Qin and Han · King of Lü

Lü Chan 產

First attested BC 187; died BC 180

Passages: 30
Chapters: 7
Histories: 4

Overview

Lü Chan was a king of Lü.

Life and dates

Death

BC 180 八年八月
Killed · At Langzhong office latrine 郎中府吏舍廁中
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 79

Attested activity

BC 180
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 149
BC 181 七年…梁王呂產為相國
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 99
BC 187 乃立…產…為王
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 95
BC 186 二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passages 24, 31; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passages 34, 41
BC 180 八年…殺之
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 4, passage 79
BC 180 漢誅祿、產
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 16, passage 41

Show 2 more source-backed claims

BC 181 to BC 180 高后七年至高后八年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 44, passages 24, 31
BC 180 高后崩
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 57, passages 84-85

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Empress Lü (呂后)
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
Child of Elder brother of Empress Lü (呂后兄)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 95
Sibling of Lü Tai (呂台)
Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 95
Sibling of Lü Lu (祿)
Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 95

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Chancellor of State 相國
BC 181 七年正月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 99
Title En Chancellor of State · Title Zh 相國
Directly stated · Book of Han 5, passage 321
King of Lü 呂王
BC 186 二年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 31; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 41
king 王
BC 187 惠帝崩後…立…為王 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 95
King of Lü ruling Dai 王代
Proposed
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 24; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 34
Received
Grant Dai 代
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 24

Show 2 more source-backed claims

King of Liang 梁王
BC 181 七年正月 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 99
King of Lü 呂王
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passages 24, 31

Places and affiliations

Polity Lü 呂 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Han 44, passage 31; Records of the Grand Historian 51, passage 41

Events and relationships

Plotted rebellion
BC 180 八年 · Political · Conspirator
Directly stated · Book of Han 4, passage 42

Assessments and attributes

Assessment cited as an example of monopolizing power and causing disorder · Mode quoted-historical-exemplum Speaker Zhou Xu (周䊸)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 149

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 85, passage 149

References in the histories

Search passages

History

30 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 16Volume 16: Zhao Zhili; Cai Jingli; Liu Shizhi; Xie Qi · 1 passage

雖漢誅祿、產，舉朝寔賴絳侯，晉討約、峻，中外一資陶牧，比事論功，彼奚足筭。 When Han executed Lü Lu and Lü Chan, the whole court relied on the Marquis of Jiang; when Jin campaigned against Zu Yue and Su Jun, court and provinces alike relied on Tao Kan. Set beside your deeds, what are those worth reckoning?

Book of Han, Chapter 4Volume 3: Annals of Empress Lü Zhi · 18 passages

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.

己丑晦，日有蝕之既，以梁王呂產為相國，趙王祿為上將軍，立營陵侯劉澤為琅邪王。 On jichou, the last day of the month, there was a total solar eclipse. Lü Chan, King of Liang, was made Chancellor of State; Lü Lu, King of Zhao, was made Senior General; and Liu Ze, Marquis of Yingling, was established as King of Langye.

上將軍祿、相國產顓兵秉政，自知背高皇帝約，恐為大臣諸侯王所誅，因謀作亂。 Senior General Lü Lu and Chancellor of State Lü Chan had seized control of the armies and the government. Aware that they had broken Emperor Gaozu's covenant, they feared being put to death by the great ministers and the regional kings, and so they plotted rebellion.

產、祿等遣大將軍灌嬰將兵擊之。 Lü Chan and Lü Lu dispatched Grand General Guan Ying to lead troops against them.

何不速歸將軍印，以兵屬太尉，請梁王亦歸相國印，與大臣盟而之國？ Why not promptly return your general's seal and hand the troops over to the Grand Commandant? Ask the King of Liang to return his chancellor's seal as well, swear an oath with the ministers, and go back to your own state?

祿然其計，使人報產及諸呂老人。 Lü Lu approved the plan and sent messengers to inform Lü Chan and the elders of the Lü clan.

八月庚申，平陽侯窋行御史大夫事，見相國產計事。 On the geng-shen day of the eighth month, Pingyang Marquis Kui, acting as Imperial Censor-in-Chief, went to see Chancellor of State Lü Chan to discuss affairs.

郎中令賈壽使從齊來，因數產曰：「王不早之國，今雖欲行，尚可得邪？」 Jia Shou, the Palace Attendant Commander, came as an envoy from Qi and took the occasion to rebuke Lü Chan, saying, 'Your Majesty did not go to your state early. Even if you want to leave now, will you still be able to?'

具以灌嬰與齊楚合從狀告產。 He fully reported to Chan the situation of Guan Ying's alliance with Qi and Chu.

勃令章監軍門，令平陽侯告衛尉，毋內相國產殿門。 Zhou Bo ordered Liu Zhang to watch the military gate, and sent the Marquis of Pingyang to tell the Guard Commander not to admit Chancellor of State Lü Chan through the palace gate.

產不知祿已去北軍，入未央宮欲為亂。 Unaware that Lü Lu had already left the Northern Army, Lü Chan entered Weiyang Palace intending to start a rebellion.

平陽侯馳語太尉勃，勃尚恐不勝，未敢誦言誅之，乃謂朱虛侯章曰：「急入宮衛帝。」 The Marquis of Pingyang galloped back to inform Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo still feared they might not prevail and did not yet dare openly call for Lü Chan's execution, so he said to Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, 'Enter the palace at once and guard the emperor.'

章從勃請卒千人，入未央宮掖門，見產廷中。 Zhang requested one thousand troops from Zhou Bo and entered Weiyang Palace through the side gate, where he saw Lü Chan in the courtyard.

日餔時，遂擊產。 They attacked Lü Chan at the hour of the afternoon meal.

產走。 Lü Chan fled from the scene.

逐產，殺之郎中府吏舍廁中。 They pursued Lü Chan and killed him in a latrine attached to the clerks' quarters at the Langzhong offices.

章已殺產，帝令謁者持節勞章。 After Zhang had killed Lü Chan, the emperor ordered a courtier to hold the credentials and console Zhang.

勃起拜賀章，曰：「所患獨產，今已誅，天下定矣。」 Zhou Bo rose, bowed, and congratulated Zhang, saying, 'Lü Chan alone was the one we feared. Now that he has been executed, the realm is secure.'

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

詔曰：「前呂產自置為相國，呂祿為上將軍，擅遣將軍灌嬰將兵擊齊，欲代劉氏。 An edict said: "Formerly Lü Chan set himself up as Chancellor of State, while Lü Lu became Supreme General. They sent General Guan Ying with troops to attack Qi on their own authority, intending to replace the Liu clan.

呂產欲為不善，丞相平與太尉勃等謀奪產等軍。 Lü Chan intended to do evil, and Chancellor Ping and Grand Commandant Bo and others plotted to seize the armies of Chan and his associates.

朱虛侯章首先捕斬產。 Marquis Zhu Xu Liu Zhang was first to capture and execute Chan.

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 3 passages

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.

大臣請立呂產為呂王。 They asked that Lü Chan be established as king of the Lü domain.

田生弗受，因說之曰：「呂產王也，諸大臣未大服。 Tian Sheng declined the gold and argued, “Lü Chan’s kingship will not yet win the full submission of the great ministers.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 85Volume 77: Biographies of Cruel Officials · 1 passage

宜寻吕产专窃之乱，永惟王莽篡逆之祸，上安社稷之计，下解万夫之惑。” Recall the turmoil when Lü Chan monopolized power, remember Wang Mang’s usurpation, steady the altars on high, and quiet the fears of the common people below.”

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 51Houses of Jing and Yan · 3 passages

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.

大臣請立呂產為呂王。 The ministers petitioned to establish Lü Chan as the King of Lü.

田生弗受，因說之曰：「呂產王也，諸大臣未大服。 Tian Sheng declined the gift and counseled him: 'Although Lü Chan has been made king, the great ministers are not yet fully won over.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 1 passage

呂祿以趙王為漢上將軍，呂產以呂王為漢相國，秉漢權，欲危劉氏。 Lu Lu, as King of Zhao, became Supreme General of Han, and Lu Chan, as King of Lu, became Chancellor of State, seizing the reins of Han power and plotting to overthrow the house of Liu.