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Liu Shao 劉劭 (424-453), courtesy name Xiuyuan 休遠, was the oldest son of Emperor Wen 宋文帝 (r. 424-453) and a short-time ruler of the Liu-Song dynasty. He loved both books and military skills. At the age of 6 sui, he was made Heir Apparent. In 450, when Emperor Wen proposed a military campaign against the Northern Wei 北魏 (386-534), Liu Shao, supported by Xiao Sihua 蕭思話 (400-455), urged the emperor to refrain from this adventure. When the Northern Wei army victoriously marched southwards until Guabu 瓜步 (today called Guabu 瓜埠; close to Luhe 六合, Jiangsu), Emperor Wen was, therefore, able to take preparation for the defence of Jiankang 建康, the capital (today's Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu). Liu Shao nominally commanded the river fleet on the Yangtze during that occasion.
In 453, Emperor Wen took Liu Shao the title of Heir Apparent, whereupon Shao conspired with Chen Shu'er 陳叔兒 and Zhao Chaozhi 張超之 and killed his father, along with the grand ministers Jiang Zhan 江湛 (407-453) and Xu Zhanzhi 徐湛之 (410-453). Liu Shao took the throne and proclaimed the reign-motto Taichu 太初. His reign lasted only for a few months, from March to May 453.
His younger brother Liu Jun 劉駿 (430-464), the Prince of Wuling 武陵, rebelled against the patricide. Liu Shao was defeated and killed, and Liu Jun mounted the throne. He is known as Emperor Xiaowu 宋孝武皇帝 (r. 453-464).