In the third chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dong Zhuo, perceiving Emperor Shao Liu Bian as weak and incompetent, proposed deposing him and replacing him with Liu Xie (the Prince of Chenliu), who was described as intelligent, studious, eloquent, and dignified.
The next day Dong Zhuo laid a great banquet in the garden for the elder lords and nobles, all of whom he had intimidated into attending. He waited until all the court officials had arrived and then with studied slowness rode to the gate, dismounted, and entered the grounds without removing his sword. After several rounds of wine he ordered the festivities to cease. “I have only one thing to say,” he said, his voice loud and harsh. “Hear it in silence.” The assembly was keenly attentive. “The Son of Heaven is sovereign lord of all,” Dong Zhuo went on, “but without awe-inspiring dignity he cannot do honor to the ancestral temple or our sacred shrines. The present Emperor is timid and weak. For intellect and learning he cannot match the prince of Chenliu, who deserves to inherit the throne. Hence I shall depose the Emperor and instate the prince. What do the great ministers have to say?”
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 3
In reality, this evaluation is biased. At least Lu Zhi stood up and denied Dong Zhuo’s statement.
However, in the present situation, although the Emperor has not reached maturity, he has demonstrated his receptive intelligence and humane wisdom.
— Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 3
And after that, Lu Zhi cited two historical cases—Yi Yin exiling Tai Jia and Huo Guang deposing the Prince of Changyi—to refute Dong Zhuo.
Today, we will explore the true Liu Bian in the history from the perspectives of his upbringing and educational environment, political background, and the needs of literary creation.
Liu Bian’s upbringing and environment
Before Liu Bian was born, several sons of Emperor Ling had died in infancy. Therefore, after Liu Bian’s birth, he was not raised in the palace but in the home of a Taoist priest named Shi Zimiao. Liu Bian’s mother, Lady He, believed that the priest’s mystical arts could protect the prince and ensure his healthy growth.
Naturally, this meant he never received systematic imperial education. Compared to Liu Xie, who was raised in the palace under the care of Empress Dowager Dong, Liu Bian appeared dumb, timid, inarticulate, frivolous in behavior, and lacking imperial dignity.
Lack of Political Training
Liu Bian ascended the throne at the age of 17 and reigned for only five months. Throughout this period, he was totally manipulated and dominated by his uncle He Jin, who served as regent. As a result, Liu Bian not only lacked imperial education and training but also had no practical experience in governance or leadership.
Needs of Literary Creation
Vilifying Liu Bian: Justify Dong Zhuo’s deposition
By contrasting Liu Bian’s “panic” with Liu Xie’s “composure,” the novel creates an excuse for deposing the elder and installing the younger. This justification is a common literary technique but deviates from historical truth—historically, Dong Zhuo’s core motive for the deposition was that Liu Xie was easier to control, not Liu Bian’s incompetence.
Highlighting Liu Xie: Paving the way for Emperor Xian’s legitimacy and subsequent plot
The main narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms revolves around “Liu Bei’s group reviving the Han Dynasty,” and Emperor Xian Liu Xie is the core symbol of Han legitimacy. By vilifying Liu Bian and glorifying Liu Xie, the novel provides stronger moral support for Liu Bei’s respect for the Han Dynasty and resistance against Cao Cao. If Liu Bian’s image were not vilified, readers might question why Liu Xie could replace him as the legitimate emperor, affecting the construction of legitimacy in the subsequent plot.
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