{ { Infobox royalty
| name = Emperor Ping of Han
| full name = Liu Jizi 劉箕子, later Liu Kan 劉衎
| posthumous name = Emperor Xiaoping (孝平皇帝)"filial and peaceful" | temple name = Yuanzong (元宗) | image = | caption = | birth_date = 9 BC | birth_place = Lunu, Principality of Zhongshan, Han dynasty | death_date = 3 February 6 AD (aged 14) | death_place = Chang'an, Han dynasty | burial_place = Kang Mausoleum (康陵) | succession = Emperor of the Han dynasty | reign = 17 October 1 BC<ref>xinyou day of the 9th month of the 2nd year of the Yuan'shou era, per vol.35 of Zizhi Tongjian</ref> – 3 February 6 AD | predecessor = Emperor Ai | successor = Liu Ying | father = Liu Xing | mother = Lady Wei | spouse = Empress Xiaoping | spouse-type = Consorts | era dates = Yuanshi (元始; 1–5 AD) | house = Liu | dynasty = Han (Western Han) }}
Emperor Ping of Han (9 BC – 3 February 6 AD),Bielenstein (1986), 228. personal names Liu Jizi and later Liu Kan, was the eleventh emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty, reigning from 1 BC to AD 6. He ascended the throne at the age of eight following the death of his cousin, the childless Emperor Ai. Wang Mang was appointed regent by Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun. Dissatisfied with his father's dictatorial regency, in AD 3, Wang's son Wang Yu (王宇) conspired with Emperor Ping's maternal uncles of the Wei clan against the regent, but after they were discovered, Wang Mang had not only Wang Yu and the Weis (except Consort Wei) put to death, but also used this opportunity to accuse many actual or potential political enemies as being part of the conspiracy and to execute or exile them. From then onwards, the Han Dynasty existed only in name. Furthermore, Wang Mang also designated his daughter as the empress consort to Emperor Ping to codify his legitimacy to power. Emperor Ping was allegedly poisoned by Wang Mang after reigning less than six years because Wang was concerned that he would avenge his uncles, and his successor, the infant Ruzi Ying, would be chosen by none other than Wang Mang himself.
Family background and life as imperial prince
Then-Liu Jizi was born in 9 BC. His father Liu Xing (劉興) was the youngest son of Emperor Yuan and a younger brother of Emperor Cheng. His mother was one of Prince Xing's consorts, Consort Wei (衛姬). Prince Jizi had three sisters (whose names are not recorded in history) but no brother. He was born with a heart ailment, which, when afflicting him, causes him to have circulation problems, manifesting itself outwardly as having his lips and appendages turn blue. He was raised by his paternal grandmother Consort Feng Yuan, a concubine of Emperor Yuan, who then had the title princess dowager in Prince Xing's principality.
Around the time of Prince Jizi's birth, Prince Xing was considered a potential imperial heir, because Emperor Cheng had no heirs, but eventually Emperor Cheng chose his nephew (Prince Jizi's cousin) Liu Xin (劉欣), because Emperor Cheng considered Prince Xin to be more capable than Prince Xing, and also wanted to adopt Prince Xin and make him his own son. When Emperor Cheng died in April 7 BC, Prince Xin took the throne as Emperor Ai.
Also in 7 BC, when Prince Jizi was just 2, Prince Xing died, and Prince Jizi inherited his principality as the Prince of Zhongshan (roughly modern Baoding, Hebei). He continued to be periodically afflicted with his heart disorder. As a result, his grandmother Princess Dowager Feng hired many physicians and often prayed to the gods. In 6 BC, Emperor Ai, hearing about his cousin's illness, sent imperial physicians along with his attendant Zhang You (張由) to go to Zhongshan to treat Prince Jizi. This, however, would have dire consequences of Princess Dowager Feng.
