Empress Hang was one of the Ming Dynasty’s most controversial empresses.[1] She was the second empress of Emperor Daizong (also known as the Jingtai Emperor). After Empress Hang’s death, many chronicles have portrayed her as an “evil empress”[2]. She has also been seen as “a disaster for the nation and its people.”[3] Did Empress Hang truly deserve her negative reputation?
In 1450, Empress Hang was born.[4] Her personal name is unknown.[5] She was from the Hang family. Her father was Hang Yu, who was a local official.[6] Her mother is unknown.[7] She had a brother named Hang Ju.[8] Lady Hang was educated by her father.[9] It was said that she was not only beautiful, but she also had “a gentle and demure personality.”[10]
In 1449, Emperor Yingzong of Ming led a military campaign against the Oirat Mongols.[11] During the Battle of Tumu Fortress, Emperor Yingzong was captured by the Oirat Mongols and was taken north.[12] His mother, Empress Dowager Sun, decided that Emperor Yingzong’s half-brother, Prince Zhu Qiyu, should be the emperor instead.[13] On 22 September 1449, Zhu Qiyu ascended the Ming throne as Emperor Daizong.[14] After Emperor Daizong became emperor, the palace held an imperial selection for Emperor Daizong’s imperial consort.[15] Lady Hang was nominated for “her outstanding appearance and clean family background.”[16] Lady Hang was then selected to become an imperial consort to Emperor Daizong.[17]
When Imperial Consort Hang entered the palace, she initially did not capture Emperor Daizong’s attention.[18] Emperor Daizong already had an empress, who was Empress Wang, and several favourite imperial consorts.[19] She did not attract any attention.[20] She spent her days in the palace embroidering and reading.[21] Because of “her quiet demeanour”[22], she finally captured Emperor Daizong’s eye. She quickly became his favourite.[23] She stayed by his side and eased his worries.[24] She even prepared snacks and tea for him.[25]
In 1450, Imperial Consort Hang bore Emperor Daizong a son named Prince Zhu Jianji.[26] He was the first son born to Emperor Daizong.[27] Emperor Daizong was very thrilled.[28] He ordered a general amnesty and promoted officials.[29] He promoted Imperial Consort Hang to the rank of Noble Consort.[30] She was given land, gold, silver, and jewellery.[31] Her father, Hang Yu, was made Commander of the Imperial Guard.[32] Her brother, Hang Ju, was made a Thousand Householder of the Imperial Guard.[33]
Even though Noble Consort Hang was promoted, she was never arrogant.[34] She paid her respects to Empress Wang and was kind to all of Emperor Daizong’s imperial consorts.[35] She never caused any discord within the imperial harem.[36] It was said that she was “gentle and gracious, and generous to her subordinates, praised by all in the harem as virtuous.”[37]
Emperor Daizong wanted to replace Emperor Yingzong’s son, Prince Zhu Jianshen (who would later be known as the Chenghua Emperor), as the Crown Prince with his own son, Prince Zhu Jianji.[38] However, Empress Wang disagreed with Emperor Daizong’s proposal because it was against the ancestral system, and it would cause political tension within the Ming Dynasty court.[39] Empress Wang tried to persuade Emperor Daizong to drop the matter.[40] Instead, it only caused Emperor Daizong to resent Empress Wang.[41] His resentment of Empress Wang only caused Emperor Daizong to shower his favours on Noble Consort Hang.[42]
In May 1452, Emperor Daizong officially removed Prince Zhu Jianshen from the position of Crown Prince.[43] He made Prince Zhu Jianji the new Crown Prince.[44] At the same time, Emperor Daizong officially deposed Empress Wang.[45] He then appointed Noble Consort Hang as the new Empress of China.[46] The investiture ceremony for Empress Hang was very grand.[47] She wore the Empress’s robes and wore a phoenix crown.[48] It was said that Empress Hang was thrilled with her position as Empress and her son’s position as the Crown Prince.[49] It was said that Empress Hang had helped remove the Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen by praising her son’s accomplishments.[50]
After Empress Hang’s investiture, she helped maintain a peaceful imperial harem.[51] She enforced strict imperial harem rules and sent medicine to sick concubines and palace maids.[52] She also greatly disliked extravagance and wore frugal clothes.[53] Empress Hang was also a devoted mother.[54] She taught her son, Crown Prince Zhu Jianji, to read and write.[55] She also instructed him on palace etiquette.[56]
In March 1453, Crown Prince Zhu Jianji fell ill. Empress Hang was very worried and nursed him.[57] However, Crown Prince Zhu Jianji died on 21 March 1453. The death of Crown Prince Zhu Jianji broke Empress Hang’s heart.[58] She cried constantly, and her health weakened.[59] Even though Emperor Daizong deeply loved her, he could not attend to her because he had to focus on state affairs.[60] Therefore, Empress Hang was left alone, and she broke down mentally.[61] “She often sat alone in the East Palace, recalling every detail of her son’s life, tears streaming down her face.”[62] Empress Hang felt lonely and withdrawn.[63] She neglected matters in the imperial harem.[64] Emperor Daizong tried to comfort her with gifts, but Empress Hang’s health rapidly declined.[65]
In 1456, Empress Hang’s health continued to get worse.[66] She was bedridden and could not get up.[67] When Emperor Daizong learned that Empress Hang was on her deathbed, he ran to her bedside.[68] Emperor Daizong begged her to get well and to take care of herself.[69] He also said that he and the imperial harem needed her.[70] However, Empress Hang said:
“Your majesty, I’m afraid I can’t make it anymore…My only regret is that I couldn’t see Jianji grow up…After I die, I hope Your Majesty can take good care of yourself and not be sad for me anymore.”[71]
Empress Hang then closed her eyes and died.[72] She was twenty-six years old.[73] Emperor Daizong was deeply saddened by her death.[74] He gave her a funeral befitting an Empress.[75] He gave her the posthumous name of Empress Suxiao.[76] He also built an elaborate tomb for her.[77]
On 11 February 1457, Emperor Daizong was officially deposed.[78] Emperor Yingzong’s throne was restored to him.[79] Emperor Yingzong demoted the deposed Emperor Daizong to the Prince of Qin.[80] He also imprisoned him in the Western Garden.[81] On 14 March 1457, the former Emperor Daizong died.
Emperor Yingzong also destroyed Empress Hang’s reputation.[82] He blamed her for the deposition of Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen.[83] He called her the “evil empress.”[84] Emperor Yingzong revoked her posthumous empress title and destroyed her tomb.[85] He also opened up her coffin and disposed of her body elsewhere.[86] Emperor Yingzong executed Empress Hang’s brother, Hang Ju.[87] He also stripped Empress Hang’s father, Hang Yu, of his titles.[88] He then exiled Hang Yu along with the rest of Empress Hang’s family.[89]
After examining Empress Hang’s life, it comes to the conclusion that she did not deserve her negative reputation.[90] In reality, Empress Hang was a virtuous empress.[91] She maintained a peaceful harem and was a devoted mother.[92] While she wanted her son to be Crown Prince and was thrilled when he was made heir apparent, she was not a direct participant in the dethroning of Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen.[93] Therefore, Empress Hang was the scapegoat of Emperor Yingzong’s political propaganda.[94] Many modern historians have begun to sympathise with Empress Hang and have often seen her as a “victim of political strife.”[95]They do not view her as someone who harmed China.[96] Instead, Empress Hang is seen as “an ordinary woman struggling to survive under the feudal imperial system”[97]. Empress Hang’s reputation is slowly being rehabilitated.[98] Empress Hang is the subject of the popular 2016 Chinese television show, Imperial Doctress, in which she is played by Cecilia Liu.
Sources:
iNews. (n.d.). “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”. Retrieved on October 22, 2025 from https://inf.news/en/history/85ceb4ae4ee2b37d71faa3d128ff4fcf.html/3.
McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Yanqing, L., et al. (2014). “Sun, Empress of the Xuande Emperor, Xuanzong of Ming.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (Xiao, H. Lee, L., Ed. & Wiles, S. Ed.) NY: Routledge. pp. 381-383.
[1] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[2] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 23
[3] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 25
[4] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[5] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[6] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[7] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[8] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[9] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[10] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 1
[11] Yanqing, et al., 2014
[12] Yanqing, et al., 2014
[13] Yanqing, et al., 2014
[14] Yanqing, et al., 2014
[15] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[16] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 3
[17] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[18] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[19] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[20] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[21] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[22] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 4
[23] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[24] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[25] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[26] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[27] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[28] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[29] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[30] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[31] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[32] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[33] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[34] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[35] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[36] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[37] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 8
[38] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[39] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[40] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[41] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[42] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[43] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[44] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[45] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[46] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[47] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[48] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[49] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[50] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[51] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[52] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[53] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[54] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[55] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[56] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[57] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[58] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[59] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[60] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[61] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[62] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 16
[63] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[64] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[65] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[66] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[67] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[68] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[69] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[70] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[71] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 20
[72] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[73] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[74] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[75] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[76] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[77] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[78] Yanqing, et al., 2014
[79] Yanqing, et al., 2014
[80] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[81] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[82] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[83] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[84] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 23
[85] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[86] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”; McMahon, 2016
[87] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[88] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[89] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[90] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[91] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[92] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[93] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[94] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[95] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 27
[96] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
[97] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”, para. 27
[98] iNews, n.d., “Empress Hang of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhu Qiyu: Her life from favorite concubine to tragic ghost”
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