Imperial Consort Xie was the first main wife of Emperor Sun Quan (also known as Emperor Da) of the Eastern Wu Dynasty. She married him before he became emperor. Imperial Consort Xie was once deeply loved by her husband.[1] However, she lost her husband’s love and favour when he wanted to put his concubine, Imperial Consort Xu, above her in status.[2] Therefore, Imperial Consort Xie met an unfortunate end.[3]
The birthdate of Imperial Consort Xie is unknown.[4] Her personal name is unknown.[5] She was from Shanyin in Guiji. Her father was Xie Jiong.[6] He was a prefect of Xu and Gentleman of Writing.[7] Xie Jiong was known for “making benevolence and filial piety his modes of conduct.”[8] Her mother’s name is unrecorded.[9] She had a brother named Xie Cheng, who would later be an official and historian at Emperor Sun Quan’s court after Imperial Consort Xie’s death.[10] He would later penned the famous work, Later Han History.[11]
Sun Quan’s mother, Lady Wu (who would later be known as the posthumous Empress Wulie), learned of Lady Xie’s good qualities.[12] She arranged for Lady Xie to marry Sun Quan.[13] Initially, the marriage was happy.[14] Sun Quan deeply loved and was devoted to Lady Xie.[15] However, Sun Quan wanted to take his second cousin, Lady Xu, as one of his concubines.[16] Sun Quan also wished to make Lady Xie beneath Lady Xu in status.[17] However, Lady Xie refused to have lesser status than Lady Xu because she was his principal wife.[18] Lady Xie quickly lost favour.[19] She became depressed about her situation.[20] She died early of grief.[21] Her death date is unrecorded.[22] She produced no children.[23]
In 229 C.E., Sun Quan became Emperor of the Eastern Wu dynasty. Emperor Sun Quan promoted Imperial Consort Xie’s relatives.[24] Her brother, Xie Cheng, was appointed the Gentleman-of-the-Household.[25] Her nephew, Xie Chong, became a general.[26] His other nephew, Xie Xu, was an administrator for the Wu Commandery.[27]
Imperial Consort Xie was a tragic figure.[28] She suffered and died in misery.[29] She had Emperor Sun Quan’s love until he favoured one of his concubines more than his main wife.[30] Emperor Sun Quan wanted to put Imperial Consort Xu above Imperial Consort Xie’s status.[31] Imperial Consort Xie was unwilling and fought for her rights as Emperor Sun Quan’s principal wife.[32] However, this caused the marriage to quickly deteriorate, and she had an unhappy death.[33] Imperial Consort Xie became a forgotten royal figure in Chinese history.[34]
Sources:
Chen, S., & Pei, S. (1999). Empresses and Consorts: Selections from Chen Shou’s Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi’s Commentary. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] Chen and Pei, 1999
[2] Chen and Pei, 1999
[3] Chen and Pei, 1999
[4] Chen and Pei, 1999
[5] Chen and Pei, 1999
[6] Chen and Pei, 1999
[7] Chen and Pei, 1999
[8] Chen and Pei, 1999, p. 124
[9] Chen and Pei, 1999
[10] Chen and Pei, 1999
[11] Chen and Pei, 1999
[12] Chen and Pei, 1999
[13] McMahon, 2013
[14] McMahon, 2013
[15] Chen and Pei, 1999
[16] McMahon, 2013
[17] McMahon, 2013
[18] McMahon, 2013
[19] McMahon, 2013
[20] Chen and Pei, 1999
[21] Chen and Pei, 1999
[22] Chen and Pei, 1999
[23] Chen and Pei, 1999
[24] Chen and Pei, 1999
[25] Chen and Pei, 1999
[26] Chen and Pei, 1999
[27] Chen and Pei, 1999
[28] McMahon, 2013
[29] McMahon, 2013
[30] Chen and Pei, 1999
[31] Chen and Pei, 1999
[32] Chen and Pei, 1999
[33] Chen and Pei, 1999
[34] McMahon, 2013
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