Meet China’s shortest-reigning emperor, who was banished in life but dignified in death

Liu He ruled as emperor for just 27 days in 74BC, and he was banished as a commoner after being dethroned

But his tomb is full of treasures, and they offer an insight into one of the most successful periods of Chinese history

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The tomb of Emperor Liu He during excavation. Photo: China Daily

Published: 6:00pm, 9 Oct 2022Updated: 12:23pm, 11 Oct 2022

When Liu He was deposed as emperor in 74BC, it is unlikely he imagined that he would set a record that would stand for nearly 2,100 years. Liu has regrettable stature as the Chinese emperor who ruled for the shortest time, lasting for just 27 days.

When Liu was dethroned, he was stripped of his social status and spent the rest of his life as a commoner. However, this punishment did not last into his death, and recent excavations of his tomb paint a picture that, in the afterlife, his name triumphed over his legacy.

After his banishment, Liu was renamed Marquis of Haihun and would spend his remaining days living by a lake, and he would eventually receive a full-scale tomb after he died.

The tomb of Liu He, the shortest ruling emperor in Chinese history. Photo: People’s Daily

Ironically, considering the brief nature of Liu’s reign, his tomb near Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province in southeastern China, is the best-preserved cemetery of an imperial figure from the Western Han dynasty (206BC–9AD).

In the most recent announcement, archaeologists said they found what could be the oldest known painting of Confucius ever found in China. Around 5,000 bamboo slips with Confucius teachings were found in the tomb.

That, along with bronze, gold and jade artefacts, makes it clear that Liu was not treated like a commoner in his death.

The reason for the honour may be straightforward – Liu was the grandson of Emperor Wu of Han, one of the most influential leaders in Chinese history. Wu reigned for 54 years and helmed a period of significant territorial expansion. He also strengthened the central government and improved China’s status abroad.