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Liu Yan 劉琰

Feb 15, 2024 © Ulrich Theobald

Liu Yan 劉琰 (d. 234), courtesy name Weishuo 威碩, was a military commander of the state of Shu-Han 蜀漢 (221-263), one of the Three Empires 三國 (220~280 CE).

As a man from the princedom of Lu 魯國 (today's Qufu 曲阜, Shandong), he served Liu Bei 劉備 (161-222) when the latter dominated the province of Yuzhou 豫州. When Liu Bei conquered the Sichuan Basin, Liu Yan was made governor (taishou 太守) of Guling 固陵 and named general of chariots and cavalry (cheji jiangjun 車騎將軍), and was invested as Township Marquis of Duxiang 都鄉侯.

Liu Yan had personal problems with commander Wei Yan 魏延 and was therefore transferred to the capital Chengdu 成都. His wife, née Hu 胡氏, once paid a visit of congratulation to the Empress Dowager and was asked to stay with her for several weeks. Liu, however, suspected her of having an affair with Emperor Liu Shan 劉禪 (r. 223-263 CE) and therefore had her beaten up severely by some of his men. The Emperor thereupon order to arrest Liu and execute him.

Sources:
Huang Huixian 黃惠賢, ed. (1997). Ershiwushi renming da cidian 二十五史人名大辭典 (Zhengzhou: Zhongzhou guji chubanshe), Vol. 1, 123.
Zhang Huizhi 張撝之, Shen Qiwei 沈起煒, Liu Dezhong 劉德重, ed. (1999). Zhongguo lidai renming da cidian 中國歷代人名大辭典 (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe), Vol. 1, 644.
Zhang Shunhui 張舜徽, ed. (1992). Sanguozhi cidian 三國志辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 607.