Liu Gaorenfu

Biography & Historical Record

Liu Gaorenfu was a high-ranking Southern Xiongnu military commander and noble who served as the Commander of the Left Division (Zuo Bushuai) during the Cao Wei dynasty. As the eldest son of Qubei, the Right Worthy Prince (You Xianwang) and Imperial Director (Jianguo) of the Southern Xiongnu, Liu Gaorenfu belonged to the aristocratic royal house of the Xiongnu. Historically, he played a crucial role in consolidating Xiongnu power within the inland Bing Province (modern Shanxi), governing tens of thousands of nomadic households while maintaining steadfast loyalty to the central Cao Wei regime.

Between 216 AD and 220 AD, during the late Eastern Han period, Cao Cao executed a grand geopolitical reorganization of the Southern Xiongnu. Following the detention of Chanyu Huchuwen in Ye City, Cao Cao appointed Liu Gaorenfu’s father, Qubei, to oversee all five restructured Xiongnu divisions based in Taiyuan Commandery. During this period, Liu Gaorenfu relocated with his noble family to Taiyuan. Adopting the prestigious royal surname Liu—which stemmed from ancient dynastic marriage alliances between Han emperors and Xiongnu Chanyus—Liu Gaorenfu received a comprehensive education combining traditional Sinicized Han literacy with traditional Xiongnu equestrian martial skills.

During the Cao Wei dynasty (220–265 AD), the central government maintained the five-division administrative system over the Xiongnu population to preserve regional stability. Recognized for his noble pedigree and exceptional military leadership, Liu Gaorenfu was officially appointed by the Wei court as the Commander of the Left Division (Zuo Bushuai), also designated as the Grand Commander (Da Bushuai). Headquartered at Cishi County in Taiyuan Commandery (modern Shanxi Province), Liu Gaorenfu commanded elite nomadic cavalry regiments and exercised direct administrative oversight over tens of thousands of Xiongnu families.

Throughout his tenure as Left Division Commander, Liu Gaorenfu remained a fiercely loyal client-commander of the Cao Wei imperial court. He led specialized Xiongnu cavalry contingents on numerous border patrols and defensive campaigns to suppress incursions by rebellious Xianbei chieftains and hostile nomadic factions along the northern frontier of Bing Province. His strict military discipline and steadfast loyalty ensured peace along the northern borders of Wei for decades. He passed away toward the end of the Cao Wei era (prior to the establishment of the Western Jin dynasty in 265 AD), passing command of the Left Division to his younger brother, Liu Bao.

Historically, Liu Gaorenfu represented a pivotal link in the Sinicization and political rise of the Xiongnu royal house within inland China. By holding the supreme command of the powerful Left Division, Liu Gaorenfu and his brother Liu Bao established immense prestige and military authority among the Xiongnu tribes of Shanxi. The military foundation and territorial stronghold cultivated under Liu Gaorenfu’s governance directly enabled his nephew, Liu Yuan, to later rally the five divisions and found the Han-Zhao dynasty in 304 AD, marking the start of the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In Luo Guanzhong’s novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Gaorenfu does not appear as a named character nor is he mentioned in any specific chapter. Luo Guanzhong omitted many late-era nomadic administrators to concentrate the literary narrative on the primary military campaigns between Shu Han, Cao Wei, and Eastern Wu, particularly the duels of wit between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi. However, Liu Gaorenfu is an authentic historical figure documented in official historical texts, most notably the Book of Jin (Jin Shu – Records of Liu Yuan) and the Book of Wei (Wei Shu), as the Left Division Commander of the Southern Xiongnu who governed Taiyuan under Cao Wei.

Liu Gaorenfu (劉誥仁父) — Literary & Historical Timeline

Key Relationships

• Family:
  • Qubei — Father, Right Worthy Prince, and Imperial Director who governed the five Xiongnu divisions under Cao Cao.
  • Liu Bao — Younger brother who succeeded Liu Gaorenfu as Commander of the Left Division.
  • Liu Yuan — Nephew who founded the Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms era.
  • Yufuluo — Grand-uncle and former Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu.
  • Huchuwen — Grand-uncle and final Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu detained at Ye City.
• Comrades / Allies:
  • Cao Pi — First Emperor of Cao Wei under whose administration Liu Gaorenfu served as Left Division Commander.
  • Cao Rui — Emperor of Cao Wei whose northern frontiers were defended by Liu Gaorenfu’s cavalry forces.
• Enemies / Opponents:
  • ? — Rebellious Xianbei chieftains and hostile border tribes who launched incursions against Bing Province.

For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Liu Gaorenfu on Wikipedia.