Empress Lü (呂后) | 24 Histories

Overview

Empress Lü was a Founding empress of Han and regent after Emperor Gaozu's death.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Empress Dowager Lu	呂太后	Lu Taihou
Posthumous name	Empress Gao	高后	Gao Hou

Life and dates

Death

BC 180 一歲而高后崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 30
BC 180 八年秋七月辛巳
At Weiyang Palace 未央宮
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 39
BC 180 太后崩
Died
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 272; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 51
BC 180 高后崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 46, 210; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 89
Died
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 164
died 崩
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 104, passage 20

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died
呂後崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 58, passage 10
高后崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 3
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 19

Attested activity

BC 241 to BC 180 Empress Dowager Lü (BC 241-180)
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 109, passages 4-5
BC 188 to BC 180 Empress Gao era
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 253
BC 196 to BC 180 Han regency era
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 73
BC 188 七年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 3, passage 66
BC 198 九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 191
BC 186 二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 7; Book of Han 44, passages 17, 24, 37; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passages 26, 34, 47

Show 54 more source-backed claims

BC 187 元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 1
BC 180 八年秋七月辛巳
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 39
BC 196 十一年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 100
BC 195 十二年五月丙寅
Directly stated · Book of Han 3, passage 5
BC 181 十六年
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 20
BC 197 十年秋
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passages 84, 96
BC 195 to BC 180 史論引用呂后
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 71, passage 5
BC 180 吕太后崩时
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 119, passage 164
BC 195 to BC 180 呂后
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 30
BC 195 to BC 180 呂后專制
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 50, passage 132
BC 187 to BC 180 呂后時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 247
BC 195 to BC 180 呂太后
Directly stated · Book of Han 46, passage 22
BC 180 呂太后時
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 143
BC 195 to BC 180 呂後
Directly stated · Book of Song 55, passage 13
BC 184 四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 19
BC 191 四年
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 6
BC 180 太后崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passage 272; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 51
BC 188 to BC 180 孝惠、高后之間
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 317
BC 188 to BC 180 孝惠、高后時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 115, passage 6
BC 193 孝惠二年
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 178-179
BC 188 孝惠帝崩
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 188, 190
BC 196 往年春
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 99
BC 186 後五歲，高后聞...
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 81
BC 195 惠帝即位…尊呂后為太后
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 92
BC 188 惠帝崩…太后臨朝稱制
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 94
BC 200 漢七年後
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 68
BC 198 漢九年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 237
BC 205 to BC 180 漢初呂后
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 146
BC 196 漢十一年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 61; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 225, 228
BC 195 漢十二年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 251; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 164
BC 187 漢高後除三族令
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 143, passage 158
BC 200 to BC 196 留侯杜門不出歲餘之後，上欲廢太子
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 200, 203
c. BC 202 to BC 180 高后
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 108, passage 87
BC 188 高后
Directly stated · Book of Han 69, passage 47
BC 181 高后七年
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 226
BC 183 高后五年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 98, passage 54
BC 187 高后元年
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 313
BC 187 高后元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 221
BC 188 to BC 180 高后女主
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 101, passage 3
BC 195 to BC 180 高后女主
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 43
BC 180 高后崩
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 46, 210, 232; Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 84; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 89; Records of the Grand Historian 104, passage 20
BC 186 to BC 180 高后時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 87
BC 187 to BC 180 高后時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passage 14; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 23
BC 187 to BC 180 高后時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passages 14, 17, 19
BC 188 to BC 180 高后時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 160; Records of the Grand Historian 54, passage 134
BC 188 to BC 180 高后時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passages 3, 10
BC 180 高后時
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 242
BC 187 高后時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 112
BC 187 to BC 180 高后時至太后崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passages 14, 272
BC 180 高后王呂祿於趙，一歲而高后崩
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 30
BC 195 高帝崩
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 264; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 166, 169, 171
BC 195 高皇后…生惠帝
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 90
BC 195 高祖崩，呂太后使使召趙王
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 73
BC 202 to BC 195 高祖時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 45

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠帝)
bore 生
heir 太子
mother 母
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Han 4, passage 90; Book of Han 51, passage 48; Book of Han 3, passage 1; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 68
Spouse of Emperor Gao (高皇帝)
consort 配偶者 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 1
Parent of Crown Prince (太子)
crown prince 太子 · maternal line
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 203, 205
Parent of Princess Luyuan (魯元公主)
daughter 女 · maternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 238
Child of Lü Gong (呂公)
daughter 女
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 145
Sibling of Elder brother of Empress Lü (呂后兄)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 95
Sibling of Brother of Empress Lü (呂后兄)
elder-brother 兄 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 223
Kin of Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠帝)
Empress Dowager Gao 高后
Emperor Hui 孝惠
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 115, passage 6
Parent of Princess Lu Yuan (魯元公主)
emperor's elder sister 帝姊
mother 母
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 4, passage 93; Book of Han 41, passage 191
Parent of Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠)
empress dowager 太后
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 169, 171
Spouse of Liu Bang (劉邦)
Empress Lü 呂皇后 · Primary marriage
empress 后
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Empress Gao 高后 · Primary marriage · Widowed
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Han 3, passage 1; Book of Han 48, passage 73; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 61; Book of Han 51, passage 48; Book of Later Han 108, passage 87; Book of Han 25, passage 313; Book of Han 4, passages 90-91
Spouse of Emperor Gaodi of Han (漢高帝)
empress 后
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passages 41, 43
Spouse of Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 237-238
Spouse of Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后 · Primary marriage · Widowed
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 73, 83
Spouse of Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 225, 227, 251
Spouse of Emperor Gao (高帝)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 203
Spouse of Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 93, passage 99
Spouse of Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 41, passage 191
Spouse of Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passages 145-146
Spouse of Gaozu (高祖)
empress 后 · Primary marriage
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 45
Spouse of Emperor Gao (高帝)
empress 后
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passages 68, 164
Kin of Lü Chan (產)
member of the Lü clan 諸呂
the Lü clan members 諸呂 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 44, passages 23-24; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passages 33-34
Parent of Princess Yuan of Lu (魯元公主)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 185
Parent of Eldest Princess (長公主)
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 68
Parent of Crown Prince (太子)
mother 母
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 45
Parent of Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠帝)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 1
Sibling of Lü Xu (呂須)
younger sister 女弟 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 37
Sibling of Lu Xu (呂媭)
younger sister 弟 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 162

Kinship Role father and brothers enfeoffed as marquises under Emperor Gao · Count 3
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 91
Kinship Role Lü marquises enfeoffed · Count 6
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 95

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 4 Volume 3: Annals of Empress Lü Zhi 12 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 47 Volume 38: The Five Sons of Emperor Gao 33 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 44 Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu 15 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 1 Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 14 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 51 Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu 14 passages

Career and standing

empress 后
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 247
Empress Dowager 太后
Honored as
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 92
Empress Lu 呂后
BC 198 漢九年 · Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 237
Empress Lu 呂后
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 247
marquis 侯
Succeeded
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 98, passage 55
Empress Lü 呂后
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 30

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Empress Lü 高后
Directly stated · Book of Han 69, passage 47
Assumed
BC 188 惠帝崩…太后臨朝稱制 · Regent
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 94
exclusive rule 專制
Sole regent · Exercised
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 50, passage 132
Held
Empress dowager
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 317
Held
Female ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 43
Honored as
BC 195 十二年五月丙寅 · Empress dowager
Directly stated · Book of Han 3, passage 5
Empress Gao 高皇后
Posthumous empress · Registered
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 5
Suffered
Arrested
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 83

Places and affiliations

BC 198 漢九年
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Consort of court
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 237
BC 196 漢十一年
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 225
Han 漢
Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 96
Han 漢
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 313; Records of the Grand Historian 115, passage 6
Western Han 漢
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 50, passage 132
Polity Han · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 43

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Polity Han 漢 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 203; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 45
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Consort of court
Directly stated · Book of Han 3, passage 1
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 94; Book of Han 26, passage 317; Book of Han 44, passage 14; Book of Han 46, passage 22; Draft History of Qing 143, passage 158; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 23; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 247; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 73, 87
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 180, 210, 222
Polity Text Han
Directly stated · Book of Han 102, passage 18
At Weiyang Palace 未央宮 · Relation Died at
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 39
Organization Lü clan 呂氏 · Relation Member of
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 89
Organization the Lü clan 諸呂 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 101, passage 10

Works and attributed material

Biographies of the Consort Families 外戚傳
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 96
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Zhou Chang (周昌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 45
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Zhang Liang (張良) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 264
Speech · Intended speaker · Addressed to Emperor Gaozu (高祖) · Direct quotation · script proposed by the Four Elders
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 225-227
Speech · Speaker · With Liu Bang (劉邦) · Extent Unit Ids s0099, s0100 · Mode speech Speaker Empress Lü (呂后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passages 99-100
Edict · Issuer · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passages 1, 7-10, 20-23, 100-102

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Letter · Addressee · With Chanyu (單于)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passage 30
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 237
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Zhou Chang (周昌) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Empress Lü (呂后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passages 76-77
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Gao (高帝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 68
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 51, passage 48; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passages 169, 171

Events and relationships

Abolished three clans punishment and demonic speech ordinance
BC 187 元年春正月 · Legal · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 1
Abolished succession
Political · Authority · With Liu Hui (劉恢)
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 25
Abolished three clan extermination
Legal · Ruler
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 143, passage 158
abolished three-clan crime and omens-slander ordinance 除三族罪、祅言令
BC 187 高后元年 · Legal · Authority · Abolished
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 313
Appointed palace counselor
Political · Appointing authority · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 171
Appointed
BC 186 以廣阿侯任敖為御史大夫 · Political · Appointer · With Ren Ao (任敖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 81

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Argued against punishing Zhang Ao
BC 198 漢九年 · Political · Intercessor · With Zhang Ao (張敖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 237
Arranged accusation
BC 197 十年秋 · Political · Instigator · With Peng Yue (彭越)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 101
Attempted poisoning
BC 193 孝惠二年 · Political · Perpetrator · With Liu Fei (劉肥)
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 180-182
Charged
BC 186 後五歲 · Legal · Authority · With Zhao Yao (趙堯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 81
Discussed xiongnu insult
Court council · Convener
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 100, passages 30, 37
Dispatched campaign
Military · Sovereign · With Zao (灶)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 113, passage 17
Feared deposition of crown prince
BC 200 to BC 196 留侯杜門不出歲餘之後，上欲廢太子 · Political · Anxious principal
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 203
Had Lü Ze send envoys with the crown prince letter
BC 200 to BC 196 留侯杜門不出歲餘之後，上欲廢太子 · Political · Principal · With Lü Ze (呂澤)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 216
Killed child
Political · Perpetrator · With Son of Liu Jian by favored consort (美人子)
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 220
Knelt in thanks
BC 202 to BC 195 高祖時 · Court · Thanker · With Zhou Chang (周昌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 45
Lü clan males and females of all ages captured and beheaded
BC 180 八年八月 · Political · Target group
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 86
Moved to garden tomb
Ritual · Spirit relocated
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 4
Ostensibly promoted then sidelined
Political · Ruler · With Wang Ling (王陵)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 190
Paired at shan sacrifice
AD 56 建武三十二年二月二十五日甲午 · Ritual · Correlative recipient · At Liang's northern slope 梁阴
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 87
Paired with earth at northern suburb
AD 57 三十三年正月辛未 · Ritual · Correlative recipient
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passages 5, 9, 15
Poisoned to death
BC 191 四年 · Political · Perpetrator · With Liu Ruyi (劉如意)
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passage 6
Presided during early Han social recovery
Governance context
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 160
Presided over a perilous court period during which Chen Ping extricated himself and stabilized the ancestral temples
BC 187 to BC 180 呂后時 · Political · Ruler · With Chen Ping (陳平)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 247
Pressed marquis to eat again
BC 195 高帝崩 · Personal · Benefactor · With Zhang Liang (張良)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 264-265
Ranked marquises' merits for Gao Temple
BC 186 二年春 · Ritual · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passages 7, 12
Retained Qin calendar
Calendrical · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 26, passage 43
Sent Lü Ze to press Zhang Liang
BC 200 to BC 196 留侯杜門不出歲餘之後，上欲廢太子 · Political · Principal · With Lü Ze (呂澤)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 205
Sought to make Lu clan kings
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 188
Starved to death
Political · Perpetrator · With Liu You (劉友)
Directly stated · Book of Han 47, passages 196-197, 208
Summoned again
Political · Summoner · With Ruyi (如意)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 78
Summoned
BC 195 呂太后使使召趙王 · Political · Summoner · With Ruyi (如意)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 73
Summoned
Political · Summoner · With Zhou Chang (周昌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 75
Used Xiao He plan to execute Han Xin
BC 196 漢十一年 · Political · Authority · With Han Xin (韓信)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 61
Used Xiao He's plan to execute Han Xin
Legal · Authority · With Xiao He (蕭何), Han Xin (韓信)
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 73
Watched clouds to locate Gaozu
Search · Seeker · With Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 146
Wept and persuaded emperor
BC 196 漢十一年 · Political · Advocate
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 228
Relation Kinswoman of Lü clan · Lü clan are close kinsmen of the Empress Dowager
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 23; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 33
Type mother · Person Emperor Xiaohui (孝惠帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 30
Type wife · Person Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passages 29-30
Relation Co plotted with · Person Xiao He (蕭何)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 61
Type daughter · Person Lü Po (呂媼)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 26
Type daughter · Person Lü Gong (呂公)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passages 25, 30
Type mother · Person Princess Lu Yuan (魯元公主)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 30
Relation Wife of · Person Key Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 511
Type spouse-of · Person Local Id Liu Bang (劉邦)
Directly stated · Book of Han 2, passage 48

Assessments and attributes

Assessment damaged Emperor Hui's perfect virtue · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 3, passage 66
Assessment female ruler who held power without leaving her chambers, yet the realm remained peaceful · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 89
Assessment held a grudge against the Qi clan · Mode self-report Speaker Empress Lü (呂后)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 76
Assessment true master protecting the heir · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Emperor Gaozu (高祖)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 251
Assessment 盛德 great virtue/mercy · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 143, passage 158
Item calf offering 犊 · Relation Received as sacrifice
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 15

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 26, passage 317; Book of Later Han 119, passage 164; Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 30; Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 203; Records of the Grand Historian 56, passage 247; Records of the Grand Historian 96, passage 73
From Empress Dowager Lü 吕太后 · To Empress Gao 高皇后 · Posthumous honorific
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 109, passage 5

References in the histories

Search passages

History

208 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 14 passages

Open chapter

臣有息女，願為箕帚妾。」 I have a young daughter and wish to make her Ji's humble servant."

酒罷，呂媼怒呂公曰：「公始常欲奇此女，與貴人。 After the wine ended, Lü Po angrily confronted Lü Gong: "You always said this daughter was exceptional and should marry someone noble.

呂公女即呂后也，生孝惠帝、魯元公主。 This daughter of Lü Gong would become Empress Lü. She gave birth to Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Lu Yuan.

呂后與兩子居田中，有一老父過請飲，呂后因餔之。 Empress Lü lived in the countryside with their two children. An old man passed by and asked for a drink. Empress Lü fed him.

老父相后曰：「夫人天下貴人也。」 The old man read Empress Lü's face and said: "Madame, you are a noble person of the world."

令相兩子，見孝惠帝，曰：「夫人所以貴者，乃此男也。」 He had him read the faces of the two children. When he saw Emperor Xiaohui, he said: "Madame's nobility comes from this male child."

老父已去，高祖適從旁舍來，呂后具言客有過，相我子母皆大貴。 The old man had already left. Emperor Gaozu had just returned from a neighboring house. Empress Lü told him everything: a guest had passed by and read the faces of her, the children, and her mother—they were all greatly noble.

老父曰：「鄉者夫人兒子皆以君，君相貴不可言。」 The old man said: "Just now, Madame and the children all take after you. Your appearance shows nobility beyond words."

高祖隱於芒、碭山澤間，呂后與人俱求，常得之。 Emperor Gaozu hid in the mountains and marshes between Mang and Dang. Empress Lü and others searched for him together and always found him.

呂后曰：「季所居上常有雲氣，故從往常得季。」 Empress Lü said: "There are always clouds above where you stay. That's why we can always find you by following them."

九月，漢王遣將軍薛歐、王吸出武關，因王陵兵，從南陽迎太公、呂后於沛。 In the ninth month, the King of Han sent Generals Xue Ou and Wang Xi out through Wuguan to join Wang Ling's troops and proceed from Nanyang to Pei to escort the Venerable Sire and Empress Lü.

審食其從太公、呂后間行，反遇楚軍，羽常置軍中以為質。 Shen Yiji escorted the Venerable Sire and Empress Lü along hidden paths, but they encountered Chu troops. Xiang Yu kept them with the army as hostages.

呂后兄周呂侯將兵居下邑，漢王往從之。 Empress Lü's elder brother Zhou Lühou led troops stationed at Xiayi. King Han went to join him.

九月，歸太公、呂后，軍皆稱萬歲。 In the ninth month, he returned the Duke of Tai and Empress Lü. The army all shouted ten thousand years.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 5 passages

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尊王后曰皇后，太子曰皇太子，追尊先媼曰昭靈夫人。 He honored the queen as empress, the crown prince as imperial crown prince, and posthumously honored his late mother as Lady Zhaoling.

疾甚，呂后迎良醫。 The illness was severe. Empress Lü welcomed good physicians.

呂后問曰：「陛下百歲後，蕭相國既死，誰令代之？」 Empress Lü asked: "After Your Majesty reaches a hundred years, when Chancellor Xiao dies, who should replace him?"

呂后復問其次，上曰：「此後亦非乃所知也。」 Empress Lü asked about the next. The emperor said: "This after is also not what you know."

呂后與審食其謀曰：「諸將故與帝為編戶民，北面為臣，心常鞅鞅，今乃事少主，非盡族是，天下不安。」 Empress Lü plotted with Shen Yiji: "The generals were formerly registered commoners together with the emperor; they faced north and became subjects, but their hearts have always been resentful. Now they are to serve a young ruler. Unless their clans are exterminated, the world will not be at peace."

Book of Han, Chapter 3Volume 2: Annals of Emperor Hui · 3 passages

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孝惠皇帝，高祖太子也，母曰呂皇后。 Emperor Hui was Gaozu's crown prince. His mother was Empress Lü.

五月丙寅，太子即皇帝位，尊皇后曰皇太后。 In the fifth month on the day bingyin, the crown prince ascended the imperial throne. He honored the empress as empress dowager.

遭呂太后虧損至德，悲夫！」 He encountered Empress Lü who damaged his perfect virtue. How sad!”

Book of Han, Chapter 4Volume 3: Annals of Empress Lü Zhi · 12 passages

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高皇后呂氏，生惠帝。 Empress Gao, née Lü, bore Emperor Hui.

惠帝即位，尊呂后為太后。 When Emperor Hui ascended the throne, Empress Lü was honored as Empress Dowager.

太后立帝姊魯元公主女為皇后，無子，取後宮美人子名之以為太子。 The Empress Dowager made the daughter of the emperor's elder sister, Princess Luyuan, the empress. Since the empress had no son, the Empress Dowager took a son born to one of the palace beauties, gave him a name, and made him crown prince.

惠帝崩，太子立為皇帝，年幼，太后臨朝稱制，大赦天下。 When Emperor Hui died, the crown prince was installed as emperor. Because he was young, the Empress Dowager presided over court and issued edicts on his behalf, granting a general amnesty throughout the realm.

乃立兄子呂台、產、祿、台子通四人為王，封諸呂六人為列侯。 She then made four Lü clansmen kings: her elder brother's sons Lü Tai, Lü Chan, and Lü Lu, together with Lü Tai's son Lü Tong. She also enfeoffed six other Lü relatives as ranked marquises.

四年夏，少帝自知非皇后子，出怨言，皇太后幽之永巷。 In summer of the fourth year, the young emperor realized he was not the empress's son and spoke words of resentment. The Empress Dowager confined him in the Everlasting Lane.

群臣皆曰：「皇太后為天下計，所以安宗廟社稷甚深。 All the ministers declared: 'The Empress Dowager has acted for the welfare of the realm, thereby securing the ancestral temple and altars of soil and grain in the profoundest way.

秋七月辛巳，皇太后崩于未央宮。 On the xin-si day of the seventh month in autumn, the Empress Dowager passed away in Weiyang Palace.

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.

今太后崩，帝少，足下不急之國守藩，乃為上將將兵留此，為大臣諸侯所疑。 Now the Empress Dowager has passed away and the emperor is young. You do not urgently return to your state to guard your border, but instead as senior general you lead troops and remain here, causing ministers and regional kings to suspect you.

分部悉捕諸呂男女，無少長皆斬之。 They divided into commands and completely captured all males and females of the Lü clan, beheading them regardless of age.

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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十七年秋，高后崩，諸呂謀為亂，欲危劉氏。 In the autumn of the seventeenth year, Empress Gao passed away, and the Lü clan plotted rebellion in an attempt to threaten the Liu family.

語在高后紀、高五王傳。 The full account appears in the Annals of Empress Gao and the Biographies of the Five Kings of Gao.

郎中令張武等議，皆曰：「漢大臣皆故高帝時將，習兵事，多謀詐，其屬意非止此也，特畏高帝、呂太后威耳。 The Commandant of the Imperial Household Zhang Wu and his colleagues discussed the matter and all said: 'The Han ministers are all veteran generals from Emperor Gao's era, skilled in military affairs and full of treacherous schemes. Their ambitions extend far beyond this—they only fear the intimidating authority of Emperor Gao and Empress Lü.

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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當孝惠、高后時，百姓新免毒酿，人欲長幼養老。 Early Han society sought recovery and household stability after Qin-era trauma.

至高后元年，乃除三族罪、祅言令。 By Empress Gao's first year, the three-clan crime and omens-slander ordinance were abolished.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 1 passage

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孝惠、高后之間，衣食滋殖。 Between Emperor Hui and Empress Lü, food and clothing gradually became more plentiful.

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 5 passages

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呂后數言張王以魯元故，不宜有此。 Empress Lu repeatedly said Zhang Ao, because of his tie to Princess Lu Yuan, should not be treated this way.

及孝惠、高后、文、景時，張王客子孫皆為二千石。 By the reigns of Emperor Hui, Empress Gao, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing, the descendants of King Zhang's retainers all held offices at the two-thousand-bushel rank.

高后元年，魯元太后薨。 In the first year of Empress Gao's reign, Empress Dowager Lu Yuan died.

呂太后立敖子偃為魯王，以母為太后故也。 Empress Lu made Ao's son Yan King of Lu because his mother had been empress dowager.

高后崩，大臣誅諸呂，廢魯王及二侯。 After Empress Gao died, the ministers executed the Lü clan and deposed the King of Lu and the two marquises.

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 15 passages

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高后時，齊人田生游乏資，以畫奸澤。 Under Empress Dowager Lü, the Qi native Tian Sheng wandered the capital in want of money and approached Liu Ze with a subtle plan.

田生如長安，不見澤，而假大宅，令其子求事呂后所幸大謁者張卿。 Tian Sheng traveled to Chang’an, never called on Liu Ze, rented a large house, and arranged for his son to enter service under Zhang Qing, the great usher in the empress dowager’s intimate circle.

今呂氏雅故本推轂高帝就天下，功至大，又有親戚太后之重。 The Lüs helped Gaozu win the realm from the outset; their merit is unmatched, and they are the empress dowager’s own kin besides.

太后春秋長，諸呂弱，太后欲立呂產為呂王，王代。 The empress dowager is old, her Lü nephews still young in power, and she means to raise Lü Chan as king of the Lü line with the territory of Dai.

呂后又重發之，恐大臣不聽。 She dare not press it openly for fear the great ministers will balk.

今卿最幸，大臣所敬，何不風大臣以聞太后，太后必喜。 You enjoy her deepest trust and the ministers’ deference. Hint to the ministers that they should memorialize the throne—she will rejoice at it.

太后心欲之，而卿為內臣，不急發，恐過及身矣。」 This is what she longs for, and you are her inside man. If you delay, misfortune may fall on you first.”

張卿大然之，乃風大臣語太后。 Zhang Qing was convinced and privately coached the high ministers to approach the empress dowager.

太后朝，因問大臣。 When she held court she put the question to them directly.

太后賜張卿千金，張卿以其半進田生。 She bestowed a thousand catties of gold on Zhang Qing, who forwarded half to Tian Sheng.

今卿言太后，裂十餘縣王之，彼得王喜，於諸呂王益固矣。」 Urge her to carve out a dozen counties and enfeoff him as king. Once he is satisfied, the Lü kingships will stand on firmer ground.”

又太后女弟呂須女亦為營陵侯妻，故遂立營陵侯澤為琅邪王。 The empress dowager’s younger sister Lü Xu had given her daughter in marriage to Marquis Liu Ze of Yingling, which is why Liu Ze was finally raised to king of Langye.

出關，太后果使人追之。 They cleared the barrier; she sent riders after them all the same.

澤王琅邪二年，而太后崩，澤乃曰：「帝少，諸呂用事，諸劉孤弱。」 In Liu Ze's second year as king of Langye, the empress dowager died. Ze said, "The emperor is young, the Lü clan controls affairs, and the Liu house is isolated and weak."

會孝惠、高后時天下初定，郡國諸侯各務自拊循其民。 In the Xiaohui and Empress Gao years, with the realm just settled, each regional lord strove to win the goodwill of his subjects.

Book of Han, Chapter 46Volume 37: Ji Bu, Luan Bu and Tian Shu · 3 passages

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單于嘗為書嫚呂太后，太后怒，召諸將議之。 The Chanyu had once sent a letter that insulted Empress Dowager Lü; enraged, she called her generals in council.

諸將皆阿呂太后，以噲言為然。 The generals, eager to please the empress dowager, pronounced Fan Kuai right.

是時殿上皆恐，太后罷朝，遂不復議擊匈奴事。 A chill fell over the hall; the empress dowager adjourned court and never again brought up war on the Xiongnu.

Book of Han, Chapter 47Volume 38: The Five Sons of Emperor Gao · 33 passages

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高皇帝八男：呂后生孝惠帝，曹夫人生齊悼惠王肥，薄姬生孝文帝，戚夫人生趙隱王如意，趙姬生淮南厲王長，諸姬生趙幽王友、趙共王恢、燕靈王建。 Emperor Gao fathered eight sons: Empress Lü gave him Emperor Xiaohui; Lady Cao gave him Prince Daohui of Qi, Liu Fei; Consort Bo bore the future Emperor Wen; Lady Qi bore Liu Ruyi, later titled the Hidden Prince of Zhao; Lady Zhao bore Liu Chang, the Fierce Prince of Huainan; and lesser consorts bore Liu You, Liu Hui, and Liu Jian, the Obscure Prince of Zhao, the Joint Prince of Zhao, and the Numinous Prince of Yan respectively.

帝與齊王燕飲太后前，置齊王上坐，如家人禮。 At a banquet before Empress Dowager Lü, Emperor Hui seated his half-brother, the king of Qi, in the place of honor, treating him with the easy familiarity of kin.

太后怒，乃令人酌兩卮鴆酒置前，令齊王為壽。 The empress dowager was furious. She had two cups of poisoned wine poured and set before the king, ordering him to offer a toast.

太后恐，自起反卮。 Alarmed, the empress dowager rose and overturned the cups herself.

內史士曰：「太后獨有帝與魯元公主，今王有七十餘城，而公主乃食數城。 Shi, the clerk of the inner administration, said, "The empress dowager values only the emperor and the Princess Yuan of Lu. You hold more than seventy cities, while the princess has barely a handful.

王誠以一郡上太后為公主湯沐邑，太后必喜，王無患矣。」 If you present one commandery to the empress dowager as a bath-town fief for the princess, she will be pleased and you will be safe."

於是齊王獻城陽郡以尊公主為王太后。 The king of Qi then offered Chengyang commandery to have the princess honored as queen dowager.

呂太后喜而許之。 Empress Dowager Lü accepted with pleasure.

四年，高祖崩，呂太后徵王到長安，鴆殺之。 In the fourth year of Emperor Hui's reign, after Gaozu had died, Empress Dowager Lü summoned Prince Ruyi to Chang'an and murdered him with poisoned wine.

諸呂女怒去，讒之於太后曰：「王曰『呂氏安得王？ The queen stormed off and denounced him to the empress dowager, saying, "The king declared, 'How can the Lü clan hold royal titles?

太后百歲後，吾必擊之。』」 When the empress dowager is gone, I will attack them.'"

太后怒，以故召趙王。 Enraged, the empress dowager summoned the king of Zhao.

高后崩，孝文即位，立幽王子遂為趙王。 After Empress Dowager Lü died and Emperor Wen took the throne, Liu You's son Liu Sui was invested as king of Zhao.

十六年，趙幽王死，呂后徙恢王趙，恢心不樂。 In the sixteenth year, when Prince You of Zhao died, Empress Lü reassigned Liu Hui to Zhao. He went unwillingly, his heart heavy at the move.

太后以呂產女為趙王后，王后從官皆諸呂也，內擅權，微司趙王，王不得自恣。 She married him to a daughter of Lü Chan, whose entire household staff were Lü partisans. They seized the inner court, spied on the king at every turn, and left him unable to live as he pleased.

太后聞之，以為用婦人故自殺，無思奉宗廟禮，廢其嗣。 The empress dowager dismissed his death as the act of a man who had killed himself over a woman and showed no regard for his duty to the imperial ancestors; she struck his line from the succession.

十五年薨，有美人子，太后使人殺之，絕後。 He died in the fifteenth year. He had left a son by a favored consort, but the empress dowager had the child killed, and the line ended.

明年，惠帝崩，呂太后稱制。 The following year Emperor Hui died, and Empress Dowager Lü assumed regency.

明年，哀王弟章入宿衛於漢，高后封為朱虛侯，以呂祿女妻之。 The next year Liu Zhang, the prince's younger brother, entered guard service at the Han court; Empress Dowager Lü enfeoffed him as Marquis of Zhuxu and married him to Lü Lu's daughter.

高后七年，割齊琅邪郡，立營陵侯劉澤為琅邪王。 In the seventh year of her regency she carved Langye commandery from Qi and made Liu Ze, Marquis of Yingling, king of Langye.

三趙王既廢，高后立諸呂為三王，擅權用事。 After the three Zhao kings had been eliminated, she invested three Lü clansmen as kings and seized power for her kin.

嘗入侍燕飲，高后令章為酒吏。 On one occasion he attended one of Empress Lü's feasts, and she put him in charge of the wine.

高后曰：「可。」 "Very well," said Empress Lü.

酒酣，章進歌舞，已而曰：「請為太后言耕田。」 When the wine was warm, Zhang advanced song and dance, and afterward said: "I beg to speak to the empress dowager of plowing fields."

高后兒子畜之，笑曰：「顧乃父知田耳，若生而為王子，安知田乎？」 She doted on him like a son and laughed. "Your father knew the plow; you were born a prince of the blood. What could you know of the soil?"

太后曰：「試為我言田意。」 "Then tell me what you know of the field," she said.

太后默然。 The empress dowager fell silent.

太后左右大驚。 The empress dowager's attendants cried out in alarm.

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

惠帝崩，高后用事，春秋高，聽諸呂擅廢帝更立，又殺三趙王，滅梁、趙、燕，以王諸呂，分齊國為四。 After Emperor Hui died, Empress Dowager Lü took power. Though advanced in years, she allowed the Lü clan to depose emperors and set up others, killed the three Zhao kings, extinguished Liang, Zhao, and Yan, invested Lü clansmen as kings, and carved Qi into four parts.

今高后崩，皇帝春秋富，未能治天下，固待大臣諸侯。 Now that the empress dowager is dead, the emperor is still young and cannot yet govern the realm; he surely relies on great ministers and the feudal kings.

文帝元年，盡以高后時所割齊之城陽、琅邪、濟南郡復予齊，而徙琅邪王王燕。 In the first year of Emperor Wen's reign, Chengyang, Langye, and Jinan—the commanderies carved from Qi under Empress Dowager Lü—were all restored to Qi, and the king of Langye was transferred to rule Yan.

乃從容言呂太后時齊欲反，及吳楚時孝王幾為亂。 He reminded the throne how Qi had flirted with rebellion under Empress Lü and how Prince Xiao had nearly joined the Seven Kingdoms revolt.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 3 passages

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呂后用何計誅信。 Empress Lü used Xiao He’s stratagem to put Han Xin to death.

高后乃封何夫人同為酇侯，小子延為筑陽侯。 Empress Lü thereupon made Xiao He’s widow Tong Marquis of Zan and his younger son Yan Marquis of Zhuyang.

窋嗣侯，高后時至御史大夫。 Cao Zhu inherited the title and under Empress Lü rose to imperial censor in chief.

Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 14 passages

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呂後側耳於東箱聽，見昌，為跪謝曰：「微君，太子幾廢。」 Empress Lü had been listening from the eastern gallery. When she met Zhou Chang afterward, she knelt in gratitude and said, "Had it not been for you, the heir would have been lost."

堯進請問曰：「陛下所為不樂，非以趙王年少，而戚夫人與呂後有隙，備萬歲之後而趙王不能自全乎？」 Zhao Yao stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty's sorrow—is it not because the king of Zhao is still a child, because Lady Qi and the empress are at odds, and because you fear for his life once you are gone?"

堯曰：「陛下獨為趙王置貴強相，及呂後、太子、群臣素所敬憚者乃可。」 Zhao Yao said, "Then invest Zhao with a chancellor who is both weighty and formidable—someone the empress, the heir, and the whole court already fear and respect."

堯曰：「御史大夫昌，其人堅忍伉直，自呂後、太子及大臣皆素嚴憚之。 Zhao Yao answered, "Imperial Counsellor Zhou Chang is stubborn, plain-spoken, and unbending. The empress, the heir, and every senior minister already tread softly around him.

高祖崩，太后使使召趙王，其相昌令王稱疾不行。 After the High Ancestor's death, the empress dowager sent for the king of Zhao. Chancellor Zhou Chang had the young king plead illness and refuse to travel.

使者三反，昌曰：「高帝屬臣趙王，王年少，竊聞太后怨戚夫人，欲召趙王並誅之。 The envoys came back three times. Zhou Chang replied, "The late emperor left the king of Zhao in my care. The boy is young, and word has reached me that the empress dowager bears a grudge against Lady Qi and means to summon the king of Zhao so she can destroy them together.

太后怒，乃使使召趙相。 Furious, the empress dowager sent for the chancellor of Zhao instead.

相至，謁太后，太后罵昌曰：「爾不知我之怨戚氏乎？ When he arrived at court and was admitted to her presence, she rounded on Zhou Chang: "Do you not know how I hate the Qi house?

昌既被征，高後使使召趙王。 Once Zhou Chang had been called away, Empress Gao sent again for the king of Zhao.

高後元年，怨堯前定趙王如意之畫，乃抵堯罪，以廣阿侯任敖為御史大夫。 In the first year of Empress Gao's reign she remembered how Zhao Yao had engineered the plan to protect Prince Ruyi as king of Zhao, found a charge against him, and replaced him with Ren Ao, marquis of Guang'a, as imperial counsellor.

高祖嘗避吏，吏系呂後，遇之不謹。 When the High Ancestor was hiding from the authorities, an officer detained Empress Lü and treated her roughly.

任敖素善高祖，怒，擊傷主呂後吏。 Ren Ao, who had long been friendly with the High Ancestor, flew into a rage and beat the officer who had detained Empress Lü.

高后時為御史大夫，三歲免。 Under Empress Gao he served as imperial counsellor and was removed after three years.

高後崩，與大臣共誅諸呂。 After Empress Gao's death he joined the senior ministers in wiping out the Lü clan.

Book of Han, Chapter 58Volume 49: Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 4 passages

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方呂後時，諸呂用事，擅相王，劉氏不絕如帶。 Under Empress Lü, her kinsmen ran the government, handed out kingdoms as they pleased, and the Liu imperial line survived by a hair's breadth.

呂後崩，大臣相與共誅諸呂，太尉主兵，適會其成功，所謂功臣，非社稷臣。 After her death the senior ministers rose together and extirpated the Lü; the Grand Commandant led the soldiery and was there when victory came—that is a man who seized his moment of merit, not a minister whose loyalty is welded to the dynasty itself.

高後時再入隴西，攻城屠邑，驅略畜產； under Empress Gao they twice swept Longxi, stormed towns, butchered the people, and drove off herds;

自高後以來，隴西三困於匈奴矣，民氣破傷，亡有勝意。 Longxi has been broken three times; the people there lost heart and ceased to believe in victory.

Book of Han, Chapter 69Volume 59: Zhang Tang · 1 passage

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孝惠、高后時，天下安樂，及文帝欲事匈奴，北邊蕭然苦兵。 Under Emperor Hui and Empress Lü the realm knew quiet prosperity. When Emperor Wen turned against the Xiongnu, the northern frontier knew nothing but the miseries of war.

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 1 passage

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漢興，呂太后權私親屬，又以外孫為孝惠後，是時繼嗣不明，凡事多暗，晝昏冬雷之變，不可勝載。 When Han first rose, Empress Dowager Lü wielded power for her private relatives and also made a maternal grandson the successor to Emperor Xiaohui. At that time the line of succession was unclear and all affairs were largely dark; changes such as daytime gloom and thunder in winter were too many to record.

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 1 passage

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孝惠垂拱，高后女主，不出房闥，而天下晏然，民務稼穡，衣食滋殖。 Under Emperor Hui the court scarcely stirred; the Grand Empress Dowager Gao ruled from behind the curtain without stepping beyond the inner palace, yet the realm stayed calm. Folk bent their backs to farming, and food and clothing grew more plentiful.

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 1 passage

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高後時，酷吏獨有侯封，刻轢宗室，侵辱功臣。 Under the Grand Empress Dowager Lü the notable harsh official was Hou Feng, who rode roughshod over the imperial house and insulted the founders.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

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秦皇東游以厭其氣，呂后望雲而知所處； the Qin First Emperor toured east to smother his qi, while Empress Lü read clouds to find him;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 1 passage

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二十五日甲午，禅，祭地于梁阴，以高后配，山川羣神從，如元始中北郊故事。 On the twenty-fifth day, a jiawu day, he performed the shan, offering to Earth on the northern slope of Mount Liang with Empress Lü as consort and the terrestrial spirits in attendance, following the northern-suburban model of the Yuanshi era.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 109Volume 98: Rituals and Worship Part Two · 4 passages

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迁吕太后于园。 Empress Dowager Lü’s spirit seat was removed to an outlying cemetery shrine.

上簿太后尊号曰高皇后，当配地，郊高庙。 The emperor registered her posthumous style as Empress Gao, pairing her with Earth at the northern rite and honoring her at Gaodi’s suburban temple.

别祀地祇、位南面西上，高皇后配，西面北上，皆在坛上，地理群神从食，皆在坛下，如元始中故事。 Earth received a distinct cult on the terrace, stations facing south with senior rank to the west, while Empress Gao stood as consort facing west to the north; terrestrial deities who shared the offerings stood below the mound, following Western Han practice under Yuanshi.

地祇、高后用犊各一头，五岳共牛一头，海、四渎共牛一头，群神共二头。 Earth and Empress Gao each received a calf; the five marchmounts shared one ox, the sea and four great rivers another, and the lesser gods two oxen between them.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 119Volume 108: Five Elements Part Six · 1 passage

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吕太后崩时亦然。 The same conjunction had appeared when Empress Dowager Lü died.

History of Liao, Chapter 71Volume 71 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage

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司馬遷列呂后於《紀》； Sima Qian entered Empress Lü in the Basic Annals;

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 143Volume 143 Treatises 118: Penal Law 2 · 1 passage

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漢高後除三族令，文帝除收孥相坐律，當時以為盛德。 Empress Lü abolished clan extermination; Emperor Wen ended the seizure of wives and children for joint punishment—both hailed as great acts of mercy.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 50Volume 50: Book of Wu 5: Biographies of Concubines and Ladies · 1 passage

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權不豫，夫人使問中書令孫弘呂后專制故事。 While Sun Quan lay ill, Lady Pan sent to Sun Hong, Director of the Palace Writers, for stories of how Empress Lü seized sole power.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 26Treatise on the Calendar · 1 passage

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是時天下初定，方綱紀大基，高后女主，皆未遑，故襲秦正朔服色。 At that time the realm had only just been settled and the great foundation of order was being laid. Empress Gao, ruling as a woman, had no leisure for the matter, so the Qin calendar, monthly beginnings, and clothing colors were retained.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 50House of Prince Yuan of Chu · 1 passage

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高后王呂祿於趙，一歲而高后崩。 Empress Dowager Gao installed Lü Lu as King of Zhao, but within a year she passed away.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 51Houses of Jing and Yan · 14 passages

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高后時，齊人田生游乏資，以畫干營陵侯澤。 During the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, a man from Qi named Tian Sheng, who had exhausted his travel funds, approached the Marquis of Yingling with his stratagems.

田生如長安，不見澤，而假大宅，令其子求事呂后所幸大謁者張子卿。 Tian Sheng traveled to Chang'an but did not call upon Liu Ze. Instead, he rented a grand residence and had his son seek a position under Zhang Ziqing, the Grand Usher who enjoyed the special favor of Empress Lü.

今呂氏雅故本推轂高帝就天下，功至大，又親戚太后之重。 Now the Lü clan, as old allies, originally helped propel Emperor Gao to conquer the realm. Their merit is immense, and they hold the additional weight of being close kinsmen of the Empress Dowager.

太后春秋長，諸呂弱，太后欲立呂產為［呂］王，王代。 The Empress Dowager is advanced in years, and the Lü are still weak. She wishes to establish Lü Chan as the King of Lü, to rule over Dai.

太后又重發之，恐大臣不聽。 Yet the Empress Dowager hesitates to raise the matter again, fearing the ministers will refuse.

今卿最幸，大臣所敬，何不風大臣以聞太后，太后必喜。 You are the most favored at court and respected by the ministers. Why not hint to them to bring this matter before the Empress Dowager? She will certainly be delighted.

太后心欲之，而卿為內臣，不急發，恐禍及身矣。」 The Empress Dowager desires this in her heart. As an inner minister, if you do not act swiftly, I fear disaster will fall upon you.'

張卿大然之，乃風大臣語太后。 Zhang Qing wholeheartedly agreed and began dropping hints to the ministers, who then spoke to the Empress Dowager.

太后朝，因問大臣。 At the next court audience, the Empress Dowager raised the matter with the ministers.

太后賜張卿千斤金，張卿以其半與田生。 The Empress Dowager rewarded Zhang Qing with a thousand jin of gold, and Zhang Qing gave half of it to Tian Sheng.

今卿言太后，列十餘縣王之，彼得王，喜去，諸呂王益固矣。」 If you now speak to the Empress Dowager and have her enfeoff him as king over ten or more counties, he will be delighted and depart the capital, making the Lü kingships all the more secure.'

張卿入言，太后然之。 Zhang Qing entered the palace and presented the proposal. The Empress Dowager approved.

出關，太后果使人追止之，已出，即還。 Once they had passed through the frontier passes, the Empress Dowager did indeed send men in pursuit to stop them, but they had already left, and the pursuers returned empty-handed.

及太后崩，瑯邪王澤乃曰：「帝少，諸呂用事，劉氏孤弱。」 When the Empress Dowager died, the King of Langya, Liu Ze, declared: 'The emperor is young. The Lü clan holds power, and the house of Liu is isolated and vulnerable.'

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 53House of Chancellor Xiao · 1 passage

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未罷，淮陰侯謀反關中，呂后用蕭何計，誅淮陰侯，語在淮陰事中。 Before the campaign was over, the Marquis of Huaiyin plotted rebellion within the passes. Empress Lu used a stratagem devised by Xiao He to have the marquis executed. The details are recorded in the account of the Marquis of Huaiyin.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 1 passage

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平陽侯窋，高后時為御史大夫。 The Marquis of Pingyang, Zhu, served as Grand Censor during the time of Empress Dowager Gao.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 8 passages

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呂后恐，不知所為。 Empress Lu was terrified and at a loss for what to do.

人或謂呂后曰：「留侯善畫計筴，上信用之。」 Someone advised Empress Lu, "The Marquis of Liu is a master strategist, and the emperor trusts him completely."

呂后乃使建成侯呂澤劫留侯，曰：「君常為上謀臣，今上欲易太子，君安得高枕而臥乎？」 Empress Lu then sent the Marquis of Jiancheng, Lu Ze, to press the Marquis of Liu, saying, "You have always been the emperor's chief counselor. Now the emperor intends to replace the heir — how can you rest easy?"

於是呂后令呂澤使人奉太子書，卑辭厚禮，迎此四人。 Empress Lu accordingly instructed Lu Ze to send envoys bearing the crown prince's letter, couched in the most deferential language and accompanied by lavish gifts, to invite the four men.

君何不急請呂后承間為上泣言：『黥布，天下猛將也，善用兵，今諸將皆陛下故等夷，乃令太子將此屬，無異使羊將狼，莫肯為用，且使布聞之，則鼓行而西耳。 You should urge Empress Lu to find the right moment and plead with the emperor through tears, saying that Ying Bu is one of the most fearsome generals alive and a master of warfare. The generals you would assign to the crown prince are all men who once fought as your equals. To put the crown prince in command of them is no different from setting a lamb over wolves — not one will obey. And if Ying Bu hears of it, he will march on us without hesitation.

於是呂澤立夜見呂后，呂后承間為上泣涕而言，如四人意。 Lu Ze went to see Empress Lu that very night. The empress found the right moment, and through her tears she spoke to the emperor exactly as the Four Elders had directed.

呂后真而主矣。」 Empress Lu is truly his protector now."

會高帝崩，呂后德留侯，乃彊食之，曰：「人生一世間，如白駒過隙，何至自苦如此乎！」 When Emperor Gao died, Empress Lu, grateful for all the Marquis of Liu had done, pressed him to eat again, saying, "A man's life in this world is as brief as a white colt flashing past a crack in the wall. Why torment yourself so?"

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 56House of Chancellor Chen · 7 passages

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二人既受詔，馳傳未至軍，行計之曰：「樊噲，帝之故人也，功多，且又乃呂后弟呂媭之夫，有親且貴，帝以忿怒故，欲斬之，則恐後悔。 The two men received the edict and rode the relay, but before reaching the army they conferred along the way. "Fan Kuai is an old companion of the emperor," they reasoned, "a man of great merit, and moreover the husband of Empress Lu's sister Lu Xu—he has both kinship and rank. The emperor wishes to behead him out of anger, but may well regret it later.

平行聞高帝崩，平恐呂太后及呂媭讒怒，乃馳傳先去。 While on the road, Ping received word that Emperor Gaozu had died. Fearing that Empress Dowager Lu and Lu Xu would slander him in their anger, he raced ahead by relay.

呂太后哀之，曰：「君勞，出休矣。」 Empress Dowager Lu was moved by his grief and said, "You have labored hard. Go and rest."

太后乃以為郎中令，曰：「傅教孝惠。」 The Empress Dowager thereupon appointed him Palace Counselor, saying, "Serve as tutor and guide to Emperor Xiaohui."

高后欲立諸呂為王，問王陵，王陵曰：「不可。」 Empress Dowager Gao wished to enfeoff members of the Lu clan as kings. She asked Wang Ling, who replied, "It must not be done."

呂太后怒，乃詳遷陵為帝太傅，實不用陵。 Empress Dowager Lu was furious. She made a show of promoting Ling to Grand Tutor of the Emperor, but in reality stripped him of all power.

及呂后時，事多故矣，然平竟自脫，定宗廟，以榮名終，稱賢相，豈不善始善終哉！ During the reign of Empress Lu, when affairs grew perilous beyond measure, Ping still managed to extricate himself, safeguard the imperial ancestral temples, and end his days with an honored name, acclaimed as a worthy chancellor. Was this not a man who began well and ended well!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 2 passages

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十歲，高后崩。 Ten years later, Empress Dowager Gao passed away.

其語在呂后、孝文事中。 The full account appears in the records of Empress Lu and Emperor Wen.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 89Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 1 passage

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呂后數言張王以魯元公主故，不宜有此。 Empress Lu repeatedly argued that Zhang Ao, as the husband of Princess Luyuan, should not be treated this way.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 5 passages

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西至鄭，逢呂后從長安來，欲之雒陽，道見彭王。 As he was being escorted westward and reached Zheng, he chanced upon Empress Lu, who was traveling from Chang'an toward Luoyang. She encountered King Peng on the road.

彭王為呂后泣涕，自言無罪，願處故昌邑。 King Peng wept before Empress Lu, protesting his innocence and begging to be allowed to live out his days in his old home of Changyi.

呂后許諾，與俱東至雒陽。 Empress Lu agreed and brought him east with her to Luoyang.

呂后白上曰：「彭王壯士，今徙之蜀，此自遺患，不如遂誅之。 Empress Lu told the Emperor, "King Peng is a formidable warrior. Banishing him to Shu will only leave us with a future menace. It would be better to execute him outright.

於是呂后乃令其舍人彭越復謀反。 Empress Lu then had one of Peng Yue's own retainers accuse him of plotting a fresh rebellion.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 1 passage

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十一年，高后誅淮陰侯，布因心恐。 In the eleventh year, Empress Gao had the Marquis of Huaiyin executed, and Bu grew fearful in his heart.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 93Biographies of Han Xin (King of Han) and Lu Wan · 4 passages

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往年春，漢族淮陰，夏，誅彭越，皆呂后計。 Last spring, the court destroyed the clan of the Marquis of Huaiyin. That summer, Peng Yue was executed. Both were the schemes of Empress Lu.

今上病，屬任呂后。 Now the Emperor is ill and has entrusted affairs of state to Empress Lu.

呂后婦人，專欲以事誅異姓王者及大功臣。」 Empress Lu is a woman bent on finding pretexts to execute kings of other surnames and great meritorious ministers.'

高后時，盧綰妻子亡降漢，會高后病，不能見，舍燕邸，為欲置酒見之。 During Empress Gao's regency, Lu Wan's wife and children fled and surrendered to Han. But as it happened, Empress Gao was ill and could not receive them. She lodged them at the Yan residence, intending to hold a banquet to meet them.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 96Biography of Chancellor Zhang · 13 passages

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既罷，呂后側耳於東箱聽，見周昌，為跪謝曰：「微君，太子幾廢。」 After the audience ended, Empress Lu, who had been listening from the eastern chamber, saw Zhou Chang and knelt to thank him, saying, "Without you, the crown prince would nearly have been deposed."

趙堯進請問曰：「陛下所為不樂，非為趙王年少而戚夫人與呂后有卻邪？ Zhao Yao stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty is unhappy—is it not because the King of Zhao is still young, and because Consort Qi and Empress Lü are estranged?

堯曰：「陛下獨宜為趙王置貴彊相，及呂后、太子、群臣素所敬憚乃可。」 Yao said, "Your Majesty should establish for the King of Zhao a noble and powerful chancellor, one whom Empress Lu, the crown prince, and the ministers have always revered and feared. Only then will it be possible."

堯曰：「御史大夫周昌，其人堅忍質直，且自呂后、太子及大臣皆素敬憚之。 Yao said, "Censor Grand Master Zhou Chang is firm, enduring, simple, and upright. Empress Lu, the crown prince, and the great ministers have all always revered and feared him.

高祖崩，呂太后使使召趙王，其相周昌令王稱疾不行。 After Gaozu died, Empress Dowager Lu sent a messenger to summon the King of Zhao. His chancellor Zhou Chang instructed the king to plead illness and refuse the summons.

於是高后患之，乃使使召周昌。 Empress Dowager Gao grew vexed by this and sent a messenger to summon Zhou Chang himself.

周昌至，謁高后，高后怒而罵周昌曰：「爾不知我之怨戚氏乎？ Zhou Chang arrived and presented himself to Empress Dowager Gao. Furious, she cursed him, saying, "Do you not know of my grudge against the Qi clan?

昌既徵，高后使使召趙王，趙王果來。 Once Chang had been called away, Empress Dowager Gao sent another messenger for the King of Zhao, and the King of Zhao duly came.

後五歲，高后聞御史大夫江邑侯趙堯高祖時定趙王如意之畫，乃抵堯罪，以廣阿侯任敖為御史大夫。 Five years later, Empress Dowager Gao learned that Censor Grand Master Zhao Yao, the Marquis of Jiangyi, had been the one who devised the plan to protect King Ruyi of Zhao during Gaozu's reign. She had Yao charged with a crime and replaced him with Ren Ao, the Marquis of Guang'a, as Censor Grand Master.

高祖嘗辟吏，吏系呂后，遇之不謹。 When Gaozu was once evading the authorities, an official arrested Empress Lu and treated her with disrespect.

任敖素善高祖，怒，擊傷主呂后吏。 Ren Ao, who had long been on good terms with Gaozu, flew into a rage and struck and wounded the official who had charge of Empress Lu.

高后時為御史大夫。 During the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, he served as Censor Grand Master.

高后崩，（不）與大臣共誅呂祿等。 After Empress Dowager Gao died, he did not join the great ministers in executing Lü Lu and the other members of the Lü clan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 98Biographies of Fu, Jin, and the Marquis of Kuaicheng · 1 passage

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高后五年，歙卒，謚為肅侯。 In the fifth year of Empress Dowager Gao's reign, Jin Xi died and was posthumously titled Marquis Su.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 2 passages

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呂后日夜泣，曰：「妾唯太子、一女，柰何棄之匈奴！」 Empress Lu wept day and night, saying, "I have only the Crown Prince and one daughter. How can I cast her away to the Xiongnu?"

呂后與陛下攻苦食啖，其可背哉！ Empress Lu shared hardship and coarse food with Your Majesty. How can you turn your back on her?

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 100Biographies of Ji Bu and Luan Bu · 3 passages

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單于嘗為書嫚呂后，不遜，呂后大怒，召諸將議之。 The Chanyu once wrote a letter insulting Empress Lü in disrespectful terms. Empress Lü was greatly angered and summoned all the generals to discuss it.

諸將皆阿呂后意，曰「然」。 All the generals flattered Empress Lü's wishes and said, 'Yes.'

是時殿上皆恐，太后罷朝，遂不復議擊匈奴事。 At this, everyone in the hall fell silent with fear. The Empress Dowager dismissed the court, and the matter of attacking the Xiongnu was never raised again.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 101Biographies of Yuan Ang and Chao Cuo · 3 passages

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高后時，盎嘗為呂祿舍人。 During the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, Ang served as a retainer in the household of Lü Lu.

方呂后時，諸呂用事，擅相王，劉氏不絕如帶。 When Empress Lü ruled, her kinsmen seized power, appointing chancellors and kings at will, and the House of Liu survived by only a thread.

呂后崩，大臣相與共畔諸呂，太尉主兵，適會其成功，所謂功臣，非社稷臣。 After Empress Lü died, the senior ministers banded together to overthrow the Lü clan. The Grand Commandant led the troops and happened to be there when success was achieved. That makes him a meritorious minister, not a pillar of the state.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 104Biography of Tian Shu · 1 passage

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叔為漢中守十餘年，會高后崩，諸呂作亂，大臣誅之，立孝文帝。 Tian Shu served as Governor of Hanzhong for more than ten years. Then Empress Dowager Gao died, and the Lü clan attempted to seize power. The senior ministers suppressed the Lü faction and placed Emperor Wen on the throne.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 113Treatise on the Nanyue · 5 passages

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高后時，有司請禁南越關市鐵器。 During the reign of Empress Dowager Gao, officials petitioned to ban the sale of iron implements to Nanyue through the border markets.

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."

高後遣將軍隆慮侯灶往擊之。 Empress Dowager Gao dispatched General Zao, the Marquis of Longlü, to lead a campaign against him.

歲餘，高后崩，即罷兵。 Over a year later, Empress Dowager Gao died, and the campaign was promptly abandoned.

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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會孝惠、高后時天下初定，遼東太守即約滿為外臣，保塞外蠻夷，無使盜邊； It happened that during the reigns of Emperor Hui and Empress Dowager Gao, when the empire had only just been pacified, the Governor of Liaodong made an agreement with Wiman to serve as an outer vassal. He was charged with keeping the barbarians beyond the frontier in check and preventing them from raiding the border.

Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 1 passage

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唯光武追廢呂後，故以薄後配高祖廟。 Only under Guangwu, who posthumously deposed Empress Lü, was Empress Bo installed as consort in Gaozu's temple.