Prince of Chu
In 179 BC, after some hesitation (during which he, apparently influenced by the theory of "shanrang" (), thought that maybe it would be more proper for him to find the wisest person in the empire and offer the throne to him, or that he should consider offering the throne to his uncle Liu Jiao (), the Prince of Chu; his cousin Liu Pi (), the Prince of Wu; or his younger brother Liu Chang (), the Prince of Huainan), he made his oldest son Liu Qi the Crown Prince and Prince Qi's mother, Consort Dou, Empress.