Empress Shirindari – Temur Khan of Yuan Dynasty’s overlooked first Empress

Empress Shirindari was one of China’s most forgotten empresses.^[1] She was the first empress of Temur Khan (also known as Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty). She was a granddaughter of the famous Kublai Khan.^[2] She was an empress for five years.^[3] She died young and childless.^[4]

The birthdate of Empress Shirindari is unknown.^[5] She was a member of the Yuan Dynasty imperial family.^[6] Her maternal grandfather was Kublai Khan (the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty and also known as Emperor Shizu).^[7] Her maternal grandmother was Empress Chabi. She was from the Qonggirat tribe.^[8] Her father was Olochi (Kublai Khan’s nephew).^[9] Her mother was Grand Princess Oljei of Lu.^[10]

Lady Shirindari’s parents died when she was young.^[11] Her father, Olochin, had passed away in 1277.^[12] Her mother, Grand Princess Oljei of Lu, died when Lady Shirindari was five years old.^[13] Therefore, Lady Shirindari became an orphan. Lady Shirindari was taken into the imperial palace, where she was raised by her maternal grandmother, Empress Chabi.^[14]

In 1285, Lady Shirindari married Prince Temur.^[15] Therefore, Lady Shirindari was given the title of princess.^[16] On 18 February 1294, Kublai Khan died without naming a successor.^[17] A competition among the princes was held to see who would be the next successor.^[18] Prince Temur won the competition.^[19] On 10 May 1294, Temur Khan ascended the Yuan Dynasty throne as Emperor Chengzong. Temur Khan became Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty on 10 May 1294. Lady Shirindari became empress. It was said that Emperor Temur was known to be a “drunkard.”^[20] He excessively favoured alcohol, which often caused him to be ill.^[21] His court was also known to be very “corrupt.”^[22] Therefore, Emperor Temur’s reign was very inefficient.^[23]

Empress Shirindari would only be the empress for five years.^[24] It is not known how close Empress Shirindari was to Emperor Temur.^[25] She was childless and did not produce any children for Emperor Temur.^[26] She died in 1299 at a young age.^[27] She was given an elaborate funeral befitting the status of an empress.^[28] Her posthumous name was Empress Zhenci Jingyi. Shortly after her death, Emperor Temur enthroned another empress named Bulughan.

There are very few facts that are known about Empress Shirindari.^[29] She has largely been overshadowed by her successor, Empress Bulughan.^[30] Many historians have considered Empress Shirindari to be weak.^[31] She did not have any political influence over the Yuan Dynasty court.^[32] This may be because of her young age and her brief reign as empress.^[33] She is merely a footnote in Chinese history.^[34] Therefore, Empress Shirindari is still a largely forgotten historical figure.^[35]

Sources:

Farquhar, D. M. (1990). The Government of China Under Mongolian Rule: A Reference Guide. Germany: Steiner.

Kim, H., Ed.; and Biran, M., Ed. (2023). The Cambridge History of the Mongol Empire 2 Volumes. (n.p.): Cambridge University Press.

Man, J. (2006). Kublai Khan: From Xanadu to Superpower. London: United Kingdom: Bantam Books.

McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Weatherford, J. (2024). Emperor of the Seas: Kublai Khan and the Making of China. London: United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing.