Qin and Han · Ruler

Empress Lü 呂后

Lǚ Zhì

Died BC 180

Passages
141
Chapters
38
Histories
5

Overview

The translated histories identify Empress Lü as a consort, royal family member, and ruler. This record brings together 141 passages from 38 chapters across 5 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Personal Empress Lü 呂后 Lǚ Zhì
Title
Personal
Title Empress 皇后 Huanghou
Title empress dowager 皇太后
Title empress dowager 太后
Title Empress Dowager 太后 Tàihòu
Title Empress Dowager 太后 Taihou
Title Empress Dowager 太后
Title Empress Dowager Gao 高后 Gao Hou
Title Empress Dowager Gao 高后 Gāo Hòu
Title Empress Dowager Gao 高后 Gāo hòu
Title Empress Dowager Gao 高后
Title Empress Dowager Lu 呂太后 Lü Taihou
Title Empress Dowager Lü 呂后 Lü Hou
Alternate Empress Dowager Lü
Title Empress Dowager Lü 呂太后
Title Empress Dowager Lü 吕太后 Lü Taihou
Title Empress Dowager Lü 吕太后 Lǚ tàihòu
Title Empress Gao 高皇后 Gāo Huánghòu
Title Empress Gao 高后 Gāo hòu
Title Empress Gao 高后 Gao hou
Title Empress Gao 高后 Gao Hou
Title Empress Gao 高后
Title Empress Gao 高後
Title Empress Gao 高後 Gāo hòu
Posthumous name Empress Gao 高皇后 Gao Huanghou
Posthumous name Empress Gao 高后 Gao Hou
Title Empress Gao 高后 Gāo Hòu
Posthumous Empress Gao of Han 高后 Gao Hou
Title Empress Lu 呂后 Lü Hou
Title Empress Lu 呂后 Lǚ Hòu
Title Empress Lu 呂后
Title Empress Lü 呂后 Lǚ Hòu
Title Empress Lü 呂后 Lü Hou
Title Empress Lü 呂皇后 Lü Huanghou
Title Empress Lü 呂太后 Lü Taihou
Personal name Empress Lü 呂后 Lü Hou
Title Empress Lü 高后 Gāo Hòu
Title Empress Lü 呂太后 Lǚ tàihòu
Title Empress Lü 高后 Gāohòu
Title Empress Lü 呂後
Title Empress Lü 呂后
Alternate name Empress Lü 高后 Gao Hou
Title Empress Lü 高後 Gāohòu
Title Empress Lü of Han 漢高後 Hàn Gāohòu
Title Grand Empress Dowager Gao 高后
Title Grand Empress Dowager Lü 高後 Gāo hòu
Surname Lü 呂 Lǚ
Surname Lü 呂 Lü
Personal Lü Zhi 呂雉 Lǚ Zhì
Title Queen 王后 Wanghou

Identity

Historicity
Historical
Identification
Named
Sex
Female

Roles

  • Consort
  • Royal Family Member
  • Ruler

Life and dates

Death

Attested activity

  • Source Date: Text: 七年 · Western Year: BC 188
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:003:s0066
  • Source Date: Text: 三十三年正月辛未 · Western Year: AD 57
    Explicit event contextual date · houhanshu:109:s0004, houhanshu:109:s0005, houhanshu:109:s0008, houhanshu:109:s0009, houhanshu:109:s0015
  • Source Date: Text: 九年 · Western Year: BC 198
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:041:s0191
  • Source Date: Text: 二年 · Western Year: BC 186
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0007, shiji:051:s0026, shiji:051:s0034, shiji:051:s0047
  • Source Date: Text: 元年 · Western Year: BC 187
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0001
  • Source Date: Text: 八年秋七月辛巳 · Western Year: BC 180
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0039
  • Source Date: Text: 十一年 · Western Year: BC 196
    Explicit · shiji:091:s0100
  • Source Date: Text: 十二年五月丙寅 · Western Year: BC 195
    Explicit · hanshu:003:s0005
  • Source Date: Text: 十年秋 · Western Year: BC 197
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:090:s0084, shiji:090:s0096
  • Source Date: Text: 吕太后崩时 · Western Year: BC 180
    Explicit · houhanshu:119:s0164
  • Source Date: Text: 呂后 · Western Interval: Start: BC 195 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · shiji:100:s0030
  • Source Date: Text: 呂太后 · Western Interval: Start: BC 195 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · hanshu:046:s0022
  • Source Date: Text: 呂後 · Western Interval: Start: BC 195 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · songshu:055:s0013
  • Source Date: Text: 四年 · Western Year: BC 184
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0019
  • Source Date: Text: 太后崩 · Western Year: BC 180
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:051:s0051
  • Source Date: Text: 孝惠、高后之間 · Western Interval: Start: BC 188 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · hanshu:026:s0317
  • Source Date: Text: 孝惠、高后時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 188 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · shiji:115:s0006
  • Source Date: Text: 建武三十二年二月二十五日 · Western Year: AD 56
    Explicit · houhanshu:108:s0087
  • Source Date: Text: 惠帝即位…尊呂后為太后 · Western Year: BC 195
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0092
  • Source Date: Text: 惠帝崩…太后臨朝稱制 · Western Year: BC 188
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0094
  • Source Date: Text: 漢七年後 · Western Year: BC 200
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:099:s0068
  • Source Date: Text: 漢初 · Western Interval: Start: BC 209 · End: BC 141
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:051:s0048
  • Source Date: Text: 漢十一年 · Western Year: BC 196
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:053:s0061
  • Source Date: Text: 漢十二年 · Western Year: BC 195
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:099:s0164
  • Source Date: Text: 漢高後除三族令 · Western Year: BC 187
    Explicit · qingshigao:143:s0158
  • Source Date: Text: 高后五年 · Western Year: BC 183
    Explicit · shiji:098:s0054
  • Source Date: Text: 高后元年 · Western Year: BC 187
    Explicit · hanshu:025:s0313
  • Source Date: Text: 高后元年 · Western Year: BC 187
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:041:s0221
  • Source Date: Text: 高后女主 · Western Interval: Start: BC 188 · End: BC 180
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:101:s0003
  • Source Date: Text: 高后女主 · Western Interval: Start: BC 195 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · shiji:026:s0043
  • Source Date: Text: 高后崩 · Western Year: BC 180
    Explicit · shiji:057:s0084, shiji:104:s0020
  • Source Date: Text: 高后時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 187 · End: BC 180
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:051:s0023
  • Source Date: Text: 高后時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 187 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · shiji:113:s0014, shiji:113:s0017, shiji:113:s0019
  • Source Date: Text: 高后時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 188 · End: BC 180
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:025:s0160, shiji:054:s0134
  • Source Date: Text: 高后時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 188 · End: BC 180
    Explicit · shiji:101:s0003, shiji:101:s0010
  • Source Date: Text: 高后王呂祿於趙，一歲而高后崩 · Western Year: BC 180
    Explicit event contextual date · shiji:050:s0030
  • Source Date: Text: 高皇后…生惠帝 · Western Year: BC 195
    Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:004:s0090

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

  • Parent of Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠帝)
    Kinship Term: bore / 生 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
    Kinship Term: heir / 太子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
    Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
  • Sibling of Elder brother of Empress Lü (呂后兄)
    Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Shared Parentage: full
  • Kin of Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠帝)
    Kinship Term: Empress Dowager Gao / 高后 · Subject Role: emperor · Object Role: empress-dowager
    Kinship Term: Emperor Hui / 孝惠 · Subject Role: empress-dowager · Object Role: emperor
  • Parent of Princess Lu Yuan (魯元公主)
    Kinship Term: emperor's elder sister / 帝姊 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: daughter
    Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: daughter
  • Spouse of Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
    Kinship Term: Empress Lü / 呂皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Relationship State: active
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Relationship State: active
    Kinship Term: Empress Gao / 高后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband · Relationship State: widowed
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband · Relationship State: active
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
  • Spouse of Emperor Gaodi of Han (漢高帝)
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife
  • Spouse of Gaozu (高祖)
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: marriage · Relationship State: active
  • Spouse of Emperor Gao (高帝)
    Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: marriage · Relationship State: active
  • Parent of Eldest Princess (長公主)
    Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: daughter
  • Kin of Lü Chan (呂產)
    Kinship Term: the Lü clan members / 諸呂 · Line: paternal
  • Kinship Role: father and brothers enfeoffed as marquises under Emperor Gao · Count: 3
    Explicit · hanshu:004:s0091
  • Kinship Role: Lü marquises enfeoffed · Count: 6
    Explicit · hanshu:004:s0095

Career and standing

  • Label: Empress Dowager / 太后 · Action: honored-as
    Explicit · hanshu:004:s0092
  • Title: marquis / 侯 · Action: succeeded
    Explicit · shiji:098:s0055
  • Empress Lü / 呂后
    Explicit · hanshu:001:s0030
  • Status: regent · Action: assumed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 惠帝崩…太后臨朝稱制 · Western Year: BC 188
    Explicit · hanshu:004:s0094
  • Status: empress-dowager · Action: held
    Explicit · hanshu:026:s0317
  • Status: female-ruler · Action: held
    Explicit · shiji:026:s0043
  • Status: empress-dowager · Action: honored-as · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十二年五月丙寅 · Western Year: BC 195
    Explicit · hanshu:003:s0005
  • Status: posthumous-empress · Action: registered · Label: Empress Gao / 高皇后
    Explicit · houhanshu:109:s0005

Places and affiliations

Works and attributed material

Events and relationships

Assessments and attributes

  • Assessment: damaged Emperor Hui's perfect virtue · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
    Explicit · hanshu:003:s0066
  • Assessment: female ruler who held power without leaving her chambers, yet the realm remained peaceful · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
    Explicit · hanshu:004:s0089
  • Assessment: 盛德 great virtue/mercy · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
    Explicit · qingshigao:143:s0158
  • Item: calf offering / 犊 · Relation: received-as-sacrifice
    Explicit · houhanshu:109:s0015

Source notes

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 14 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 5 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 3Volume 2: Annals of Emperor Hui · 3 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 4Volume 3: Annals of Empress Lü Zhi · 12 passages
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太尉勃與丞相平謀，以曲周侯酈商子寄與祿善，使人劫商令寄紿說祿曰：「高帝與呂后共定天下，劉氏所 立九王，呂氏所立三王，皆大臣之議。 Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and Chancellor Chen Ping plotted together. Since Marquis of Quzhou Li Shang's son Ji was on good terms with Lü Lu, they sent men to seize Shang and have Ji deceive and persuade Lü Lu, saying: 'Emperor Gaozu and Empress Lü together settled the realm. The Liu clan established nine kings and the Lü clan established three kings—all were matters deliberated by the ministers.
贊曰：孝惠、高后之時，海內得離戰國之苦，君臣俱欲無為，故惠帝拱己，高后女主制政，不出房闥，而天下晏然，刑罰罕用，民務稼穡，衣食滋殖。 The commentator says: During the reigns of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Lü, the realm obtained release from the sufferings of the Warring States period. Ruler and ministers alike wished for non-action; therefore Emperor Hui held to a hands-off posture, while Empress Lü, as female ruler, held power without leaving her chambers—yet the realm remained peaceful, punishments were rarely used, the people devoted themselves to farming, and clothing and food grew ever more abundant.
Book of Han, Chapter 5Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen · 4 passages
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夫以呂太后之嚴，立諸呂為三王，擅權專制，然而太尉以一節入北軍，一呼士皆袒左，為劉氏，畔諸呂，卒以滅 之。 Despite Empress Lü's iron-fisted rule in establishing three Lü kings and monopolizing power with dictatorial control, the Grand Commandant Zhou Bo entered the Northern Army with just one imperial tally. With a single command, all the soldiers bared their left arms in loyalty to the Liu clan, rebelled against the Lü faction, and ultimately destroyed them.
Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 2 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 27Volume 24b: Treatise on Trade 2 · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 5 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 15 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 46Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu · 3 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 3 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 14 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 4 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages
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值漢初定，與民無禁，當孝惠、高后時，以財雄邊，出入弋獵，旌旗鼓吹，年百餘歲，以壽終，故北方多以「壹」為字者。 It happened when Han had only just been settled and there were no restraints on the people. During the reigns of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Gao, he dominated the frontier by his wealth; when he went out hawking and hunting, he used banners, flags, drums, and pipes. He lived more than a hundred years and died of old age, so many northerners used the character "Yi" in their names.
Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 1 passage
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Book of Later Han, Chapter 109Volume 98: Rituals and Worship Part Two · 4 passages
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Book of Later Han, Chapter 119Volume 108: Five Elements Part Six · 1 passage
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Draft History of Qing, Chapter 143Volume 143 Treatises 118: Penal Law 2 · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 26Treatise on the Calendar · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 50House of Prince Yuan of Chu · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 51Houses of Jing and Yan · 14 passages
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 53House of Chancellor Xiao · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 2 passages
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 5 passages
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 98Biographies of Fu, Jin, and the Marquis of Kuaicheng · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 2 passages
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu · 3 passages
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 3 passages
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 104Biography of Tian Shu · 1 passage
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Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 113Treatise on the Nanyue · 5 passages
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佗曰：「高帝立我，通使物，今高後聽讒臣，別異蠻夷，隔絕器物，此必長沙王計也，欲倚中國，擊滅南越而并王之，自為功也。」 Tuo declared: "Emperor Gaozu installed me as king and opened trade and diplomatic relations. Now Empress Dowager Gao heeds the words of slanderous ministers, treats us as foreign barbarians, and cuts off our access to iron goods and implements. This is surely a plot by the King of Changsha, who wishes to lean on the might of the Central Plains to destroy Nanyue, annex our territory, and claim the glory for himself."
陸賈至南越，王甚恐，為書謝，稱曰：「蠻夷大長老夫臣佗，前日高后隔異南越，竊疑長沙王讒臣，又遙聞高后盡誅佗宗族，掘燒先人冢，以故自棄，犯長沙邊境。 When Lu Jia reached Nanyue, the king was deeply alarmed. He composed a letter of apology, which read: "Your humble barbarian subject, the Great Elder Tuo: when Empress Dowager Gao cut off relations with Nanyue, I privately suspected the King of Changsha of slandering me at court. Then I heard from afar that the Empress Dowager had executed all of my kinsmen and dug up and burned the ancestral tombs. In my despair, I cast aside all restraint and raided the Changsha border.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 115Treatise on Korea · 1 passage
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Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 1 passage
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