Liu Bingzhong

Not to be confused with Liu Bingzhang.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Liu Bingzhong (Chinese: 劉秉忠; 1216–20 September 1274[1][2]), originally named Liu Kan (Chinese: 劉侃), courtesy name Zhonghui (仲晦), art name Cangchun Sanren (藏春散人), Dharma name Zicong (子聰), posthumous names Duke Wenzhen of Zhao (趙文貞公), Duke Wenzheng of Zhao (趙文正公) and Prince Wenzheng of Changshan (常山文正王), was an official and architect of the Mongol Empire and Yuan dynasty. A trusted advisor of Kublai (Emperor Shizu), Liu Bingzhong served as grand chancellor during Kublai's reign.

Life and career

He was born in Ruizhou (Rui prefecture), during the Jin dynasty. In 1233, he entered the Jin's bureaucracy. He still was an officer after the Mongol Empire conquered the Jin following the Mongol–Jin wars, but later he became a monk. However his teacher thought that his talent should not be buried, so he recommended Liu Bingzhong to Kublai Khan, to become his adviser. During this period, he was extolled as the Five Talented in Xintai. He was credited with occult powers which allowed him to foretell the future and so assist military operations.[3] Liu had a paramount influence on Yuan era city designs, and he is known to have planned both the Yuan capital of Dadu and its summer capital Xanadu (Shangdu).[4][5]

Liu Bingzhong and Yao Shu made a plan "to canvass all talented to give well-governorship suggestions". Many Confucianists, such as Xu Heng, Wang Xun, Zhang Yi, were attracted to provide ruse to Kublai Khan, who later became the founder of the Yuan Dynasty.

After the Battle of Diaoyu Fortress, Möngke Khan died and Kublai Khan succeeded his post. Liu Bingzhong suggested to name the new dynasty as "Da Yuan" (Chinese: 大元; "Great Yuan") with reference to I Ching, which was adopted by Kublai Khan in 1271. He also suggested Kublai Khan adopt Chinese law over that of Mongol law, and removed some Mongolian misgovernment.

Kublai Khan recognized Jin's Central Capital as the capital of the Yuan, and renamed it to Dadu ("Great Capital"). Liu Bingzhong was the planner and the original architect of the Capital Construction of Dadu. Liu also designed and planned the layout of the Yuan's summer capital at Xanadu (Shangdu).[6][7] Liu formulated the Time Service Calendar with Guo Shoujing. When he became the teacher of Zhenjin, who later became the Crown Prince (Chinese: 皇太子), he set up the Zishan College in Wuon Mountain to teach Confucianism and Natural Science.

In 20 September 1274, he died in Nanbing Mountain Villa.

Literary work

  • Spring Corpus 藏春集 (6 volumes);
  • Spring Poetry Anthology 藏春词;
  • Poetry Anthology 诗集 (22 volumes);
  • Corpus 文集 (10 volumes);
  • Pingsha Jade Ruler 平沙玉尺 (4 volumes);
  • Jade Ruler and New Mirror 玉尺新镜 (2 volumes).

See also

References

  1. ^ 王磐. "〈神道碑銘〉". In 劉秉忠; 商挺 (eds.). 《藏春集‧卷六》 (in Chinese). 至元十一年，扈從至上都，居南屏山之精舍。秋八月壬戌之夜，儼然端坐無疾而薨。享年五十有九。訃聞，上嗟悼不已，語群臣曰：「秉忠三十餘年，小心慎密，不避艱危，事有可否，言無隱情，又其陰陽術數之精，占事知來若合符契，惟朕知之，他人莫得預聞也。」遣禮部侍郎趙秉溫護其喪還大都，以冬十月壬申葬斂營葬，一切所須皆出內帑。十二年春正月，詔贈太傅儀同三司下，太常議諡曰文真，仍命翰林學士。
  2. ^ Rong, Lu (2022). A Ming Confucian’s World: Selections from Miscellaneous Records from the Bean Garden. University of Washington Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-295-74994-5. JSTOR j.ctv2n4w5w9.10. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  3. ^ Perry Link (2009), The scholar's mind, Chinese University Press, ISBN 9789629964030
  4. ^ China archaeology and art digest. Vol. 4. Art Text (HK) Ltd., original from the University of Michigan. 2001. p. 35.
  5. ^ Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt (1999). Chinese imperial city planning. University of Hawaii Press. p. 153. ISBN 0-8248-2196-3.
  6. ^ Frederick W. Mote (2003). Imperial China 900-1800. Harvard University Press. p. 457. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.
  7. ^ Ainslie Thomas Embree (1988). Encyclopedia of Asian history, Volume 2. Scribner, original from University of Michigan. p. 366. ISBN 0-684-18899-6.

Further reading

  • Hok-Lam Chan (1967). "Liu Ping-chung 劉秉忠 (1216-74): A Buddhist-Taoist Statesman at the Court of Khubilai Khan". T'oung Pao. 53 (Livr. 1/3): 98–146. JSTOR 4527666.
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