Emperor Jing of Han
Liu was Prince of Jidong in the sixth year of the middle era of the Emperor Jing of Han (144 BC), the year of his father's banishment from the capital and death. The empress dowager Xiaowen grieved greatly for her younger son and, to placate her (and weaken the powerful fief of Liang), Emperor Jing divided Liang in five and granted a part to each of Liu Wu's sons.