Empress Lü
Lü Zhi | ||
---|---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin Lǚ Zhì | | |
Wade–Giles | Lü Chih | |
IPA | [lỳ ʈʂî] |
Lü Zhi (241–18 August 180 BC),
She played a role in the rise and foundation of her husband, Emperor Gaozu, and his dynasty, and in some of the laws and customs laid down by him. Empress Lü, even in the absence of her husband from the capital, killed two prominent generals who played an important role in Gaozu's rise to power, namely Han Xin and Peng Yue, as a lesson for the aristocracy and other generals. In June 195 BC, with the death of Gaozu, Empress Lü became, as the widow of the late emperor and mother of the new emperor, Empress Dowager (皇太后, Huángtàihòu), and assumed a leadership role in her son's administration. Less than a year after Emperor Hui's accession to the throne, in 194 BC, Lü had one of the late Emperor Gaozu's consorts whom she deeply hated, Concubine Qi, put to death in a cruel manner. She also had Concubine Qi's son Liu Ruyi poisoned to death. Emperor Hui was shocked by his mother's cruelty and fell sick for a year, and thereafter no longer became involved in state affairs, and gave more power to his mother. As a result, Empress dowager Lü held the court, listened to the government, spoke on behalf of the emperor, and did everything (臨朝聽政制, "linchao ting zhengzhi"). With the untimely death of her 22-year-old son, Emperor Hui, Empress dowager Lü subsequently proclaimed his two young sons emperor (known historically as Emperor Qianshao and Emperor Houshao respectively). She gained more power than ever before, and these two young emperors had no legitimacy as emperors in history; the history of this 8-year period is considered and recognized as the reign of Empress Dowager Lü. She dominated the political scene for 15 years until her death in August 180 BC, and is often depicted as the first woman to have ruled China. While four women are noted as having been politically active before her—Fu Hao, Yi Jiang, Lady Nanzi, and Queen Dowager Xuan—Lü was the perhaps first woman to have ruled over united China.[3]
Family background and marriage to Liu Bang
Lü Zhi was born in Shanfu County (單父; present-day
Liu Bang later participated in the rebellion against the
Life during the Chu–Han Contention
In early 206 BC, after the fall of the
Later that year, Liu Bang attacked and seized the Three Qins (three kingdoms covering the Guanzhong region) directly north of his own fief. Guanzhong was rightfully Liu Bang's, according to an earlier promise by Emperor Yi of Chu (previously known as King Huai II of Chu) to appoint whoever conquered Guanzhong first (during the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty) as king of that area. This marked the beginning of a four-year power struggle for supremacy over China between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, from 206 BC to 202 BC, known as the Chu–Han Contention. Xiang Yu initially took no action against Liu Bang's family. In the eighth lunar month, Liu Bang sent his followers, Wang Xi (王吸) and Xue Ou (薛歐), to meet Wang Ling (王陵) in Nanyang and fetch his family. However Xiang Yu mobilised troops to Yangxia (陽夏) and prevented the Han forces from advancing.
In the summer of 205 BC, Liu Bang took advantage of the situation when Xiang Yu was occupied with suppressing rebellions in the
In the autumn of 203 BC, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu came to a temporary reconciliation, known as the Treaty of Hong Canal, which divided China into west and east under their Han and Western Chu domains respectively. As part of their agreement, Xiang Yu released Lü Zhi and Liu Bang's family and returned them to Liu. Lü Zhi was given the title of "Queen Consort of Han" (漢王妃). Liu Bang later renounced the truce and attacked Xiang Yu, eventually defeating the latter at the
As empress and paramount authority
Even after
Roles in the deaths of Han Xin and Peng Yue
Lü Zhi is known for her roles in the deaths of
In 196 BC, Gaozu left the capital
When Gaozu was putting down Chen Xi's revolt, he requested reinforcements from Peng Yue but the latter claimed that he was ill and sent his subordinates to assist Gaozu instead. After Chen Xi's rebellion was quelled, Gaozu heard rumours that Peng Yue was plotting against him too, and he had Peng arrested and stripped off his titles. Peng was demoted to the status of a commoner and exiled to the remote Qingyi County (青衣縣; in present-day Ya'an, Sichuan). During his journey to Qingyi, Peng Yue encountered Lü Zhi, who wanted to have him killed. He pleaded with her to spare his life and let him return to his hometown in Changyi (昌邑; present-day Jinxiang County, Shandong), and the empress pretended to agree. Peng Yue was brought to Luoyang, where he was subsequently executed on false charges of treason. Lü Zhi ordered Peng Yue's body to be mutilated and had Peng's clan exterminated as well.
Dispute over the succession
In his late years, Emperor Gaozu started favouring one of his younger consorts, Concubine Qi, who bore him a son, Liu Ruyi, who was instated as Prince of Zhao in 198 BC, displacing Lü Zhi's son-in-law Zhang Ao (Princess Yuan of Lu's husband). Gaozu had the intention of replacing Liu Ying with Liu Ruyi as crown prince, reasoning that the former was too "soft-hearted and weak" and that the latter resembled him more. Since Lü Zhi had strong rapport with many ministers, they generally opposed Gaozu's decision but the emperor seemed bent on deposing Liu Ying. Lü Zhi became worried and she approached Zhang Liang for help, and the latter analysed that Gaozu was changing the succession on grounds of favouritism. Zhang Liang invited the "Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang", a group of four reclusive wise men, to persuade Gaozu to change his decision. The four men promised to assist Liu Ying in future if he became emperor, and Gaozu was pleased to see that Liu Ying had their support. Gaozu told Concubine Qi, "I wanted to replace (the crown prince). Now I see that he has the support of those four men; he is fully fledged and difficult to unseat. Empress Lü is really in charge!"[4] This marked the end of the dispute over the succession and affirmed Liu Ying's role as crown prince.
As empress dowager and Regent
In June 195 BC, Emperor Gaozu died and was succeeded by Liu Ying, who became historically known as Emperor Hui of Han. Lü Zhi was honoured by Emperor Hui as empress dowager. She exerted more influence during the reign of her son than she had when she was empress, and she became the powerful and effective lead figure in his administration.
Roles in the deaths of Concubine Qi and Liu Ruyi
Lü Zhi did not harm most of Gaozu's other consorts and treated them according to the rules and customs of the imperial family. For example, consorts who bore male children that were instated as princes were granted the title of "Princess Dowager" (王太妃) in their respective sons' principalities. One exception was Concubine Qi, whom Lü Zhi greatly resented because of the dispute over the succession between Liu Ruyi (Qi's son) and Liu Ying. Liu Ruyi, the Prince of Zhao, was away in his principality, so Lü Zhi targeted Concubine Qi. She had Qi stripped of her position, treated like a convict (head shaved, in stocks, dressed in prison garb), and forced to do hard labour in the form of milling rice.
Lü Zhi then summoned Liu Ruyi, who was around the age of 12 then, to Chang'an, intending to kill him together with his mother. However Zhou Chang (周昌), the chancellor in Liu Ruyi's principality, whom Lü Zhi respected because of his stern opposition to Emperor Gaozu's proposal to make Liu Ruyi crown prince, temporarily protected Liu Ruyi from harm by responding to Lü Zhi's order that, "The Prince of Zhao is ill and unfit for travelling over long distances." Lü Zhi then ordered Zhou Chang to come to the capital, had him detained, and then summoned Liu Ruyi again. Emperor Hui tried to save Liu Ruyi by intercepting his half-brother before the latter entered Chang'an, and kept Liu Ruyi by his side most of the time. Lü Zhi refrained from carrying out her plans for several months because she feared that she might harm Emperor Hui as well.
One morning in the winter of 195-194 BC, Emperor Hui went for a hunting trip and did not bring Liu Ruyi with him because the latter refused to get out of bed. Lü Zhi's chance arrived, so she sent an assassin to force poisoned wine down Liu Ruyi's throat. The young prince was dead by the time Emperor Hui returned. Lü Zhi then had Concubine Qi killed in an inhumane manner: she had Qi's limbs chopped off, eyes gouged out, ears sliced off, nose sliced off, tongue cut out, forced her to drink a potion that made her mute, and had her thrown into a latrine. She called Qi a "human swine" (人彘). Several days later, Emperor Hui was taken to view the "human swine" and was shocked to learn that it was Concubine Qi. He cried loudly and became ill for a long time. He requested to see his mother and said, "This is something done not by a human. As the empress dowager's son, I'll never be able to rule the empire."[5] From then on, Emperor Hui indulged himself in carnal pleasures and ignored state affairs, leaving all of them to his mother, and this caused power to fall completely into her hands.
Treatment of Emperor Gaozu's other sons
Around the winter of 195-194 BC, Liu Fei, the Prince of Qi, Emperor Gaozu's eldest son born to Lady Cao (曹氏), visited Chang'an and he and Emperor Hui attended a banquet hosted by the empress dowager. Emperor Hui honoured Liu Fei as an older half-brother and treated the latter respectfully. Lü Zhi felt offended and secretly instructed her servants to pour a cup of poisoned wine for Liu Fei, and then toasted him. Just as Liu Fei was about to drink the wine, Emperor Hui realised his mother's intention and grabbed Liu Fei's cup as if he would drink from it. Lü Zhi immediately jumped up and knocked the cup out of Emperor Hui's hand. Liu Fei then offered to give up an entire commandery from his principality to Lü Zhi's daughter, Princess Yuan of Lu. Lü Zhi accepted the offer and allowed him to leave.
Lü Zhi also played a role in the death of another of Gaozu's sons, Liu You, the Prince of Zhao. Liu You married Lü Zhi's niece but was caught having an affair with another woman, so Lü Zhi's niece reported to her aunt that Liu You was plotting a rebellion.[6] Lü Zhi summoned Liu You to Chang'an and had him imprisoned and deprived of food. Liu You was afraid of committing suicide and eventually starved to death, in February 181 BC.
Lü Zhi then transferred another of Gaozu's sons, Liu Hui, the Prince of Liang, to Zhao, and forced him to marry a daughter of Lü Chan. The Lü clan grabbed the authority of Zhao and oversaw Liu Hui, thus making Liu Hui feel restricted. Princess Lü had a favored concubine of Liu Hui poisoned to death. Liu Hui was distressed and committed suicide in fear in July 181 BC.
For the matters above, Lü Zhi was criticized for "having murdered three princes of Zhao".
Marriage proposal from Modu
In 192 BC, Lü Zhi received a marriage proposal from the Xiongnu chanyu Modu, who wrote as follows in a letter meant to intimidate and mock her:
I'm a lonesome ruler born in marshes and raised in plains populated by livestock. I've visited your border numerous times and wanted to tour China. Your Majesty is now alone and living in solitude. Since both of us are not happy and have nothing to entertain ourselves, I'm willing to use what I possess to exchange for what you lack.[7]
Lü Zhi was infuriated at the rude proposition, and in a heated court session, her generals advised her to rally an army and exterminate the Xiongnu immediately. As she was about to declare war, an outspoken attendant named Ji Bu pointed out that the Xiongnu army was much more powerful than the Chinese. At Ji Bu's words, the court immediately fell into a fearful silence.[8] Rethinking her plans, Lü Zhi rejected Modu's proposition humbly, as follows:
Your Lordship does not forget our land and writes a letter to us, we fear. I retreat to preserve myself. I'm old and frail, I'm losing hair and teeth, and I struggle to maintain balance when I move. Your Lordship has heard wrongly, you shouldn't defile yourself. Our people did not offend you, and should be pardoned. We've two imperial carriages and eight fine steeds, which we graciously offer to Your Lordship.[9]
However, she continued implementing the heqin policy of marrying Han princesses to Xiongnu chieftains and paying tribute to the Xiongnu in exchange for peace between both sides.[10]
Emperor Hui's marriage to Empress Zhang Yan
In 191 BC, at Lü Zhi's insistence, Emperor Hui married his niece
As empress dowager: grandmother and an acting emperor
Emperor Hui died in 188 BC and was succeeded by Emperor Qianshao, one of the children Empress Zhang adopted. Empress Dowager Lü closely monitored and controlled the imperial court and kept the whole army firmly in her hands, thus maintaining power more strongly than before. His death and the succession of an immature child left power completely and solely in the hands of Empress Dowager Lü, and as a regent, legitimized her as the first female absolute ruler in
Lü Zhi then proceeded to make her kin nobles. Her first step was to install her maternal grandson Zhang Yan (張偃;
Around 184 BC, Emperor Qianshao discovered that he was not
Death
Lü Zhi died of illness at the age of 61 in 180 BC and was interred in
In the aftermath of Lü Zhi's death, her clan members were overthrown from their positions of power and massacred, in an event historically known as the
Family
- Father: Lü Wen (呂文), sometimes referred to as Lü Gong (呂公). In 187 BC, he was granted the posthumous title of "Prince Xuan of Lü" (呂宣王).
- Husband: Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han.
- Children:
- Liu Ying, Emperor Hui of Han.
- Princess Yuan of Lu (魯元公主), personal name unknown.
- Siblings and their descendants:
- Lü Changxu (呂長姁), older sister.
- Lü Ping (呂平), Lü Changxu's son, Marquis of Fuliu (扶柳侯).
- Lü Ze (呂澤), older brother, posthumously known as "Prince Daowu of Lü" (呂悼武王).
- Lü Tai (呂台), Lü Ze's son, instated as Prince Su of Lü (呂肅王) in 186 BC.
- Lü Jia (呂嘉), Lü Tai's son, Prince of Lü (呂王).
- Lü Tong (呂通), Lü Tai's son, instated as Prince of Yan(燕王) in 181 BC.
- Lü Pi (呂庀), Lü Tai's son, Marquis of Dongping (東平侯).
- Lü Chan (呂產), Lü Ze's son, instated as Prince of Liang(梁王) in 181 BC.
- Lü Tai (呂台), Lü Ze's son, instated as Prince Su of Lü (呂肅王) in 186 BC.
- Lü Shizhi (呂釋之), older brother, posthumously known as "Prince Zhao of Zhao" (趙昭王).
- Lü Ze (呂則), Lü Shizhi's son, Marquis of Jiancheng (建成侯).
- Lü Zhong (呂種), Lü Shizhi's son, Marquis of Buqi (不其侯).
- Lü Lu (呂祿), Lü Shizhi's son, instated as Prince of Zhao in 181 BC.
- Lü Xu (呂嬃), younger sister, Fan Kuai's wife, instated as Marquise of Linguang (臨光侯) in 184 BC
- Lü Changxu (呂長姁), older sister.
In popular culture
- Portrayed as by Joe Chen in The Beauty of the Emperor series
- Portrayed by Qin Lan in the 2012 television series King's War
- The character of Jia Matiza in Ken Liu's The Dandelion Dynasty is based on Empress Lü.
See also
- Lü Clan Disturbance
- Emperor Hui of Han
References
Citations
- ISBN 9780253340276.
- ^ Lady Lü's names were not found in her biographies in either Records of the Grand Historian or Book of Han; her names were found in annotations to the Shiji (Shiji Suoyin by Sima Zhen) and Han Shu (Han Shu Zhu by Yan Shigu).
- ^ Keith McMahon, Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao
- ^ (我欲易之,彼四人輔之,羽翼已成,難動矣。呂后真而主矣!) Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Volume 55, House of the Marquis of Liu.
- ^ (此非人所為。臣為太后子,終不能治天下。) Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Volume 9, Biography of Empress Dowager Lü.
- ^ Sima Guang. Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 13.
- ^ (孤僨之君,生於沮澤之中,長於平野牛馬之域,數至邊境,願游中國。陛下獨立,孤僨獨居。兩主不樂,無以自虞,願以所有,易其所無。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Volume 94, Traditions of the Xiongnu.
- ^ Records of the Grand Historian, v. 100, Burton Watson translation page 249
- ^ (單于不忘弊邑,賜之以書,弊邑恐懼。退而自圖,年老氣衰,發齒墮落,行步失度,單于過聽,不足以自污。弊邑無罪,宜在見赦。竊有御車二乘,馬二駟,以奉常駕。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Volume 94, Traditions of the Xiongnu.
- ^ (因獻馬,遂和親。至孝文即位,復修和親。) Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Volume 94, Traditions of the Xiongnu.
- ^ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (後改令稱詔,羣臣上書曰陛下,自稱曰朕).
- ^ (發掘諸陵,取其寶貨,遂污辱呂后屍。) Fan Ye. Book of the Later Han, Biography of Liu Xuanzi.
Sources
- Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, vols. 8, 9, 49.
- Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, vols. 1, 2, 3, 97, Part 1.
- Fan Ye. Book of the Later Han.
- Sima Guang. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 7, 9, 10, 12, 13.
- Yap, Joseph P. War With The Xiongnu - A Translation From Zizhi tongjian. Chapter 2. ISBN 978-1-4490-0605-1.
- Bennet Peterson, Barbara (2000). Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century. M.E. Sharpe, Inc.