In the long course of history, the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, was famous for his outstanding political and military talents. During his reign, the harem was home to a large number of concubines, among which the 15 most notable were the 15 women he favored. These women not only enjoyed a special status in the court, but also played an important role in political and cultural life.
However, with the passage of time, Li Shimin did not escape the end of his life after all. After his death, the throne was inherited by his biological son Li Zhi. After Li Zhi succeeded to the throne, he faced a special challenge, that is, how to deal with the many harem concubines left behind by his father, especially those who were once his father's special favorite.
Li Zhi's attitude towards these stepmothers is not generalized, but varies from person to person. Some may be placed in a specific residence and continue to enjoy the royal family's offerings, others may receive special care or responsibilities because of their relationship with the new emperor, and others may be marginalized or even forced to leave the palace for various reasons.
The historical record of the specific treatment of these 15 stepmothers may not be complete, but through the existing documents and archaeological discoveries, we can get a glimpse of one or two. The fate of each concubine is unique, and their stories are not only personal joys and sorrows, but also a microcosm of the cultural and social structure of the era.
When discussing female figures in ancient Chinese history, we have to mention a very influential female ruler - Wu Zetian. She was a legendary woman during the Tang Dynasty, known not only for her intellect and cunning, but also for her unique status as a female emperor in Chinese history.
First of all, we want to mention Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian was born into a prominent family, and her talent and beauty allowed her to enter the court of Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and become one of his many concubines. However, her fate did not stop there. When Li Shimin died, Wu Zetian's life trajectory took a dramatic turn.
The newly enthroned emperor Li Zhi, that is, Tang Gaozong, had feelings for Wu Zetian for a long time. This relationship can be traced back to the fact that he began when his father, Li Shimin, was alive. Although many ministers inside and outside the court at the time objected to this relationship, believing that Wu Zetian's influence might pose a threat to the stability of the country, Li Zhi's affection for Wu Zetian did not weaken. He insisted on taking her back to the palace, and despite the criticism of the outside world, he finally included her in his harem.
Li Zhi's preference for Wu Zetian became more and more obvious, and he not only let her return to the palace, but also in the days that followed, he tried his best to override public opinion and crown her as the queen. This decision is undoubtedly a challenge to traditional concepts, and it is also a high recognition of Wu Zetian's personal ability. Wu Zetian's resourcefulness and decisiveness, as well as her keen insight into politics, made her position in Li Zhi's heart more and more solid.
The story of Wu Zetian is not only a legend of court love, but also a history of the rise of female power in a male-dominated society. Her life was filled with power struggles, political reforms, and personal struggles, and in the end, she broke the mold and became the only female emperor in Chinese history, inaugurating the "Wu Zhou" dynasty and leaving an indelible historical mark.
In the harems of ancient emperors, the fate of concubines often fluctuated with the emperor's likes and dislikes and changes in power. As an emperor, Wu Zetian is undoubtedly the most special one among his many concubines, she is not only favored by Li Zhi because of her outstanding intelligence and political skills, but also played an extremely important role in the later historical stage.
However, for the other 14 concubines, they did not receive the same special treatment as Wu Zetian. In Li Zhi's eyes, these concubines may be just ordinary members of the harem, without too much attention and attention.
For those concubines who were lucky enough to have sons, their fate was relatively better. Because in the social background at that time, the son was an important link for the continuation of the family and a guarantee for the mother's status. These concubines with children were able to leave the deep palace and go to their son's fiefdom, live with their son, and enjoy the joy of family between mother and son. Although they may not be able to return to their former glory, they will at least be able to live out their old age under the protection of their son.
In contrast, the fate of those concubines who had no sons to rely on was even more bleak. They were sent to a nunnery, where they were forced to shave their hair and become nuns, and from then on they were isolated from the rest of the world and began a life of bitterness and loneliness. In those quiet monasteries, day after day, they recited scriptures in front of the ancient Buddha of the green lantern, praying for inner peace and liberation in the afterlife. Their lives are bound by strict religious rules, without the fine clothes and food of the past, without the competition for favor in the court, only endless loneliness and hopelessness for the future.
Among the 15 concubines, there is a woman named Concubine Xu, who is a stubborn woman who loves Li Shimin deeply. Concubine Xu's love story is full of tragedy, and the relationship between her and Li Shimin is deep and firm. However, fate was not lenient to her, and Li Shimin's death brought a huge blow to her.
After Li Shimin's death, Concubine Xu fell into deep grief. Her longing is irrepressible, and she is recalling the bits and pieces with Li Shimin every day. This excessive longing caused her body to gradually weaken, and eventually she became seriously ill.
Despite her serious illness, Concubine Xu resolutely refused to take medication. She believes that only through her own strong will can she truly defeat the disease. She firmly believes that as long as she can persevere, she will be able to see Li Shimin again.
However, Concubine Xu's persistence did not lead to a miracle. Her physical condition was getting worse and worse, but she still persevered. She used all her strength in the hope of defeating the disease, but in the end, her physical condition deteriorated to the point of no return.
Two years later, Concubine Xu finally passed away due to a serious illness. Her death aroused Li Zhi's deep sympathy. Li Zhi was very saddened by what happened to Concubine Xu, who he considered to be a strong and loyal woman, and her death was a great loss.
In order to express his respect and nostalgia for Concubine Xu, Li Zhi decided to give her the title of "Virtuous Concubine". This title is a recognition of Concubine Xu's noble qualities and steadfast love, and it is also a condolence for her passing.
Concubine Xu's story has left a deep mark on history, and her strength and loyalty have become an example for future generations to follow. Her love story has also become a legend in people's mouths, making people feel the power and perseverance of love. Although Concubine Xu's death is regrettable, her story will always be remembered in people's hearts.
Among these many concubines, Concubine Yang is undoubtedly the most special one, her particularity is not only because of her beauty and talent, but also because she is the daughter of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, which adds a layer of historical weight to her identity.
When Concubine Yang was alive in Tang Taizong Li Shimin, her life can be said to be quite prosperous. Not only did she enjoy a noble status, but she was also favored by the emperor. However, the good times did not last long, and with the death of Li Shimin, Concubine Yang's life also underwent earth-shaking changes. Although she still maintained a certain standard of living for a period of time, as the power struggle intensified, her fate gradually turned to tragedy.
In the end, Concubine Yang failed to escape the clutches of the empress Wu Zetian, who was in power at that time. In order to consolidate his dominance, Wu Zetian did not hesitate to strike mercilessly at any possible threat, and Concubine Yang, who was a member of the royal family of the previous dynasty, naturally became a thorn in her side. In this context, Concubine Yang was executed, ending her life, and did not have the opportunity to age safely, and her story has become an embarrassing past in history.
Concubine Yang's life was full of twists and turns, and her fate reflected the cruelty and complexity of the court struggles of that era. Her death is not only the end of a personal tragedy, but also a microcosm of an era in the long river of history, which makes people think more deeply about that changing era.
Except for the above-mentioned concubines, the other concubines had very tragic endings. They either committed suicide or were killed, and none of them escaped a tragic fate. The ending of these 15 concubines is undoubtedly very embarrassing, they used to be Li Shimin's favorite concubines, but in the end they ended up like this.