Princess Luyuan – The first Princess of the Han Dynasty

Princess Luyuan (also known as Princess Yuan of Lu) was the first Princess of the Han Dynasty.^[1] She was the only daughter of Emperor Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lu Zhi of the Western Han Dynasty. She was the full-blooded sister of Emperor Hui and half-sibling of Emperor Wen. She was also the mother of Empress Zhang Yan. Even though her early life was full of hardships, Princess Luyuan was able to gain prestige as a Queen Mother.^[2]

In circa 217 B.C.E., Princess Luyuan was born. She was the only daughter of Emperor Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lu Zhi of the Western Han Dynasty. She had a full-blood brother named Liu Ying (the future Emperor Hui). When she was born, her father, Liu Bang, (the future Emperor Gaozu) was still a commoner.^[3] When Liu Bang left to take part in a rebellion against the Qin Empire, he left his family in Pei County.^[4] Three years later, Liu Bang became the King of Han, and Luyuan became a princess.^[5]

From 206-202 B.C.E., King Liu Bang of Han launched a war against the Hegemon-King, Xiang Yu of Chu. In 204 B.C.E., Princess Luyuan and Prince Liu Ying’s carriage was being pursued by the State of Chu’s army.^[6] One of Liu Bang’s supporters, Duke Teng, ordered them to get out of the carriage and replaced the carriage with decoys.^[7] Princess Luyuan and Prince Liu Ying were able to escape.^[8] They were eventually captured by the State of Chu’s army and became hostages with their mother.^[9] They would remain hostages of the State of Chu’s army for two years until King Liu Bang defeated the Hegemon-King, Xiang Yu.^[10]

In 202 B.C.E., Liu Bang ascended the throne as Emperor Gaozu of the  Western Han Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu decided to marry Princess Luyuan to the Xiongnu Khan (also known in the West as the Huns).^[11] Empress Lu Zhi cried and pleaded with Emperor Gaozu not to marry Princess Luyuan to the Xiongnu Khan, but Emperor Gaozu ignored her pleas.^[12] It was not until Emperor Gaozu realized that he could not part with Princess Luyuan that he finally cancelled her marriage to the Xiongnu Khan.^[13] Princess Luyuan then married Prince Zhang Ao, the son of Zhang Er (one of Han’s greatest generals and the former King of Zhao).^[14] Upon her marriage, Luyuan became a Princess of Zhao.^[15] Princess Luyuan gave birth to a daughter named Zhang Yan in 202 B.C.E.

In 198 B.C.E., two of Emperor Gaozu’s councillors asked Prince Zhang Ao to participate in a conspiracy to kill Emperor Gaozu.^[16] Prince Zhang Ao refused because of his steadfast loyalty to Emperor Gaozu.^[17] When the plot was revealed, they arrested the conspirators, including Prince Zhang Ao.^[18] Emperor Gaozu realised that Prince Zhang Ao was not involved in the assassination attempt.^[19] He pardoned Zhang Ao but demoted him to Marquis of Xuanping.^[20] In circa 194 B.C.E., King Daohui of Qi (Princess Luyuan’s half-brother) gifted Princess Luyuan the Chenyang Commandery and made her the Queen Dowager of Qi.^[21]

In 195 B.C.E., Emperor Gaozu died. He was succeeded by his son, Prince Liu Ying, as Emperor Hui. Empress Lu Zhi was made Empress Dowager. Emperor Hui had no interest in state affairs and lived a life of pleasure and indulgence.^[22] His mother, Empress Dowager Lu Zhi, was the true ruler.^[23] Empress Dowager Lu Zhi wanted to strengthen her power and secure her son’s throne by choosing a woman from her own clan to marry Emperor Hui.^[24] She chose Princess Luyuan’s daughter, Zhang Yan.^[25] 

In 191 B.C.E., Zhang Yan married Emperor Hui and was invested as Empress of China. Empress Zhang Yan was eleven years old, and Emperor Hui was her uncle.^[26] Empress Zhang Yan’s marriage was considered incest in the Han Dynasty.^[27] However, Empress Dowager Lu Zhi was so powerful that no one objected to the marriage.^[28] The marriage would prove to be short-lived.^[29] It would last only three years.^[30]

On 26 September 188 B.C.E., Emperor Hui died and left Empress Zhang Yan a widow. A year later, in 187 B.C.E., Princess Luyuan died.^[31] She was buried with the status befitting a Queen Dowager.^[32] In 182 B.C.E., Princess Luyuan’s husband, Zhang Ao, died.^[33] Zhang Ao is buried next to Princess Luyuan near the tomb of Emperor Hui in Anling.^[34]

While there is not a lot of information about Empress Dowager Lu Zhi’s only daughter, Princess Luyuan, it is clear that she led a turbulent life.^[35] As the daughter of Emperor Gaozu, Princess Luyuan was captured by the State of Chu and became a hostage for two years.^[36] Her father considered marrying her to the Xiongnu Khan.^[37] She was forced to marry her daughter, Empress Zhang Yan, to her own brother, Emperor Hui.^[38] However, her half-brother, King Daohui, made her Queen Dowager of Qi.^[39] During the reigns of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Hui, Princess Luyuan was able to achieve respect and prestige.^[40]

Sources:

iMedia. (n.d.). “The first Princess of the Western Han Dynasty – Princess Lu Yuan, the only daughter of Lu Zhi”. Retrieved on October 30, 2024 from  https://min.news/en/history/dde317e45ad29544d644d567e9d6df54.html#google_vignette.

iNews. (n.d.). “Princess Lu Yuan, the most legendary princess in history”. Retrieved on October 30, 2024  from https://inf.news/en/history/d9b3cb7a0ec5f7f3cd733707003ec9d4.html#google_vignette.

iNews. (n.d). “What kind of person is Princess Lu Yuan, the only daughter of Lu Zhi, and what kind of life situation does she have?” Retrieved on October 30, 2024 from https://inf.news/ne/history/07cb62be07e715519bce48278c35b620.html.

McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.

Zang, J. (2015). “Zhang Yan, Empress of Emperor Hui”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E.. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed., C. Tam, Trans.). NY: Routledge. pp. 241-242.