Daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei
Daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei | |||||||||
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10th Emperor of Northern Wei | |||||||||
Reign | 1 April 528 | ||||||||
Predecessor | Emperor Xiaoming | ||||||||
Successor | Yuan Zhao | ||||||||
Born |
Luoyang, Northern Wei (present-day Luoyang, Henan, China) | 12 February 528||||||||
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Father | Emperor Xiaoming | ||||||||
Mother | Consort Pan |
The unnamed daughter of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei (12 February 528 – ?) was briefly the emperor of Northern Wei (386–534), a Xianbei dynasty that ruled Northern China from the late fourth to the early sixth century AD. She bore the surname Yuan (Chinese: 元; pinyin: Yuán), originally Tuoba.[note 2] Yuan was the only child of Emperor Xiaoming (r. 515–528), born to his concubine Consort Pan. Soon after her birth, her grandmother the Empress Dowager Hu, who was also Xiaoming's regent, falsely declared that she was a boy and ordered a general pardon. Emperor Xiaoming died soon afterwards. On 1 April 528, Empress Dowager Hu installed the infant on the throne for a matter of hours before replacing her with Yuan Zhao the next day. Xiaoming's daughter was not recognised as an emperor (huangdi) by later generations. No further information about her is available.[3]
Birth
Empress Dowager Hu (d. 528), known posthumously as Empress Dowager Ling, was originally one of Emperor Xuanwu's (483–515, r. 499–515) consorts; she gave birth to his only living heir Yuan Xu (510–528). Following Xuanwu's death, Yuan Xu ascended the throne as Emperor Xiaoming, and Hu was honoured as Consort Dowager, and soon Empress Dowager.[4] Because Emperor Xiaoming was still young, she became his regent.[4] To exert her power as the highest ruler of Northern Wei, she addressed herself as Zhen (Chinese: 朕; pinyin: Zhèn), a first-person pronoun reserved for use by the emperor after the Qin dynasty. Officials addressed her as Bixia (Chinese: 陛下; pinyin: Bìxià ), an honorific used when addressing the emperor directly.[5]
When Emperor Xiaoming grew up, however, his mother refused to hand authority over to him. She successfully eliminated many of her opponents, including favourites of the emperor.[6] The ancient Chinese historians who wrote the official history of the Northern Wei portrayed her as promiscuous.[7] Both her lifestyle and her ruling style elicited widespread dissatisfaction among officials and from her son.[8] Emperor Xiaoming gathered the people to oppose her and executed her lover Yuan Yi (元怿) in 520,[9] causing deep hatred from his mother.[10] After several failed attempts to overthrow the empress dowager, Xiaoming secretly ordered General Erzhu Rong to send troops to the capital Luoyang to coerce her into handing over the authority.[11] When she learned about the plot, she discussed strategies with the officials who supported her.[12]
As these events were occurring, on 12 February 528, Consort Pan, one of Emperor Xiaoming's nine concubines, gave birth to a daughter.[13][14] Empress Dowager Hu falsely declared that the child was a son;[13] she issued an edict the following day, ordering a general pardon and changing the emperor's reign title from Xiaochang (å昌) to Wutai (æ¦æ³°).[15][16]
Accession to the throne
On 31 March 528, Emperor Xiaoming suddenly died in Xianyang Palace (显阳殿).[17] The following day (1 April 528), Empress Dowager Hu declared the 50-day-old baby girl Yuan the new emperor, while she herself continued to be regent.[18] She ordered another general pardon. As the year of Emperor Xiaoming's reign had not ended, the era name was not changed and the name "Wutai" remained in use. Empress Dowager Hu continued to be effectively in power.[18]
Dethronement
Just a few hours later, Empress Dowager Hu issued an edict[19][20] to dethrone the infant Emperor and declared that Yuan was a girl. She placed Yuan Zhao—son of the deceased Yuan Baohui (å…ƒå®æ™–), Prince of Lintao—on the throne instead.[21] Yuan Zhao ascended the throne on 2 April 528, the day after Empress Dowager Hu issued the edict.[22]
As he was too young to rule, Yuan Zhao was made a puppet emperor under Empress Dowager Hu.[23] The series of events involving her son's death and the installation of the infant girl and the three-year-old Yuan Zhao on the throne occurred to ensure the continuation of her regency.[23]
Outcome
Because Empress Dowager Hu replaced the emperor in an unbridled manner, General Erzhu Rong sent in troops to overthrow her, stating that she had deceived Heaven as well as the Imperial Court by letting the infant girl succeed to the throne.[24] Erzhu Rong made Yuan Ziyou (507–531) emperor.[25] Not long after, Erzhu Rong sent troops to occupy the capital Luoyang, and Empress Dowager Hu and Yuan Zhao were held captive. They were delivered to his camp at Heyin (河阴). Empress Dowager Hu begged him for mercy, but he refused and had her and Yuan Zhao drowned in the Yellow River.[26] Erzhu later killed thousands of Han Chinese officials and their families who had served at the Northern Wei court during her regency.[27][28] This massacre is known as the Heyin Incident (河阴之å˜).[29] Erzhu Rong became the highest authority of the empire. From that time on, political power fell into the hands of powerful ministers and warlords. Gao Huan and Yuwen Tai were generals during the Erzhu Rong era who respectively controlled Eastern Wei and Western Wei following the split of the dynasty,[30] while Erzhu controlled the northern part of the empire. This division eventually led to the downfall of the dynasty.[28]
For the acts she committed during her regency, Empress Dowager Hu was discredited and became infamous in history for causing the downfall of the dynasty.[31][32]
Controversy
Yuan's status as an emperor (huangdi) remains controversial and is not recognised by many. Official historical records have never listed her as a legitimate sovereign because she was a puppet under Empress Dowager Hu and reigned for less than a day. She was also an impostor for the throne as a boy. Hence, Wu Zetian remains as the first and only recognised female huangdi in Chinese history.[33] Researcher Cheng Yang (æˆæ‰¬) believes that the fact that Yuan was the "first female in history to ascend the imperial throne" cannot be denied despite it being a plot by Empress Dowager Hu. According to Cheng, Wu Zetian was not the only female huangdi, but the only one to have reigned over the empire.[34] Luo Yuanzhen (罗元贞), another researcher on Wu, thinks that modern historians should not acknowledge Yuan's title as Huangdi as ancient Chinese historians did not.[33]
Related literary works
Yuan briefly appeared in Chapter 47—Xiao Baoyin's rebellion and capture by Erzhu Rong (Chinese: è§å®å¤¤ç§°å°Šå›å‘½ 尔朱è£æŠ—表兴师) of the Romance of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (Chinese: å—北å²æ¼”义) of Republic of China novelist Cai Dongfan's (蔡东藩) Popular Romance of Dynasties (Chinese: 历æœé€šä¿—演义); the story largely conforms with the historical account.[35]
Family tree
Shizong, Emperor Xuanwu, Yuan Ke (483-515) Emperor of Northern Wei of China (499-515) | Empress Ling, Hu (? - 528) Empress dowager of Northern Wei of China (515-528, as regent) | Maternal grandfather (unknown) | Maternal grandmother (unknown) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Suzong, Emperor Xiaoming, Yuan Xu (510-528) Emperor of Northern Wei of China (515-528) | Consort Pan (birth and death year unknown) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yuan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
- Chen Shuozhen, another female monarch of China not widely recognised by future generations
- List of shortest-reigning monarchs
- (Chinese) Empresses regnant, lists out all empresses regnant in the world, recognised and unrecognised
- (Chinese) List of ages Chinese emperors ascended to the throne
Explanatory notes
- ↑ This was the last era name of Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei. After his death, it remained in use during the short reigns of his daughter and Yuan Zhao.[1]
- ↑ The surname of the Wei ruling family was changed from Tuoba to Yuan by Emperor Xiaowen (r. 471–499).[2]
References
- ↑ Chen (陳), Junqiang (ä¿Šå¼·); Gao (高), Mingshi (明士) (2005). 皇æ©æµ©è•©: 皇å¸çµ±æ²»çš„å¦ä¸€é¢ [Infinite Royal Graciousness: The Other Side of an Emperor's Reign] (in Chinese). Wu-Nan Book Inc. (五å—圖書出版股份有é™å…¬å¸). p. 305. ISBN 9571139947. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
- ↑ Lei (é›·), Haifeng (海锋) (2013). 历代ç»å…¸æ–‡ä¸›â€”—处事ç»å¦ [Ancient Classics – Secrets of doing things] (in Chinese). Green Apple Data Center. p. 302. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
- ↑ 历å²ä¸ŠçŸå‘½çš„皇å¸æœ‰å“ªäº› [Short-lived emperors in history]. Shangdu.com (in Chinese). Henan Culture Web (æ²³å—文化网). 2013-07-16. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- 1 2 Imz (2007-09-21). "Ups and Downs of Empress Dowager Hu of the Northern Wei Dynasty". www.womenofchina.cn. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (後改令稱詔,羣臣上書曰陛下,自稱曰朕).
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (太åŽè‡ªä»¥è¡Œä¸ä¿®ï¼Œæƒ§å®—室所嫌,于是内为朋党,防蔽耳目,肃宗所亲幸者,太åŽå¤šä»¥äº‹å®³ç„‰).
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (时太åŽå¾—志,逼幸清河王怿,淫乱肆情,为天下所æ¶).
- ↑ LAU Lai Ming; Priscilla Ching-chung (2007). "Hu, Consort of Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei". In Lily Xiao Hong Lee; A. D. Stefanowska (editors-in-chief). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E.-618 C.E. M.E. Sharpe Inc. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-7656-1750-7.
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 22 (æ£å…‰å…ƒå¹´ä¸ƒæœˆï¼Œå‰èˆ‡åŠ‰é¨°é€¼è‚…宗於顯陽殿,閉éˆå¤ªåŽæ–¼å¾Œå®®ï¼Œå›šæ‡Œæ–¼é–€ä¸‹çœï¼Œèª£æ‡Œç½ªç‹€ï¼Œé‚害之,時年三å四。)
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (时太åŽå¾—志,逼幸清河王怿,淫乱肆情,为天下所æ¶...于ç¦ä¸æ€æ€¿...胡æ°å¤šå…黜...æ¯å之间,嫌隙屡起).
- ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (密è¯è£ä¸¾å…µå†…å‘,欲以èƒå¤ªåŽ).
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (郑俨虑祸,乃与太åŽè®¡...).
- 1 2 Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (乙丑,é潘嫔生女,胡太åŽè¯ˆè¨€çš‡å).
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 9, "Basic Annals of Suzong IX" (乙丑...皇女生,祕言皇å).
- ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (丙寅,大赦,改元æ¦æ³°).
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (æ¯å之间,嫌隙屡起。郑俨虑祸,乃与太åŽè®¡ï¼Œå› 潘充åŽç”Ÿå¥³ï¼Œå¤ªåŽè¯ˆä»¥ä¸ºç”·ï¼Œä¾¿å¤§èµ¦æ”¹å¹´).
- ↑ 北æœç ”究 [Research on the Northern Dynasties] (in Chinese). 平城北æœç ”究会. 1993. p. 42. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
æ¦æ³°å…ƒå¹´ï¼ˆ528年)二月,肃宗暴崩于显阳殿。
- 1 2 Book of Wei — Biographies of Empresses — Biography of Empress Ling (太åŽä¹ƒå¥‰æ½˜å«”女言太åå³ä½).
- ↑ Book of Wei — Basic Annals of Suzong
- ↑ History of the Northern Dynasties — Basic Annals of Wei IV — Basic Annals of Suzong, Emperor Xiaoming
- ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (潘充åŽæœ¬å®žç”Ÿå¥³ï¼Œæ•…临洮王å®æ™–世å钊,体自高祖,宜膺大å®ã€‚百官文æ¦åŠ 二阶,宿å«åŠ 三阶).
- ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (甲寅,太åŽç«‹çš‡å¥³ä¸ºå¸...ä¹™å¯ï¼Œé’Šå³ä½).
- 1 2 Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (钊始生三å²ï¼Œå¤ªåŽæ¬²ä¹…专政,故贪其幼而立之).
- ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 152 (åˆä»¥çš‡å¥³ä¸ºå‚¨ä¸¤ï¼Œè™šè¡Œèµ¦å®¥ã€‚上欺天地,下惑æœé‡Ž).
- ↑ Mei (梅), Yi (毅) (2008). è¯éº—血時代:兩晉å—北æœçš„å¦é¡žæ·å²(下) [History of Jins and Northern and Southern Dynasties (II)] (in Chinese). Hyweb Technology Co. Ltd. p. 173. ISBN 9866410099. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
- ↑ Book of Wei, vol. 13, "Biographies of Empresses" (è£é£éª‘拘é€å¤ªåŽåŠå¹¼ä¸»äºŽæ²³é˜´ã€‚太åŽå¯¹è£å¤šæ‰€é™ˆè¯´ï¼Œè£æ‹‚衣而起。太åŽåŠå¹¼ä¸»å¹¶æ²‰äºŽæ²³).
- ↑ Lily Xiao Hong Lee; A. D. Stefanowska; Sue Wiles, eds. (2007). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E.-618 C.E. M.E. Sharpe Inc. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-7656-1750-7. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- 1 2 Keith McMahon (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4422-2290-8. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
- ↑ Xie (è°¢), Zhiqiang (志强) (2013). ä¸å¯ä¸çŸ¥çš„ä¸‡äº‹ç”±æ¥ [The Origin of All Things You May Not Know] (in Chinese). Green Apple Data Center. p. 19. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
- ↑ Whiting, Marvin C. (2002). Imperial Chinese Military History: 8000 BC-1912 AD. Writers Club Press (iUniverse). pp. 235–236. ISBN 0595221343. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
- ↑ "çµåŽå¦‡äººä¸“制。" History of the Northern Dynasties — Biographies of Imperial Consorts
- ↑ 宋其蕤 (Song Qirui). "Chapter 4: 亡国艳åŽï¼šèƒ¡çµçš‡åŽ" [The Infamous Empress Dowager Hu]. 北é女主论 [Female Supremacy of Northern Wei] (in Chinese). ä¸å›½ç¤¾ä¼šç§‘å¦å‡ºç‰ˆç¤¾ (China Social Sciences Press). ISBN 7-5004-5904-1.
- 1 2 Was Wu Zetian China's only female huangdi? (Chinese: æ¦åˆ™å¤©æ˜¯ä¸æ˜¯ä¸å›½çš„唯一女皇?) of the appendix of Collections of Wu Zetian by Luo Yuanzhen (罗元贞), Shanxi People's Press, 1987, cited from the Historical Knowledge (Chinese: 历å²çŸ¥è¯†) magazine, 1985 Issue 5, Chengdu, China
- ↑ æˆæ‰¬ (Cheng Yang) (1985-09-20). "ä¸å›½åŽ†å²ä¸Šçš„第一个女皇å¸" [First Empress regnant of China]. 历å²çŸ¥è¯† (Historical Knowledge) (Chengdu, China) 1985 (5): 35.
- ↑ Cai Dongfan. è§å®å¤¤ç§°å°Šå›å‘½ã€€å°”朱è£æŠ—表兴师 [Xiao Baoyin's rebellion and capture by Erzhu Rong]. å—北å²æ¼”义 [Romance of the Northern and Southern Dynasties] (in Chinese). Bookfree.com.cn. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
Further reading
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Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
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Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
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Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
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Chinese Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
- å²æµ·é˜³ (Shi Haiyang). "北é宣æ¦å¸èƒ¡çš‡åŽ" [Empress Hu, wife of Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei]. ä¸å›½çš‡åŽä¼ [Biography of Empresses of China] (in Chinese). ä¸å›½äººäº‹å‡ºç‰ˆç¤¾ (China Personnel Press). ISBN 7-80139-000-8.
Regnal titles | ||
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Preceded by Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei |
Emperor of Northern Wei 528 |
Succeeded by Yuan Zhao |
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