Is “The attribution of Empress Lü's annals and the assessment of her governance in official histories” true?

histories differ

The 'Basic Annals of Empress Dowager Lü' in the Records of the Grand Historian directly establishes the basic annals for Empress Dowager Lü, without establishing annals for Emperor Hui of Han, attributing all political affairs from Emperor Hui to Empress Gao's fifteen years to Empress Lü, praising her: 'Emperor Hui reigned without effort, Empress Gao as a female sovereign issued edicts, government did not go beyond the palace, and the world was at peace. Punishments were rarely used, and criminals were few. The people devoted themselves to farming, and clothing and food increased.' The Book of Han, on the other hand, separately establishes the 'Annals of Emperor Hui' and the 'Annals of Empress Gao', and in the 'Annals of Empress Gao' praises: 'Emperor Hui reigned with folded hands, Empress Gao as a female sovereign governed, not going beyond the palace, and the world was at peace, punishments were rarely used, the people devoted themselves to farming, and clothing and food increased.' The format changed from exclusively honoring the Empress Dowager to separate annals for emperor and empress.

Empress Lü

Records of the Grand Historian places all of Emperor Hui's reign under the 'Basic Annals of Empress Dowager Lü', while the Book of Han separates the annals of Emperor Hui and Empress Gao.

Sources cited above. Compiled with AI assistance and checked against those sources; for cultural reference.Data & method →

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