liu xiu was the sixth generation descendant of emperor jing of the western han dynasty. he was the son of liu qin (劉欽), magistrate (i.e., head official) of nandun county (南頓令). liu qin was the son of liu hui (劉回), vice governor in charge of military affairs for julu commandery (鉅鹿都尉). liu hui was the son of liu wai (劉外), governor of yulin commandery (鬱林太守). liu wai was the son of liu mai (劉買), known posthumously as marquess jie of chongling (舂陵節侯). liu mai was the son of liu fa (劉發), known posthumously as prince ding of changsha (長沙定王). the prince of changsha was a brother of emperor wu, a famous emperor of the former han and the son of emperor jing. as a descendant of liu fa, this also made liu xiu third cousin to the gengshi emperor.