Background
Lu Zhi was born in 241 B.C. in Shandong Province. She was a daughter of Lu Wen (Prince Xuan of Lü). She had two sisters and two brothers.
Tomb of Empress Lu in Changling, Xianyang, Shaanxi
Lu Zhi's jade seal, excavated from Xianyang, now in the Shaanxi History Museum.
A portrait of Emperor Gaozu
Lu Zhi was born in 241 B.C. in Shandong Province. She was a daughter of Lu Wen (Prince Xuan of Lü). She had two sisters and two brothers.
Lu Zhi married Liu Bang, future Emperor Gaozu. Liu Bang was one of many who rose in anti-Qin rebellion. He suffered defeat in the year 205 B.C. Lu Zhi and her father were taken hostage by Xiang Yu of Chu. Lu Zhi was released two years later after Chu and Han negotiated a peace, and in 202 Liu Bang ascended the throne. Lu Zhi became Empress Lu.
Empress Lu helped the emperor establish his sovereignty over the whole country. Lu Zhi is known for her roles in the deaths of Han Xin and Peng Yue, two of Emperor Gaozu's subjects who contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty, of whose military capabilities both she and her husband had been apprehensive.
In 195 B.C. Emperor Gaozu died and was succeeded by Liu Ying, who became historically known as Emperor Hui of Han. Lu Zhi was honored by Emperor Hui as empress dowager. She exerted more influence during the reign of her son than she had when she was Empress. Lu Zhi did not harm most of Gaozu's other consorts and treated them according to rules and customs of the imperial family. One exception was Concubine Qi, whom Lu 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 Lu Zhi targeted Concubine Qi. She had Qi stripped of her position, treated like a convict and forced to do hard labor in the form of milling rice. Later she killed Concubine Qi and her son Liu Ruyi. Lu Zhi was also criticized for having murdered three princes of Zhao.
By 192 B.C.E. the Xiongnu to the north of China had grown strong enough for their leader, a man named Maodun, to send an envoy to Empress Dowager Lu conveying a disrespectful message. Infuriated, Empress Dowager Lu nevertheless followed the advice of the official Ji Bu and, instead of attacking the Xiongnu, sent a return letter accompanied by gifts of chariots and horses. Relations improved and the empress finally sent a daughter of the imperial family to marry into the Xiongnu.
In 191 B.C., at Lu Zhi's insistence, Emperor Hui married his niece Zhang Yan (Princess Yuan of Lu's daughter) and made her empress. They did not have any children. It was alleged that Lu Zhi told Zhang Yan to adopt eight boys and have their mothers killed.
Emperor Hui died in 188 B.C. and was succeeded by Emperor Qianshao, one of the children Empress Zhang adopted. Now a grandmother of the emperor, Lu Zhi retained her title as Empress Dowager and never claimed the title as Grand Empress Dowager. As a means of securing her power, the empress had it suggested to Counselor-in-Chief Wang Ling that her nephews Lu Tai, Lu Chan, and Lu Lu be appointed as generals to lead the Northern army and the Southern army and that other members of the Lu clan be summoned to court to fill important posts.
Around 184 B.C. Emperor Qianshao discovered that he was not Empress Dowager Zhang Yan's son, and his birth mother was executed by the empress dowager. He remarked that when he grew up he would make Empress Dowager Zhang pay for his mother's death. When Lu Zhi heard about this, she had the young emperor secretly confined in the palace and publicly announced that the emperor was seriously ill and unable to meet anyone. After some time she told the imperial court that Emperor Qianshao was still sick and suffered from psychosis, and was thus incapable of ruling. She then proposed that the emperor be replaced. The court complied with her wish, and Emperor Qianshao was deposed and put to death.
Lu Zhi was a cruel and suspicious woman. She was quite intelligent and politically aware. However, for Lu Zhi self-interest was more important than the well-being of the country.
Lu Zhi was the wife of Emperor Gaozu. She bore him a daughter Princess Luyuan and a son Liu Ying.
Lu Wen was the Prince Xuan of Lu.
Liu Bang, also known as Emperor Gaozu, as the founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning from 202 B.C. to 195 B.C.
Lu Xu was the wife of Fan Kuai. She was also known as Marquise of Linguang.
Princess Luyuan, also known as Princess Yuan of Lu, was a princess of the Han Dynasty.
Liu Ying, also known as Emperor Hui was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China.
