Liu Bang was an important figure in Chinese history from 202 BC to 195 BC and is credited with establishing the founding monarch of the Han Dynasty. He endured many battles and political struggles, and finally defeated the powerful Qin army and various princes, and successfully established the Han Dynasty.
Although Liu Bang has such outstanding achievements, he has never been respected by everyone as "the first emperor of the ages". So why does no one call Liu Bang the first emperor of the ages?
First of all, Liu Bang has some deficiencies in his governance, unlike Qin Shi Huang, who has the wisdom of the Zongheng family, and he rarely has a wise approach and ideas to solve the problems of some countries.
As soon as Liu Bang arrived in politics, he paid attention to the views of the aristocracy, and he lacked sufficient knowledge and knowledge of laws and legislation, which made him subject to pressure and interference from relatives and some loyal supporters.
Second, Liu Bang's appointment of some important officials is too troublesome, so it is difficult to meet the requirements of multiple interests at the same time. Despite Liu Bang's military prowess during the war, he was not able to cope with the complex political situation within the country.
His rule was too homogeneous, without a rigorous organization and management system. This made the Han Dynasty behind him have no ability to sustain and develop it except for its founders.
Again, Liu Bang has made some mistakes in his life, such as he once had many mistakes such as indulgence and pampering beautiful women. As a result, he has received a lot of political criticism and pressure, and some people even think that he is not a great leader in the true sense of the word.
On the contrary, the great emperors of history, such as Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, mostly used their wise minds to govern the country, carefully implemented political reforms, wisely planned their military operations, and worked diligently for the development of the country.
Their achievements and precipitation lie not only in their efforts in practical work, but also in the new political ideas and theories they have discovered. In contrast, Liu Bang's outstanding achievements at the domestic political level were not as significant and extensive as those of these emperors.
Liu Bang's reign and achievements are profound, but at the same time there are some limitations and shortcomings. His way of ruling was relatively simple in terms of organization and management ideas, focusing only on the talent for war, and there were certain differences of opinion on the system.
In addition, his lifestyle has also influenced his evaluation in people's minds to some extent. In contrast, a series of monarchs, such as Qin Shi Huang, were far superior to them in their ability to govern the country, and these emperors showed far more talent and spirit in governing the country.
Although Liu Bang's reign established the Han Dynasty, there were also some ways of making decisions and dealing with problems in his rule that were not recognized by the world. During his reign, he dealt with political opponents and rebellion more aggressively, and once slaughtered many eunuchs and Confucian scholars of the Qin Dynasty, as well as some nobles who disagreed.
Such behavior was not considered at the time the qualities of a benevolent and righteous monarch. Compared to other great monarchs, such as Song Taizu and Ming Taizu, they paid more attention to etiquette and tolerance, and can be said to be models of desirable behavior.
In addition, Liu Bang also showed certain limitations in national politics. His statecraft was generally biased towards Confucianism, and even though he tried to strengthen Legalism through the abolition of order, he did not really push for further reform of the state system.
In contrast, monarchs such as Wu Zetian and Ming Chengzu were more flexible in the formulation and implementation of state policies, and better at seeking new models of governance.
At the same time, Liu Bang's personal qualities may also have influenced the public's evaluation of him. During his reign, he often indulged in lust and lived a life of luxury, which was considered a form of indulgence and vanity.
In contrast, other emperors who have gone down in history, such as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Qianlong, have focused on the power of example and have made themselves objects of respect and admiration by showing themselves frugality and industriousness.
In addition, historical and cultural traditions are also a factor that cannot be ignored. In ancient China, the emperor was considered to be the seat of heaven, an existence with supreme power.
However, due to various historical reasons, the title of the First Emperor of the Ages is more used in people's minds to praise those monarchs who have the world in mind, great political wisdom and conscientiousness, rather than just monarchs who have established a dynasty.
Although Liu Bang is not known as the "Emperor of the Ages", his achievements and status are still very prominent and important in Chinese history. His nation-building was a success and milestone, laying a far-reaching foundation for history and opening up a new path for future generations.