The Rise and Reign of Empress Lü

The early Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE) witnessed one of China’s most remarkable political dramas—the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of the Lü clan under Empress Lü Zhi (241–180 BCE). As the formidable wife of Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty), Lü Zhi became the first woman in Chinese history to wield imperial authority directly. After her husband’s death in 195 BCE and during the nominal reigns of her son Emperor Hui and subsequent child emperors, Lü ruled as de facto sovereign for 15 years through a system called “临朝称制” (ruling from behind the curtain).

Her reign was marked by ruthless consolidation of power. She systematically eliminated potential threats, including:
– The cruel murder of Liu Ruyi, the favored son of Emperor Gaozu’s concubine Lady Qi
– The strategic placement of Lü clan members in key military positions, particularly Lü Chan controlling the Southern Army and Lü Lu commanding the Northern Army—the twin pillars of capital defense

The Tinderbox of Succession

Empress Lü’s death in August 180 BCE created an immediate power vacuum. The historical records describe ominous portents before her demise—a mysterious “blue dog” apparition striking her armpit during a ritual, interpreted as vengeance from the spirit of the murdered Prince Liu Ruyi. On her deathbed, Lü issued precise instructions to her nephews:

“Hold the military camps at all costs. Do not attend my funeral lest you lose control of the troops.”

This warning proved prophetic. Within weeks, the simmering tensions between three factions erupted:
1. The Imperial Clan (Liu family): Led by Liu Xiang, Prince of Qi
2. The Meritocratic Faction (founding generals): Including Zhou Bo and Chen Ping
3. The Lü Clan: The empress’s relatives holding key positions

Liu Xiang’s Gambit

Liu Xiang, grandson of Emperor Gaozu and Prince of Qi, became the spark of rebellion. His motivations were deeply personal—the Lü clan had systematically carved away territories from his kingdom:
– 193 BCE: Forced to surrender Chengyang Commandery
– 186 BCE: Lost Jinan Commandery to the new Lü Kingdom
– 181 BCE: Stripped of Langye Commandery

When his brother Liu Zhang (朱虚侯), a palace guard in the capital, secretly urged action, Liu Xiang mobilized his forces in September 180 BCE—barely a month after Empress Lü’s death. His manifesto cleverly framed the conflict as upholding Emperor Gaozu’s “White Horse Oath” against non-Liu kings, avoiding direct mention of the Lü clan.

The Military Chessboard

The rebellion’s success hinged on control of Chang’an’s twin armies:

The Northern Army (北军)
– Garrison: 50,000 elite troops
– Commander: Lü Lu (吕禄)

The Southern Army (南军)
– Garrison: 20,000 guards
– Commander: Lü Chan (吕产)

Liu Xiang’s initial advance was nearly thwarted by his own chancellor Zhao Ping, until Commandant Wei Bo’s dramatic betrayal turned the tide by besieging Zhao’s residence instead of the prince’s palace.

The Pivotal Defection

The Lü clan’s fatal mistake was appointing veteran general Guan Ying (灌婴) to suppress the rebellion. A cloth merchant turned cavalry commander under Emperor Gaozu, Guan secretly sympathized with the anti-Lü coalition. At Xingyang—a strategic choke point—he halted his advance and negotiated with Liu Xiang, creating a stalemate that paralyzed Lü forces.

The Capital Coup

With external pressure mounting, the veteran officials Zhou Bo (太尉) and Chen Ping (丞相) executed a brilliant conspiracy:

1. Psychological Warfare: Using Lü Lu’s friend Li Ji to convince him to surrender command, arguing:
“Return to your fiefdom peacefully, and the armies will stand down.”

2. The Armbar Test: Upon entering the Northern Army camp, Zhou Bo ordered:
“Right sleeves for Lü loyalists, left sleeves for Liu supporters.”
The sea of left sleeves revealed the army’s true allegiance.

3. Storming the Palace: Zhu Xu Hou Liu Zhang led 1,000 troops to eliminate Lü Chan in a dramatic confrontation at the Weiyang Palace gates, aided by a fortuitous sandstorm.

The Aftermath

The purge was swift and total:
– October 180 BCE: Every Lü clan member, including infants, was executed
– The child emperor Liu Hong was deposed
– The moderate Liu Heng (Emperor Wen) was installed, beginning the “Wen-Jing” golden age

Historical Significance

This episode established critical precedents:
1. The Perils of Female Rule: Set back women’s political participation for centuries
2. The Balance of Power: Reinforced the emperor-bureaucracy equilibrium
3. Military Politics: Demonstrated the decisive role of capital garrison control

The collapse of the Lü clan—from absolute power to complete annihilation in 60 days—remains one of history’s most dramatic demonstrations of how quickly political fortunes can reverse when legitimacy, military loyalty, and elite consensus fracture simultaneously. The Han Dynasty’s subsequent four-century reign owed much to the lessons learned from this crisis about managing imperial kinship networks and military allegiances.