The Birth of an Heir and the Ascendancy of the Wei Family
In the spring of 128 BCE, during the first year of the Yuanshuo era, Emperor Wu of Han received joyous news—his consort, Wei Zifu, had given birth to a son. The emperor named the child Liu Ju and promptly elevated Wei Zifu to the position of empress. This moment marked a turning point for the Wei family, whose influence would soon dominate the Han court.
Wei Zifu’s younger brother, Wei Qing, had already distinguished himself as a military commander in campaigns against the Xiongnu nomads. His victories earned him the prestigious title of Grand Marshal and the rank of Marquis of Changping. Another rising star in the family was Huo Qubing, the illegitimate son of Wei Zifu’s elder sister, Wei Shao’er. Having fought alongside Wei Qing, Huo Qubing was appointed as Swift Cavalry General and granted the title of Marquis of Champion. By the time Liu Ju turned seven, Emperor Wu formally designated him as Crown Prince, further solidifying the Wei clan’s political dominance.
Emperor Wu’s Quest for Eternal Life
Despite his military and administrative achievements, Emperor Wu harbored an obsession that would tarnish his legacy—his relentless pursuit of immortality. Like the First Emperor of Qin, he was deeply superstitious, falling prey to charlatans who promised divine secrets and eternal youth.
### The Deception of Li Shaojun
In 134 BCE, a self-proclaimed immortal named Li Shaojun arrived in Chang’an, claiming to be centuries old. His elaborate tricks, such as recognizing an elderly man’s grandfather from a supposed hunting trip decades earlier, convinced many of his supernatural powers. Emperor Wu, eager for immortality, summoned him to court. Li Shaojun spun tales of alchemy, claiming that worshipping the Kitchen God and transforming cinnabar into gold would grant eternal life. He even spoke of meeting the mythical sage Anqi Sheng, who supposedly gifted him a giant mystical date.
Emperor Wu, enthralled, ordered grand rituals and alchemical experiments. Yet before any gold was produced, Li Shaojun died—though the emperor insisted he had ascended to immortality.
### The Illusion of Resurrection
Another fraudster, Qi Shaoweng, exploited Emperor Wu’s grief after the death of his beloved Consort Li. The emperor, heartbroken, sought to communicate with her spirit. Qi Shaoweng staged an elaborate séance, using a shadowy figure behind a curtain to mimic Consort Li’s ghost. Though the “apparition” was clearly a ruse, Emperor Wu, desperate for solace, rewarded Qi Shaoweng with the title General of Literary Accomplishment.
When Qi Shaoweng failed to summon other spirits, he resorted to forging a celestial message inside a cow’s stomach. The emperor, initially awed, recognized the handwriting and executed the fraud.
### The Rise and Fall of Lüan Da
Undeterred, Emperor Wu placed his hopes in Lüan Da, a smooth-talking mystic who claimed connections to Anqi Sheng. Lüan dazzled the court with magnetic chess pieces that seemed to move on their own—a simple trick using lodestones. Blinded by faith, Emperor Wu bestowed upon him six high-ranking titles, vast estates, and even the hand of a princess.
Yet Lüan’s fraud unraveled when spies exposed his failure to visit the Eastern Sea or meet any immortals. The furious emperor had him executed, ending yet another costly deception.
Cultural and Political Consequences
Emperor Wu’s obsession had far-reaching effects. The Wei family’s rise reshaped Han politics, while the emperor’s gullibility drained the treasury and undermined his authority. The repeated scams exposed deep societal anxieties about mortality and power, reflecting the era’s blend of Confucian pragmatism and mystical Daoist beliefs.
Legacy and Historical Reflection
Historians view Emperor Wu’s reign as a paradox—a golden age of expansion and cultural flourishing marred by personal folly. His futile quest for immortality became a cautionary tale, illustrating how even great rulers could be undone by superstition. The Wei family’s prominence, meanwhile, demonstrated the intricate ties between military success, court favor, and dynastic stability.
Ultimately, Emperor Wu’s story reminds us that the pursuit of power and eternal life often leads not to divinity, but to human frailty. His failures resonate across centuries, a timeless lesson on the limits of ambition and the dangers of unchecked belief.