Lv Zhi (24 BC1-BC1August 80 18), commonly known as E Cong (xū), or after the Han Dynasty, Lv Hou, etc. A native of Danfu County (now Shanxian County, Heze City, Shandong Province), she and Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty were later called "Lv Wu".

Lv Zhi was the empress of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang (reigned from 202 BC to 195 BC). After Gaozu's death, she was honored as the Empress Dowager (from 65438 BC to 65438 BC+080 BC), and was the first recorded empress and empress dowager in China history. At the same time, Lv Zhi was also the first woman to be called the imperial system after Qin Shihuang unified China and implemented the imperial system. She was included in Sima Qian's Chronicle of the Emperor's Political Events, and later Ban Gu wrote Han Shu, which is still in use today. She initiated the exclusive rights of consorts in the Han Dynasty.

During the period of Lv Zhi's rule, the policy of "Huang Lao Yu Min Shu" was implemented, calligraphy was abolished, and folk books were encouraged to collect donations and restore old books. It laid a good foundation for the later rule of Wenjing. Sima Qian's evaluation of her in Historical Records and Biography of Lv Hou is that "the government will not leave the government, and the world will be in chaos; Punishment is rare, and sinners are hope; Civil cultivation, food and clothing cultivation, gave great affirmation to Lv Hou's administration.