Wang Yuanji, a native of Tan County, Donghai County, was born in a famous family, she was the granddaughter of Situ Wang Lang during the Cao Wei period, the pearl of Wang Su, the leader of the army, and the wife of Sima Zhao, Emperor Wen of Jin.
Wang Yuanji has lived in a scholarly family since she was a child and has received a good education. At the age of eight, she was already able to recite Confucian classics such as the Book of Songs and the Analects, and she could understand the profound meanings of them. She is especially proficient in mourning etiquette and knows all kinds of complex etiquette. What's even more rare is that she has an amazing memory that she can remember any scripture book as long as she reads it once.
When Wang Yuanji was nine years old, her mother Yang was unfortunately sick and bedridden, and she served by her mother's side without undressing and took care of her for a long time. Her filial piety touched her family and was praised by her neighbors. When she grew up, her parents began to involve her in managing the house, and she was always able to handle the housework in an orderly and reasonable manner with her intelligence and fairness.
Seeing this, grandfather Wang Lang couldn't help but admire: "With this girl here, it will definitely make my Wang family prosperous!"
In 231, Wang Yuanji married Sima Yi's second son, Sima Zhao, and became the daughter-in-law of the Sima family. After marriage, she taught her husband and children, and gave birth to Sima Yan, Sima Dingguo, Sima You, Sima Zhao, Sima Guangde and Princess Jingzhao for Sima Zhao, continuing the bloodline for the Sima family.
In 265, Sima Zhao died, and Wang Yuanji's son Sima Yan succeeded him as Xiangguo and King of Jin, and she was also revered as the princess of Jin. The following year, Sima Yan forced Emperor Cao Huan of Wei to establish the Western Jin Dynasty, and Wang Yuanji was revered as the empress dowager, and the palace where she lived was named Chonghua Palace. She witnessed the decline of Cao Wei and the rise of the Western Jin Dynasty, becoming an indispensable historical figure of that era.
In the early days of the founding of the Western Jin Dynasty, in order to establish a good atmosphere and save national resources, Wang Yuanji personally spun and weaved cloth in the palace, as an example for the concubines in the palace. She set an example for the country, so that the entire court and clan relatives were influenced by her and lived in harmony and harmony.
Under Wang Yuanji's careful governance, the atmosphere in the palace was renewed, and her virtues brought harmony to the country. In 267, in order to commend the virtue of Wang Yuanji's mother, the Yang family, Sima Yan sent the messenger He Rong as the envoy to posthumously honor the Yang family as Pingyang Jingjun On April 20, 268, Wang Yuanji died at the age of fifty-two.