Empress Dowager Dou (竇太后)

Overview

Empress Dowager Dou was a Western Han empress dowager, wife of Emperor Wen and mother of Emperor Jing.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Empress Dou	竇皇后	Dou huanghou

Life and dates

Death

BC 147 中三年春正月
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 103

Attested activity

BC 147 中三年春正月
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 103
BC 150 二十九年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 58, passages 50, 55
BC 156 元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 2
BC 154 吳楚反時
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 108, passage 7
BC 180 to BC 157 孝文
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 37, passage 112
BC 154 孝王二十五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 56, passage 15

Show 4 more source-backed claims

BC 157 後七年
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passages 2, 4
BC 209 to BC 141 漢初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 51, passage 110
BC 150 竇太后曰
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passage 181
BC 154 竇太后曰
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 19

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Wen of Han (漢文帝)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
won his favor 得幸 · Secondary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 51, passage 110; Book of Han 6, passages 2, 4; Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 3; Book of Han 56, passage 2
Parent of Liu Wu (劉武)
gave birth to 生
mother 母
youngest son 少子
Directly stated · Book of Han 56, passages 2, 22; Records of the Grand Historian 58, passages 1-2, 40
Parent of Emperor Jing (孝景帝)
gave birth to 生
Directly stated · Book of Han 56, passage 2
Parent of Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 2; Book of Han 6, passage 2
Parent of Emperor Jing (孝景帝)
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 58, passages 1-2
Sibling of Dou Guangguo (竇廣國)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 51, passage 110

Key source chapters

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 58 House of Prince Xiao of Liang 30 passages
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108 Biography of Han Changru 18 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 56 Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen 13 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 102 Volume 90: Cruel Officials 4 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 5 Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen 3 passages

Career and standing

Held
Empress dowager
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 11, passage 2

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Of
Directly stated · Book of Han 6, passage 2

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Han 56, passages 48, 61; Records of the Grand Historian 50, passages 19-20

Events and relationships

Blocked Wu succession
BC 154 不許吳，許立楚後 · Political · Decision maker
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 21
Type mother-of · Person Emperor Jing of Han (漢景帝)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 102, passage 41
Type mother · Target Liu Qi (劉啟)
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 65

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 50, passage 19

References in the histories

Search passages

History

79 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 5Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen · 3 passages

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三月，有司請立皇后。 In the third month, the officials petitioned to establish an empress.

皇太后曰：「立太子母竇氏為皇后。」 The Empress Dowager declared: 'Establish Lady Dou, mother of the crown prince, as empress.'

十三年春二月甲寅，詔曰：「朕親率天下農耕以供粢盛，皇后親桑以奉祭服，其具禮儀。」 In the thirteenth year, on the day jiayin day of the second month of spring, he issued an edict: 'I personally lead the empire's farmers in plowing to provide the sacrificial grains, while the Empress herself tends silkworms to supply the ritual garments. Let the appropriate ceremonies be arranged.'

Book of Han, Chapter 6Volume 5: Annals of Emperor Jing · 3 passages

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母曰竇皇后。 His mother was Empress Dou.

丁未，太子即皇帝位，尊皇太后薄氏曰太皇太后，皇后曰皇太后。 On the day Dingwei, the crown prince ascended the imperial throne, honoring Empress Dowager Bo as Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress as Empress Dowager.

春正月，皇太后崩。 In the first month of spring, the Empress Dowager passed away.

Book of Han, Chapter 51Volume 42: Zhang, Zhou, Zhao, Ren and Shentu · 1 passage

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張蒼免相，文帝以皇后弟竇廣國賢有行，欲相之，曰：「恐天下以吾私廣國。」 When Zhang Cang left the chancellorship, Emperor Wen wished to appoint the empress's brother Dou Guangguo—virtuous and well regarded—to the post, but said, "I am afraid the realm would think I am playing favorites for Guangguo."

Book of Han, Chapter 56Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen · 13 passages

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孝文皇帝四男：竇皇后生孝景帝、梁孝王武，諸姬生代孝王參、梁懷王揖。 Emperor Wen had four sons. Empress Dou gave birth to Emperor Jing and King Xiao Wu of Liang; other consorts bore King Xiao Can of Dai and King Huai Yi of Liang.

太后亦然。 The empress dowager felt the same way.

孝王，太后少子，愛之，賞賜不可勝道。 As the empress dowager’s youngest son, King Xiao was her favorite; the gifts showered on him were beyond counting.

以太后故，入則侍帝同輦，出則同車遊獵上林中。 For his mother’s sake he rode with the emperor in the same palanquin when they went in, and hunted together in the imperial park in the same chariot when they went out.

十一月，上廢栗太子，太后心欲以梁王為嗣。 That November the emperor deposed Crown Prince Li; the empress dowager privately hoped that the king of Liang might succeed him.

大臣及爰盎等有所關說於帝，太后議格，孝王不敢復言太后以嗣事。 Ministers led by Yuan Ang remonstrated with the emperor until the dowager’s plan stalled; the king of Liang never again raised the succession with his mother.

梁王恐，乃使韓安國因長公主謝罪太后，然後得釋。 Terrified, he sent Han Anguo to plead through the Eldest Princess before the empress dowager, and only then escaped worse punishment.

太后泣曰：「帝殺吾子！」 The empress dowager wept, “The emperor has murdered my son!”

然後太后、帝皆大喜，相與泣，復如故。 Then the empress dowager and the emperor were both greatly pleased; they wept together and were reconciled as before.

孝王慈孝，每聞太后病，口不能食，常欲留長安侍太后。 The king was devoted to his mother: whenever he heard she was unwell he lost his appetite and longed to stay in Chang’an to nurse her.

太后亦愛之。 She loved him in return.

及聞孝王死，竇太后泣極哀，不食，曰：「帝果殺吾子！」 When news came that King Xiao had died, Empress Dou wept with extreme grief and would not eat, saying, “The emperor has truly killed my son!”

奏之太后，太后乃說，為帝壹餐。 When this was laid before the empress dowager she relented and took a single meal for her son’s sake.

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 4 passages

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陛下縱自輕，奈宗廟太后何？」 Even if you discount your own safety, what of the altars of state and the empress dowager?"

太后聞之，賜都金百斤，上亦賜金百斤，由此重都。 The dowager rewarded Zhi Du with a hundred catties of gold; the emperor matched it, and both sides henceforth prized him.

竇太后聞之，怒，以危法中都，都免歸家。 Empress Dowager Dou, enraged, pinned a capital offense on Zhi Du and dismissed him.

竇太后曰：「臨江王獨非忠臣乎？」 The dowager retorted, "Was Prince Rong not loyal?"

Book of Later Han, Chapter 37Volume 32: Biographies of Fan Hong; Yin Shi · 1 passage

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昔孝文竇後性好黃老，而清靜之化流景、武之間。 Empress Dou under Emperor Wen loved Huang-Lao, yet her quiet influence lasted into the reigns of Emperors Jing and Wu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 11Annals of the Xiaojing Emperor · 2 passages

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母竇太后。 His mother was Empress Dowager Dou.

孝文在代時，前后有三男，及竇太后得幸，前后死，及三子更死，故孝景得立。 While Emperor Wen was still in Dai, he had three sons by his former consort. After Lady Dou won his favor, that consort died, and the three sons died in turn as well. This was how Emperor Jing came to be named heir.

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

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竇太后曰：「吳王，老人也，宜為宗室順善。 Empress Dowager Dou said, "The King of Wu was an elder of the realm. He should have been a model of obedience and virtue among the imperial clan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 3 passages

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而梁孝王每朝，常與太后言條侯之短。 Moreover, each time King Xiao of Liang attended court, he would speak to the Empress Dowager of the Marquis of Tiao's failings.

竇太后曰：「皇后兄王信可侯也。」 Empress Dowager Dou said: "The empress's elder brother, Wang Xin, should be made a marquis."

竇太后曰：「人主各以時行耳。 Empress Dowager Dou said: "Every sovereign acts as the times require.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 58House of Prince Xiao of Liang · 30 passages

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母，竇太后也。 Their mother was Empress Dowager Dou.

太后亦然。 The Empress Dowager felt the same.

孝王，竇太后少子也，愛之，賞賜不可勝道。 King Xiao was the youngest son of Empress Dowager Dou, who loved him dearly and showered him with gifts and rewards beyond reckoning.

既朝，上疏因留，以太后親故。 After attending court, he submitted a memorial requesting permission to remain in the capital, citing his close bond with the Empress Dowager.

十一月，上廢栗太子，竇太后心欲以孝王為後嗣。 In the eleventh month, the emperor deposed Crown Prince Li. Empress Dowager Dou secretly wished to make King Xiao the heir apparent.

大臣及袁盎等有所關說於景帝，竇太后義格，亦遂不復言以梁王為嗣事由此。 The great ministers and Yuan Ang remonstrated with Emperor Jing. Empress Dowager Dou, moved by considerations of propriety, relented and from that point on never again raised the matter of making the King of Liang the heir.

梁王恐，乃使韓安國因長公主謝罪太后，然后得釋。 The King of Liang, now fearful, sent Han Anguo to intercede through the Grand Princess and beg the Empress Dowager's forgiveness. Only then was the matter set aside.

太后泣曰：「帝殺吾子！」 The Empress Dowager wept and cried, "The emperor has killed my son!"

於是梁王伏斧質於闕下，謝罪，然後太后、景帝大喜，相泣，復如故。 The King of Liang then appeared before the palace gate, prostrating himself beside the executioner's axe and block to beg forgiveness for his crimes. The Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing were overjoyed, wept together, and all was restored as before.

孝王慈孝，每聞太后病，口不能食，居不安寢，常欲留長安侍太后。 King Xiao was devoted and filial. Whenever he heard that the Empress Dowager was ill, he could not eat and could not sleep, always wishing to remain in Chang'an to attend her in person.

太后亦愛之。 The Empress Dowager loved him dearly in return.

及聞梁王薨，竇太后哭極哀，不食，曰：「帝果殺吾子！」 When she learned that the King of Liang had died, Empress Dowager Dou wept inconsolably, refused to eat, and cried, "The emperor has truly killed my son!"

於是奏之太后，太后乃說，為帝加壹湌。 When this plan was reported to the Empress Dowager, she was pleased and took an extra meal for the emperor's sake.

今太后，女主也，以愛少子故，欲令梁王為太子。 The Empress Dowager, a woman wielding power, wished out of love for her youngest son to make the King of Liang the crown prince.

景帝與王燕見，侍太后飲，景帝曰：「千秋萬歲之後傳王。」 Emperor Jing and the king attended a banquet together, serving the Empress Dowager wine. Emperor Jing said, "When I am gone, I shall pass the throne to you."

太后喜說。 The Empress Dowager was overjoyed.

太后意不說。 The Empress Dowager was displeased.

梁王上有太后之重，驕蹇日久，數聞景帝好言，千秋萬世之後傳王，而實不行。 The King of Liang, backed by the Empress Dowager's formidable influence, had long grown arrogant and willful. He had repeatedly heard Emperor Jing's promise that the throne would pass to him after a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, yet this promise was never fulfilled.

蓋聞梁王西入朝，謁竇太后，燕見，與景帝俱侍坐於太后前，語言私說。 I have heard that the King of Liang traveled west to court, paid his respects to Empress Dowager Dou, and was granted a private audience. He sat together with Emperor Jing before the Empress Dowager, and they spoke freely among themselves.

太后謂帝曰：「吾聞殷道親親，周道尊尊，其義一也。 The Empress Dowager said to the emperor, "I have heard that the way of the Yin dynasty was to cherish kinship, while the way of the Zhou was to honor authority, and in principle these amount to the same thing.

罷酒出，帝召袁盎諸大臣通經術者曰：「太后言如是，何謂也？」 After the banquet ended, they withdrew. The emperor then summoned Yuan Ang and other ministers learned in the classics and asked, "The Empress Dowager speaks thus. What does she mean?"

皆對曰：「太后意欲立梁王為帝太子。」 They all replied, "The Empress Dowager intends to establish the King of Liang as the imperial heir."

臣請見太后白之。」 We request permission to see the Empress Dowager and explain this to her."

袁盎等入見太后：「太后言欲立梁王，梁王即終，欲誰立？」 Yuan Ang and the others entered and asked the Empress Dowager, "If Your Majesty establishes the King of Liang, and the King of Liang later dies, whom would you choose after him?"

太后曰：「吾復立帝子。」 The Empress Dowager said, "Then I would establish the emperor's son."

袁盎等以宋宣公不立正，生禍，禍亂後五世不絕，小不忍害大義狀報太后。 Yuan Ang and the others presented the case of Duke Xuan of Song, who had failed to follow the proper line of succession and thereby brought about a calamity that plagued his state for five generations. They explained to the Empress Dowager how a small indulgence could undermine the greater good.

太后乃解說，即使梁王歸就國。 The Empress Dowager was persuaded and abandoned the idea, immediately directing the King of Liang to return to his kingdom.

太后不食，日夜泣不止。 The Empress Dowager refused to eat and wept day and night without ceasing.

景帝喜說，曰：「急趨謁太后。」 Emperor Jing was delighted and said, "Go at once and report this to the Empress Dowager."

太后聞之，立起坐湌，氣平復。 When the Empress Dowager heard the news, she rose at once, took a meal, and her spirits were restored.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 18 passages

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梁孝王，景帝母弟，竇太后愛之，令得自請置相、二千石，出入游戲，僭於天子。 King Xiao of Liang was Emperor Jing's younger brother by the same mother. Empress Dowager Dou doted on him, allowing him to appoint his own chancellor and officials of two-thousand-shi rank, to come and go at his pleasure, and to adopt ceremonies that exceeded those appropriate for anyone but the Son of Heaven.

太后知帝不善，乃怒梁使者，弗見，案責王所為。 When the Empress Dowager learned of the Emperor's displeasure, she turned her anger upon the envoys from Liang, refusing to grant them audience and instead investigating and censuring the king's conduct.

韓安國為梁使，見大長公主而泣曰：「何梁王為人子之孝，為人臣之忠，太后曾弗省也？ Han Anguo, as envoy of Liang, went to see the Grand Princess and wept, saying, "How can it be that the King of Liang's filial piety as a son and loyalty as a minister have never won the Empress Dowager's regard?

梁王念太后、帝在中，而諸侯擾亂，一言泣數行下，跪送臣等六人，將兵擊卻吳楚，吳楚以故兵不敢西，而卒破亡，梁王之力也。 The King of Liang, mindful that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor stood at the center while the feudal lords threw the realm into chaos, wept with every word he spoke, tears streaming down his face. He knelt and sent off six of us as generals, who led troops to drive back Wu and Chu. Because of this, the armies of Wu and Chu dared not advance westward and were ultimately destroyed—all through the efforts of the King of Liang.

今太后以小睗苛禮責望梁王。 Now the Empress Dowager, on account of minor suspicions and rigid protocols, censures and finds fault with the King of Liang.

梁王父兄皆帝王，所見者大，故出稱蹕，入言警，車旗皆帝所賜也，即欲以侘鄙縣，驅馳國中，以夸諸侯，令天下盡知太后、帝愛之也。 The King of Liang's father and brothers were all emperors, so naturally his vision is grand. When he goes abroad he calls for the roads to be cleared, and when he returns he commands the imperial alert—but his carriages and banners were all bestowed upon him by the Emperor himself. He merely wished to display them through the humble counties and ride throughout his kingdom, to impress the feudal lords and let all under heaven know that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor loved him.

何梁王之為子孝，為臣忠，而太后弗恤也？」 How can the King of Liang be so filial as a son and so loyal as a minister, yet the Empress Dowager show him no compassion?"

大長公主具以告太后，太后喜曰：「為言之帝。」 The Grand Princess told the Empress Dowager everything. The Empress Dowager was pleased and said, "Speak of this to the Emperor."

言之，帝心乃解，而免冠謝太后曰：「兄弟不能相教，乃為太后遺憂。」 When she did so, the Emperor's mind was eased. He removed his cap and apologized to the Empress Dowager, saying, "We brothers could not instruct one another, and thus caused Your Majesty sorrow."

太后、長公主更賜安國可直千餘金。 The Empress Dowager and the Grand Princess in turn rewarded Anguo with gifts worth over a thousand pieces of gold.

竇太后聞，乃詔王以安國為內史。 When Empress Dowager Dou heard of this, she issued a decree commanding the king to appoint Anguo as Prefect instead.

天子以太后故，不忍致法於王。 The Emperor, out of regard for the Empress Dowager, cannot bring himself to enforce the law against the king.

太后日夜涕泣，幸大王自改，而大王終不覺寤。 The Empress Dowager weeps day and night, hoping that Your Majesty will reform on your own, yet Your Majesty never comes to his senses.

有如太后宮車即晏駕，大王尚誰攀乎？」 If the Empress Dowager's palace carriage should depart on its final journey, whom would Your Majesty still have to cling to?"

於是景帝、太后益重安國。 From then on, Emperor Jing and the Empress Dowager valued Anguo even more highly.

蚡言安國太后，天子亦素聞其賢，即召以為北地都尉，遷為大司農。 Tian Fen commended Anguo to the Empress Dowager. The Emperor, who had long heard of his abilities, immediately summoned him and appointed him Commandant of Beidi, then promoted him to Grand Minister of Agriculture.

蚡不敢言上，而言於太后曰：「王恢首造馬邑事，今不成而誅恢，是為匈奴報仇也。」 Tian Fen did not dare speak to the Emperor but said to the Empress Dowager, "Wang Hui was the first to devise the Mayi plan; to execute him now that it has failed would be taking revenge for the Xiongnu."

上朝太后，太后以丞相言告上。 When the Emperor paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, she conveyed the Chancellor's words to him.