武始侯刘昌 / Liu Chang, Wushi Marquis (Western Han)

Overview

武始侯刘昌 / Liu Chang, Wushi Marquis enters the wiki through Hanji 382-2 as the candidate 汉武帝 selects to inherit Zhao after rejecting 刘淖子. The page is disambiguated from other Liu Chang/Liu Chang pages already present in the wiki.

Current Profile

Liu Chang’s source profile is deliberately plain. When Han Wudi asks Nuo Ji’s brother about him, the report says Liu Chang has no fault and also no special merit worth praising. In the source’s succession logic, that very ordinariness becomes an advantage.

The episode contrasts Liu Chang with Liu Naozi. Liu Naozi’s “too many desires” makes him unfit to govern, while Liu Chang’s lack of obvious fault makes him acceptable as a safer Zhao successor. He therefore represents low-risk succession selection under imperial review rather than a charismatic or high-achievement candidate.

Key Characteristics

• Western Han Wushi marquis selected as Zhao king in the episode.
• Chosen after Han Wudi rejects Liu Naozi’s succession candidacy.
• Characterized through an external report as having no fault and no standout merit.
• Functions as a low-risk, ordinary candidate in a succession field shaped by desire control.
• His page is disambiguated from Eastern Han and other Liu Chang entities in the wiki.

Evidence

Candidate comparison:

• Hanji 382-2 says Han Wudi asks about Liu Chang after hearing that Liu Naozi has too many desires.

Low-risk profile:

• Hanji 382-2 says Nuo Ji’s brother reports that Liu Chang has no fault and no special praise.

Succession outcome:

• Hanji 382-2 says Han Wudi sends envoys to establish Liu Chang as Zhao king.

Qualifications

The source does not provide Liu Chang’s full biography, later reign, exact lineage, or governing record. His “safe ordinariness” is the episode’s succession contrast, not a complete character assessment.

What Changed

• Created from Hanji 382-2 as the low-risk candidate chosen over Liu Naozi for Zhao succession.

Relationships

• Emperor Wu of Han / 汉武帝 - emperor who selects Liu Chang as Zhao king.
• 刘淖子 / Liu Naozi (Western Han) - rejected rival candidate whose desire reputation frames Liu Chang’s safer profile.
• 赵敬肃王刘彭祖 / Liu Pengzu, Zhao King (Western Han) - predecessor whose death leaves Zhao succession unresolved.
• Desire Governance Fitness / 欲望治理适任性 - concept related through the selection of a low-fault candidate over a desire-heavy one.