Liu Yuanjing 柳元景

Liu Yuanjing 柳元景 (406-465), courtesy name Xiaoren 孝仁, from Xie 解 in the commandery of Hedong 河東 (today's Linyi 臨猗, Shanxi), was a general and high minister of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

His career began with the function of Administrator under the Minister of Works (sikong xing canjun 司空行參軍) and later Administrator in the City Defence Bureau under the Minister of Revenue and the Commander-in-Chief (situ taiwei chengju canjun 司徒太尉城局參軍) in the staff of Liu Yigong 劉義恭 (413-465), the Prince of Jiangxia 江夏. He then changed to the staff of Liu Dan 劉誕 (433-459), Prince of Sui 隨, as Vice Commander of the Rear Palace Army (houjun zhongbing canjun 後軍中兵參軍).

In 450, the Liu-Song launched a military campaign against the north against the Northern Wei empire 北魏 (386-534). Liu Yuanjing, together with Yin Xianzu 尹顯祖, Lu Fangping 魯方平, Pang Faqi 龐法起 and Xue Andu 薛安都 (410-469), conquered several critical places in the Guanzhong region 關中, namely Lushi 盧氏, Tongguan 潼關 and the commandery of Hongnong 弘農. The three men also campaigned in the west, in present-day Sichuan, where they inflicted a heavy defeat to the Northern Wei army, but the victors withdrew because one of their commanders, Wang Xuanmo 王玄謨 (388-468), was defeated at Huatai 滑臺.

The Liu-Song dynasty suffered from bloody wars between the imperial princes. When Liu Jun 劉駿 (the eventual Emperor Xiaowu 宋孝武皇帝, r. 453-464) attacked Liu Shao 劉劭 (424-453), Liu Yuanjing served the former as Military Consultant (ziyi canjun 諮議參軍, Commander of the Palace Guard (lingzhongbing 領中兵) and General of the Punitive Army (koujun jiangjun 冠軍將軍). Liu Jun, mounting the throne, rewarded Liu Yuanjing with the posts of palace attendant (shizhong 侍中), General of the Left Palace Guard (ling zuowei jiangjun 領左衛將軍), and the General of the Front (qian jiangjun 前將軍). He was later made Commander Pacifying the Southern Barbarians (ningman xiaowei 寧蠻校尉), and then regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yongzhou 雍州. Liu's suppression of the rebellion of Lu Shuang 魯爽 (d. 454) yielded him the investiture as Commandery Duke of Jin'an 晉安郡公 and the post of General of Cavalry (piaoji jiangjun 驃騎將軍). He continued to serve the Liu-Song dynasty with the function of Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu ling 尚書令). In 459, he was given the title of Commandery Duke of Badong 巴東郡公.

On his deathbed, Emperor Xiaowu named Prince Liu Yigong, Liu Jingyuan, and Yan Shibo 顏師伯 regents for his under-age son. However, Liu Yuanjing conspired with Yan Shibo to overthrow the Heir Apparent, Liu Ziye 劉子業 (the First Deposed Emperor 宋前廢帝, r. 464-465), and made Liu Yigong emperor. When the plot was unveiled, Liu Yuanjing was executed.

Nonetheless, Emperor Ming 宋明帝 (r. 465-472) later awarded him posthumously the honorific titles of holder of a special warrant (shichijie 使持節) and Defender-in-chief (taiwei 太尉). Liu's posthumous name is Duke Zhonglie 巴東忠烈公.