Zhangdi is succeeded by his 9-year old son Zhao, who will reign until 105 as emperor Han Hedi, but he will be a virtual pawn of Empress Dou ( adoptive mother ) and scheming courtiers who will effectively rule the Chinese Empire.

With the aid of the eunuch Zheng Zhong ( d. 107 CE ), Emperor He ( r. 88 – 105 CE ) had Empress Dowager Dou ( d. 97 CE ) put under house arrest and her clan stripped of power.

When the plot was uncovered, the eunuchs arrested Empress Dowager Dou ( d. 172 CE ) and Chen Fan.

* Empress Dou Miao of the Han Dynasty of China

Dou Xian ( 50s – 92 ), brother-in-law of Emperor Zhang through his sister Empress Duo, utterly defeated the Northern Xiongnu in a series of campaigns during the Yongyuan era ( 89 – 105 ).

Through these political establishments, the Xianbei who entered China were largely merged with the Han, examples such as the wife of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Duchess Dou and Emperor Taizong of Tang's ( Li Shimin's ) wife, Empress Zhangsun, both have Xianbei ancestries, while those who remained behind in the northern grassland emerged as later powers to rule over China.

He was involved in palace intrigue as a supporter of Empress Dou, and in the death of her romantic rival, Consort Song.

After the death of Empress Dou in AD 97, he became an associate of Consort Deng Sui.

* Grand Empress Dowager Dou ( 141 BC-135 BC ), during the reign of Emperor Wu

* Empress Dowager Dou

* Dou Xian-brother of Empress Dowager Dou and brother-in-law of Emperor Zhang of Han China.

* Dou Wu-father of another Empress Dowager Dou and killed in his abortive coup d ' etat against eunuchs.

According to historians, Emperor Wen trusted and consulted with ministers on state affairs ; under the influence of his Taoist wife, Empress Dou, the emperor also sought to avoid wasteful expenditures.

Heavily influenced by his wife Empress Dou, who was an adherent to Taoism, Emperor Wen governed the country with the general policies of non-intereference with the people and relaxed laws.

In 179 BC, after some hesitation ( during which he, apparently influenced by the theory of chanrang ( 禪讓 ), thought that maybe it would be more proper for him to find the wisest person in the empire and offer the throne to him, or that he should consider offering the throne to his uncle Liu Jiao ( 劉交 ), the Prince of Chu ; his cousin Liu Pi ( 劉濞 ), the Prince of Wu ; or his younger brother Liu Chang ( 劉長 ), the Prince of Huainan ), he created his oldest son Liu Qi the Crown Prince and Prince Qi's mother, Consort Dou, Empress.

In addition to Empress Dou, Emperor Wen also favored Consort Shen ( 慎夫人 ).

** Empress Dou, mother of Emperor Jing, Prince Wu and Princess Piao

He continued his father Emperor Wen's policy of general non-interference with the people, reduced tax and other burdens, and thriftiness, due to Taoist influences of his mother Empress Dou.

He was deeply influenced by his mother Empress Dou, who was a Taoist and required all of her children and grandchildren to study Taoist doctrines.

He also developed deep bonds with his older sister Princess Liu Piao ( 劉嫖 ) and his younger brother Liu Wu ( 劉武 ), both also born of Empress Dou.

Emperor Jing's grandmother Empress Dowager Bo became grand empress dowager, and Empress Dou became empress dowager.