Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang was the second empress of Emperor Cao Pi of the Wei Dynasty. Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang was of humble origins.[1] However, Emperor Cao Pi loved her very deeply.[2] He made her the Empress despite his ministers’ objections.[3] By investing Guo Nuwang as the Empress, it would cause the next Emperor to resent her.[4] His resentment of Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang would lead to her death.[5]
On 8 April 184 C.E., Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang was born in Guangzong in Anping Province (modern-day Shandong Province).[6] Her father was Guo Yong (a minor official).[7] Her mother was Lady Dong.[8] Her personal name is unknown.[9] She was said to be very bright, and her father was very impressed with her.[10] He called her Nuwang because she was “queen”[11] of their household.[12] She initially served in the Marquis of Tongdi’s household.[13] Sometime between 213-216 C.E., Guo Nuwang became Cao Pi’s concubine.[14]
It was said that Lady Guo Nuwang was a “shrewd strategist.”[15] She offered sound advice to Cao Pi, and he often relied on her.[16] She helped Cao Pi become the Emperor of the Wei Dynasty.[17] In 220 C.E., Emperor Cao Pi made Lady Zhen his Empress. Empress Zhen’s son, Cao Rui (the future Emperor Ming of the Wei Dynasty), became the Crown Prince.
Shortly afterwards, Emperor Cao Pi wanted to make Imperial Consort Guo Nuwang his Empress instead.[18] He was met with great opposition from his ministers.[19] This was because Empress Zhen was already invested as Empress and had just started running the imperial harem.[20] His ministers also criticised Imperial Consort Guo Nuwang’s humble origins.[21] However, Emperor Cao Pi deeply loved Imperial Consort Guo Nuwang and decided to make her the Empress anyway.[22] However, he issued an edict stating that “women were not allowed to participate in government, no official was to report state affairs to the empress dowager, and no members of the clans of imperial consorts were to be appointed regent or enfeoffed without due merit.”[23]
On 4 August 222 C.E., Emperor Cao Pi ordered Empress Zhen to commit suicide. On 31 October 222 C.E., Guo Nuwang was invested as Empress of the Wei Dynasty. Empress Guo Nuwang often showed respect to Grand Empress Dowager Bian.[24] She also helped the imperial consorts in tough situations.[25] She often intervened for them on their behalf if the Emperor was displeased with them.[26] Empress Guo Nuwang also preferred simplicity and frugality and hated music.[27] Her role model was Empress Ma.[28] Empress Guo Nuwang often advised her family to marry within their hometowns.[29] She also forbade her nephew from taking any concubines, but only having one wife.[30] Empress Guo Nuwang also stopped her cousin from building a dam on a local river so he could harvest fish.[31]
Empress Guo Nuwang did not give Emperor Cao Pi any sons.[32] Therefore, she adopted Crown Prince Cao Rui.[33] On 29 June 226 C.E., Emperor Cao Pi died. He was succeeded by Prince Cao Rui. He ascended the throne as Emperor Ming of the Wei Dynasty. Emperor Ming made Guo Nuwang the Empress Dowager and promoted her family.[34]
In 235 C.E., Emperor Ming learned the truth of his mother’s death.[35] He blamed Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang for her death.[36]Emperor Ming “hounded her to death.”[37] Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang died suddenly “from anxiety.”[38] On 14 March 235 C.E., Emperor Ming gave Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang the same burial as Empress Zhen.[39] “Her hair was left unbound and her face was covered, and her mouth was stuffed with grain husks.”[40] Even though Emperor Ming resented Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang, he still continued to promote her family and honoured her deceased parents.[41]
Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang was said to be very intelligent.[42] Because of her keen intellect, she helped Cao Pi to become Emperor.[43] As the Empress, she preferred a simple lifestyle instead of living extravagantly.[44] She was dearly loved by Emperor Cao Pi.[45] However, her stepson harboured a deep resentment of her.[46] She was given a very dishonourable death and burial.[47] Nevertheless, Empress Dowager Guo Nuwang was a very accomplished Empress, who was worthy of admiration.[48]
Sources:
Ching-Chung, P. (2015). “Guo, Empress of Emperor Wen of Wei”. 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. 289-291.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] Ching-Chung, 2015
[2] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[3] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[4] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[5] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[6] Ching-Chung, 2015
[7] Ching-Ching, 2015
[8] Ching-Chung, 2015
[9] Ching-Chung, 2015
[10] Ching-Chung, 2015
[11] Ching-Chung, 2015, p. 289
[12] Ching-Chung, 2015
[13] Ching-Chung, 2015
[14] Ching-Chung, 2015
[15] Ching-Chung, 2015, p. 289
[16] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[17] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[18] Ching-Chung, 2015
[19] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[20] Ching-Chung, 2015
[21] Ching-Chung, 2015
[22] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[23] Ching-Chung, 2015, p. 290
[24] Ching-Chung, 2015
[25] Ching-Chung, 2015
[26] Ching-Chung, 2015
[27] Ching-Chung, 2015
[28] Ching-Chung, 2015
[29] Ching-Chung, 2015
[30] Ching-Chung, 2015
[31] Ching-Chung, 2015
[32] Ching-Chung, 2015
[33] Ching-Chung, 2015
[34] Ching-Chung, 2015
[35] McMahon, 2013
[36] McMahon, 2013
[37] McMahon, 2013, p. 114
[38] Ching-Chung, 2015, p. 290
[39] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[40] Ching-Chung, 2015, p. 290
[41] Ching-Chung, 2015
[42] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[43] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[44] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[45] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[46] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[47] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[48] Ching-Chung, 2015
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