China Archives - Page 5 of 41 - History of Royal Women

Imperial Consort Zhang – The Imperial Consort who was known for her wise counsel but was ignored by her own husband

Saturday, 21 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Imperial Consort Zhang was an imperial consort to King Fu Jian of the Former Qin Dynasty. However, there is very little information on her.[1] From the few facts that we know about her in history, we can piece together that she was extremely intelligent and had great foresight.[2] However, her husband did not see the value [read more]

Empress Yuan Qigui – The Empress whose ghost saved an innocent Imperial Consort

Thursday, 19 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Yuan Qigui was the empress consort of Emperor Wen of the Liu-Song Dynasty. Empress Yuan Qigui believed that Emperor Wen treated her unfairly. [1] She held a grudge for him that lasted until her death.[2] Empress Yuan Qigui’s ghost was believed to have saved a wrongfully accused imperial consort from death.[3] In 405 C.E., Empress [read more]

Empress Dowager Yang Lihua – The Empress Dowager of Northern Zhou Dynasty who became a Princess of the Sui Dynasty

Wednesday, 18 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Dowager Yang Lihua was the last Empress of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. She was the empress consort of Emperor Xuan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. After Emperor Xuan’s death, Yang Lihua became the Empress Dowager. She was empress dowager for one year because her father, Yang Jian, took the throne and became the first [read more]

Queen Qianjin – The Queen who was the Sui Dynasty’s greatest enemy

Tuesday, 17 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Queen Qianjin was the wife of three Turkic Khans. She was made queen in her third marriage to her stepson, Khan Tulan Qaghan.[1] Queen Qianjin was originally a princess of the Northern Zhou Dynasty.[2] However, the Northern Zhou Dynasty was destroyed, and the Sui Dynasty killed her family.[3] Queen Qianjin harboured a deep hatred for the [read more]

Empress Xiao – The tragic life of the last Empress of the Sui Dynasty

Saturday, 14 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Xiao was the last Empress of the Sui Dynasty. She was the empress consort of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. She was originally a princess of the Western Liang Dynasty.[1] After Emperor Yang’s death, she spent fourteen years in exile. Empress Xiao has recently garnered some attention when archaeologists unearthed her crown in [read more]

Empress Dowager Mu – The unobtrusive Empress

Thursday, 19 February 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Dowager Mu was the empress consort of Emperor Liu Bei of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era.[1] Empress Dowager Mu lived during a tumultuous time.[2] She was born at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which was plagued by internal conflicts and peasant uprisings. Empress Dowager Mu was once an orphan.[3] Yet a physiognomist once [read more]