Liu Zheng, the eleventh emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, is known as Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty. Born in 75 BC, the son of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty Liu Xun and his empress Xu Pingjun, he reigned from 49 BC to 33 BC.
Liu Zheng was deeply influenced by Confucianism since childhood, especially respecting Confucian scholars Xiao Wangzhi and Zhou Kan, which made him vigorously promote Confucian scholarship after ascending the throne, integrate Confucian concepts into national governance, and open the era of "Yuan and Chengjian Confucianism". However, the over-reliance on civil servants and the neglect of military equipment, as well as the overly lenient and benevolent character, led to the gradual manipulation of the government by foreign relatives and ministers, such as Shi Xian and others, the growing power of Shi Xian and others, the corruption within the court began to appear, and the local tyrants became increasingly powerful.
During his reign, although Liu Zheng paid attention to the development of culture and education, he failed to effectively rectify the rule of officials internally, and lost effective control over the Xiongnu and other frontier ethnic groups externally. In particular, on the issue of dealing with the Western Regions, he adopted the advice of the minister who advocated abandoning direct rule and adopting a policy of indirect control, and abolished the Protectorate of the Western Regions, which laid the groundwork for the subsequent turmoil in the Western Regions.
Liu Zheng's life story vividly illustrates his struggles and helplessness as an idealist in realpolitik, who governs the country with a Confucian heart of benevolence, but lacks an iron fist to weaken the country's strength. His biography is therefore not only a record of personal growth and governance, but also an in-depth analysis of the key turning point of a dynasty from prosperity to decline, revealing the contradiction between upholding ideals and compromising reality in the power field.