In the early Song Dynasty, Liu Han was from Linjin, Cangzhou (present-day Cang County, Hebei), born into a family of physicians. He once served as a patrol officer of the Huguo Army. In the second year of the Later Zhou's Xiande era (955), he was appointed as a Hanlin medical officer by Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Chai Rong, for presenting medical works including 30 volumes of Classical Prescriptions, 10 volumes of Discourse on Symptoms, and 20 volumes of Ancient and Modern Governance Collections. His books were collected by the imperial library. When Emperor Taizu of Song went on a northern expedition, Liu Han was ordered to accompany the army. In the early Jianlong era (960), he was promoted to the rank of Chaosan Daifu and Honglu Si Cheng. In the early Jiande era (963), the Taichang Temple assessed the medical skills of Hanlin medical officers, and more than 20 officers with inadequate skills were dismissed, while Liu Han achieved the highest score. In the fifth year of Kaibao (972), when the future Emperor Taizong of Song fell ill, Liu Han and Ma Zhi were ordered to diagnose and treat him. After recovery, Liu Han was promoted to Shangyao Fengyu and was rewarded with money and goods. In the sixth year of Kaibao, he was ordered to compile 20 volumes of Kaibao Newly Detailed Materia Medica with Taoist Ma Zhi and medical officers Zhai Zhao, Zhang Su, Wu Fugui, Wang Guangyou, and Chen Zhaoyu. Later, he revised it with Ma Zhi, and it was reviewed and finalized by Li Fang, Wang You, and Hu Meng, completing 20 volumes of Kaibao Revised Materia Medica. He was further promoted to Jianjiao Gongbu Yuanwailang. In the fourth year of Taiping Xingguo (979), he was appointed as the Hanlin Medical Officer Envoy and further promoted to Jianjiao Hubu Langzhong. In the second year of Yongxi (987), he was demoted to Hezhou Tuanlian Fushi for misjudging the prognosis of Liu Yu's illness in Huazhou. In the early Duangong era (988), he was reinstated as Shangyao Fengyu. In the first year of Chunhua (990), he was reappointed as the Hanlin Medical Officer Envoy and passed away in the same year at the age of 72.