Family background and marriage to Liu Bang

Lü Zhi was born in Shanfu County (单父; present-day Shan County, Shandong) during the late Qin Dynasty. Her courtesy name was Exu (娥姁 Éxǔ). To flee from enemies, her father Lü Wen brought their family to Pei County, settled there, and became a close friend of the county magistrate. Many influential men in town came to visit Lü Wen. Xiao He, then an assistant of the magistrate, was in charge of the seating arrangement and collection of gifts from guests at a banquet in Lü Wen's house, and he announced "Those who do not offer more than 1,000 coins in gifts shall be seated outside the hall." Liu Bang (later Emperor Gaozu of Han), then a minor patrol officer (亭长), went there bringing a single cent and said, "I offer 10,000 coins." Lü Wen saw Liu Bang and was impressed with him on first sight, that he immediately stood up and welcomed Liu into the hall to sit beside him. Xiao He told Lü Wen that Liu Bang was not serious, but Liu ignored him and chatted with Lü. Lü Wen said, "I used to predict fortunes for many people but I've never seen someone so exceptional like you before." Lü Wen then offered his daughter Lü Zhi's hand in marriage to Liu Bang and they were wed. Lü Zhi bore Liu Bang a daughter (later Princess Yuan of Lu) and a son Liu Ying (later Emperor Hui of Han).

Liu Bang later participated in the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty under the insurgent Chu kingdom, nominally ruled by King Huai II. Lü Zhi and her two children remained with her father and family for most of the time during this period.

Life during the Chu–Han Contention

In early 206 BC, after the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. Liu Bang was named "King of Han" and given the lands in the remote Bashu region (in present-day Sichuan) as his domain. However, Liu Bang's family, including Lü Zhi and her children, remained in Pei County, which was a territory of Xiang Yu's kingdom of Western Chu.

Later that year, Liu Bang attacked and seized the Three Qins (three kingdoms covering the Guanzhong region) directly north of his own fief. Guanzhong was rightfully Liu Bang's, according to an earlier promise by Emperor Yi of Chu (previously known as King Huai II of Chu) to appoint whoever conquered Guanzhong first (during the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty) as king of that area. This marked the beginning of a four-year power struggle for supremacy over China between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, from 206 BC to 202 BC, known as the Chu–Han Contention. Xiang Yu initially took no action against Liu Bang's family. In the eighth lunar month, Liu Bang sent his followers Wang Xi (王吸) and Xue Ou (薛欧) to meet Wang Ling (王陵) in Nanyang and fetch his family. However Xiang Yu mobilised troops to Yangxia (阳夏) and prevented the Han forces from advancing.

In the summer of 205 BC, Liu Bang took advantage of the situation when Xiang Yu was occupied with suppressing rebellions in the Qi kingdom to attack and capture Western Chu's capital Pengcheng. Xiang Yu immediately withdrew from Qi and launched a counterattack, defeating Liu Bang's forces at Suishui (睢水). Lü Zhi and Liu Bang's family were captured by Chu forces and held hostage. During this period of time, Lü Zhi started an illicit affair with Shen Yiji (审食其), one of Liu Bang's followers who was also held captive together with her.

In the autumn of 203 BC, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu came to a temporary reconciliation, known as the Treaty of Hong Canal, which divided China into west and east under their Han and Western Chu domains respectively. As part of their agreement, Xiang Yu released Lü Zhi and Liu Bang's family and returned them to Liu. Lü Zhi was given the title of "Queen Consort of Han" (汉王妃). Liu Bang later renounced the truce and attacked Xiang Yu, eventually defeating the latter at the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BC and unifying China under his rule. Liu Bang proclaimed himself Emperor of China and established the Han Dynasty. He instated Lü Zhi as his empress and their son Liu Ying as crown prince.

As empress and paramount authority

Even after Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang)'s victory over Xiang Yu, there were still unstable areas in the empire, requiring the new government to launch military campaigns to pacify these regions thereafter. Gaozu placed Empress Lü Zhi and the crown prince Liu Ying (Lü Zhi's son) in charge of the capital Chang'an and making key decisions in court, assisted by the chancellor Xiao He and other ministers. During this time Lü Zhi proved herself to be a competent administrator in domestic affairs, and she quickly established strong working relationships with many of Gaozu's officials, who admired her for her capability and feared her for her ruthlessness, after the war ended and Emperor Gaozu returned, she remained in power and she was always influential in many of the country's affairs.

Roles in the deaths of Han Xin and Peng Yue

Lü 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 196 BC, Gaozu left the capital Chang'an to suppress a revolt in Julu started by Chen Xi, the Marquis of Yangxia. A year before, Chen Xi met Han Xin before departing from Chang'an for Julu, and it was alleged that Han Xin was involved in the rebellion. Lü Zhi became wary of Han Xin, and after consulting the chancellor Xiao He, she had Xiao summon Han to meet her in Changle Palace. There, the empress had Han Xin taken by surprise, captured and subsequently executed in a torturous manner. Lü Zhi also ordered Han Xin's family and relatives to be put to death as well.

When Gaozu was putting down Chen Xi's revolt, he requested reinforcements from Peng Yue but the latter claimed that he was ill and sent his subordinates to assist Gaozu instead. After Chen Xi's rebellion was quelled, Gaozu heard rumours that Peng Yue was plotting against him too, and he had Peng arrested and stripped off his titles. Peng was demoted to the status of a commoner and exiled to the remote Qingyi County (青衣县; in present-day Ya'an, Sichuan). During his journey to Qingyi, Peng Yue encountered Lü Zhi, who wanted to have him killed. He pleaded with her to spare his life and let him return to his hometown in Changyi (昌邑; present-day Jinxiang County, Shandong), and the empress pretended to agree. Peng Yue was brought to Luoyang, where he was subsequently executed on false charges of treason. Lü Zhi ordered Peng Yue's body to be mutilated and had Peng's clan exterminated as well.

Dispute over the succession

In his late years, Emperor Gaozu started favouring one of his younger consorts, Concubine Qi, who bore him a son Liu Ruyi, who was instated as Prince of Zhao in 198 BC, displacing Lü Zhi's son-in-law Zhang Ao (Princess Yuan of Lu's husband). Gaozu had the intention of replacing Liu Ying with Liu Ruyi as crown prince, reasoning that the former was too "soft-hearted and weak" and that the latter resembled him more. Since Lü Zhi had strong rapport with many ministers, they generally opposed Gaozu's decision but the emperor seemed bent on deposing Liu Ying. Lü Zhi became worried and she approached Zhang Liang for help, and the latter analysed that Gaozu was changing the succession on grounds of favouritism. Zhang Liang invited the "Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang", a group of four reclusive wise men, to persuade Gaozu to change his decision. The four men promised to assist Liu Ying in future if he became emperor, and Gaozu was pleased to see that Liu Ying had their support. Gaozu told Concubine Qi, "I wanted to replace (the crown prince). Now I see that he has the support of those four men; he is fully fledged and difficult to unseat. Empress Lü is really in charge!" This marked the end of the dispute over the succession and affirmed Liu Ying's role as crown prince.

As empress dowager and Regent

In 195 BC Emperor Gaozu died and was succeeded by Liu Ying, who became historically known as Emperor Hui of Han. Lü Zhi was honoured by Emperor Hui as empress dowager. She exerted more influence during the reign of her son than she had when she was empress.

Roles in the deaths of Concubine Qi and Liu Ruyi

Lü Zhi did not harm most of Gaozu's other consorts and treated them according to rules and customs of the imperial family. For example, consorts who bore male children that were instated as princes were granted the title of "Princess Dowager" (王太后) in their respective sons' principalities. One exception was Concubine Qi, whom Lü 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 Lü Zhi targeted Concubine Qi. She had Qi stripped of her position, treated like a convict (head shaved, in stocks, dressed in prison garb) and forced to do hard labour in the form of milling rice.

Lü Zhi then summoned Liu Ruyi, who was around the age of 12 then, to Chang'an, intending to kill him together with his mother. However Zhou Chang (周昌), the chancellor in Liu Ruyi's principality, whom Lü Zhi respected because of his stern opposition to Emperor Gaozu's proposal to make Liu Ruyi crown prince, temporarily protected Liu Ruyi from harm by responding to Lü Zhi's order that "The Prince of Zhao is ill and unfit for travelling over long distances." Lü Zhi then ordered Zhou Chang to come to the capital, had him detained, and then summoned Liu Ruyi again. Emperor Hui tried to save Liu Ruyi by intercepting his half brother before the latter entered Chang'an, and kept Liu Ruyi by his side most of the time. Lü Zhi refrained from carrying out her plans for several months because she feared that she might harm Emperor Hui as well.

One morning in the winter of 194 BC, Emperor Hui went for a hunting trip and did not bring Liu Ruyi with him because the latter refused to get out of bed. Lü Zhi's chance arrived, so she sent an assassin to force poisoned wine down Liu Ruyi's throat. The young prince was dead by the time Emperor Hui returned. Lü Zhi then had Concubine Qi killed in an inhumane manner: she had Qi's limbs chopped off, eyes gouged out, ears sliced off, forced her to drink a potion that made her mute, and thrown into a latrine. She called Qi a "human swine" (人彘). Several days later, Emperor Hui was taken to view the "human swine" and was shocked to learn that it was Concubine Qi. He cried loudly and became ill for a long time. He requested to see his mother and said, "This is something done not by a human. As the empress dowager's son, I'll never be able to rule the empire." From then onward Emperor Hui indulged himself in carnal pleasures and ignored state affairs.

Treatment of Emperor Gaozus other sons

Around the winter of 194 BC, Liu Fei, the Prince of Qi, Emperor Gaozu's eldest son born to Lady Cao (曹氏), visited Chang'an and he and Emperor Hui attended a banquet hosted by the empress dowager. Emperor Hui honoured Liu Fei as an older half brother and treated the latter respectfully. Lü Zhi felt offended and secretly instructed her servants to pour a cup of poisoned wine for Liu Fei, and then toasted him. Just as Liu Fei was about to drink the wine, Emperor Hui realised his mother's intention and grabbed Liu Fei's cup as if he would drink from it. Lü Zhi immediately jumped up and knocked the cup out of Emperor Hui's hand. Liu Fei then offered to give up an entire commandery from his principality to Lü Zhi's daughter Princess Yuan of Lu, and Lü Zhi accepted and allowed him to leave.

Lü Zhi also played a role in the death of another of Gaozu's sons, Liu You, the Prince of Zhao. Liu You married Lü Zhi's niece but was caught having an affair with another woman, so Lü Zhi's niece reported to her aunt that Liu You was plotting a rebellion. Lü Zhi summoned Liu You to Chang'an and had him imprisoned and deprived of food. Liu You was afraid of committing suicide and eventually starved to death, in 181 BC.

Lü Zhi then transferred another of Gaozu's sons, Liu Hui, the Prince of Liang, to Zhao, and forced him to marry a daughter of Lü Chan. The Lü clan grabbed the authority of Zhao and oversaw Liu Hui, thus making Liu Hui feel restricted. Princess Lü had a favored concubine of Liu Hui poisoned to death. Liu Hui was distressed and committed suicide in fear in the same year.

For the matters above Lü Zhi was criticized for "having murdered three princes of Zhao".

Marriage proposal from Modu

In 192 BC Lü Zhi received a marriage proposal from the Xiongnu chanyu Modu, who wrote as follows in a letter meant to intimidate and mock her:

I'm a lonesome ruler born in marshes and raised in plains populated by livestock. I've visited your border numerous times and wanted to tour China. Your Majesty is now alone and living in solitude. Since both of us are not happy and have nothing to entertain ourselves, I'm willing to use what I possess to exchange for what you lack.

Lü Zhi was infuriated at the rude proposition, and in a heated court session, her generals advised her to rally an army and exterminate the Xiongnu immediately. As she was about to declare war, an outspoken attendant named Ji Bu pointed out that the Xiongnu army was much more powerful than the Chinese. At Ji Bu's words, the court immediately fell into a fearful silence. Rethinking her plans, Lü Zhi rejected Modu's proposition humbly, as follows:

Your Lordship does not forget our land and writes a letter to us, we fear. I retreat to preserve myself. I'm old and frail, I'm losing hair and teeth, and I struggle to maintain balance when I move. Your Lordship has heard wrongly, you shouldn't defile yourself. Our people did not offend you, and should be pardoned. We've two imperial carriages and eight fine steeds, which we graciously offer to Your Lordship.

However she continued implementing the heqin policy of marrying Han princesses to Xiongnu chieftains and paying tribute to the Xiongnu in exchange for peace between both sides.

Emperor Huis marriage to Empress Zhang Yan

In 191 BC, at Lü 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 Lü Zhi told Zhang Yan to adopt eight boys and have their mothers killed. There is uncertainty whether these children were Emperor Hui's; the traditional view is that they were not, while modern historians believe that they were born to his concubines.

As grand empress dowager and Acting Emperor

Emperor Hui died in 188 BC and was succeeded by Emperor Qianshao, one of the children Empress Zhang adopted. Now grandmother of the emperor, Lü Zhi retained her title as Empress Dowager and never claimed the title as Grand Empress Dowager. Conventional historians do not consider Emperor Qianshao a true sovereign, so he is usually omitted from the list of emperors of the Han Dynasty.

Emperor Gaozu had previously decreed that no non-imperial clan members could become princes (not including the vassal kings), a rule that Lü Zhi herself had a hand in creating. In spite of this, Lü Zhi attempted to install some of her kinsmen as princes. The Right Chancellor Wang Ling (王陵) opposed her decision but the Left Chancellor Chen Ping and general Zhou Bo accepted this move. When Wang Ling rebuked Chen Ping and Zhou Bo in private for going against Emperor Gaozu's law, they rationalized that their compliance with the empress dowager's wishes was necessary to protect the empire and the Liu clan. Lü Zhi promoted Wang Ling to the position of Grand Tutor (太傅) but the latter claimed that he was ill and declined, so she ordered him to return to his marquisate (Wang Ling held the title of Marquis of Anguo). Lü Zhi then appointed Chen Ping as Right Chancellor and her illicit lover Shen Yiji (审食其) as Left Chancellor.

Lü Zhi then proceeded to make her kin nobles. Her first step was to install her maternal grandson Zhang Yan (张偃; Princess Yuan of Lu's son, Empress Zhang Yan's brother) as the Prince of Lu. Over the next few years she instated several of her nephews and grandnephews as princes and marquises. In an unprecedented move, in 184 BC, Lü Zhi also granted her younger sister Lü Xu the title of Marquise of Lingguang, in a separate fief from that of the latter's husband Fan Kuai.

Around 184 BC 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 Lü 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. He was succeeded by his brother Liu Yi, who was renamed to Liu Hong, and was also historically known as Emperor Houshao of Han. Like his predecessor Emperor Qianshao, Liu Hong is generally not regarded as a real monarch, so he is also not included in the list of emperors of the Han Dynasty.

Death

Lü Zhi died of illness at the age of 61 in 180 BC and was interred in Emperor Gaozu's tomb in Changling (长陵). Near the end of Wang Mang's Xin Dynasty (AD 9 – AD 23), Lü Zhi's body was desecrated by Chimei rebels when they raided Gaozu's tomb. Emperor Guangwu, who restored the Han Dynasty in AD 25, posthumously replaced Lü Zhi as "Empress Gao" in Gaozu's temple with another of Gaozu's concubines, Consort Bo. Lü Zhi was enshrined in a separate temple instead.

In the aftermath of Lü Zhi's death, her clan members were overthrown from their positions of power and massacred, in an event historically known as the Lü Clan Disturbance. The masterminds of this coup d'état include ministers who previously served Emperor Gaozu, including Chen Ping, Zhou Bo and Guan Ying. Liu Heng, a son of Gaozu and Consort Bo, was installed on the throne as Emperor Wen of Han.

Family

• Father: Lü Wen, sometimes referred to as Lü Gong. In 187 BC he was granted the posthumous title of "Prince Xuan of Lü". Historian Guo Moruo discovered that he was a descendant of Lü Buwei.

• Husband: Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han.

• Children:

　• Liu Ying, Emperor Hui of Han.

　• Princess Yuan of Lu (鲁元公主), personal name unknown.

• Siblings and their descendants:

　• Lü Changxu, older sister.

　　• Lü Ping, Lü Changxu's son, Marquis of Fuliu (扶柳侯).

　• Lü Ze, older brother, posthumously known as "Prince Daowu of Lü".

　　• Lü Tai, Lü Ze's son, instated as Prince Su of Lü in 186 BC.

　　　• Lü Jia, Lü Tai's son, Prince of Lü.

　　　• Lü Tong, Lü Tai's son, instated as Prince of Yan (燕王) in 181 BC.

　　　• Lü Pi, Lü Tai's son, Marquis of Dongping.

　　• Lü Chan, Lü Ze's son, instated as Prince of Liang (梁王) in 181 BC.

　• Lü Shizhi, older brother, posthumously known as "Prince Zhao of Zhao".

　　• Lü Ze, Lü Shizhi's son, Marquis of Jiancheng (建成侯).

　　• Lü Zhong, Lü Shizhi's son, Marquis of Buqi (不其侯).

　　• Lü Lu, Lü Shizhi's son, instated as Prince of Zhao in 181 BC.

　• Lü Xu, younger sister, Fan Kuai's wife, instated as Marquise of Linguang (临光侯) in 184 BC.

早年生活

下嫁刘邦

吕雉本来随其父吕公住在砀郡单父县（今山东单县终兴镇潘庄），后来父亲吕公为躲避仇人，又因为和沛县县令有交情，便率全家人到沛县定居。吕公全家到达沛县后，沛县的豪杰因为县令和吕公的交情，都前去祝贺吕家乔迁之喜。。主吏萧何负责排定宾客的座次，他叫贺礼不足一千铜钱的宾客坐在客堂外面。。刘邦担任亭长时，一向轻视那些官吏，便在进见的名帖上谎称「贺钱万」，其实一文钱也没带。

名帖递进去后，吕公对刘邦大为吃惊，便立马起身，到门口去迎接他。吕公喜欢给人相面，看见刘邦的相貌就十分敬重刘邦，就把他领到堂上坐下。萧何告诉吕公，刘邦「固多大言，少成事」，但吕公不以为然。刘邦坐在上宾座位后，就大声调侃其他沛县官吏。

宴会时，吕公向刘邦递眼色让他留下来，尽兴饮酒后，吕公告诉刘邦他年轻时就喜欢看面相，看的人很多但没有像他这么相貌不凡的，让刘邦好好珍重自己；并告诉刘邦说想把亲女儿吕雉送给他为妾、奉持家务。事后吕媪对吕公很生气，便对丈夫说：「你开始就很重视这个女儿，想把她送给贵人。沛县令待你那么好，前来相求，你都没把女儿给他，怎么自己随便就承诺给了刘季？」但吕公告诉妻子：「这事不是你们妇人家和孩子所能明白的。」坚持把吕雉嫁给了刘邦。 于是未满二十岁的吕雉由于父亲之命嫁给了四十一岁的泗水亭长刘邦。

吕雉出嫁之时还有一个令她非常难办的问题：刘邦已有一个非婚生的儿子刘肥。不到20岁的吕雉嫁给了大她二十多岁的中年亭长刘邦，而且这位亭长虽然没有正式结婚，却有了一位未婚生育的儿子（在刘邦发迹之前，吕雉对刘肥没有任何苛刻之举，这对一位丈夫长自己二十一岁的少妇来说，实属不易）。

糟糠之妻

吕雉早年称得上是贤惠的女人，初嫁给刘邦时，生活并不富裕，刘邦时常为公务以及与朋友们周旋，三天两头不见人影。

吕雉便亲率子女从事农桑针织，孝顺父母及养育儿女，过著自食其力的生活。早年的刘邦常戴一顶自制的竹帽到处闲逛，骗吃骗喝，一次押解囚犯，因自己酒醉而使囚犯逃跑，自己也只好亡命芒砀山下的沼泽地区。吕雉除独立支撑家庭外，还不时长途跋涉，为丈夫送去衣物及食品。

之后，吕雉为刘邦生下一儿一女，即后来的汉孝惠皇帝刘盈和鲁元长公主。

富贵之相

有一次，吕雉和两个孩子在田间除草，有一个老人路过，要些水喝，吕雉就请他吃饭。老人给吕雉相面说「您是全天下的贵人」，吕雉让她的两个孩子相面，老人看了刘盈，告诉吕雉「您之所以显贵，乃是因为这个男孩」，看了吕雉的女儿，也是贵相。老人走后，刘邦正好从别人家来到田间，吕雉详细告诉他一位客人从这里经过，给他们母子三人看相，说将来都是大贵人。刘邦问老人在哪，吕雉告诉他走出不远。刘邦追上了老人，向他询问。老人说，其实之前看到你夫人和婴儿的面相都是像你，你的面相贵不可言。刘邦便道谢说若真如老父所说，将来绝对不会忘记老人的恩德。后来刘邦显贵，却不知道老人的去处。

为夫入狱

刘邦以亭长的身份为泗水郡押送徒役去骊山，徒役们有很多在半路逃走了。刘邦估计等到了骊山也就会都逃光了，所以走到芒砀山时，就停下来饮酒，趁著夜晚把所有的役徒都放了。消息传到沛邑，县令大怒，将刘邦的家属逮捕，吕雉因而入狱。狱中受到不善待遇，官吏对吕雉有轻薄举动，任敖出面解围，并击伤主持吕雉狱事的官吏。

沦为楚囚

汉元年刘邦被项羽封为汉王，吕后为王后，但其家属仍然在沛县。

汉元年八月（前206年），刘邦令将军王吸、薛欧出武关，因南阳王陵军欲迎刘太公与吕雉等刘邦家属。楚发兵进驻阳夏，汉军不得前。

汉二年四月（前205年），刘邦东攻项羽至彭城。项羽舍齐地回击汉军，大破汉军于彭城。刘邦仓惶逃跑，途中遇孝惠帝及鲁元公主，带著一起逃跑。楚军追之甚急，于是刘邦多次把儿女踢下车，夏侯婴为驾驶，数叹，辄抱二子上车。刘邦大怒，欲斩夏侯婴十馀次，最终一行逃至沛县。

汉二年四月（前205年），汉军乘项羽陷入齐地不能自拔之际，一举攻下楚都彭城。而项羽率骑兵迅速回防，与汉军战于睢水，汉军大败，刘太公、吕雉等一众刘邦家属皆为楚军所俘。

汉四年九月（前203年），楚汉议和方被放回归汉。

回到刘邦身边的吕雉却发现刘邦身边却有了戚夫人，无比宠幸，此时的吕雉因为年龄长于戚夫人，常常作为留守，而日渐疏远

太子之争

高帝在汉王时期（汉二年六月）因彭城兵败、家人尽被楚兵掳走，唯一的幸存者是吕雉之子刘盈，便立其为太子并令领兵驻守栎阳。

戚夫人因为自恃得宠，经常在高帝面前哭闹，想立她的儿子为太子。刘邦亦偏爱刘如意，欲以「如意类我」，想要改立戚姬子如意为太子。周昌、叔孙通等朝中大臣都坚决反对废长立幼。

高祖十年（前197年），刘邦欲易太子，下廷议。结果群臣纷纷反对。

张良献计

吕雉派建成侯吕释之拦住留侯张良为她谋划，张良推辞称高祖「以爱欲易太子」、旁人无计可施；吕释之坚持，张良于是出主意让建成侯和太子恳请高帝求而不得的商山四皓辅佐，以为太子助力。

当时吕后令其兄建成侯吕泽找张良，张良对吕泽说：「陛下在战争困难的时候确实能够听我的意见，但是，如今是因为爱而要废长立幼，这已经不是靠说能了结的事。但是，陛下非常看重的商山四皓（隐居在商山的四位年长的高士），却始终请不来，因为他们认为陛下对臣下态度一贯傲慢。如果你们想个办法把商山四皓请出来辅佐太子，让他们天天陪著太子，特别上朝之时陪伴太子，陛下一定会看见。陛下知道商山四皓辅佐太子，也许会有一用。」吕后立即付诸实施。吕后派吕泽让人带了太子的亲笔信和厚礼，将这四位高士请来了。

高帝十二年（前195年）病重，已下定决心要换太子了，经过燕地时摆酒，召太子侍酒，商山四皓恭谨地跟从侍奉太子，并一一前来为高帝祝酒，高帝大受震动，最终明示戚姬太子羽翼已丰、不可改换，放弃了改立太子的决定，也由此决定了吕雉与戚姬二人的高下。

诛杀功臣

吕雉归汉后成为汉决策集团重要人物。吕后性格刚毅，她为了巩固自己的权势，开始杀人立威。

第一个被她选中的就是已被废为淮阴侯并监视居住的韩信。她趁刘邦在外征战之际，与萧何用计杀掉了韩信，从而成功震慑了其他功臣。

不久，梁王彭越被刘邦废为庶人、削职流放蜀地。途中遇吕雉，彭诉说无罪，吕雉答应为他说情，将其带回咸阳。她对刘邦说：「你把彭越放走，等于放虎归山。」于是刘邦重新审判彭越，将彭越及其三族全处死刑，并剁成肉酱分赐与其他诸侯王。

刘邦称帝八年间，吕后协助刘邦，镇压叛逆、打击割据势力，对巩固汉朝统一政权起了重要作用，并为她日后掌权作了充分准备。

病榻问相

汉高帝十二年（前195年），汉高祖刘邦病情加重，吕皇后派良医进行治疗。刘邦自知已经病入膏肓，赐医生金钱，把他们赶走，拒绝治疗。吕皇后见刘邦病已不治，出于国家政局稳定，她到刘邦病榻前问国家关键职位人事。

吕皇后问：「陛下百岁后，萧相国既死，谁令代之？」刘邦回答：「曹参可」；吕皇后又接著问曹参之后人选，刘邦说：「王陵可。然少憨，陈平可以助之。陈平智有馀，然难独任。周勃重少文，然安刘氏者必勃也，可令为太尉。」

吕皇后还想接著问，但是刘邦说：「以后的事你也不会知道了。」

刘邦去世后，朝廷的重大人事基本上按照这次病榻问相的结果来安排。审食其虽然以吕太后之宠在王陵之后一度为左丞相，但主要是服待吕太后，并不治事。而陈平亦佯为自保，亦不过问政事，吕太后对陈平深为赞许。

尊为太后

刘邦去世，孝惠帝继位，尊其为皇太后。吕太后在孝惠帝期间极力打压其他刘姓诸侯王，以维持皇帝的权威；然而孝惠帝并不赞同，反而亲赵王如弟，尊齐王如兄。因为戚夫人及其子赵王刘如意，数次欲夺刘盈太子之位，吕太后视为威胁、十分记恨，于是有了「人彘事件」。人彘事件之后，吕太后主持政务。

其他刘邦所宠幸之妃嫔，如有子为王者，则与其子到藩国去，称为「王太后」，例如代王之母薄姬，即后来的薄太后。

人彘事件

孝惠元年十二月（前195年），吕太后先囚戚夫人于永巷，据传戚夫人私下唱歌叹息：「儿子为王，母亲为奴仆，终日舂米到薄暮，常常与死亡为伍！母子相离三千里，要找谁来告诉你？」吕太后先召赵王刘如意进宫，并伺机毒杀。

孝惠二年（前194年）夏，吕太后又将戚夫人斩去手脚，薰聋双耳，挖掉双目，毒哑抛入茅厕之中，称为「人彘」，意为「人猪」，过了几天后叫惠帝来看，惠帝痛哭并且病了很久，命人向吕太后说：「这种事不是人做得出来的。臣是太后的儿子，终究没有办法治理天下。」于是不理政事，沉溺于饮酒，因此得病。

主持政务

孝惠二年（前194年），楚元王、齐悼惠王来朝。宴席中，孝惠帝事齐王以家人礼，吕太后大怒，欲杀齐王。后齐王献邑于鲁元公主方得脱。

孝惠四年（前192年），立宣平侯张敖之女张氏为皇后，时张氏仅13岁。

孝惠四年（前191年），吕太后下令废除挟书律，此法本为秦始皇焚书时制定之法，禁止民间藏有农业、卜筮、医药之外的书籍。吕太后下令废止此律，亦下令鼓励民间献书朝廷，恢复旧典。

孝惠三年（前192年），开始命人修筑长安城，到孝惠六年（前189年），工程全部竣工。各地诸侯来会，十月入朝庆贺。

临朝称制

从前188年—前180年，在两少帝时期，国家大权完全为吕后所掌控，诏书皆称「朕」，与皇帝规格无异。

前少帝

孝惠七年八月（前188年），孝惠帝驾崩，孝惠张皇后无子，吕太后命取后宫美人子诈为张皇后子，吕雉立太子刘恭（西汉前少帝）为帝，自己临朝称制，行使皇帝职权，朝廷号令一概出自太后，为中国太后专政的第一人。吕后成为秦始皇统一中国，实行皇帝制度之后，第一个临朝称制的女主，被司马迁列入记录皇帝政事的本纪，后来班固作汉书则只立传。她亦开汉代外戚专权的先河。同年大封诸吕。

前少帝刘恭发现身世真相，扬言必报杀母之仇，吕雉得知后，将他囚于永巷，对外声称皇帝重病，拒绝接见任何人。吕雉又对朝臣说小皇帝重病，无法治理国家，应有人接替，得到朝臣肯定。于是，少帝被废黜，并被吕雉幽禁杀害，改立常山王刘弘为帝。

后少帝

前少帝刘恭死后，恒山王刘义继任帝位，并改名为刘弘，即后少帝。

吕雉为了强化自己的统治，在采取「无为而治」，巩固西汉政权的同时，首先打击诸侯王和政治上的反对派，重用其宠臣审食其。然后布置党羽，大封诸吕及所爱后宫美人之子为王侯。随后杀掉赵王刘友和梁王刘恢。右丞相王陵坚决反对封诸吕为王的政策，坚持高祖与大臣的盟约，「非刘氏而王，天下共击之。」吕雉不高兴，就让他担任皇帝的太傅，夺了他的丞相职权。王陵只得告病回家。然后又让审食其为左丞相，居中用事。陈平、周勃虽然不服，也只好顺从。审食其不处理左丞相职权范围内的事情，专门监督管理宫中的事务，像个郎中令，吕雉常与他决断大事，公卿大臣处理事务都要通过审食其才能决定。吕后这些做法遭到刘氏宗室和大臣的激烈反对。

内封诸吕

吕后追封他已故的两个哥哥，大哥吕侯为悼武王，吕释之为赵昭王，以此作封立诸吕为王的开端。

高后元年（前187年），封侄吕台为吕王，吕产为梁王，吕禄为赵王，侄孙吕通为燕王，追尊父吕文为吕宣王，封女儿鲁元公主的儿子张偃为鲁王，将吕禄的女儿嫁给刘章，封刘章为朱虚侯，封吕释之的儿子吕种为沛侯，封外甥吕平扶柳侯。

高后二年（前186年），吕台去世，諡号肃王，封其子吕嘉代吕台为吕王。

高后四年（前184年），又封其妹吕媭为临光侯，侄子吕他为俞侯，吕更始为赘其侯，吕忿为吕城侯。吕后先后分封吕氏家族十几人为王为侯。

在汉惠帝死后的这段时间，她积极扶植吕氏一族力量，封诸吕为王，打击刘姓皇族及势力，吕太后过世后，周勃、陈平、刘章等人以计谋骗来兵权，消灭了诸吕。

外和匈奴

据东汉班固所著《汉书》记载：孝惠四年（前192年），刘邦死后，匈奴首领冒顿曾寄国书向吕太后求婚，意在标扬匈奴武力，刻意贬低汉朝国力及污辱太后，上面写道：「孤偾之君，......愿游中国。陛下独立，孤偾独居。两主不乐，无以自虞，愿以所有，易其所无。」

吕后大怒，欲出击匈奴。朝臣几乎众口一辞：「出兵攻打匈奴。」然唯有中郎将季布却指出：刘邦当年在与匈奴之战中最终未占得便宜，不得已采纳刘敬的和亲建议，来换取汉初社会经济的恢复与发展；「今歌唫之声未绝，伤痍者甫起」，亦即如今的汉朝军事势力依然不及匈奴，宜继续和亲为上。

最终，吕后听从了中郎将季布的意见，以年迈为由婉言拒绝，并赠单于车马作为礼物之外，继续以宗室女为公主，嫁匈奴单于以和亲。之后匈奴便派使者来谢罪说：「我们没有听过中国的礼节，幸而得到陛下宽恕。」并献上马匹。前192年春天，刘盈以宗室女为公主继续与匈奴和亲，汉匈之间及时避免了兵燹之灾。

吕后驾崩

高后八年（前180年8月18日），吕太后崩逝，与汉高祖合葬长陵。

吕后临终将吕禄之女吕氏许给后少帝刘弘为后。吕后崩后留下诏赐给各诸侯黄金千斤，将、相、列侯、郎、吏都按官阶赐给黄金，大赦天下。让吕王吕产担任相国。由于吕后在政时期培植起一个吕氏外戚集团，从而加剧了汉统治阶级内部的矛盾，因此在她死后，马上就酿成了汉初功臣集团、刘氏皇族集团、吕氏外戚集团之间的流血斗争。吕后没有完成她的政治计划就去世了。汉统治阶级内部矛盾骤然激化，袒刘之军蜂起。齐王刘襄发难于外，周勃、陈平响应于内，刘氏诸王遂群起而杀诸吕，汉初功臣集团、刘氏皇族集团、吕氏外戚集团之间的一场流血斗争，以汉初功臣集团的胜利而告终。

周勃、陈平等汉初功臣铲除诸吕，昭告天下，少帝刘弘及梁王刘泰、淮阳王刘武、恒山王刘朝等，并非汉惠帝亲生儿子，应当废黜，并在刘姓皇族选择皇位继承人。选定高祖与妃子薄氏之子代王刘恒作为新皇帝（即汉文帝）。

吕后的坟墓曾经被赤眉军挖掘，其尸体遭到侮辱。光武帝建武年间，吕后因种种不利于汉朝社稷的行为，吕后在高祖庙中的牌位被光武帝下令迁出。

评价

絮语

• 《太史公自序》曰：「惠之早霣，诸吕不台；崇强禄、产，诸侯谋之；杀隐幽友，大臣洞疑，遂及宗祸」。

• 司马迁在《史记·吕后本纪》中对她的评价是「高后女主称制，政不出房户，天下晏然。刑罚罕用，罪人是希。民务稼穑，衣食滋殖。」

总评

吕后掌权统治十五年，虽然对于刘氏皇室来说是一个威胁，不过，吕后掌政期间对国家发展是很有功劳的。例如，吕后重用人才，并废除秦以来的一些苛法，尤以废除三族罪和妖言令为百姓所称道。以免除徭役鼓励恢复生产，又「减田租，复十五税一」减轻百姓的负担；力行简约，从不奢华铺张，形成汉初节俭风气；在边防上，安排戌族轮替，取代秦以来戌族服役无期的状况，实行黄老之术与民休息的政策，为后来的文景之治奠定坚实基础。

然而东汉以后因其掌政期间诛杀刘氏皇室的历史与王莽相似，新建立的东汉刘氏皇室对其诋毁渐重，认为其牝鸡司晨、人彘事件及冤杀韩信等功臣彰显其手段狠毒。

另外《二年律令》的推出，让天下土地从象徵到实质性的私有化，为西汉文景之治的长期稳定创造了环境，至少到汉武帝中期，国家对内十分顺利稳定，相比较西汉末年与其相反的王莽新政迅速的崩溃，不得不看出吕后对汉朝的贡献，另外，其来自民间的身分，以及与刘邦共同打天下、守江山的经历，让这位女性不同于其他通过外戚掌权的女性统治者，由此看来，吕后是颇具政才的女性。

世系图

影视形象