Liu Fei (Chinese: 劉非; pinyin: Liú Fēi; 169–128 BCE), posthumously known as King Yi of Jiangdu (Chinese: 江都易王; pinyin: Jiāngdū Yì Wáng), was the King/Prince of Jiangdu (reigned 153–128 BCE), an autonomous kingdom within the Han Empire of Chinese history, in modern-day Jiangsu province. He was a son of Emperor Jing and a half-brother of Emperor Wu. Originally King of Runan, he was awarded the Kingdom of Jiangdu for his role in suppressing the Rebellion of the Seven States. Dong Zhongshu, the prominent Confucian scholar, served as his Prime Minister.
Liu Fei's mausoleum has been excavated by archaeologists from the Nanjing Museum, who unearthed numerous artifacts, including 100,000 coins, dozens of chariots, and the only jade coffin to have survived intact in Chinese archaeology.
Liu Fei was one of the fourteen sons of Emperor Jing of Han (reigned 157–141 BCE). With the exception of crown prince Liu Che, who later ascended the throne as Emperor Wu, Emperor Jing created all his other sons kings with their own fiefdoms. Liu Fei was made the King of Runan, with its capital at Shangcai, in modern-day Henan province.[1] His mother was Consort Cheng, a concubine of Emperor Jing, who also gave birth to Liu Yu, Prince of Lu, and Liu Duan, King of Jiaoxi.[1][2]
In 154 BCE, rulers of seven kingdoms, led by Liu Pi, the King of Wu, rebelled against the Han dynasty. Liu Fei, then a strong 15-year-old, volunteered to join the fight against the rebels. Emperor Jing awarded him the seal of the general, and let him lead an army to attack Wu, the main rebel kingdom. The rebellion was suppressed after a few months.[1][2] The following year, Emperor Jing created the kingdom of Jiangdu in part of the former territory of Wu and made Liu Fei its king. Wu's capital Guangling (present-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu) became the capital of Jiangdu.[1][2] In addition, he was awarded the banners of the Son of Heaven for his contribution in the suppression of the rebellion.[1][2]
In 129 BCE, during the reign of Emperor Wu, the Xiongnu nomadic empire attacked the Han. Liu Fei volunteered to join the counterattack against Xiongnu, but his request was denied by the emperor.[1]
According to the Han historian Sima Qian, Liu Fei built many palaces and towers, and his life "was marked by extreme arrogance and luxury". He valued physical prowess, and invited strong men to his court from everywhere.[3] He also employed the influential Confucian scholar Dong Zhongshu as his Prime Minister.[1]