Empress Lü Theme
An Analysis of Empress Lü
Given that the Shiji is a framework for China’s early imperial political thought, it can be used to demonstrate the influence of women on politics during the rule of the Han dynasty. Empress Lü, in particular, is a key component to the understanding of these roles, since she was the only woman who reigned for several years during the Han. It is unclear whether the author was concerned with the character of Empress Lü, or whether the author was instead writing about a political system in which women given the power to rule almost always led to disaster.
It has been suggested that the new imperial system introduced in China by the Qin and the Han produced a “misogynistic ideology” that became evermore embedded in aristocratic …show more content…
Consequently, it is fundamentally depersonalized. That said, the way in which the edicts are arranged and the particular information is strategically included, gives light to the author’s intent when describing Empress Lü. In the case of “The Basic Annals of Empress Lü”, the main feature dominating the life of Empress Lü was fear for herself and for her clan. The author’s portrayal of Empress Lü provides an argument that an empress defending her own position can be ruthless. It is an account that deals with a woman who, although she uses brutal methods, is acting in …show more content…
In this remark, the author narrates the story of Empress Lü’s life, causing the reader to connect this last judgment to her personally. That is, aside from the power struggle within the Lü family, her rule brought peace to the empire. Therefore, based on this last paragraph, the author assesses Empress Lü as a ruler in a positive manner.
Although the remarks from The Grand Historian give light to the author’s opinion of Empress Lü’s ability to rule, this essay is not arguing that the author was sympathetic for Empress Lü. However, in the Shiji, she is not attacked as a consequence of conventional female characteristics, and her jealousy is not the main feature of this text. Instead, this section of the Annals focuses on her fear that the Lü family might lose their power or be killed. She, in conclusion, appears simply as a ruler is who extremely fearful and paranoid of the dangers surrounding
Given that the Shiji is a framework for China’s early imperial political thought, it can be used to demonstrate the influence of women on politics during the rule of the Han dynasty. Empress Lü, in particular, is a key component to the understanding of these roles, since she was the only woman who reigned for several years during the Han. It is unclear whether the author was concerned with the character of Empress Lü, or whether the author was instead writing about a political system in which women given the power to rule almost always led to disaster.
It has been suggested that the new imperial system introduced in China by the Qin and the Han produced a “misogynistic ideology” that became evermore embedded in aristocratic …show more content…
Consequently, it is fundamentally depersonalized. That said, the way in which the edicts are arranged and the particular information is strategically included, gives light to the author’s intent when describing Empress Lü. In the case of “The Basic Annals of Empress Lü”, the main feature dominating the life of Empress Lü was fear for herself and for her clan. The author’s portrayal of Empress Lü provides an argument that an empress defending her own position can be ruthless. It is an account that deals with a woman who, although she uses brutal methods, is acting in …show more content…
In this remark, the author narrates the story of Empress Lü’s life, causing the reader to connect this last judgment to her personally. That is, aside from the power struggle within the Lü family, her rule brought peace to the empire. Therefore, based on this last paragraph, the author assesses Empress Lü as a ruler in a positive manner.
Although the remarks from The Grand Historian give light to the author’s opinion of Empress Lü’s ability to rule, this essay is not arguing that the author was sympathetic for Empress Lü. However, in the Shiji, she is not attacked as a consequence of conventional female characteristics, and her jealousy is not the main feature of this text. Instead, this section of the Annals focuses on her fear that the Lü family might lose their power or be killed. She, in conclusion, appears simply as a ruler is who extremely fearful and paranoid of the dangers surrounding