#Headline Creation Challenge#Empress, in ancient times, was the mother of a country, that is, the emperor's concubine, in charge of the internal affairs of the six palaces, with a noble status and mighty power. When the emperor dies, even if she is not the biological mother of the step-emperor, the empress can be honored as the empress dowager, the empress dowager, and the status is higher than that of the step-emperor's biological mother and concubine.
Such a high position, almost everyone in the harem women for thousands of years yearned for. But usually there can only be one empress, and if a concubine wants to become an empress, she can only hope that the previous empress will die or be deposed, or that her own son will become emperor. Of course, there is also a way that a concubine can become an empress, but almost no one wants to do this. That is, this concubine died, and the emperor posthumously made her empress because he favored her, or her son became emperor after her death and posthumously crowned her empress after he ascended the throne. In this series, I will take an inventory of the concubines in Chinese history who were posthumously crowned empresses. Note: Concubines who have been honored as empress dowagers during their lifetimes are not included in this list.
The previous guide ☛ to the road inventory of the series of concubines of the past - concubines who were posthumously crowned empresses (1)
The previous guide ☛ to the inventory of the series of concubines of the past - concubines who were posthumously crowned empresses (2)
The previous guide ☛ to the road inventory of the series of concubines of the past - concubines who were posthumously crowned empresses (3)
- Empress Taizong of Song - Li clan
Li (李氏), (944–977), a native of Zhending, Zhenzhou (present-day Zhengding, Hebei), was the daughter of Li Ying the Prince of Changshan and a concubine of Emperor Taizong of Song Zhao Jiong (赵guangyi).
Lee has a good reputation and is famous. Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, heard of Li's name and recommended her to his younger brother Zhao Jiong, who therefore took Li as a concubine. Zhao Jiong was the King of Jin at the time, and after Li married him, he was made the Prince of Longxi County by the imperial court. In the ninth year of Kaibao (976), Zhao Jiong succeeded to the throne as Emperor Taizong of Song and made Li the Lady of Longxi County.
Li was deeply favored by Zhao Jiong and gave birth to five sons and two daughters for him, but only Zhao Yuanzuo, the king of Chu, and Zhao Heng, the true sect, grew up. In the second year of the Taiping Xingguo (977), Li died at the age of 33. But I don't know why, Emperor Taizong of Song Zhao Jiong did not give Li a posthumous title and a nickname.
In the third year of Zhidao (997), Zhao Jiong died, and Li's son Zhao Heng succeeded him, namely Emperor Zhenzong of Song. After Zhao Heng succeeded to the throne, he posthumously named his biological mother as a virtuous concubine, named Empress Dowager, and added the nickname "Yuande". In the autumn of the sixth year of Dazhong Xiangfu, after Prime Minister Wang Dan and the courtiers made a request, Li Shizun went to the name "Tai", which was "Empress Yuande", and was promoted to the Taimiao, which was second to Empress Li of Mingde.
- Empress Zhenzong of Song - Li, Yang
Li (李氏), (987–1032), a native of Qiantang, Hangzhou (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province), was the daughter of Li Rende, King of Handong County, and a concubine of Zhao Heng of Emperor Zhenzong of Song.
Li Chenfei film and television stills (played by Liu Cong)
Li's father died early, her stepmother remarried, and she became a nun with nowhere to go. Zhao Heng's favorite concubine Liu E (who was in the folk at the time) met Li in the monastery and saw that she was beautiful and intelligent, so he accepted her as his handmaiden. Liu E later entered the palace and was named a beauty, and Zhao Heng doted on her very much and wanted to make her queen. However, because Liu E came from a humble background and had been married, the ministers objected.
Li once dreamed that the immortal fell in her belly to become her child. When Liu Heng and Liu E heard this, they thought it was an auspicious omen, so they came up with a way to borrow the belly to have children. Zhao Heng was fortunate to the Li clan, and the Li family gave birth to a prince, and Zhao Heng, the emperor of Song, announced that he was the prince born to Liu E, and named him Zhao Yi (that is, Zhao Zhen, Song Renzong). With the help of this prince, Liu E was made a virtuous concubine, and soon was canonized as empress. And Zhao Zhen's biological mother Li Shi was only made the Prince of Chongyang County.
Li Shi'an keeps to himself, does not fight or grab, Zhao Heng still has some feelings for her. Li later gave birth to a daughter, but unfortunately died early. Zhao Hengjin Li is a talent, and Jin Wanyi and Shunrong. After Zhao Heng's death, Li's son Zhao Zhen succeeded him, namely Emperor Renzong of Song. Zhao Zhen was adopted by Empress Liu E since childhood, and did not know that her biological mother was the Li family, so she did not have a honorific title. Soon after, Li was moved by Liu E to the Yongding Mausoleum of Zhenzong. Li did not complain, and throughout his life, he did not take the initiative to mention that he was the emperor's biological mother.
In the first year of Ming Dao (1032), Li became seriously ill. Empress Dowager Liu E thanked her for her dedication and made her a concubine. Unfortunately, Li died on the same day she was crowned concubine at the age of 46. After the death of Concubine Li, Empress Dowager Liu initially wanted to keep it secret and prepared to hold a funeral with general palace etiquette. However, Prime Minister Lü Yijian urged Empress Dowager Liu, who was in power, to bury Concubine Li thickly if she wanted to save the Liu family, and Empress Liu realized the seriousness of the problem and mourned Concubine Li with a high standard.
Liu E film and television drama image (played by Liu Tao)
After Liu E's death, Emperor Renzong of Song Zhao Zhen was told that her real biological mother turned out to be Li, and it is likely that Concubine Li was abused during her lifetime. Zhao Zhen was very sad, overtired and tired of mourning for his mother, did not go up for many days, and reproached himself with a sad edict, honoring Concubine Li Chen as the empress dowager, and calling her Zhuang Yi. Song Renzong went to Hongfuyuan to pay tribute to Concubine Li Chen, and when changing the coffin, he personally cried and looked at his mother's appearance, Li Chenfei's appearance seemed to be before her death, her hat and clothes were the same as the Empress Dowager, and the body was maintained with mercury, so it was not decayed. Song Renzong sighed and said, "How can human words be believed!" Therefore, Liu E's family was not pursued.
During the Qing calendar year, Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen changed his biological mother Li Shi to "Empress Zhang Yi" and ascended to the temple with Empress Dowager Liu.
Yang Shi, (984-1036), a native of Pi County, Yizhou (present-day Pidu District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province), daughter of Yang Zhijian, a member of Yipin, and a favorite concubine of Zhao Heng of Emperor Zhenzong of Song.
Yang is known for his talent and temperament, and after entering the palace, he was favored by Zhao Heng. In the first year of Jingde (1004), the Yang clan was given the title of Zhengwupin Talent, and later entered Zhengsanpin Jieyu and Congyi Yipin. Yang's Tongmin has wisdom, and Liu E is friendly with him, like a sister. Whenever Zhenzong is promoted to Liu E, he will also be promoted to the Yang clan at the same time. Yang and Liu E trusted each other, and soon after Liu E became empress, Yang was promoted to Princess Shufei.
Zhao Heng of Song Zhenzong favored the Yang clan, whether it was Eastern Feng or Western Worship, Fan Xingxing, Yang Shufei were all followers, and her status in the palace was second only to Empress Liu E. The Yang family did not give birth, and after Liu E gave birth to a son Zhao Zhen through the womb, she raised Zhao Zhen with the Yang family. The Yang family is actually Zhao Zhen's adoptive mother.
After Zhao Zhen succeeded to the throne as Emperor Renzong of Song, he honored his adopted mother Yang Shufei as the crown prince. Emperor Renzong called Empress Dowager Liu "Da Niangniang" and Concubine Yang "Little Niangniang". After Liu E's death, he decreed that Emperor Renzong of Song honored Princess Yang as empress dowager and called Empress Dowager Baoqing. In the third year of Jingyou, Empress Dowager Yang died without illness at the age of 52, posthumously known as "Empress Zhuanghui", and later changed her title to "Empress Zhang Hui".
- Empress Renzong of Song – Zhang (beauty), Zhang (concubine)
Zhang, (?) -1028), a native of Qinghe, Beizhou (present-day Qinghe County, Hebei), daughter of Zhang Shouying, an observer of Deng Prefecture, and concubine of Emperor Renzong of Song.
The Zhang family entered the palace in the early year of the Heavenly Saint, and at the same time Guo entered the palace. Zhang received Zhao Zhen's favor and planned to canonize her as empress. However, at that time, Zhao Zhen was not yet pro-government, and power was in the hands of his mother Empress Dowager Liu. Empress Dowager Liu took a fancy to Guo and therefore advocated that Guo be canonized as empress. Empress Dowager Liu also suppressed the Zhang clan at the same time, and the Zhang clan only obtained the title of talented person in the fourth year of Tiansheng (1026), and his status was not high.
After this blow, Zhang was slumped and has been seriously ill ever since. In the sixth year of Tiansheng (1028), Zhang was critically ill, and Zhao Zhen disregarded Empress Dowager Liu's objections and made Zhang a beauty. Five days later, Zhang died. In March of the second year of Ming Dao (1033), Empress Dowager Liu died, and Emperor Renzong of Song Zhao Zhen became pro-government. Zhao Zhen tried to depose Empress Guo, but was dissuaded by the ministers without success. Then, Zhao Zhen posthumously named Zhang Mei, who had always been favored, as empress, but there was no title.
Zhang Shi (张氏), (1024–1054), a native of Yong'an, Henan (present-day Zhitian Village, Zhitian Town, Gongyi City, Henan Province), posthumously conferred the title of second daughter of Zhang Yaofeng, King of Qinghe Commandery, and a favorite concubine of Emperor Renzong of Song.
Empress Wen Cheng film and television drama image (played by Wang Churan)
Zhang was born in the Qinghe Zhang clan, and entered the palace as a royal attendant as a son of a good family since childhood. Zhang can sing and dance well and looks very beautiful. After growing up, by chance at a palace banquet, Zhang attracted Zhao Zhen of Song Renzong with his beautiful dancing moves, and has since been favored by Zhao Zhen. Zhang was smart and well-behaved, good at figuring out Zhao Zhen's mind, and was successively named Prince of Qinghe County, a talented person, a Xiuyuan, a beauty, and a noble concubine, and had three daughters: Princess Anshou, Princess Baohe, and Princess Qi State. Although Zhang was a noble concubine, Zhao Zhen gave her all the treatment of empress, and even the reward was higher than that of the then empress Cao.
In the first year of Zhihe (1054), Zhang died. Zhao Zhen was greatly grieved, and died for seven days, making his own elegy lyrics. Ignoring the fact that Empress Cao was still alive, he decided to mourn Zhang with the empress gift, which was opposed by many ministers. Zhao Zhen, fearing the opposition of the officials, waited until the fourth day of the funeral before announcing the posthumous title of Zhang as "Empress Wen Cheng". After Zhang's death, Zhao Zhen kept the Ninghua Palace where she lived, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Zhang's ancestors, parents, brothers and sisters were also rewarded by Zhao Zhen, which shows the richness of pampering.
- Empress Shenzong of Song - Zhu, Chen
Zhu Shi, (1052–1102), a native of Kaifeng, daughter of commoner Cui Jie, concubine of Emperor Shenzong of Song.
Zhu's original surname is Cui, and his biological father is a commoner Cui Jie. Cui Jie died early, and his mother Li Shi'an remarried Zhu Shi'an and entrusted her to a relative Ren Tinghe to raise, so she had three fathers and changed her stepfather's surname. The Zhu clan was selected to enter the palace as an imperial attendant with his talent, and later received the favor of Zhao Yong of the Song Shenzong, and was made a talented person after giving birth to his daughter Princess Shushou.
Since then, the Zhu clan has successively given birth to Zhao Xu of Song Zhezong, Princess Guo Chang of Gong Guo, Princess Lu Guochang, Princess Chang of Yongguo, and the thirteenth son of the emperor Chu Rongxian Wang Zhao Xian and Princess Xu Guochang, which shows that they are favored, and the Zhu family is also progressively promoted from Jieyu to Zhaorong, Concubine Xian, and Concubine De. In the eighth year of Yuan Feng (1085), Emperor Shenzong of Song died, and Zhu's son Zhao Xu succeeded him, namely Emperor Zhezong of Song. Because Empress Dowager Xuanren Gao and Empress Dowager Qin Shengxiang were both honored at that time, the Zhu clan was not honored as the Empress Dowager, but only as the Imperial Concubine. Although Zhu's status in the palace increased in the following years, she was never honored as the empress dowager.
In the first year of Chongning (1102), Zhu died at the age of 50. Zhu was finally posthumously honoured as empress, with the nickname "Empress Qincheng".
Chen Shi, (1054–1089), a native of Kaifeng, was the daughter of Chen Shougui, the imperial lieutenant, and a concubine of Emperor Shenzong of Song.
Chen was intelligent and dignified since childhood, and was elected to the court as an imperial attendant, and later received the favor of Song Shenzong. The Chen clan was promoted from a talented person to a beauty, and had a prince Zhao He (Emperor Huizong of Song). After Shenzong's death, the Chen family guarded the mausoleum, and because he missed Shenzong's old grace, he was overly sad and his body was extremely emaciated. The maid wanted Chen Meiren to drink porridge and take medicine, but Chen Meiren removed the porridge and medicine, saying, "If I can go to serve the emperor early, I will be satisfied!" ”。
In the fourth year of Yuan Yu (1089), Chen died at the age of 35. In July of the same year, he posthumously bestowed on Chen as a congratulatory yi, and in April of the third year of Shaosheng (1096), his son Zhao He was posthumously honoured as the Prince of Suining County, posthumously bestowing Chen as a guiyi.
In the third year of Yuan Fu (1100), Chen's son Zhao He succeeded him as Emperor Huizong of Song, posthumously honoring him as the crown princess. In the first year of the reign of Jianzhong Yasukuni (1101), Chen was posthumously honored as Empress Dowager and nicknamed "Empress Qinci".
- Empress Huizong of Song - Liu, Liu
Liu Shi, (1087–1113), favored concubine of Emperor Huizong of Song.
Liu came from a humble background, and entered the palace as an imperial attendant when he was young. Liu's beauty was favored by Zhao Yao, and her status ranged from Shou'an Junjun, Cairen, Beauty, Jieyu, Wanrong, Wanyi, Concubine De, and Concubine Shu to a noble concubine second only to the empress. Liu received the favor of Emperor Huizong of Song and gave birth to three sons and three daughters for him: Zhao Xi the King of Jiyang County, Zhao Mo the King of Qi, Zhao Hao the King of Xin, Zhao Fujin the Emperor of Maode, Emperor An Shu, and Zhao Fujin the Emperor of Xunde.
In the third year of Zhenghe (1113), Liu died at the age of 26. Before his death, Liu personally planted plantains in the yard and said, "This plantain is growing, but unfortunately I have no time to watch it grow." Soon, Liu really fell ill, so the attendant hurriedly went to tell Song Huizong, Song Huizong at first thought that Liu was only slightly ill, and did not care much, and then the attendant had to urge Song Huizong to see Liu, and when he arrived in Liu's palace, Liu had died, and Song Huizong regretted it and was particularly sad, so he specially sealed her nickname to four characters, "Mingda Yiwen Princess". And use music to record Liu's life. Later, Emperor Huizong of Song followed the way Emperor Renzong of Song posthumously named Zhang Guifei as Empress Wen Cheng, and also posthumously gave Liu as empress, with the nickname "Empress Mingda".
Liu Shi (1089-1121), born humble, was born in a tavern by his biological father Liu Zongyuan. When Liu was ten years old, he entered the palace and became a palace maid in the Chong'en Palace of Empress Zhaohuai of Song Zhezong. After the death of Empress Zhaohuai in the third year of Zhenghe (1113), Liu left the palace and lived in the house of the eunuch He Xuan. Later, Liu was seen by Yang Jian, an attendant in the palace, and praised her for her good looks, so he took her back to the palace. At that time, Empress Mingda adopted Liu as her adopted daughter because she had the same surname as herself. Later, he offered her to Emperor Huizong of Song, and soon Liu was favored by Emperor Huizong.
Liu was very favored by Emperor Huizong of Song, and gave birth to three sons and a daughter: Zhao Yang the King of Jian'an County, Zhao Xiang, the Duke of Jiaguo, Zhao Qi, the Duke of England, and Zhao Jinzhu the Fu Diji, and his status was also changed from talent, beauty, concubine, Wanyi, concubine, and concubine Shu until he was promoted to a noble concubine. Liu is beautiful, good at using cosmetics, and dressed stylishly. Song Huizong loved her very much and specially gave her the privilege to accompany her to eat, which no other woman in the harem had. Emperor Huizong of Song specially named Liu as "Jiuhua Yuzhen An Concubine", which means: "fairy in Jiuhua Palace". And also made a statue of her, and placed her statue on the left of the Jiuchen Emperor (Taoist immortal), which shows Song Huizong's favor for her.
In the third year of Xuanhe (1121), Liu died at the age of 32. Emperor Huizong of Song initially posthumously named her "Ming Festival and Wen Guifei", and later, according to the posthumous conquest method of Empress Mingda, also posthumously gave Liu Shi the title of "Empress Mingjie".
To be continued
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