Emperor Xian of Han — The Struggle and Compromise of the Last Emperor of the Han Dynasty
Liu Xie (181 — 234), courtesy name Bohe, respected as Emperor Xian of Han, was the last monarch of the Han Dynasty (202 BC — 220 AD).
Since ascending to the throne as a puppet emperor, he never wielded real power.
On the contrary, he constantly suffered from horror, sadness, and conspiracy.
He bravely struggled for his empire but ultimately accepted the harsh reality in the end.
Emperor Xian of Han didn’t do anything wrong but still had to hand over his enormous empire himself helplessly.
Intense Conflict Among Aggressive Forces
After Liu Xie was born, his mother was poisoned to death by the current queen out of jealousy. Hence, he was raised by his grandmother Empress Dowager Dong.
Liu Xie was the second son of Liu Hong, also known as Emperor Ling of Han (156 — 189). He inherited an empire plagued by the dominance of powerful eunuchs and warlords, and beset by numerous uprisings.
After Liu Hong passed away, his oldest son Liu Bian (176 — 190) ascended to the throne.
At that time, eunuchs and civil officials were fighting intensified while more and more warlords obtained independent armed forces.
After hearing that Emperor Liu Bian’s uncle planned to summon warlords to the capital city and perish them, some eunuchs kidnapped Emperor Liu Bian and Liu Xie and fled.
When Liu Bian and Liu Xie were finally rescued by loyal officials and returned to the royal palace, they encountered Dong Zhuo (? — 192), the warlord summoned to eliminate the eunuch factions.
The eunuchs were eliminated, but Warlord Dong Zhuo, a strong general with a vast private army, stayed in the capital city.
Bronze Artifact of Han Dynasty with Inlaying Gold and Silver that used to Press Sitting Mat — Hebei Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Puppet Emperor of A Falling Empire
When Dong Zhuo encountered Liu Bian and Liu Xie in chaos, everyone was scared by Dong’s huge troop.
Emperor Liu Bian was too nervous to speak clearly, but the 8-year-old Liu Xie was quite brave, intelligent, and dignified.
Most importantly, Liu Xie had no mother or strong clan to support him.
Hence, Dong Zhuo abolished Liu Bian and supported Liu Xie as the new emperor. Later, Liu Bian and his mother’s entire clan perished by Dong Zhuo.
Liu Xie, now the Emperor Xian of Han, became a puppet of Dong Zhuo that obtained real power.
Dong Zhuo and his soldiers were all cruel and greedy; they burnt down the prosperous Luoyang city of the Han Empire and robbed large numbers of treasures and women, then forced Emperor Liu Xie and the entire royal family to move out of this city.
Soon, many other warlords allied together, trying to perish the indecent Dong Zhuo, which caused many intense battles.
Unearthed Pottery Houses (Wu Bao) of the Late Han Dynasty, Modeled by Castles of Strong Clans with Private Troops — National Museum of China
Honeytrap Schemes Amidst Chaotic Struggles
Wang Yun (137 — 192), a civil official loyal to the Emperor Xian of Han, trained a beautiful spy and then offered her to Dong Zhuo and his strong adoptive son Lv Bu.
This captivating honeytrap named Diao Chan, one of the Four Beauties in Chinese history, successfully enticed both powerful men but ultimately fell under Dong Zhuo's control.
Plus further instigations of Wang Yun, Lv Bu got quite furious and then assassinated Dong Zhuo.
Under the name of revenge, Dong Zhuo’s former generals kept invading the city where Emperor Xian of Han lived.
Wang Yun sacrificed protecting the emperor, Lv Bu lost in battles and fled, and Emperor Xian of Han was captured.
Unearthed Glass Bowl of the Han Dynasty — Nanyang Cultural Relic and Archeology Research Institute (Photo by Dongmaiying)
During this period, as a puppet emperor, he still used his limited power to relieve people suffering from natural disasters and saved many lives.
A few months later, protected by some loyal generals, Emperor Xian of Han finally escaped from the city.
When they were suffering from hunger and danger, they encountered a warlord Cao Cao (155 — 220).
Cao respected Liu Xie as the rightful monarch and ensured his safe return to the royal palace.
The 15-year-old Emperor Xian of Han, who had already experienced many life-and-death crises, finally stabilized.
However, he still had no power or military force.
Ruins of Han Dynasty Great Wall in Gansu, Photo by Gucheng.
The Final Struggles of Emperor Xian of Han
At that time, powerful warlords had already divided and occupied the nation.
Having Emperor Xian of Han in his hand made Lord Cao the most orthodox force then.
Soon, Cao forced the emperor to change his capital and command all the other forces and uprising armies to bend their knees.
After this migration, Liu Xie found that his loyal servants were all killed for different reasons and replaced by Lord Cao’s followers.
When Emperor Xian of Han was older, he tried contacting some loyal generals who might be willing to help him regain power.
However, they either failed or got caught before they initiated any actions.
The emperor’s messengers, including his beloved queen Fu and an imperial concubine Dong, as well as their entire clan, were all slaughtered by Lord Cao.
Jade Comb with Gold Decoration of the Late Han Dynasty — Metropolitan Museum of Art (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Emperor Xian of Han’s Compromise and Abdication
Afterward, Lord Cao sent three of his daughters to the emperor and demanded that Liu Xie nominate one of them as the queen.
Meanwhile, his monitoring of the emperor became even stricter.
Lord Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, was a brilliant politician, militarist, poet, and strategist.
He reigned the kingdom well and brought civilians good lives.
He was powerful, ambitious, and skeptical.
He didn’t want to share power with Emperor Xian of Han but had never planned to usurp the throne from the emperor either.
Unearthed Dragon Shaped Golden Belt Buckle of the Han Dynasty Decorated with Turquoises — Shouxian Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Lord Cao Cao passed away in the year 220, and his heir Cao Pi (187 — 226), courtesy name Zihuan, inherited his title and power.
A few months later, under constant “persuasions” and “suggestions”, Emperor Xian of Han abdicated the throne to Cao Pi.
Cao Pi changed the empire’s name to Wei. He respected his father, Cao Cao, as Emperor Wu of Wei and himself as Emperor Wen of Wei.
The Han Dynasty officially ended.
Afterward, the other two powerful warlords claimed independence and enthroned in succession.
The era of the Three Kingdoms began.
Portrait of Cao Pi the Emperor Wen of Wei, By Artist Yan Liben (601 — 673) — Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Liu Xie's Life as A Great Doctor
After Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han, was forced to relinquish the great empire built and flourished by his brilliant ancestors, he was demoted to Duke Shanyang, with a small city as his fief.
He and his wife, the daughter of Lord Cao Cao, lived a peaceful life for another 14 years.
They were very generous and helpful, had reigned this fief well, and gained civilians' respect and love.
Liu Xie relinquished everything and embarked on a simple life as a doctor, utilizing the medical skills he had acquired while in the royal palace.
He had cured countless people there with free inquiry and treatment fees.
Painted Pottery Building of the Eastern Han Dynasty — Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Helpless Fate and the Peaceful End of Emperor Xian of Han
The first half of Liu Xie's life as Emperor Xian of Han was turbulent and tragic.
Regarded merely as a symbol of power by warlords, he never wielded genuine authority or earned respect.
As an honored emperor, he almost had witnessed and experienced all the dark sides of the world and humanity.
He was fully aware of how prosperous the Han Empire used to be, what his ancestors had achieved, and what he wanted to obtain.
He had tried everything he could and struggled bravely. But the truth was that his empire was about to end, and no one could change it.
Therefore, Liu Xie compromised.
He relinquished the throne and all its accompanying burdens: conspiracies, tensions, conflicts, bloodshed, and more.
Filigree Gold Dragon of the Eastern Han Dynasty Decorated with Gems — Dingzhou Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
The latter half of his life was at peace, simple, and calm: helping people while acquiring their sincere, heartiest love and respect.
Liu Xie died peacefully when he was old and was buried using an emperor’s ceremony.
His sons were also given noble titles, but his grandsons and descendants gradually disappeared from historical records.
Jade Cup of the Empire Wei During the Three Kingdoms Era — Luoyang Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Next Story: Handsome & Rakish Artist with Solemn and Stirring Ending — Ji Kang
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