Qin and Han · Empress Dowager

Empress Dowager Lü 呂太后

Lü taihou

First attested BC 193; died BC 180

Passages: 15
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager Lü was an empress Dowager.

Life and dates

Death

BC 180 其明年，高后崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 37

Attested activity

BC 193 to BC 180 孝惠帝二年…高后崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passages 7, 37

Family

Kin of Lü Tai (呂臺)
brother's son 兄子 · paternal line · Through Brother of Empress Dowager Lü (呂太后兄)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 13
Sibling of Brother of Empress Dowager Lü (呂太后兄)
brother 兄
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 13

Kinship Role Lü clan kings installed · Count 3
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 19

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 12

Works and attributed material

It was only your father who knew anything of farming. You were born a prince—what could you possibly know of farming?
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Empress Dowager Lü (呂太后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passages 26-27
Very well, try explaining farming to me.
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Empress Dowager Lü (呂太后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 29
You may.
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Empress Dowager Lü (呂太后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 23

Events and relationships

Assumed the regency
BC 188 哀王元年 · Political · Regent
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 12
Installed Lü clansmen as three kings
Political · Actor
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 19
Resolved to execute the King of Qi
BC 193 孝惠帝二年 · Political · Actor · With Liu Fei (劉肥)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 52, passage 7

References in the histories

Search passages

History

15 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 52House of Prince Daohui of Qi · 15 passages

呂太后怒，且誅齊王。 Empress Dowager Lü was furious and resolved to have the King of Qi put to death.

呂太后喜，乃得辭就國。 The Empress Dowager was pleased by this gesture, and at last the King was permitted to take his leave and return to his kingdom.

哀王元年，孝惠帝崩，呂太后稱制，天下事皆決於高后。 In the first year of King Ai's reign, Emperor Xiaohui died. Empress Dowager Lü assumed the regency, and all matters of state were decided by her.

二年，高后立其兄子酈侯呂臺為呂王，割齊之濟南郡為呂王奉邑。 In the second year, the Empress Dowager named her nephew Lü Tai, the Marquis of Li, as King of Lü, and carved Jinan Commandery from Qi's territory to serve as his fief.

哀王三年，其弟章入宿衛於漢，呂太后封為朱虛侯，以呂祿女妻之。 In the third year of King Ai's reign, his younger brother Zhang entered service as a palace guard in the Han capital. Empress Dowager Lü enfeoffed him as Marquis of Zhuxu and gave him the daughter of Lü Lu as his wife.

哀王八年，高后割齊瑯邪郡立營陵侯劉澤為瑯邪王。 In the eighth year of King Ai's reign, the Empress Dowager carved out the Langye Commandery from Qi and installed Liu Ze, the Marquis of Yingling, as King of Langye.

高后立諸呂諸呂為三王，擅權用事。 The Empress Dowager installed members of the Lü clan as three kings, and they seized control of power and the conduct of state affairs.

嘗入待高后燕飲，高后令朱虛侯劉章為酒吏。 Once, when he attended a banquet hosted by the Empress Dowager, she appointed Liu Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, to serve as the wine steward.

高后曰：「可。」 The Empress Dowager replied, "You may."

已而曰：「請為太后言耕田歌。」 Afterward, Zhang said, "Allow me to sing a farming song for the Empress Dowager."

高后兒子畜之，笑曰：「顧而父知田耳。 The Empress Dowager, amused as though humoring a child, laughed and said, 'It was only your father who knew anything of farming.

太后曰：「試為我言田。」 The Empress Dowager said, 'Very well, try explaining farming to me.'

呂后默然。 Empress Lü fell silent.

太后左右皆大驚。 Everyone around the Empress Dowager was shocked.

其明年，高后崩。 The following year, Empress Dowager Gao died.