Lü Clan Disturbance
Encyclopedia
The Lü Clan Disturbance (Traditional Chinese: 呂氏之亂) (180 BC
) refers to a political disturbance after the death of Grand Empress Dowager Lü of Han Dynasty
, the aftermaths of which saw the clan of the deceased empress' family, the Lü consort clan
being overthrown from their seats of power and massacred, the deposing of the puppet Emperor Houshao
, and the accession to the throne of Emperor Wen
. Sometimes the term also encompasses to the total domination of the political scene by Grand Empress Dowager Lü and her clan after the death of her son Emperor Hui
(188 BC
) in an extent even greater than during his reign, and this article will discuss events during that period as well. (The term "the Lü Clan Disturbance" itself is a non-neutral one, used by the officials who overthrew them and historians who supported their political theories, but is used here not to cast any judgment on the Lüs, but because it is commonly used.)
ascended to the throne as Emperor Qianshao. However, there was not even any pretention that he was the one in charge; Emperor Hui's mother Empress Dowager Lü (now Grand Empress Dowager Lü) was the one who publicly and actually controlled the political power.
In winter 188 BC, Grand Empress Dowager Lü wanted to make her brothers princes, against her husband Liu Bang (Emperor Gao)'s rule that only members of the imperial Liu clan may be made princes – a rule that she herself had a hand in creating. This was opposed by the right prime minister Wang Ling (王陵) but accepted by the left prime minister Chen Ping
and the commander in chief of the armed forces Zhou Bo (周勃). When Wang rebuked Chen and Zhou in private for going against Emperor Gao's rule, they rationalized that their compliance with the grand empress dowager
was necessary to protect the empire and the Lius. Grand Empress Dowager Lü then promoted Wang to the honorary position of the emperor's teacher (太傅, taifu); Wang declined and claimed illness. Lü then removed him from the position and had him (as the Marquess of Anguo) returned to his march
(in modern Baoding
, Hebei
) and promoted Chen to right prime minister ("right" being the more honored direction) and her lover Shen Yiji (審食其), the Marquess of Piyang, to left prime minister.
Grand Empress Dowager Lü would then go ahead and carry out her plan to make members of her clan princes. In summer 187 BC
, when her daughter Princess Luyuan died, she created the princess' son, Zhang Yan (張偃), the Prince of Lu. (Princess Luyuan's husband and Zhang Yan's father, Zhang Ao (張敖), had, during Emperor Gao's reign, been the Prince of Zhao, but was removed as part of the policy against non-Liu princes, so Grand Empress Dowager Lü might have felt that making Zhang Yan a prince would be considered to be more justified; when Zhang Ao died in 182 BC
, he was posthumously honored as a prince.) A month later, she required the officials to formally petition her to make her nephew Lü Tai (呂台) the Prince of Lü – carving the principality out from the Principality of Qi. She also, in 184 BC
, in the unprecedented and subsequently rare action of creating a female with a march, created her younger sister Lü Xu (呂須) the Marchioness of Lingguang. In spring 181 BC
, Lü Tai's son Lü Chan (呂產), who had become the Prince of Lü after his father's death, was given the larger Principality of Liang, but did not go to his principality but stayed in the capital Chang'an
to serve as the emperor's teacher and assistant to Grand Empress Dowager Lü. Later that year, the grand empress dowager created her nephew Lü Lu
(呂祿) as the Prince of Zhao and another son of Lü Tai's, Lü Tong (呂通) the Prince of Yan.
, the Marquess of Zhuxu and grandson of Emperor Gao through his oldest son Liu Fei (劉肥), who had married a daughter of Lü Lu's and who learned of the plan from his wife. Liu Zhang then planned a rebellion with his younger brother Liu Xingju
, the Marquess of Dongmou, and their older brother Liu Xiang
, the Prince of Qi. Under their plan, Liu Xiang would lead Qi forces from the principality (modern Shandong
) against the capital, while Liu Zhang and Liu Xingju would persuade the imperial guards to rise against the Lüs. If they were successful, they planned to have Liu Xiang declared emperor.
Allegedly, at this time, the Lüs were ready to take over the imperial dynasty, but did not do so because they were concerned of reactions by Zhou Bo, Liu Zhang, and the Principalities of Qi and Chu. While the crisis was forming in Xi'an, so was a new conspiracy, involving these key players:
The conspirators first tried to get the Lüs to give up power voluntarily, by having Li Ji persuade Lü Lu that the best course of action for him and Lü Chan is to return to their principalities and turn over power to Zhou and Chen. Lü Lu agreed, but was unable to reach a consensus with the Lü clan elders.
The conspirators then took drastic actions. Ji issued a forged imperial edict, ordering the northern division of the imperial guards to be turned over to Zhou. When the edict arrived at the northern division's camp, Li and Liu Jie persuaded Lü Lu that the edict was genuine and that he should obey it, and he did so. Zhou then, after requiring the guards to affirm their loyalty to the imperial Liu clan, took over the northern division.
The conspirators then took action against Lü Chan, who had not known of this turn in events. While Lü Chan was trying to enter the imperial palace (alleged by the conspirators later to be preparing for the takeover) Liu Zhang and Cao had the gates of the palace controlled and had Lü Chan and his guards trapped in the courtyard. Zhou sent some soldiers to Liu Zhang, who fought with Lü's guards and killed him in battle. Over the next few days, the Lü clan was slaughtered to the last person.
, Emperor Hui's wife, had stolen and adopted them at Empress Dowager Lü's instigation. They also admitted that they were concerned of reprisals when Emperor Houshao and his brothers would grow up. They then resolved on deposing Emperor Houshao and inviting an imperial prince, not from Emperor Hui's line, to be the new emperor.
The question is, obviously, which prince to invite. Some suggested that Liu Xiang, being the oldest grandson of Emperor Gao and the son of Emperor Gao's oldest son, was the obvious selection. However, most of the important officials disagreed – they were concerned that Liu Xiang's uncle Si Jun (駟均) was a dominating figure and that, if Liu Xiang were to become emperor, they would have a repeat of the Lü clan situation. They believed that Emperor Gao's oldest surviving son, 23-year-old Prince Liu Heng of Dai, was the better choice, because he was known to be filial and tolerant, and because his mother Consort Bo
's family was known to be careful and kind. They then secretly sent messengers to Prince Heng, inviting him to be the new emperor.
Prince Heng's advisors were mostly suspicious. They, apparently feeling that the massacre of the Lü clan was without cause, were concerned that the officials in fact had intended on making Prince Heng a puppet and were ready to take over themselves. However, one of those advisors, Song Chang (宋昌), had a different opinion. He believed that the people were supportive of the Han Dynasty and would not tolerate a takeover; and that given that there were many other principalities outside the capital, that the officials, even if they had wanted, would be unable to usurp imperial power. Still hesitant, Prince Heng sent his uncle Bo Zhao (薄昭) to Xi'an to meet with Zhou, who guaranteed that the officials were sincere. Bo believed them and urged Prince Heng to accept the offer.
Prince Heng then headed to Chang'an. During an evening ceremony at the Dai mission in the capital, the officials, led by Chen, offered the throne to Prince Heng, and he accepted, formally ascending the throne after declining four times, as Emperor Wen. That same night, Liu Xingju evicted Emperor Houshao from the imperial palace, and the officials welcomed Emperor Wen to the palace with great pomp.
were generally regarded as one of the golden ages
of Chinese history. What happened to the Lü clan was also often used throughout Chinese history as a warning to the families of empresses not to assume too much power, and to the emperors not to allow them to do so.
180 BC
Year 180 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Luscus and Piso/Flaccus...
) refers to a political disturbance after the death of Grand Empress Dowager Lü of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, the aftermaths of which saw the clan of the deceased empress' family, the Lü consort clan
Consort clan
The consort clan is the family, clan of or group related to an empress dowager or a spouse of a Chinese dynastic ruler or a warlord. The leading figure of the clan was either a sibling, cousin, or parent of the empress or consort.- Han Dynasty :...
being overthrown from their seats of power and massacred, the deposing of the puppet Emperor Houshao
Liu Hong
Emperor Houshao of Han , personal name Liu Hong, was the fourth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine -- although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan...
, and the accession to the throne of Emperor Wen
Emperor Wen of Han
Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager...
. Sometimes the term also encompasses to the total domination of the political scene by Grand Empress Dowager Lü and her clan after the death of her son Emperor Hui
Emperor Hui of Han
Emperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape...
(188 BC
188 BC
Year 188 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Salinator...
) in an extent even greater than during his reign, and this article will discuss events during that period as well. (The term "the Lü Clan Disturbance" itself is a non-neutral one, used by the officials who overthrew them and historians who supported their political theories, but is used here not to cast any judgment on the Lüs, but because it is commonly used.)
Emperor Hui's death and political dominance of Grand Empress Dowager Lü
When Emperor Hui died in autumn 188 BC, his son (but this parentage is disputed) Liu GongLiu Gong
Emperor Qianshao of Han , personal name Liu Gong , was the third emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son, likely the oldest son, of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine -- although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan...
ascended to the throne as Emperor Qianshao. However, there was not even any pretention that he was the one in charge; Emperor Hui's mother Empress Dowager Lü (now Grand Empress Dowager Lü) was the one who publicly and actually controlled the political power.
In winter 188 BC, Grand Empress Dowager Lü wanted to make her brothers princes, against her husband Liu Bang (Emperor Gao)'s rule that only members of the imperial Liu clan may be made princes – a rule that she herself had a hand in creating. This was opposed by the right prime minister Wang Ling (王陵) but accepted by the left prime minister Chen Ping
Chen Ping (Han Dynasty)
Chen Ping was an adviser to Liu Bang during the Chu–Han Contention period of Chinese history. After Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty and became known as Emperor Gaozu, Chen Ping served as a chancellor and received titles of a marquis.-Biography:Chen Ping was a native of Huyou Town , Yangwu...
and the commander in chief of the armed forces Zhou Bo (周勃). When Wang rebuked Chen and Zhou in private for going against Emperor Gao's rule, they rationalized that their compliance with the grand empress dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
was necessary to protect the empire and the Lius. Grand Empress Dowager Lü then promoted Wang to the honorary position of the emperor's teacher (太傅, taifu); Wang declined and claimed illness. Lü then removed him from the position and had him (as the Marquess of Anguo) returned to his march
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
(in modern Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) and promoted Chen to right prime minister ("right" being the more honored direction) and her lover Shen Yiji (審食其), the Marquess of Piyang, to left prime minister.
Grand Empress Dowager Lü would then go ahead and carry out her plan to make members of her clan princes. In summer 187 BC
187 BC
Year 187 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lepidus and Flaminius...
, when her daughter Princess Luyuan died, she created the princess' son, Zhang Yan (張偃), the Prince of Lu. (Princess Luyuan's husband and Zhang Yan's father, Zhang Ao (張敖), had, during Emperor Gao's reign, been the Prince of Zhao, but was removed as part of the policy against non-Liu princes, so Grand Empress Dowager Lü might have felt that making Zhang Yan a prince would be considered to be more justified; when Zhang Ao died in 182 BC
182 BC
Year 182 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Tamphilus and Macedonicus...
, he was posthumously honored as a prince.) A month later, she required the officials to formally petition her to make her nephew Lü Tai (呂台) the Prince of Lü – carving the principality out from the Principality of Qi. She also, in 184 BC
184 BC
Year 184 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Licinus...
, in the unprecedented and subsequently rare action of creating a female with a march, created her younger sister Lü Xu (呂須) the Marchioness of Lingguang. In spring 181 BC
181 BC
Year 181 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Tamphilus...
, Lü Tai's son Lü Chan (呂產), who had become the Prince of Lü after his father's death, was given the larger Principality of Liang, but did not go to his principality but stayed in the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to serve as the emperor's teacher and assistant to Grand Empress Dowager Lü. Later that year, the grand empress dowager created her nephew Lü Lu
Lu Lu
Li Xiaolu is a Golden Horse award-winning Chinese actress, best known for her role in Joan Chen's directing debut Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.Li was born in Beijing, China...
(呂祿) as the Prince of Zhao and another son of Lü Tai's, Lü Tong (呂通) the Prince of Yan.
The death of Grand Empress Dowager Lü
In summer of 180 BC, Grand Empress Dowager Lü died. Immediately before her death, she put Lü Lu and Lü Chan in charge of the imperial guards – Lü Lu in charge of the stronger northern division and Lü Chan in charge of the weaker southern division – and also the government. After her death, it was alleged that the Lü clan made a plan to overthrow the Han Dynasty and assume imperial power themselves. Purportedly, this plan was leaked to Liu ZhangLiu Zhang (Han prince)
Liu Zhang , formally Prince Jing of Chengyang , sometimes known in later historical accounts and literature by his earlier title, Marquess of Zhuxu , was an important political figure in the anti-Lü clan conspiracy during the Lü Clan Disturbance in 180 BC.He was created the Marquess of Zhuxu in...
, the Marquess of Zhuxu and grandson of Emperor Gao through his oldest son Liu Fei (劉肥), who had married a daughter of Lü Lu's and who learned of the plan from his wife. Liu Zhang then planned a rebellion with his younger brother Liu Xingju
Liu Xingju
Liu Xingju was an important political figure during the Lü Clan Disturbance . He was the grandson of Emperor Gao of Han and one of the sons of Liu Fei, the Prince of Qi....
, the Marquess of Dongmou, and their older brother Liu Xiang
Liu Xiang (Han Dynasty)
Liu Xiang , also known as Prince Ai of Qi was a key player during the Lü Clan Disturbance . He was the grandson of Emperor Gao of Han and the eldest son of Prince Liu Fei of Qi by Consort Si....
, the Prince of Qi. Under their plan, Liu Xiang would lead Qi forces from the principality (modern Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
) against the capital, while Liu Zhang and Liu Xingju would persuade the imperial guards to rise against the Lüs. If they were successful, they planned to have Liu Xiang declared emperor.
The coup d'etat against the Lüs and their total destruction
That would not be how the plan actually went, however. In autumn 180 BC, Liu Xiang did indeed start a military campaign with his own forces and also seized the forces of the nearby Principality of Langye. Lü Chan sent Guan Ying (灌嬰), the Marquess of Yingyin, against Qi forces, but Guan, unwilling to fight the Qi forces (because he actually distrusted the Lüs more than Qi), managed to negotiate a secret armistice with Liu Xiang, and both armies halted some distance apart from each other.Allegedly, at this time, the Lüs were ready to take over the imperial dynasty, but did not do so because they were concerned of reactions by Zhou Bo, Liu Zhang, and the Principalities of Qi and Chu. While the crisis was forming in Xi'an, so was a new conspiracy, involving these key players:
- Liu Zhang
- Liu Xingju
- Zhou Bo (who, despite his title as commander of the armed forces, did not actually have control of the armed forces in the capital)
- Chen PingChen Ping (Han Dynasty)Chen Ping was an adviser to Liu Bang during the Chu–Han Contention period of Chinese history. After Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty and became known as Emperor Gaozu, Chen Ping served as a chancellor and received titles of a marquis.-Biography:Chen Ping was a native of Huyou Town , Yangwu...
(who, also despite his title as prime minister, did not have actual control of the government machinery) - Guan Ying
- Cao Qu (曹窟), the Marquess of Pingyang and son of Cao CanCao CanCao Shen , style name Jingbo , was the second chancellor of the Han Dynasty. He participated in the Chu–Han contention on Liu Bang 's side and contributed greatly to the founding of the Han Dynasty.-Early life:...
(曹參), a late prime minister - Li Ji (酈寄), the son of Li Shang (酈商), the Marquess of Quzhou and the best friend of Lü Lu – purportedly, Zhou and Chen forced his cooperation by kidnapping his father, but this is disputed
- Ji Tong (紀通), the Marquess of Xiangping
- LIu Jie (劉揭), the minister of vassal affairs
The conspirators first tried to get the Lüs to give up power voluntarily, by having Li Ji persuade Lü Lu that the best course of action for him and Lü Chan is to return to their principalities and turn over power to Zhou and Chen. Lü Lu agreed, but was unable to reach a consensus with the Lü clan elders.
The conspirators then took drastic actions. Ji issued a forged imperial edict, ordering the northern division of the imperial guards to be turned over to Zhou. When the edict arrived at the northern division's camp, Li and Liu Jie persuaded Lü Lu that the edict was genuine and that he should obey it, and he did so. Zhou then, after requiring the guards to affirm their loyalty to the imperial Liu clan, took over the northern division.
The conspirators then took action against Lü Chan, who had not known of this turn in events. While Lü Chan was trying to enter the imperial palace (alleged by the conspirators later to be preparing for the takeover) Liu Zhang and Cao had the gates of the palace controlled and had Lü Chan and his guards trapped in the courtyard. Zhou sent some soldiers to Liu Zhang, who fought with Lü's guards and killed him in battle. Over the next few days, the Lü clan was slaughtered to the last person.
Emperor Wen's ascension to the throne
The political propaganda of the conspirators was to protect Emperor Houshao against the Lü conspiracy, but once the Lüs were slaughtered, they alleged that neither the emperor nor his brothers was in fact Emperor Hui's son – that Empress Zhang YanEmpress Zhang Yan
Zhang Yan , known formally as Empress Xiaohui was an empress during the Han Dynasty. She was the daughter of Princess Luyuan and her husband Zhang Ao , the Prince of Zhao and later Marquess of Xuanping.In 192 BC, at the insistence of then-Empress Dowager Lü, Lady Yan...
, Emperor Hui's wife, had stolen and adopted them at Empress Dowager Lü's instigation. They also admitted that they were concerned of reprisals when Emperor Houshao and his brothers would grow up. They then resolved on deposing Emperor Houshao and inviting an imperial prince, not from Emperor Hui's line, to be the new emperor.
The question is, obviously, which prince to invite. Some suggested that Liu Xiang, being the oldest grandson of Emperor Gao and the son of Emperor Gao's oldest son, was the obvious selection. However, most of the important officials disagreed – they were concerned that Liu Xiang's uncle Si Jun (駟均) was a dominating figure and that, if Liu Xiang were to become emperor, they would have a repeat of the Lü clan situation. They believed that Emperor Gao's oldest surviving son, 23-year-old Prince Liu Heng of Dai, was the better choice, because he was known to be filial and tolerant, and because his mother Consort Bo
Empress Dowager Bo
Empress Dowager Bo , known as Consort Bo when her husband was alive, and more formally as either Empress Dowager Xiaowen or Empress Gao was an imperial concubine for Emperor Gao of Han who would, unanticipated by her, become the mother of an emperor.-Early years:The future Empress Dowager...
's family was known to be careful and kind. They then secretly sent messengers to Prince Heng, inviting him to be the new emperor.
Prince Heng's advisors were mostly suspicious. They, apparently feeling that the massacre of the Lü clan was without cause, were concerned that the officials in fact had intended on making Prince Heng a puppet and were ready to take over themselves. However, one of those advisors, Song Chang (宋昌), had a different opinion. He believed that the people were supportive of the Han Dynasty and would not tolerate a takeover; and that given that there were many other principalities outside the capital, that the officials, even if they had wanted, would be unable to usurp imperial power. Still hesitant, Prince Heng sent his uncle Bo Zhao (薄昭) to Xi'an to meet with Zhou, who guaranteed that the officials were sincere. Bo believed them and urged Prince Heng to accept the offer.
Prince Heng then headed to Chang'an. During an evening ceremony at the Dai mission in the capital, the officials, led by Chen, offered the throne to Prince Heng, and he accepted, formally ascending the throne after declining four times, as Emperor Wen. That same night, Liu Xingju evicted Emperor Houshao from the imperial palace, and the officials welcomed Emperor Wen to the palace with great pomp.
Impact on history
Regardless of whether one believes that the Lü clan were actually planning a takeover – and while traditionally, the historians believed so, modern historians have begun to doubt that more and more – the Lü Clan Disturbance had fortunate aftereffects on the Han Dynasty. It was affirmed that the power would rest with the emperor. Further, and more importantly, Emperor Wen became an effective, thrifty, hard-working and benevolent ruler, and the reigns of Emperor Wen and his son Emperor JingEmperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
were generally regarded as one of the golden ages
Rule of Wen and Jing
The Rule of Wen and Jing refers to the reigns of Emperor Wen of Han and his son Emperor Jing of Han, a period known for the benevolence and thriftiness of the emperors, reduction in tax and other burdens on the people, pacifism, and general stability...
of Chinese history. What happened to the Lü clan was also often used throughout Chinese history as a warning to the families of empresses not to assume too much power, and to the emperors not to allow them to do so.