The Rise of Empress Lü and the Fragility of Power

The early Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE–9 CE) witnessed one of history’s most ruthless political operators: Empress Lü Zhi, widow of Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang). After her husband’s death in 195 BCE, she consolidated power through a mix of strategic marriages, military control, and systematic elimination of rivals—particularly the sons of Liu Bang by other consorts.

Her reign exemplified a paradox: even those who allied with her through marriage, like the Liu princes, were not safe. The tragic fates of Liu You and Liu Hui, two of Liu Bang’s sons, reveal how loyalty to the Lü clan was no guarantee of survival.

The Doomed Princes: Liu You and Liu Hui

### The Starvation of Liu You

Liu You, the sixth son of Liu Bang, was initially named Prince of Huaiyang but later reassigned as Prince of Zhao under Empress Lü’s rule. To secure his allegiance, he was forced to marry a woman from the Lü family. However, the marriage was loveless; Liu You despised his wife’s arrogance and jealousy, preferring the company of concubines.

His wife retaliated with a lethal accusation: she claimed Liu You vowed to exterminate the Lü clan once the empress died. Enraged, Empress Lü summoned him to the capital, where he was imprisoned in his own residence and starved to death. Guards barred all food deliveries, and his retainers, fearing reprisals, abandoned him. In his final days, Liu You composed a lament:

“A prince dies of hunger—who will pity him?
The Lü clan severs all ties—heaven will avenge!”

Twelve days after his death, an eclipse darkened the skies—a dire omen in Han cosmology. Empress Lü, unrepentant, remarked, “This eclipse is because of me.”

### The Poison and Suicide of Liu Hui

Liu Hui, Prince of Liang and Liu You’s elder brother, was then relocated as Prince of Zhao. Empress Lü forced him to marry another Lü woman, the daughter of her nephew Lü Chan. The marriage was a disaster; his wife, emboldened by her family’s power, poisoned his favored concubine. Grief-stricken, Liu Hui composed funeral dirges before taking his own life—just six months after Liu You’s demise.

The Lü Clan’s Ascendancy and the Erosion of Liu Rule

Empress Lü’s machinations extended beyond these personal vendettas. She replaced deceased Liu princes with Lü relatives:

– Lü Lu became the new Prince of Zhao.
– Lü Tong was installed as Prince of Yan after the suspicious death of Liu Bang’s youngest son, Liu Jian, and the murder of his heir.
– Non-Lü allies, like the sons of Princess Yuan of Lu (Empress Lü’s daughter), were also elevated, such as Zhang Yan as Prince of Lu.

By 180 BCE, the Han Empire teetered on becoming a Lü dynasty. Yet the old guard of Liu Bang’s generals—like Chen Ping and Zhou Bo—remained passive. Why?

1. Risk Aversion: Veterans like Chen Ping prioritized stability over rebellion, calculating that Empress Lü’s advanced age would soon end her reign.
2. Strategic Patience: The teenage strategist Zhang Pijiang (son of the legendary Zhang Liang) advised temporizing: “Let her keep power until death; then reclaim it.”

The Cultural and Cosmic Reckoning

### Omens and Divine Retribution

Han society interpreted natural disasters as celestial judgments. The eclipse after Liu You’s death and the catastrophic flooding of the Han River (which destroyed 10,000 homes) were seen as condemnations of Empress Lü’s tyranny. Even she acknowledged, “This is because of me.”

### The “Blue Dog” Omen

In 180 BCE, during a ritual purification ceremony, Empress Lü hallucinated a “blue dog” (苍狗) leaping into her armpit—a portent of doom. Diviners blamed the spirit of Liu Ruyi, the poisoned Prince of Zhao, and his mutilated mother, Lady Qi. The empress developed a fatal腋 (“armpit tumor”), likely breast cancer, and died months later, haunted by visions of darkness.

The Legacy of Empress Lü

### The Lü Clan’s Collapse

On her deathbed, Empress Lü warned her nephews Lü Chan and Lü Lu to “hold the armies fast.” But her demise triggered an immediate coup. Chen Ping and Zhou Bo rallied the old guard, massacred the Lü clan, and installed Emperor Wen, restoring Liu rule.

### Historical Reflections

Empress Lü’s reign became a cautionary tale about:
– The Perils of Nepotism: Her overreach alienated even pragmatic allies.
– Gender and Power: As one of China’s first female rulers, her brutality was amplified by patriarchal historiography.
– The Mandate of Heaven: Natural disasters and eclipses underscored the Han belief in moral governance.

Her story endures as a gripping narrative of ambition, vengeance, and the fleeting nature of power—a reminder that even the mightiest dynasties are vulnerable to the wills of both heaven and history.