Liu Bei

Rose in revolt as a member of the Han imperial clan, bounced back from repeated defeats, and finally founded Shu Han in Yizhou.

Life

Weaving Mats and Selling Sandals

Liu Bei claimed descent from Prince Jing of Zhongshan. Having lost his father as a boy, he made a living selling sandals and weaving mats. He rose in arms during the suppression of the Yellow Turbans, and for the first half of his life moved from patron to patron—Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao and Liu Biao—suffering setback after setback, yet always winning people's hearts through benevolence and righteousness.

Three Visits and Red Cliffs

In 207 he made the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage to bring Zhuge Liang into his service. When Cao Cao advanced south in 208, Liu Bei was overtaken at Changban; after allying with Sun Quan he won at Red Cliffs and then took southern Jingzhou. He seized Yizhou in 214, captured Hanzhong in 219 and proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong.

Taking the Throne and Entrusting the Heir

That same year Guan Yu lost Jingzhou and was killed. In 221 Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in Chengdu, and the next year he marched east against Sun Wu, but at Yiling Lu Xun's fire attack dealt him a crushing defeat and he fell back to Baidi. In 223, gravely ill, he entrusted Crown Prince Liu Shan to Zhuge Liang and died.

Legacy

Starting from a weak position, Liu Bei maneuvered among the warlords and built an empire through his eye for talent and indomitable persistence, making him the most legendary founder of the Three Kingdoms.

Major works & achievements

• Founded Shu Han
• Took Yi Province and Hanzhong

Did you know? According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, as a young man he did not much care for books, preferring dogs and horses, music, and fine clothes.

Key dates

• 207Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage
• 208Battle of Red Cliffs
• 214Seized Yizhou
• 219Took Hanzhong; proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong
• 221Proclaimed emperor, founding Shu Han
• 222Crushing defeat at the Battle of Yiling
• 223Liu Bei entrusts his heir at Baidicheng