| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 刘豹, 劉豹, Liú Bào |
| Other name | Lưu Báo |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Southern Xiongnu, Bing Province (并州南匈奴; Nam Hung Nô, Tinh Châu) |
| Died | 279 |
| Death Reason | Died in 279 AD; succeeded by son Liu Yuan (刘渊, Lưu Uyên), later founder of Han-Zhao |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Southern Xiongnu → Left Division (Bing) under Cao Wei / Western Jin oversight |
| Battles | Consolidation of Left Division; refusal to shelter Gao Gan (novel); no major named field battles as Wei client chief |
Here is the exhaustive biography of Liu Bao (劉豹 / 刘豹) (? – 279), a Southern Xiongnu leader and father of Liu Yuan (founder of Han-Zhao), incorporating historical records and the narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Historical Career
Liu Bao was the son of the Southern Xiongnu chanyu Yufuluo. When Yufuluo died in 195, his brother Huchuquan succeeded as chanyu according to lateral succession and appointed Liu Bao Worthy (or Wise) Prince of the Left (or Right). Around 216 Cao Cao detained Huchuquan at Ye and reorganised the remaining Southern Xiongnu into the Five Divisions in Bing Province; Liu Bao became the de-facto leader of the Left Division. He largely avoided open warfare with Wei/Jin, concentrating instead on consolidating the tribes. In the 250s Deng Ai warned of his growing influence and recommended dividing his power. Liu Bao died in 279 and was succeeded by his son Liu Yuan, who later founded the Han-Zhao dynasty (304) and contributed to the collapse of Western Jin. There is scholarly debate whether the name “Liu Bao” was original or a later claim by Liu Yuan to link the family to the Han imperial house (the Luandi clan).
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Portrayal
In the novel Liu Bao is a Xiongnu leader (Left Worthy Prince). After Gao Gan’s defeat he refuses to harbour him against Cao Cao. He is also associated with the abduction of Cai Wenji (Lady Cai), who is given to a Xiongnu chief often identified with him; Cao Cao later ransoms her. The novel does not develop him extensively beyond these mentions.
Family, Friends and Enemies
Family:
- Father: Yufuluo (Southern Xiongnu chanyu)
- Uncle: Huchuquan (succeeded as chanyu)
- Son: Liu Yuan (founder of Han-Zhao)
- Wife: Lady Huyan (historical mother of Liu Yuan); debated association with Cai Wenji (who bore children to a Xiongnu Worthy Prince of the Left, but chronology and sources make identification with Liu Bao unlikely)
Principal colleagues: Southern Xiongnu tribal leaders under the Five Divisions system.
Principal adversaries / tensions: Cao Cao (who reorganised and controlled the Xiongnu); later Wei/Jin officials such as Deng Ai who sought to curb his power.
Liu Bao (劉豹) — Historical & Literary Timeline
195 AD — Appointment as Worthy Prince
Succession after Yufuluo
Father Yufuluo died; uncle Huchuquan became chanyu and appointed Liu Bao Worthy Prince of the Left (or Right).
c. 216 AD — Reorganisation under Cao Cao
Leader of the Left Division
Huchuquan detained at Ye; Cao Cao divided the Southern Xiongnu into Five Divisions. Liu Bao emerged as the principal leader of the Left Division in Bing Province.
250s–279 AD — Consolidation and Death
Growing Influence & Succession
Unified much of the tribal force; Deng Ai warned the Wei court. Died in 279; succeeded by son Liu Yuan, who later founded Han-Zhao.
Historical Note
Historically Liu Bao was a long-lived Southern Xiongnu leader who, after the detention of Huchuquan, effectively headed the Left Division of the reorganised Xiongnu and prepared the ground for his son Liu Yuan’s later dynasty. The novel mentions him only briefly in connection with Gao Gan and the Cai Wenji episode. Modern scholarship questions whether the name “Liu Bao” and the direct paternal link to Yufuluo were original or later constructions by the Han-Zhao regime to claim Han imperial descent. The historical figure remains important as the father of the man who helped end Western Jin.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Liu Bao on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Qiangqu (羌渠, Khương Cừ): Grandfather. Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu whose line produced the later Han-Zhao claimants.
- Yufuluo (于夫罗, Ư Phù La): Father. Southern Xiongnu chanyu; after his death in 195, lateral succession passed the chanyu title to Huchuquan.
- Huchuquan (呼厨泉, Hô Trù Tuyền): Uncle. Succeeding chanyu; detained by Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) at Ye around 216 when the Five Divisions were created.
- Lady Huyan (呼延氏, Hô Duyên Thị): Wife (historical). Noble Xiongnu matriarch and mother of Liu Yuan in the standard genealogy.
- Liu Yuan (刘渊, Lưu Uyên): Son. Founder and first emperor of Han-Zhao (Former Zhao) in 304; no dedicated site page yet.
- Cai Yan / Cai Wenji (蔡琰, Sái Diễm): Novel / tradition: often cast as consort of the Left Worthy Prince identified with Liu Bao, bearing two children before Cao Cao ransomed her. History: she was captive among the Southern Xiongnu under a Left Worthy Prince, but chronology and sources make firm identification with Liu Bao unlikely — treat as debated, not proven kinship.
Friends
- Southern Xiongnu Left Division captains: Fellow tribal leaders under the Five Divisions system in Bing Province who kept the Luandi remnant cohesive after Huchuquan’s detention.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Political overlord rather than personal friend — reorganised the Southern Xiongnu into Five Divisions (216) and confirmed Liu Bao as de-facto Left Division chief while holding the chanyu at Ye.
Enemies
- Sima Yan (司马炎, Tư Mã Viêm): Emperor Wu of Jin whose court monitored and later sought to divide Liu Bao’s expanding Bingzhou tribes.
- Deng Ai (邓艾, Đặng Ngải): Wei strategist who warned that Liu Bao’s influence was too great and urged fragmenting the Xiongnu power base.
Other
- Xiongnu Five Divisions (五部): Cao Cao’s Bing Province settlement of the Southern Xiongnu; Liu Bao’s Left Division became the strongest remnant after the chanyu’s detention at Ye.
- Bing Province (并州, Tinh Châu): Geographic base of Liu Bao’s authority and the later springboard for Liu Yuan’s Han-Zhao rising against Western Jin.
- Han-Zhao / Former Zhao (汉赵): Dynasty founded by Liu Yuan in 304; Liu Bao’s long consolidation made that claim possible, whether or not his “Liu” surname was original Luandi branding.
- Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán): Yuan-clan remnant who, after defeat, sought Xiongnu shelter; novel notes Liu Bao’s refusal to harbour him against Cao Cao.
- Cai Wenji debate: Literary tradition ties her twelve-year captivity and two children to “Liu Bao,” while historians stress the Left Worthy Prince of her captivity may be a different figure — keep novel colour and historical caution side by side.
In Novel
Chapter 33
- Liu Bao (刘豹, Lưu Báo): Southern Xiongnu Left Worthy Prince; after Gao Gan (高干, Cao Cán) is defeated, refuses to harbour him against Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo), keeping the Xiongnu from open war with the northern court.
Cai Wenji arc (tradition / novel colour)
- Liu Bao (刘豹, Lưu Báo): Popularly identified with the Left Worthy Prince who held Cai Yan / Cai Wenji (蔡琰, Sái Diễm) during her northern captivity; Cao Cao later ransoms her. Treat as literary association — historical identity is debated.
In History
Summary
- Liu Bao (刘豹, Lưu Báo) was a Southern Xiongnu leader, son of chanyu Yufuluo (于夫罗, Ư Phù La), who became de-facto chief of the Left Division after Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) detained Huchuquan and created the Five Divisions in Bing Province.
Year: 195 AD
- Yufuluo dies; Huchuquan (呼厨泉, Hô Trù Tuyền) becomes chanyu; Liu Bao is appointed Worthy Prince of the Left (or Right).
Year: c. 216 AD
- Huchuquan detained at Ye; Southern Xiongnu reorganised into Five Divisions; Liu Bao leads the Left Division in Bing.
Year: 250s AD
- Deng Ai (邓艾, Đặng Ngải) warns Wei that Liu Bao’s tribal strength should be divided.
Year: 279 AD
- Liu Bao dies; son Liu Yuan (刘渊, Lưu Uyên) succeeds and later founds Han-Zhao (304).
Historical Record
- Jinshu and related notices on Liu Yuan’s genealogy; Pei/SGZ-era context for Cao Cao’s Xiongnu settlement; modern debate on whether “Liu Bao” is original or Han-Zhao retrospective branding.
Gallery
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