Liu Chen

Who was Liu Chen?

Liu Chen, Prince of Beidi, was the fifth son of Liu Shan, the second ruler of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Liu Chen opposed the plans of Qiao Zhou to surrender to the opposing force under general Deng Ai from the rival state of Cao Wei. Liu Chen attempted to convince his father to fight for the honor of Shu, so Liu Bei could look upon him as a redeemed ruler of Shu. However, Liu Shan threw Liu Chen out of the court for this. He then went to Liu Bei's ancestral temple and killed his wife and children before committing suicide.

Liu Chen's story is reenacted in a play of the Yueju opera.