Lu Zhi

Lu Zhi (呂雉), also known as Empress Lü or Empress Lü Zhi (吕太后), was the wife of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty, and one of the most influential women in early Chinese history. After Liu Bang established the Han dynasty as Emperor Gaozu, she became empress and later wielded immense political power as empress dowager following his death in 195 BCE. Intelligent, politically astute, and fiercely determined, Lu Zhi played a decisive role in consolidating the new dynasty and securing power for her family.

Remembered as a formidable stateswoman, Lu Zhi helped shape the early Han court through her political maneuvering and control over imperial appointments. Her rule was also marked by ruthless struggles against rival members of the imperial family, including the infamous persecution of Consort Qi. For fans of Chinese history, Lu Zhi represents both the extraordinary rise of a woman to the heights of imperial power and the ruthless realities of palace politics, leaving behind a legacy that remains controversial and compelling more than two thousand years later.