Liu Bowen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liu Ji
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| 劉基 | |
A Qing dynasty illustration of Liu Ji in the Wanxiaotang Huanchuan, by Shangguan Zhou
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| Born | 1 July 1311 Zhida 4, 15th day of the 6th month (至大四年六月十五日) Nan'tian Township, Qingtian County, Chuzhou Lu, Jiangzhe Province (present-day Wencheng County, Zhejiang)
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| Died | 16 May 1375 (aged 63) Hongwu 8, 16th day of the 4th month (洪wu八年四月十六日) Nan'tian Township, Qingtian County, Chuzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang Province (present-day Wencheng County, Zhejiang)
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| Occupation | Politician, military strategist, philosopher |
| Title | Count of Chengyi (诚意伯) |
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Liu Ji (born July 1, 1311 – died May 16, 1375) was a very smart Chinese thinker. He was also a military planner and a government official. People often called him Liu Bowen. He lived during the end of the Yuan dynasty and the start of the Ming dynasty. Liu Ji was born in Qingtian County, which is now Wencheng County in Zhejiang.
He was a main helper for Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang started the Ming dynasty. Liu Ji helped him fight against the Yuan dynasty and bring all of China together. Liu Ji was also known for his amazing predictions. Some people even called him the "Divine Chinese Nostradamus". He worked with Jiao Yu to write a book about military weapons called the Huolongjing.
Liu Bowen helped Zhu Yuanzhang gain power. But later, other officials like Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong had problems with Liu. This made Liu leave his job. Liu Bowen had warned the Hongwu Emperor that Hu Weiyong was not a good choice for a high position. Liu died soon after. Some think he might have been poisoned. This event was part of the Four Major Cases of the early Ming dynasty.
Contents
Liu Ji's Important Career
Liu Ji worked in many areas. He was good at government work, Chinese philosophy, and new technology. He was very interested in things like Chinese astronomy, calendars, magnets, and fengshui. He also worked with a general named Jiao Yu. Together, they wrote the Huolongjing. This book explained how to use different gunpowder weapons. Liu Ji was very interested in these weapons. He once said that "thunder is like fire shot from a cannon."
Early Work for the Yuan Dynasty
Liu Ji passed a very hard test called the imperial examination. He earned the highest rank, jinshi. This happened in the last years of the Yuan dynasty. He spent a lot of his early career trying to save the Yuan dynasty from falling apart. He worked for the Yuan dynasty for 25 years. He was known for being honest and a great scholar.
In 1348, he got a military job. He was sent to stop a rebellion in the south. The rebel leader tried to bribe Liu Ji. But Liu Ji refused the money. The rebel then went to Beijing and successfully bribed officials there. After this, the rebel was given a government job. Liu Ji's relationship with the Yuan government got worse. He tried to quit his job twice. He was later moved to a lower position. Finally, in 1358, he left his job and went home.
Helping Zhu Yuanzhang
In 1360, Liu Ji met Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang was leading a large rebellion against the Yuan dynasty. Liu Ji helped Zhu Yuanzhang in many ways. He worked in the government and also fought in battles. He commanded naval forces and led campaigns to take over Zhejiang. Liu also fought against other rebel groups and pirates. His forces were successful because they used a medieval Chinese weapon called the fire lance.
During this time, Liu Ji wrote two books. They were called Extraordinary Strategies of a Hundred Battles and Eighteen Strategies and Affairs. Later, Zhu Yuanzhang had other good generals. So, Liu Ji was mostly asked for his smart advice.
In 1368, after eight years of Liu's help, Zhu Yuanzhang united China. Zhu then started the Ming dynasty. He became known as the Hongwu Emperor. Liu Ji was one of his most trusted advisors. However, Liu's relationship with the emperor became difficult.
In 1375, Liu Ji did not approve of a man named Hu Weiyong for a high government job. Hu Weiyong later told the Hongwu Emperor that Liu Ji was planning to gain his own power. The emperor believed Hu Weiyong. Liu Ji was removed from his job, and Hu Weiyong got promoted.
Liu Ji's Death
Being unfairly removed from his job made Liu Ji very sick. He died soon after. No one is completely sure how Liu Ji died. In early 1375, Liu caught a cold. The emperor sent Hu Weiyong to find a doctor for Liu. But after Liu took the doctor's medicine, he felt worse. He told the emperor that the medicine made him feel pain. The emperor only offered comforting words. This made Liu Ji very upset.
In late March, Liu could not move easily. He decided to go home. Once home, he stopped taking medicines. He just tried to eat normally. In April, Liu Ji passed away. Some historians believe the Hongwu Emperor might have poisoned Liu. They think the emperor was afraid of Liu's knowledge and power. Other sources say the emperor did kill many people around that time. But they are not sure if Liu was one of them.
Within five years of Liu's death, Hu Weiyong was also suspected of plotting against the Hongwu Emperor. The emperor then became very paranoid. He ordered the execution of many people, possibly between 30,000 and 40,000.
Liu Ji's Prophecies
Liu Ji's most famous prophecy is called the Shaobing Song. It was written in a poetic style. The poem uses mysterious language and is hard to understand. Some people believe that the Shaobing Song predicted future events in China. These events include the Tumu Crisis in 1449 and the Xinhai Revolution in 1911. The Xinhai Revolution led to the Republic of China.
Books About Liu Ji
Liu Ji's official life story is in the 128th volume of the History of Ming. This book was written by Zhang Tingyu and others during the Qing dynasty. Another author named Chong Tai also wrote a book about him.
See also
- Huolongjing
- Shaobing Song
- History of firearms
- Four Major Cases of the early Ming dynasty
- Chancellor of China
Images for kids
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A Hand cannon from the Ming dynasty, made in 1377.
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