Liu Penzi: Encyclopedia II - Liu Penzi - Family background

Liu Penzi - Family background

Liu Penzi was a descendant of the Western Han prince Liu Zhang, Prince Jing of Chengyang, from whose principality many Chimei men came. The people of the principality had long worshipped Prince Zhang as a god. Penzi's grandfather Liu Xian (劉憲) was created the Marquess of Shi by Emepror Yuan, and Penzi's father Liu Meng (劉萌) inherited the march after Marquess Xian's death. When Wang Mang usurped the Han throne and established the Xin Dynasty in 8, the march was abolished.

Penzi was the youngest of three brothers. His older brothers were Liu Gong (劉恭) and Liu Mao (劉茂). As Chimei forces rose late during the Xin Dynasty, the Liu brothers were forced into the Chimei to be child soldiers. Later, when the Chimei general Fan Chong (樊崇) temporarily submitted to Emperor Gengshi's authority after Emperor Gengshi overthrew Wang Mang, Liu Gong accompanied Fan to the then-capital Luoyang, and was created the Marquess of Shi to inherit his father's title. He did not accompany Fan when Fan later fled from Luoyang back to the Chimei stronghold of Puyang (濮陽, in modern Puyang, Henan), but remained a follower of Emperor Gengshi. Mao and Penzi remained in the Chimei forces and were made cattlemen.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Family background", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki