Liu Ying

Who was Liu Ying?

Liu Ying was a son of Emperor Guangwu of Han, and half-brother of Emperor Ming. After becoming Prince of Chu, he was a known supporter of many religions. In particular, his sponsorship of Buddhism in 65 CE is the first documented case of Buddhist practices in China.

Born to the Lady Xu, a junior consort of Emperor Guangwu, Liu Ying was given the rank of duke in 39 CE, and prince in 41 CE. The next year he received Chu as his hereditary fiefdom, with his capital at Pengcheng. The young Liu Ying seems to have been close to his half-brother Liu Zhuang, the future Emperor Ming. He is also said to have travelled widely and gained an interest in Huang-Lao Daoism and Buddhism. After Liu Ying became a prince, he actively supported both religions in the hope of finding a drug of longevity or immortality.

Because of these activities, Liu Ying was suspected of treasonous intrigue and the subject of an imperial edict from Emperor Ming. The edict, which survives in the Hou Han Shu shows that at the time Buddha was associated in the opinion of the Chinese imperial court with Daoism. He was treated like a god to whom sacrifices and honour fasts were held.