Qin and Han · Consort and Empress Dowager

Empress Dowager Lu 呂太后

Lü Taihou

First attested BC 205; died BC 180

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager Lu was a consort and Empress Dowager.

Life and dates

Death

BC 180 呂太后崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 205

Attested activity

BC 187 to BC 180 呂太后
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 192, 204-205
BC 180 呂太后崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 205
BC 205 漢王之敗彭城西
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 195

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
Empress Lu 呂后
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 195

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 192

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 201-202

Events and relationships

Confronted slanderer in presence of
Political · Speaker · With Lu Xu (呂媭)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 201-202
Installed Lu clan as kings
BC 187 to BC 180 呂太后 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 204
Taken hostage
BC 205 漢王之敗彭城西 · Captivity · Hostage · At west of Pengcheng 彭城西
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 195

Assessments and attributes

Assessment secretly delighted that Chen Ping neglected government · With Chen Ping (陳平) · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 200

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 192

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 56House of Chancellor Chen · 6 passages

陵之免丞相，呂太后乃徙平為右丞相，以辟陽侯審食其為左丞相。 When Ling was dismissed as Chancellor, Empress Dowager Lu transferred Ping to Right Chancellor and appointed Shen Yiji, Marquis of Piyang, as Left Chancellor.

漢王之敗彭城西，楚取太上皇、呂后為質，食其以舍人侍呂后。 When the King of Han was defeated west of Pengcheng and Chu took the Supreme Emperor and Empress Lu hostage, Yiji served as a retainer attending upon Empress Lu.

其後從破項籍為侯，幸於呂太后。 Afterward he took part in the campaign that destroyed Xiang Ji and was made a marquis. He enjoyed the special favor of Empress Dowager Lu.

呂太后聞之，私獨喜。 Empress Dowager Lu heard about it and was secretly delighted.

呂太后立諸呂為王，陳平偽聽之。 When Empress Dowager Lu installed members of the Lu clan as kings, Chen Ping feigned compliance.

及呂太后崩，平與太尉勃合謀，卒誅諸呂，立孝文皇帝，陳平本謀也。 When Empress Dowager Lu died, Ping conspired with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and in the end exterminated the entire Lu faction, placing Emperor Wen on the throne. The original plot was Chen Ping's.