Empress Bu – The greatest love of Emperor Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu Dynasty

Empress Bu was the favourite imperial concubine of Emperor Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu Dynasty.^[1] Emperor Sun Quan loved her deeply and was very devoted to her throughout her life.^[2] Emperor Sun Quan wanted to make her his empress.^[3] However, his ministers stubbornly refused.^[4] Empress Bu was the empress in all but name.^[5] After her death, she was made a posthumous empress.^[6]

In circa 190 C.E., Empress Bu was born in Huaiyin in Linhuai Commandery (north of modern-day Jiangsu Province).^[7] Her personal name is unknown.^[8] Her parents’ names are also unknown.^[9] Her father died sometime during her early childhood.^[10] She was raised by her mother.^[11] During her childhood, the future Empress Bu and her mother moved to Lujiang (north modern-day Anhui Province).^[12] After Lujiang was conquered by Sun Ce (Sun Quan’s older brother), they moved south of the Yangtze River.^[13]The rest of Empress Bu’s early years are unknown.^[14] 

Empress Bu did have a relative named Bu Zhi (who would be a chancellor during Emperor Sun Quan’s reign).^[15] It was through Bu Zhi that Empress Bu would first meet Sun Quan.^[16] Sun Quan immediately became besotted with Lady Bu’s beauty.^[17] He made her his concubine.^[18] He loved her greatly and was deeply devoted to her.^[19] Lady Bu bore Sun Quan two daughters named Sun Luban and Sun Luyu. Lady Bu was not jealous and recommended numerous women to Sun Quan “for his sexual pleasure.”^[20] Because she did not have a jealous nature, Sun Quan loved her more than any of his other concubines.^[21]

On 23 September 221 C.E., Sun Quan proclaimed himself King of the Wu kingdom. He could not appoint a queen.^[22] His ministers wanted Imperial Consort Xu because she had raised the Crown Prince, Sun Deng.^[23] King Sun Quan wanted Imperial Consort Bu to be his queen.^[24] Therefore, he did not have a queen.^[25]

On 23 May 229 C.E., Sun Quan proclaimed himself Emperor of the Eastern Wu Dynasty. Again, he could not appoint an empress.^[26] His ministers wanted Imperial Consort Xu, and Emperor Sun Quan wanted Imperial Consort Bu to be his empress.^[27] Therefore, he did not appoint a formal empress.^[28] Imperial Consort Bu became the de facto empress to Emperor Sun Quan.^[29] Everyone called her the “Empress.”^[30] “When her relatives sent up memorials, they referred to her as the “Middle Palace.”^[31]

In 238 C.E., Imperial Consort Bu died. Emperor Sun Quan made her a posthumous empress.^[32] During her posthumous investiture as empress, Emperor Sun Quan said, “Tolerant and magnanimous, benevolent and mild, she possessed the virtue of womanly obedience. The people and the officials respected her, far and near submitting to her.”^[33] Emperor Sun Quan also regretted not making Empress Bu his empress when she was alive.^[34] He thought that she would share a long life with him and did not expect her to die so suddenly.^[35] Empress Bu was buried in Jiangling.^[36]

Empress Bu was Emperor Sun Quan’s greatest love.^[37] She did not behave in a jealous manner, which is what drew Emperor Sun Quan to him the most.^[38] Instead, she was very practical and provided him with numerous concubines.^[39] Even though she was not an empress in her lifetime, she was very respected by all. Emperor Sun Quan’s court still addressed her as “Empress.”^[40] Therefore, Empress Bu was loved, honoured, and respected.^[41]

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.

Ching-Chung, P. (2015). “Bu, Consort of Sun Quan”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E..(L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 271-272.

McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.