Empress Lü

Empress Lü (241-180 B.C.)

1. Rise to Power: 

Portrait of Shangshan Sihao by Huang shen, now in The Palace Museum

Empress Lu also reigned alongside male leaders, starting from 195 BC in Western Han, which located in Bashu (Sichuan, China). The society of the Han Dynasty can be described of a clear definition of each social class. Han China was comprised of a three-tiered social system. Aristocrats and bureaucrats were at the top of this hierarchy followed by skilled laborers like farmers and iron workers. However, Empress Lu gained power through male leaders, her husband mostly. The artifact I chose is the painting of four recluses Shangshan Sihao who are very much respectful at the time. Her husband Emperor Gaozu of Han wanted to re-appoint the heir for the country. He wanted to replace Emperor Hui, who is the son of the Empress Lu, to Ruyi, who is the son of Lady Qi (Gaozu’s mistress). Empress Lu wanted to make sure that his son will remain in the position of heir, she asked the four recluses Shangshan Sihao to be the teacher of his son. The arrival of the four recluses changed Emperor Gaozu’s mind. Therefore, Emperor Hui remain as the only heir, and successfully inherited the kingship.

2. Power Accomplishments: 

Lu Zhi’s jade seal, excavated from Xianyang, now in the Shaanxi History Museum.

Empress Lu was in power for seventeen years long. She started off by being Emperor of Han Gaozu’s wife. After Gaozu’s death, she remained in power as a empress dowager and was the true ruler of the Chinese emperor. She was also one of women in ancient history who gained power thorough male leaders, his husband, his sons, and his grandsons. She installed his son Hui of Han as emperor, killed him when he grew rebellious, and then installed another. The artifact I chose was the jade seal. The seal jade is engraved with the precious white “mutton fat jade” from Khotan(hetian), modern Xinjiang Province, this seal bears a tiger-shaped knob and a square facet with carved cloud designs on four sides. The facet is caved with four Seal Style characters “Hung Hou Zhi Xi” (Empress’ Seal) in intaglio. According to the Old Rites of the Han Dynasty, the “Empress” jade seal bears the same characters on this seal fit with the records. It was unearthed nearby the joint mausoleum of Empress Lu and Gaozu and probably was one of the belongings of Empress Lu. Jade seal resembled power and glory. Since she made most of the political decision for her son and grandson. Her opinion in the country was way more important than those puppet emperor. A Jade seal was mostly used as an approval signature that indicated  her final decision on certain things.

3. Cultural Memories of the Dead: 

Western Han ceramic statuette of a seated woman and court attendant holding up her robes, from a tomb of Xianyang, Shaanxi province.

The society recognizes her as the first reigning Empress of China. She was being criticized and judged by the society then and now. Empress Lu’s reputation has been criticized by her contemporaries simply because she was a woman reigning with imperial power. However, her critics agree that she was an effective ruler. She is portrayed as both cold-blooded and steadfast whether in her personal relationship or her political decision. She was not honored as a true leader, right after she died, her entire clan got removed from the country. Later generations perceive her as a psychopath because of her brutal punishment to one of the Han Gaozu’s mistress lady Qi. She was demonized, and became a cautionary tale for why women shouldn’t be in power. The artifact I chose is the Western Han ceramic statuette of a seated female court attendant. She is holding up her robes, from a tomb of Xianyang, Shaanxi province. The artifact is a funeral object. Being the very first reigning Empress of China, she wielded excessive amount of power from every aspect of her life. Bringing a court attendance into her tomb to serve her in her afterlife was a necessity for her status in her time period. It showcases her power and dignity as an empress. 

by Norie Chen