Liu Pang, Chinese emperor (206-195 B.C.), founder of the Han dynasty. Liu was of peasant origin and had been a minor official before joining the free-for-all struggle that attended the collapse of the Ch'in dynasty. Threatened by internal dissension and nomadic incursions, Liu slowly consolidated power, but it was several decades before Han rule recreated the imperial system of the Ch'in. Liu is also known by his posthumous temple name, Kao-tsu [Chin.,=high progenitor].