Introduction
Liu Ba (simplified: 刘巴, traditional: 劉巴, pinyin: Liú Bā), courtesy name Zichu (子初), was a Shu Han official who served as Minister of the Interior (尚書令) under Liu Bei. Originally from Lingling Commandery, Liu Ba initially served Liu Biao and later Cao Cao before fleeing to the south. After Liu Bei conquered Yi Province, Liu Ba joined his service and became instrumental in drafting the Shu Code (蜀科) and implementing coinage reforms. He was highly regarded by Zhuge Liang, who praised his strategic planning abilities.
Biography
Early life
Liu Ba was born in Zhengyang (烝阳), Lingling Commandery (零陵郡), in present-day Shaodong, Hunan. His father Liu Xiang (刘祥) had served as Administrator of Jiangxia (江夏太守) and General Who Subdues Bandits (荡寇将军). When Sun Jian raised troops to attack Dong Zhuo, he killed the Administrator of Nanyang Zhang Zi (张咨). The people of Nanyang blamed Liu Xiang, who had allied with Sun Jian, and attacked him, causing Liu Xiang’s death. Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, also disliked Liu Xiang and arrested Liu Ba, intending to kill him. Several times, Liu Biao sent people who had been close to Liu Xiang to secretly persuade Liu Ba to flee, but Liu Ba refused. When Liu Biao learned of this, he did not kill Liu Ba.
At the age of eighteen, Liu Ba served as Registrar (主記主簿) in Lingling. Liu Biao repeatedly tried to promote him and recommended him as a Filial and Incorrupt candidate (茂才), but Liu Ba declined all appointments.
Service under Cao Cao
In 208, when Cao Cao led his forces south to Jing Province, many famous scholars of Jing Province fled south with Liu Bei to avoid the chaos of war. However, Liu Ba went north to join Cao Cao and was appointed as a Clerk (掾吏). After the Battle of Chibi, Cao Cao sent Liu Ba back to the south to recruit the surrender of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang commanderies. However, by the time Liu Ba reached Lingling, Liu Bei had already sent troops to occupy these three commanderies. Zhuge Liang tried to persuade Liu Ba to stay, but Liu Ba refused, and Liu Bei deeply resented this.
Unable to complete his mission for Cao Cao, Liu Ba fled further south to Jiao Province, changed his surname to Zhang, and served under Shi Xie, the Inspector of Jiao Province. Later, he had disagreements with Shi Xie and entered Yi Province, hoping to return north, but nearly was captured and killed by Shi Xie.
Service under Liu Zhang
The Governor of Yi Province Liu Zhang admired Liu Ba’s talent and kept him as an adviser. When Liu Zhang was considering whether to invite Liu Bei into Yi Province to help fight Zhang Lu, Liu Ba clearly opposed the idea. Later, when Liu Zhang invited Liu Bei into Yi Province, Liu Ba strongly remonstrated against it, but Liu Zhang would not listen. Liu Ba then closed his door and claimed to be ill.
Service under Liu Bei
In 214, after Liu Bei conquered Yi Province, Liu Ba submitted a memorial apologising to Liu Bei, who appointed him as West Section Head of the Left General (左將軍西曹掾). Together with Zhuge Liang, Yi Ji, Li Yan, and Fa Zheng, Liu Ba compiled the Shu Code (蜀科), which became the legal foundation of Shu Han.
When Liu Bei asked about insufficient military supplies, Liu Ba proposed minting copper coins. Within a year, the treasury was filled and military supplies were sufficient. After Liu Bei declared himself King of Hanzhong in 219, Liu Ba was appointed Master of Writing (尚書). He succeeded Fa Zheng as Minister of the Interior (尚書令) after Fa Zheng’s death.
Liu Ba once joined with the Registrar Yong Mao (雍茂) in advising Liu Bei to delay declaring himself emperor. Liu Bei killed Yong Mao on another pretext, and after this, people from distant regions no longer came to Shu Han.
Liu Ba died in 222, the second year of Liu Bei’s Zhangwu era, shortly after Liu Bei declared himself emperor. After Liu Ba’s death, Chen Qun of Wei personally wrote to Zhuge Liang asking about Liu Ba, showing great respect for him.
Literary contributions
Liu Ba drafted many of the edicts, proclamations, and imperial decrees after Liu Bei entered Yi Province and declared himself emperor. He did not accumulate property and had no private friendships. Zhuge Liang once said: “In planning strategy within the command tent, I am far inferior to Zichu.”
However, when the general Zhang Fei visited Liu Ba, Liu Ba did not show him proper respect because of Zhang Fei’s common origins. Zhuge Liang admonished him, but Liu Ba said: “A great man should associate with heroes throughout the land. How can I speak with a common soldier?” Liu Ba’s collected works, the Liu Lingjun Ji (劉令君集), have been passed down.
Personality and traits
Virtues and abilities
Liu Ba was known for his strategic planning abilities and was highly praised by Zhuge Liang for his skill in planning strategy. He was frugal and did not accumulate property, maintaining no private friendships. He was skilled in drafting official documents and played a key role in establishing Shu Han’s legal system through the compilation of the Shu Code.
Temperament
Liu Ba was known for his pride and disdain for those he considered beneath him. He refused to show proper respect to Zhang Fei because of Zhang Fei’s common origins, stating that a great man should only associate with heroes. This attitude, while reflecting his high standards, also limited his relationships with some of Liu Bei’s key subordinates.
Political achievements
Administrative record
Liu Ba’s most significant contribution was his role in compiling the Shu Code (蜀科) together with Zhuge Liang, Yi Ji, Li Yan, and Fa Zheng. This legal code became the foundation of Shu Han’s legal system. He also proposed the minting of copper coins to address shortages in military supplies, which proved highly successful, filling the treasury within a year.
Drafting of official documents
After Liu Bei entered Yi Province and declared himself emperor, Liu Ba drafted many of the edicts, proclamations, and imperial decrees. His skill in drafting official documents was highly valued, and he played a crucial role in establishing the administrative framework of Shu Han.
Relationships
Family
Liu Ba’s father Liu Xiang (刘祥) had served as Administrator of Jiangxia and General Who Subdues Bandits. When Sun Jian killed the Administrator of Nanyang Zhang Zi, the people of Nanyang blamed Liu Xiang and attacked him, leading to his death.
Lord and vassals
Liu Ba served multiple lords throughout his career: Liu Biao, Cao Cao, Shi Xie, Liu Zhang, and finally Liu Bei. His relationship with Liu Bei was complex—he initially refused to serve Liu Bei and fled south, but after Liu Bei conquered Yi Province, Liu Ba joined his service and became one of his most trusted officials.
Liu Ba had a strained relationship with Zhang Fei, refusing to show him proper respect. However, he worked closely with Zhuge Liang, Yi Ji, Li Yan, and Fa Zheng in compiling the Shu Code.
Allies and rivals
Liu Ba was highly respected by Chen Qun of Wei, who personally wrote to Zhuge Liang asking about Liu Ba after his death. His relationship with Yong Mao ended tragically when Liu Bei killed Yong Mao after they jointly advised Liu Bei to delay declaring himself emperor.
Anecdotes and allusions
Refusal to serve Liu Bei
When Cao Cao sent Liu Ba to recruit the surrender of the three commanderies in southern Jing Province, Liu Bei had already occupied them. Zhuge Liang tried to persuade Liu Ba to stay, but Liu Ba refused and fled further south. Liu Bei deeply resented this refusal, but after conquering Yi Province, he still accepted Liu Ba into his service.
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Disdain for Zhang Fei
When Zhang Fei visited Liu Ba, Liu Ba did not show him proper respect because of Zhang Fei’s common origins. Zhuge Liang admonished him, but Liu Ba said: “A great man should associate with heroes throughout the land. How can I speak with a common soldier?” This incident illustrates Liu Ba’s pride and his high standards for association.
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Coinage reform
When Liu Bei asked about insufficient military supplies, Liu Ba proposed minting copper coins. Within a year, the treasury was filled and military supplies were sufficient. This proposal demonstrated Liu Ba’s understanding of economics and finance.
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Achievements
Liu Ba’s major accomplishments include:
- Compiling the Shu Code (蜀科) together with Zhuge Liang, Yi Ji, Li Yan, and Fa Zheng, establishing the legal foundation of Shu Han
- Proposing coinage reform that filled the treasury within a year
- Drafting many of the edicts, proclamations, and imperial decrees for Liu Bei
- Being praised by Zhuge Liang for his strategic planning abilities
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Liu Ba is primarily documented in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志) by Chen Shou, specifically in the “Biography of Dong He, Liu Ba, Ma Liang, Chen Zhen, Dong Yun, and Lü Yi” (董刘马陈董吕传). Pei Songzhi’s annotations provide additional information from sources such as the Lingling Xianxian Zhuan (零陵先贤传).
Historical vs literary portrayal
Liu Ba does not appear prominently in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. His historical role as a key administrator and legal scholar is largely absent from the novel, which focuses more on military and strategic figures.
Scholarly debates
There is some debate about Liu Ba’s exact role in the compilation of the Shu Code and the extent of his contributions to Shu Han’s administrative system. Some scholars question whether his coinage reform was as successful as recorded, though the sources consistently praise its effectiveness.
Personality analysis
Modern scholars have noted Liu Ba’s complex personality—highly capable and respected, but also proud and disdainful of those he considered beneath him. His refusal to serve Liu Bei initially and his later acceptance of service suggest a pragmatic approach to political survival, while his disdain for Zhang Fei reflects the social hierarchies of the time.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary assessments
Zhuge Liang: “In planning strategy within the command tent, I am far inferior to Zichu.”
Liu Bei: “Zichu’s talent and wisdom are extraordinary. If he were like me, he could be employed, but if he were not like me, it would be difficult to employ him alone.”
Sun Quan: “If Zichu had followed the world’s currents and flattered Xuande, making friends with inappropriate people, how could he be called a man of high character?”
Chen Shou’s evaluation
Chen Shou wrote: “Liu Ba maintained a pure and lofty character.”
Pei Songzhi’s commentary
Pei Songzhi’s annotations provide additional context from the Lingling Xianxian Zhuan, including details about Liu Ba’s early life and his relationship with Liu Biao.
Later dynasty evaluations
Later historians have generally praised Liu Ba for his administrative abilities and his role in establishing Shu Han’s legal system, while noting his pride and disdain for common people as character flaws.
Modern scholarship
Modern scholars have emphasised Liu Ba’s importance in establishing Shu Han’s administrative and legal systems. His coinage reform is seen as an important economic policy that helped stabilise Shu Han’s finances. However, his personality and relationships with other officials have been the subject of scholarly analysis, with some viewing his pride as a character flaw and others seeing it as a reflection of the social values of his time.
Legacy
Cultural significance
Liu Ba is remembered as one of Shu Han’s key administrators and legal scholars. His role in compiling the Shu Code and his economic reforms are seen as important contributions to Shu Han’s stability and governance.
Symbolism and folklore
Liu Ba is sometimes used as an example of a capable administrator who maintained high standards and refused to compromise his principles, even when it meant showing disrespect to powerful figures like Zhang Fei.