜，因拊其背，曰：「漢後五十年東南有亂，豈若邪？ He repented immediately, yet the appointment stood, so he patted Liu Bi’s back and said, “Within fifty years the southeast will rise in strife—will it be you?

濞頓首曰：「不敢。」 Liu Bi kowtowed and said, “I would not dare.”

吳王慍曰：「天下一宗，死長安即葬長安，何必來葬！」 The king of Wu growled, “All under heaven are one clan; if he died in Chang’an he should lie in Chang’an—why drag him back to Wu?”

吳王由是怨望，稍失藩臣禮，稱疾不朝。 From then on Liu Bi harbored resentment, slackened the ritual due from a vassal, pleaded sickness, and stayed away from audience.

吳王恐，所謀滋甚。 Fear drove him, and his plotting grew wilder.

今吳王始詐疾，反覺，見責急，愈益閉，恐上誅之，計乃無聊。 Our king feigned illness; when that was seen through and blame piled on, he withdrew further, fearing the axe and finding no way out.

於是天子皆赦吳使者歸之，而賜吳王几杖，老，不朝。 The Son of Heaven pardoned the envoys and sent them back, then gave the king of Wu a folding stool and staff in token of old age, freeing him from court calls.

數上書說之，文帝寬，不忍罰，以此吳王日益橫。 He submitted memorial after memorial urging this course, but Emperor Wen was lenient and could not bear to punish Wu. As a result, the King of Wu became more overbearing by the day.

今吳王前有太子之隙，詐稱病不朝，於古法當誅。 Now the King of Wu already had a grievance over the crown prince, then falsely claimed illness and failed to attend court. Under the ancient laws, this deserved execution.

漢廷臣方議削吳，吳王恐削地無已，因欲發謀舉事。 As the Han court debated carving up Wu, the king dreaded endless reductions and meant to launch his plot.

念諸侯無足與計者，聞膠西王勇，好兵，諸侯皆畏憚之，於是乃使中大夫應高口說膠西王曰：「吳王不肖，有夙夜之憂，不敢自外，使使臣諭其愚心。」 He found no other prince fit to conspire with, but heard that the king of Jiaoxi was brave and warlike and that the other lords all feared him. He therefore sent Palace Counsellor Ying Gao with an oral message: “The king of Wu, unworthy as he is, lies awake at night with worry; he dares not keep you at arm’s length and sends me to voice his humble heart.”

吳王身有內疾，不能朝請二十餘年，常患見疑，無以自白，脅肩絫足，猶懼不見釋。 The king of Wu has feigned inner sickness and skipped court audiences for twenty years, always fearing mistrust with no way to clear his name. He shrinks and cringes yet still doubts he will be forgiven.

今吳王自以與大王同憂，願因時循理，棄軀以除患於天下，意亦可乎？」 The king of Wu thinks he shares your danger and wishes to seize the hour in good order—to stake his life and wipe this evil from the realm. Would that suit you?”

吳王內以朝錯為誅，外從大王後車，方洋天下，所向者降，所指者下，莫敢不服。 The king of Wu will move first against Chao Cuo under the banner of clearing the court; abroad he would march in your wake, sweeping the realm until every place you face surrenders and every host you point at falls—none would dare resist.

大王誠幸而許之一言，則吳王率楚王略函谷關，守滎陽敖倉之粟，距漢兵，治次舍，須大王。 If you will but nod once, the king of Wu will lead the king of Chu to seize Hangu Pass, guard the grain at Ao Granary by Xingyang, hold the Han armies at bay, pitch camp, and wait for you.

歸報吳王，猶恐其不果，乃身自為使者，至膠西面約之。 Ying Gao reported back, but the king of Wu still feared he might waver and traveled himself to Jiaoxi to seal the bargain mouth to mouth.

乃削吳會稽、豫章郡書至，則吳王先起兵，誅漢吏二千石以下。 When the rescript arrived stripping Wu of Kuaiji and Yuzhang, the king of Wu was the first to raise troops and execute every Han officer from two-thousand-picul rank downward.

七國之發也，吳王悉其士卒，下令國中曰：「寡人年六十二，身自將。 As the seven kingdoms rose, Liu Bi mustered his entire host and proclaimed: “I am sixty-two and will take the field myself.

發使遺諸侯書曰：「吳王劉濞敬問膠西王、膠東王、菑川王、濟南王、趙王、楚王、淮南王、衡山王、廬江王、故長沙王子：幸教！ His messengers carried a manifesto: “The king of Wu Liu Bi greets the kings of Jiaoxi, Jiaodong, Zichuan, Jinan, Zhao, Chu, Huainan, Hengshan, Lujiang, and the heir of old Changsha—may you instruct me!

以盎為泰常，奉宗廟，使吳王，吳王弟子德侯為宗正，輔親戚。 Yuan Ang was appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies, in charge of the ancestral temples, and sent as envoy to the King of Wu. A younger kinsman of the king, the Marquis of De, was made Director of the Imperial Clan to support the royal relatives.

宗正以親故，先入見，諭吳王拜受詔。 Because the Director of the Imperial Clan was a royal relative, he entered first to see the king and instructed him to bow and receive the edict.

吳王聞盎來，亦知其欲說，笑而應曰：「我已為東帝，尚誰拜？」 When the King of Wu heard that Yuan Ang had arrived, he knew Ang intended to persuade him. He laughed and replied, "I have already become the Eastern Emperor. To whom else should I bow?"

吳王之初發也，吳臣田祿伯為大將軍。 At the outbreak Liu Bi made his minister Tian Lubo grand general.

吳王即不許田祿伯。 The king refused Lubo’s plan.

吳王問吳老將，老將曰：「此年少椎鋒可耳，安知大慮！」 Liu Bi asked the greybeards; they sneered, “Boys can charge the van—what do they know of grand design?”

周丘一夜得三萬人，使人報吳王，遂將其兵北略城邑。 In one night he raised thirty thousand, reported to the king, and swept north taking towns.

聞吳王敗走，自度無與共成功，即引兵歸下邳。 When he learned Liu Bi had fled, he saw no partner left for victory and wheeled back toward Xiapi.

二月，吳王兵既破，敗走，於是天子制詔將軍：「蓋聞為善者天報以福，為非者天報以殃。 In the second month Wu’s army was shattered; the emperor told his generals: “Heaven crowns virtue with fortune and strikes evil with woe.

而吳王濞背德反義，誘受天下亡命罪人，亂天下幣，稱疾不朝二十餘年。 Yet Liu Bi spurned right, drew runaways, debased the coinage, and feigned sickness twenty years at court.

初，吳王之度淮，與楚王遂西敗棘壁，乘勝而前，銳甚。 When Liu Bi crossed the Huai he and the king of Chu drove west, stormed the Han strongpoint at Ji, and swept on while their momentum was white-hot.

於是吳王乃與其戲下壯士千人夜亡去，度淮走丹徒，保東越。 Liu Bi slipped away at the head of a thousand household guards, crossed the Huai, made for Dantu, and threw himself on Eastern Yue.

漢使人以利啗東越，東越即紿吳王，吳王出勞軍，使人鏦殺吳王，盛其頭，馳傳以聞。 Han bribed Eastern Yue; Eastern Yue then deceived Liu Bi. When he rode out to review the ranks, assassins ran him through, boxed his head, and relay riders galloped the news to the capital.

吳王之棄軍亡也，軍遂潰，往往稍降太尉條侯及梁軍。 Once the king bolted, his army unraveled; bands here and there gave themselves up to Zhou Yafu or to Liang.

初，吳王首反，并將楚兵，連齊、趙。 At the start Liu Bi fired first, merged with Chu, and chained Qi and Zhao to his cause.

吳王擅山海之利，能薄斂以使其眾，逆亂之萌，自其子興。 Wu hoarded salt and ore, bought the people with low taxes, and the seed of revolt was sown when his son died.

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 1 passage

是故代相陳豨從車千乘，而吳濞、淮南皆招賓客以千數。 Hence Chen Xi, chancellor of Dai, rolled with a thousand chariots in his train, while Liu Pi in Wu and the king of Huainan each kept client armies counted in thousands.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 34Volume 30a: Biographies of Su Jing; Yang Hou · 1 passage

景帝之悅濟北，以不從吳濞之畔也。 Emperor Jing favored the king of Jibei for refusing to follow Liu Pi’s rebellion.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 11Annals of the Xiaojing Emperor · 1 passage

吳王濞、楚王戊、趙王遂、膠西王卬、濟南王辟光、菑川王賢、膠東王雄渠反，發兵西鄉。 The Kings Bi of Wu, Wu of Chu, Sui of Zhao, Ang of Jiaoxi, Piguang of Jinan, Xian of Zichuan, and Xiongqu of Jiaodong rebelled, raised armies, and marched west.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 51Houses of Jing and Yan · 1 passage

十二年，立沛侯劉濞為吳王，王故荊地。 In the twelfth year, he installed Liu Pi, the Marquis of Pei, as the King of Wu, to rule over the former Jing territory.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 3 passages

吳王濞棄其軍，而與壯士數千人亡走，保於江南丹徒。 The King of Wu, Bi, abandoned his army and fled with several thousand of his strongest men, taking refuge at Dantu south of the Yangtze.

漢兵因乘勝，遂盡虜之，降其兵，購吳王千金。 The Han forces pressed their advantage and captured every last one, accepting the surrender of the remaining troops and placing a bounty of a thousand jin of gold on the King of Wu.

月餘，越人斬吳王頭以告。 Over a month later, the Yue people beheaded the King of Wu and sent his head as proof.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 114Treatise on the Eastern Yue · 3 passages

後數世，至孝景三年，吳王濞反，欲從閩越，閩越未肯行，獨東甌從吳。 Several generations later, in the third year of Emperor Jing's reign, King Bi of Wu launched his rebellion and tried to recruit the Minyue to his cause, but they refused. Only Dong'ou chose to side with Wu.

及吳破，東甌受漢購，殺吳王丹徒，以故皆得不誅，歸國。 After Wu fell, Dong'ou accepted a bounty from the Han court and killed the King of Wu at Dantu. For this reason they were all spared punishment and allowed to return to their kingdoms.

吳王子子駒亡走閩越，怨東甌殺其父，常勸閩越擊東甌。 Ziju, the prince of Wu, fled to Minyue. Harboring a deep resentment against Dong'ou for slaying his father, he constantly urged the Minyue to attack them.