Empress Taimu (; 562?–606?) was posthumously honored the first empress of the Chinese Tang dynasty. She was known as Duchess Dou or Lady Dou (竇氏) throughout her lifetime, and was the wife of Emperor Gaozu and mother of Emperor Taizong.

Background Lady Dou was the daughter of Dou Yi (519 – 3 January 583Dou Yi's biography in vol.30 of Zhou Shu indicate that he was 64 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died.) and Princess Xiangyang. Dou Yi was the son of Dou Yue (窦岳),(毅字天武。父岳，早卒。) Zhou Shu, vol.30 an elder brother of Dou Chi (竇熾), a high-level official of both the Northern Zhou and successive Sui dynasties. Dou Chi also had a son named Dou Wei, a scribe for Yang Xiu, the Prince of Shu, who later served as chancellor during the early years of the Tang dynasty. Her mother Princess Xiangyang was the fifth daughter of Yuwen Tai, Emperor Wen of Northern Zhou, and a sister of Empress Yuwen.Victor Cunrui Xiong (2009), Historical Dictionary of Medieval China, Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras, No. 19. Edited by John Woronoff. Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth: The Scarecrow Press, p. 26, Lady Dou also had an elder brother, Dou Xian (竇贤), and at least one other elder cousin (Dou Kang(抗，字道生，太穆皇后之从兄也，...) Jiu Tang Shu, vol.61).

As a young child, Lady Dou was raised in the palace and particularly favored by her uncle Yuwen Yong (Emperor Wu). She once recommended Yuwen Yong to establish a relationship between Northern Zhou and Tujue through the Heqin system. As a result, Yuwen Yong married Empress Ashina, the daughter of Muqan Qaghan on 20 April 568.([天和三年]三月癸卯，皇后阿史那氏至自突厥。) Zhou Shu, vol.05 Yuwen Yong didn't favor Empress Ashina at first, but agreed after Lady Dou and her father reminded him of Tujue's power and that he still had to face the rivaling neighbor kingdoms Northern Qi and Chen dynasty.Bo Yang. Modern Chinese Edition of Zizhi Tongjian. Taipei: Yuan-Liou Publishing Co. Ltd, vol. 1 to vol. 72

Lady Dou persuaded the general Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟) to form a marriage alliance with the Tang household. Zhangsun Sheng's son Zhangsun Wuji would later become a prominent official and daughter Lady Zhangsun would become Lady Dou's daughter-in-law. After Yang Jian overthrew the Yuwen family and established the Sui dynasty in March 581, Lady Dou lamented that she wasn't able to help her uncle and cousins. Her parents Dou Yi (by then about 62 years old) and Princess Xiangyang cautioned her to keep her mouth shut in order to live.

Duchess As Lady Dou grew older, Dou Yi told Princess Xiangyang to marry their daughter to a wise and intelligent gentleman. Dou Yi placed two peacocks between an armorial screen and let the proposers shoot two arrows. The proposer who could shoot two arrows on the peacock's eye would be married to Lady Dou. Several proposers failed, except for a man named Li Yuan. Lady Dou and Li Yuan were married, and Li Yuan would later become the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty.

Lady Dou and Li Yuan were deeply in love and accompanied each other everywhere. Since Lady Dou grew up in the palace, she was familiar with politics and history books. She assisted her husband in his studies and raised their children. They had four sons, Li Jiancheng, Li Shimin, Li Xuanba, and Li Yuanji, and one daughter who would become Princess Pingyang.

Lady Dou established a close bond with her mother-in-law, Lady Dugu. Lady Dugu was a daughter of the prominent general Dugu Xin, and a sister of two empresses from different dynasties, Empress Dugu and Dugu Qieluo. Li Yuan's father Li Bing had died early, leaving Lady Dugu in charge of the Li household. Lady Dugu suffered from poor health, and Lady Dou assisted her mother-in-law in managing household affairs. Once, Lady Dugu was extremely sick and due to her reckless and adamant personality, several of her daughter-in-laws refused to assist her. Only Lady Dou cared for Lady Dugu, and Lady Dugu recovered after a month. Lady Dugu was grateful and favored Lady Dou.

Death and posthumous honors Lady Dou died in Zhuo Prefecture at the age of 45 (by East Asian reckoning).Jiu Tang Shu, vol.51, and Xin Tang Shu, vol.76 After Li Yuan was made Prince of Tang, Lady Dou was given the posthumous name "Mu" on 8 January 618.([义宁元年]十二月，癸未，追谥唐王渊大父襄公为景王；考仁公为元王，夫人窦氏为穆妃。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.184 After Li Yuan overthrew the Sui dynasty and established the Tang dynasty, he honored Lady Dou as Empress Mu (穆皇后) on 3 July 618.This is per vol.1 of New Book of Tang. The record in Old Book of Tang indicate that her posthumous title given on that day was "Empress Taimu". ([武德元年]六月......己卯，备法驾，迎皇高祖宣简公已下神主，祔于太庙。追谥妃窦氏为太穆皇后，陵曰寿安。) Jiu Tang Shu, vol.01 When her son Li Shimin succeeded to the throne as Emperor Taizong, he honored Lady Dou as Empress Taimu (太穆皇后) on 12 December 635.([贞观九年]冬，十月，...庚寅，葬太武皇帝于献陵，庙号高祖；以穆皇后祔葬，加号太穆皇后。) She was also buried together with Li Yuan on this date, him having passed away about six months earlier in June 635. She was further honored as Empress Taimu Shunsheng (太穆顺圣皇后)Jack W. Chen, The Poetics of Sovereignty: On Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, pp.14 on 22 July 749.([天宝八载]闰月......。丙寅，上亲谒太清宫.....；太穆、文德、则天、和思、昭皇后，皆加“顺圣皇后”之字。) Jiu Tang Shu, vol.09. Volume 3 of Tang Huiyao gave the date as the 15th day of the 6th month of the same year, which corresponds to 4 July 749 in the Julian calendar (天宝八载六月十五日，追尊太穆顺圣皇后。).

Family Parents Father: Dou Yi, Duke Shenwu (河南 竇毅; 519 – 3 January 583) Mother: Princess Xiangyang (襄陽公主), Maternal Grandfather: Yuwen Tai (宇文泰, 507 – 556) Spouse and issue(s): Li Yuan (李淵, 7 April 566 – 25 June 635), Emperor Gaozu of Tang Li Jiancheng, Crown Prince Yin (隱皇太子 李建成; 589–626) Princess Pingyangzhao (平陽昭公主; d. 623), Married Chai Shao, Duke Huo (d. 638), and had issue (two sons) Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong (太宗 李世民; 598–649) Li Xuanba, Prince Weihuai (衛懷王 李玄霸; 599–614) Li Yuanji, Prince Chaola (巢剌王 李元吉; 603–626)

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