Liu Xuan

Liu Xuan (died 4 December 308), courtesy name Shize, was a Xiongnu politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. In 304, he joined a plot led by the Xiongnu aristocracy to break away from the ruling Jin dynasty. He was important in getting his great-nephew, Liu Yuan, to lead the Xiongnu and form Han-Zhao. After the state's establishment, Liu Xuan became its first Prime Minister and played an influential role in its administration. Life Background and early life Liu Xuan was a member of the Luandi clan that once ruled over the Xiongnu as chanyus. According to the Book of Jin, he was the great-uncle of Liu Yuan, which implies that he was also the son of Qiangqu, and the brother of Yufuluo and Huchuquan. During the fall of the Han dynasty, his family moved to Pingyang County in Shanxi. In 216, the warlord-statesman, Cao Cao, abolished the chanyu title and divided the Xiongnu into five tribes in Shanxi. At this point, the Xiongnu had become subjects of the ruling dynasties in China. The Book of Jin describes Liu Xuan as a simple and quiet person, but also one who was eager to learn and cultivate. He gained an appreciation for Han culture, and studied under a scholar from Le'an Commandery, Sun Yan (孫炎). Liu Xuan proved to be an exceptional student, and was compared by his teacher to the Xiongnu minister, Jin Midi. He was familiar with the Mao Commentary and Zuo Zhuan, and from his reading of the Book of Han, he idolized the famed officials, Xiao He and Deng Yu. After completing his studies, he returned to his hometown and lived in recluse for many years.