Liu Chuyu

Who was Liu Chuyu?

Liu Chuyu, often known by her title Princess Shanyin, was a princess of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song, as the daughter of Emperor Xiaowu.

Liu Chuyu was the oldest of six children of Emperor Xiaowu's wife Empress Wang Xianyuan, although her birth date is not known. During her father's reign, her father created her the Princess Shanyin and married her to He Ji, the son of his official He Yan. After her father's death in 464, her younger brother, also by Empress Wang, Liu Ziye became emperor. She became one of the people who often attended him while he visited places outside the palace. On one occasion, she told him, "While our genders are different, we are born of the same father. However, you have more than 10,000 women in your palaces, and I only have one husband, and this is unfair." In response, Emperor Qianfei selected 30 young handsome men for her, calling them her mianshou, for them to be her lovers. He also promoted her to the greater title of Princess Kuaiji.