Emperor Ping of Han: Fourteenth Western Han Emperor

Emperor Ping of Han (Liu Kan, 刘衎) was the 14th Han emperor and the 14th Western Han emperor. His place in the Han sequence matters because it shows how the dynasty moved from founding, recovery, and expansion into regency politics, restoration, and final collapse.

Emperor Ping of Han is best known for his child reign, Wang Mang's regency, and the final weakening of Western Han imperial authority. For sequence, read this page with Han emperors timeline, Emperor Ai of Han, and Ruzi Ying.

Key Facts

Identity

fourteenth Western Han emperor who ruled as a child while Wang Mang controlled the court

Lived

9 BCE-6 CE

Reign

1 BCE-6 CE

Emperor Order

Han emperor number 14; Western Han emperor number 14

Best Known For

his child reign, Wang Mang's regency, and the final weakening of Western Han imperial authority

Historical Role

His reign makes clear that the Western Han throne still existed, but the center of decision had shifted toward Wang Mang.

Quick Answer

Emperor Ping of Han was the 14th Han emperor and the 14th Western Han emperor. In simple terms, His reign makes clear that the Western Han throne still existed, but the center of decision had shifted toward Wang Mang.

Because Emperor Ping of Han was a emperor, this page uses cautious wording: he is included in the emperor order because he occupied the throne or was formally placed in the ruling line, not because he exercised full independent power.

Name, Dates, and Place in the Han Order

Liu Kan is the personal name behind the usual English title Emperor Ping of Han. In Chinese, the name is written 刘衎. The reign is usually dated to 1 BCE-6 CE, while the life dates are given as 9 BCE-6 CE.

For a reader trying to keep the Han Dynasty in order, the most important point is not only the title. It is where this ruler sits in the sequence: after Emperor Ai of Han and before Ruzi Ying.

How Liu Kan Came to Power

He was placed on the throne after Emperor Ai, giving Wang Mang the chance to dominate policy and legitimacy.

This succession background matters because Han history is not a simple list of names. Some transitions were orderly, some depended on regents, and some were shaped by court families, ministers, military leaders, or child succession. Emperor Ping of Han's accession belongs to that larger pattern.

What This Reign Shows

His reign makes clear that the Western Han throne still existed, but the center of decision had shifted toward Wang Mang.

That makes this page more than a biography. It is also a small window into how Han authority worked at this particular moment. The title emperor could mean commanding personal power, carefully balanced regency, or a throne controlled by stronger actors around it.

Power, Limits, and Caution

Because he was a child, the main political story is not personal government but the use of a child emperor by a regent.

This is especially important for a clean English guide. A ruler can be counted in the Han emperor list without being treated as if he personally directed policy. For short reigns, child rulers, and deposed rulers, the careful question is always: who held the title, and who actually made decisions?

Why Emperor Ping of Han Still Matters

His death led directly to the elevation of Ruzi Ying and then Wang Mang's replacement of Han with Xin.

For beginners, Emperor Ping of Han is useful because he marks a specific link in the chain. Once that link is clear, the Han Dynasty becomes easier to read as a sequence rather than a cloud of famous names.

Reading and Verification Notes

Use the full ruler-order table as the control point, then read this biography for the political meaning behind the name.

When checking this page, start with three questions: where does the ruler sit in the order, who held practical power at court, and what changed after the reign ended? Those questions keep the page from becoming either a bare list or a misleading heroic portrait.

Historical Sources and Traditional Memory

This page uses traditional narrative boundaries from the Shiji and the Book of Han. For early Western Han rulers, the Shiji is especially important for political memory, while the Book of Han gives the standard dynastic frame.

Traditional histories are essential here, but they are not neutral modern biographies. They preserve court judgments, moral framing, and later editorial choices. This guide therefore avoids turning contested or thinly recorded details into certainty, especially for short-lived rulers and child emperors.

Simple Summary

• Emperor Ping of Han was the 14th Han emperor and the 14th Western Han emperor.
• He is mainly remembered for his child reign, Wang Mang's regency, and the final weakening of Western Han imperial authority.
• His reign is best read through succession, real court power, and what changed after him.
• The source base is strongest when read with attention to traditional historical framing.

FAQ

Who was Emperor Ping of Han?

Emperor Ping of Han was the 14th Han emperor and the 14th Western Han emperor. He is best understood through his place in the Han succession and the political forces around his reign.

What was Emperor Ping of Han best known for?

He is best known for his child reign, Wang Mang's regency, and the final weakening of Western Han imperial authority.

Was Emperor Ping of Han an independent ruler?

Not in the full sense. The record should be read cautiously because his reign was brief, controlled, or shaped by stronger court actors.

Where does Emperor Ping of Han fit in the Han emperors timeline?

He fits as Han ruler number 14, within the Western Han sequence. The full English timeline page places him before and after the neighboring rulers.