Liu An was a Chinese cartographer, monarch, and philosopher.
10 Facts About Liu An
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2.
Liu An is best known for editing the Huainanzi compendium of Daoist, Confucianist, and Legalist teachings and is credited for inventing tofu.
3.
Liu An was the grandson of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty.
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The younger was Liu Qian, who was born by his princess consort and thus became heir to Huainan, while the elder, Liu Buhai, was born to a concubine.
5.
Liu An favoured Liu Qian over Liu Buhai and never viewed the latter as his son.
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Finally, in a fate similar to his father, Liu An committed suicide in 122 BC after his plot was revealed.
7.
Liu An's book was concerned with mathematics and music, making use of the "Pythagorean comma" and listing the first known Chinese 12 tone musical tuning.
8.
Liu An wrote an introduction to the "Li Sao" as well as the first known commentary.
9.
Liu An wanted to taste soybeans but couldn't chew, so Liu An ground the soybeans into milk, apparently upon her suggestion.
10.
The attribution of the invention of tofu to Liu An was made by another Ming dynasty writer, Li Yi.