Liu Bingzhong (Chinese:劉秉忠; 1216–1274), orLiu Kan (Chinese:劉侃) was aYuan dynasty court adviser and architect. He was born in Ruizhou (Rui prefecture), during theJin dynasty. In 1233, he entered the Jin's bureaucracy. He still was an officer after theMongol Empire conquered the Jin following theMongol–Jin wars, but later he became a monk. However his teacher thought that his talent should not be buried, so he recommended Liu Bingzhong toKublai Khan, to become his adviser. During this period, he was extolled as theFive Talented inXintai. He was credited with occult powers which allowed him to foretell the future and so assist military operations.[1] Liu had a paramount influence on Yuan era city designs, and he is known to have planned both the Yuan capital ofDadu and its summer capitalXanadu (Shangdu).[2][3]
Liu Bingzhong and Yao Shu made a plan "to canvass all talented to give well-governorship suggestions".[clarification needed] Many Confucianists, such asXu Heng, Wang Xun, Zhang Yi, were attracted to provide ruse to Kublai Khan, who later became the founder of theYuan Dynasty.[clarification needed]
After the Battle ofDiaoyu Fortress,Möngke Khan died and Kublai Khan succeeded his post. Liu Bingzhong suggested to name the new dynasty as "Da Yuan" (Chinese:大元; "Great Yuan") with reference toI Ching, which was adopted by Kublai Khan in 1271. He also suggested Kublai Khan adopt Chinese law over that of Mongol law, and removed some Mongolian misgovernment.
Kublai Khan recognizedJin's Central Capital as the capital of the Yuan, and renamed it toDadu ("Great Capital"). Liu Bingzhong was the planner and the original architect of the Capital Construction of Dadu. Liu also designed and planned the layout of the Yuan's summer capital atXanadu (Shangdu).[4][5] Liu formulated the Time Service Calendar withGuo Shoujing. When he became the teacher ofZhenjin, who later became the Crown Prince (Chinese:皇太子), he set up the Zishan College in Wuon Mountain to teach Confucianism and Natural Science.
In 1274, he died in Nanbing Mountain Villa.
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