Empress Dowager Mu – The unobtrusive Empress

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 predicted a prosperous future for her.^[4] Therefore, she was sought after by two ambitious and powerful men.^[5] The prophecy would prove to be true because she eventually became an empress.^[6]

In circa 190 C.E., Empress Dowager Mu was born in Chenliu (near Luoyang in modern-day Henan Province).^[7] Her personal name is unknown.^[8] She was from the Wu family.^[9] Her parents’ names are unrecorded.^[10] She had a brother named Wang Yi.^[11] Her parents died when she was young.^[12] However, her father was a strong supporter of Prince Liu Yan, who wished to usurp the Han throne for Emperor Xian.^[13] A physiognomist observed Lady Mu’s face and predicted she “would be greatly honoured.”^[14] Therefore, Prince Liu Yan married Lady Wu to his second son, Prince Liu Mao.^[15] Prince Liu Mao died sometime afterwards.^[16] Princess Wu had no children and lived alone.^[17]

In 214 C.E., Liu Bei pacified Yi.^[18] His principal wife, Lady Sun, returned to Wu.^[19] Liu Bei was advised to marry Princess Wu.^[20] Initially, he was reluctant to marry her because she had been previously married to his kinsman, Prince Liu Mao.^[21] However, his advisor, Fa Zheng, finally persuaded him to marry her by reminding him that a duke from the Spring and Autumn Era had once married his kinsman’s wife.^[22] In 219 C.E., Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong.^[23] He made Princess Wu the Queen of Hanzhong.^[24]

In 220 C.E., Cao Pi declared himself Emperor. However, King Liu Bei believed that Cao Pi was not suitable to be Emperor due to his humble origins.^[25] He believed he had a better claim to the throne of Han China.^[26] This was because he was an imperial member of the Han Dynasty, for he was a descendant of Emperor Jing.^[27] On 15 May 221 C.E., Liu Bei declared himself Emperor of the Shu kingdom.^[28] On 19 June 221 C.E., Emperor Liu Bei invested Wu as his Empress.^[29]

On 10 June 223 C.E., Emperor Liu Bei died. His son, Liu Shan, ascended the Shu throne as Emperor Liu Shan made Empress Wu the Empress Dowager.^[30] Her brother, Wang Yi, was promoted to a general and was ennobled as a Marquis.^[31] In 245 C.E., Empress Dowager Wu died. She was buried in Huiling alongside Emperor Liu Bei and Empress Gan.^[32] She was given the posthumous name of Empress Mu.^[33]

Many historians depict Empress Dowager Mu as an “unremarkable”^[34] Empress. She is also seen as “unobtrusive.”^[35] Unlike Emperor Liu Bei’s previous wives, Empress Mu’s life does not have much drama.^[36] She is often overlooked in favour of Emperor Liu Bei’s more famous wife, Lady Sun.^[37] Nevertheless, Empress Dowager Mu was able to enjoy many privileges throughout her life.^[38]

Sources:

Ching-Chung, P. (2015). “Wu, Empress of the Former Sovereign of Shu”. 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. 347-349.

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.