Lu Wen was a wealthy resident of Shandong during the 3rd century BC and the father of Empress Lu, the wife of Liu Bang.
Biography[]
Lu Wen was born in Shan County, Shandong, and he belonged to a wealthy family. In 211 BC, Lu Wen brought his family to Pei County in order to flee their enemies, who were upset that his daughter Lu Zhi ran off with the dowry payment for a cancelled marriage. He befriended the assistant magistrate Xiao He, and he later befriended constable Liu Bang after he paid 10,000 coins to enter Lu Wen's housewarming party, which had a mere 1,000-coin entry fee. Liu Bang then saved his house from his enemies, who followed him to the town, and Lu Wen, worried about his enemies following him, sadly decided to relocate again. However, Lu Zhi volunteered to marry Liu Bang, granting the family protection. In 187 BC, years after his death, Lu Wen was posthumously honored as "Prince Xuan of Lu".