Saturday, August 8, 2009

Han Emperor Liu Bang 汉王刘邦

Liu Bang (256 BC or 247 BC– 195 BC) was the first emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, ruling over China from 202 BC until 195 BC, and one of only a few dynasty founders who emerged from the peasant class.
His life story is recorded in the ‘Records of the Historian’.
Gaozu (Liu Bang) was from Yang Li in Fengyi, Peixian County (today’s Fengxian County). His family name was Liu and his alternative name was Ji. His father was known as Taigong and his mother Liu Yun. On day Yun was resting at a lake side and in her dream she was courted by a divine. At that time, the sky was dark and there were lighting and thunder, and Taikong saw a giant snake coiled around her body. Later Yun was pregnant and gave birth to Liu.
Once, Liu served in the military in Xianyang, capital of Qin. He was very impressed with the pomposity of the guards of honour who accompanied the First Emperor of Qin on his inspection tours. Liu had a long breath and sigh, ‘Ah, what a way to be a man!’
Lu, from a prominent family in Shanfu County (today’s Shanxian, Shandong), was a close friend of the magistrate of Peixian County. Escaping from a family enemy, Lu came to live in Peixian. All prominent people and local gentry in the county turned out to congratulate him on his arrival and settling in their hometown. Xiao He, a county secretary who was there on the day registering gifts received by Lu, told guests, ‘All those with gifts worth less than a thousand dollars please sit outside.’
Liu Bang did not think highly of the local gentry, although he was then only a minor official. He had no money to offer as a gift, but he wrote on the visiting card, ‘A ten thousand dollar gift for the host.’
When Lu was shown the visiting card, he was overwhelmed and so he hurried out of the sitting hall to greet the guest. Lu was good at face-reading. After looking at Liu, Lu was clearly impressed and invited Liu to sit in the hall. Xiao He remarked, ‘Liu is full of empty talk and he seldom completes his tasks.’
Liu behaved in a manner that is disrespectful to other guests by taking the VIP seat without hesitation.
After the feast, Lu asked Liu Bang to stay and said to him, ‘I have been doing face-reading since young. While I have done so many face- readings, I have not seen any face as good as yours. I hope you look after yourself well. If you do not mind, I would like to marry my daughter, Lu Zhi, to you.’
Lu’s wife was angry and complained, ‘You have always wanted our daughter to marry someone special and outstanding so that she can have a good life. The magistrate of Peixian is your friend but you refused to marry her to him. But now you want to marry her to a scoundrel!’ Lu said, ‘it is something that is beyond your understanding.’
So Lu married his daughter to Liu. She later became the Empress Lu who gave birth to Emperor Xiaohui and princess Luyuan.
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刘邦(公元前256或247-195)是中国汉朝的开朝皇帝,于公元前202年至195年统治中国。它是少数农民出身的开朝皇帝。
《史记》记录了的他生平。
高祖,沛丰邑中阳里人,姓刘氏,字季。父曰太公,母曰刘媪。其先刘媪尝息大泽之陂,梦与神遇。是时雷电晦冥,太公往视,则见蛟龙於其上。已而有身,遂产高祖。
高祖常繇咸阳,纵观,观秦皇帝,喟然太息曰:「嗟乎,大丈夫当如此也!」
单父人吕公善沛令,避仇从之客,因家沛焉。沛中豪桀吏闻令有重客,皆往贺。萧何为主吏,主进,令诸大夫曰:「进不满千钱,坐之堂下。」
高祖为亭长,素易诸吏,乃绐为谒曰「贺钱万」,实不持一钱。
谒入,吕公大惊,起,迎之门。吕公者,好相人,见高祖 状貌,因重敬之,引入坐。萧何曰:「刘季固多大言,少成事。」
高祖因狎侮诸客,遂坐上坐,无所诎。
酒阑,吕公因目固留高祖。高祖竟酒,後。吕公曰:「臣少 好相人,相人多矣,无如季相,愿季自爱。臣有息女,愿为季箕帚妾。」
酒罢,吕媪怒吕公曰:「公始常欲奇此女,与贵人。沛令善公,求之不与,何自妄许与刘季?」吕公曰:「此非儿女子所知也。」
卒与刘季。吕公女乃吕后也,生孝惠帝、鲁元公主。

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