| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 刘祥, 劉祥, Liú Xiáng |
| Nickname | Administrator of Jiangxia |
| Other name | Lưu Tường |
| INFORMATION | |
| Born | c. 140 AD |
| Birth Place | Zheng County, Lingling Commandery |
| Died | c. 190 AD |
| FAMILY | |
| Children | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Eastern Han Dynasty |
Biography & Historical Record
Liu Xiang (刘祥, Lưu Tường) was an influential administrator, military commander, and local magnate of the late Eastern Han dynasty. Originating from Zheng County in Lingling Commandery, he belonged to a distinguished family of the Jingchu region that held immense authority in the middle Yangtze valley.
Known for his bold temperament, unbending pride, and fierce independence, Liu Xiang rose to high office as the Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery (江夏太守). During his tenure, he maintained ironclad authority over trade and military posts along the riverways. He was the father of Liu Ba (刘巴), who later became Director of the Imperial Secretariat (Shangshu Ling) and the principal economic architect of Shu Han under Liu Bei.
When the warlord Sun Jian raised his armies in Changsha to join the grand coalition against Dong Zhuo, political rivalries erupted in the region. Sun Jian executed Inspector of Jingzhou Wang Rui and moved against southern administrators, creating profound enmity that forced the young Liu Ba to harbor long-standing skepticism toward the Sun and Liu Bei factions.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 6 (War in the southern provinces): When the southern warlords rallied their banners in the twilight of the Han house, proud governors like Liu Xiang guarded the river commanderies, their clans commanding deep loyalty across the lakes of Jingchu.
Liu Xiang — Historical & Literary Timeline
c. 140 AD
Roots in Lingling
Born into the elite gentry of Zheng County in Lingling Commandery; trained in military command and regional politics.
c. 185 AD
Administrator of Jiangxia
Appointed Administrator of Jiangxia; enforces order and collects revenue across the crucial strategic riverways.
c. 190 AD
Turmoil of the Southern Alliances
Becomes entangled in warlord confrontations during the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, passing down his proud lineage to his son Liu Ba.
Key Relationships
Family
- Liu Ba (刘巴, Lưu Ba) — Son; brilliant financial architect, scholar, and Imperial Secretariat Director of Shu Han.
Friends / Allies
- Gentry of Lingling and Jiangxia — Aristocratic clans of Jingzhou who maintained trade and landholdings across the riverways.
Enemies / Rivals
- Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên) — Aggressive warlord whose southern campaign destabilized Jingzhou commanderies.
- Rebel Factions of the Yangtze — Waterborne bandits and insurgents operating along the borders of Jiangxia.
Other
- Liu Biao (刘表, Lưu Biểu) — Governor of Jingzhou who later consolidated authority over the lands once governed by Liu Xiang.
In Novel
Chapter 6 (Governors of the southern waterways)
- Liu Xiang (刘祥, Lưu Tường): In Jiangxia, Liu Xiang marshaled the river flotillas, resolute in defending the authority of the Han court against warlord usurpation.
Chapter 63 (Ancestry of Liu Ba)
- Liu Xiang (刘祥, Lưu Tường): Remembering the unyielding spirit of his father Liu Xiang, Liu Ba held himself aloof from common ambition, serving only when statecraft demanded his profound intellect.
In History
Summary
- Liu Xiang (刘祥) was Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery in the late Eastern Han dynasty, father of Shu Han chancellor Liu Ba.
Year: c. 140–190 AD
- Governed Jiangxia Commandery with commanding presence and prominent standing among the prominent families of Jingzhou.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi, Vol. 39 (Biography of Liu Ba): Notes that Liu Ba's father Liu Xiang served as Administrator of Jiangxia during the late Han dynasty, recognized for his stern authority and high aristocratic descent.
COMMENTS (0)