Empress Dowager Zheng Achun was the imperial concubine of Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. She was the mother of Emperor Jianwen and the grandmother of Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Before Empress Dowager Zheng Achun met Emperor Yuan, she was a widow with a young son.[1] However, he could only make her his concubine because she was already married.[2] Nevertheless, Empress Dowager Zheng Achun was treated as an empress.[3]
In circa 290 B.C.E., Empress Dowager Zheng Achun was born in Xingyang.[4] She came from the prestigious Zheng family.[5] Her personal name was Achun.[6] Her grandfather was Zheng He (the magistrate of Linji County).[7] Her father was Zheng Kai (the prefect of Anfeng).[8] Her mother is unknown.[9] She had three younger sisters.[10] Zheng Achun’s parents died early, and she had to support her three sisters.[11] She immediately married a man named Tian and bore him a son. He died shortly afterwards.[12] Tian’s death left Zheng Achun destitute, and she gave her sisters to her uncle to raise.[13]
It was through Zheng Achun’s cousin, Wu Shi, that she met Sima Rui (the Prince of Langya) by chance.[14] Prince Sima Rui invited Wu Shi to visit his garden.[15] Wu Shi brought Zheng Achun with him.[16] Prince Sima Rui immediately became smitten with Zheng Achun because of her beauty and gentleness.[17] In 317 C.E., Prince Sima Rui could not make her his wife because she was a widow with a son.[18] Therefore, he made her his concubine.[19] Even though Zheng Achun was his concubine, Prince Sima Rui ordered his servants to address her as his wife.[20] He let her run his household.[21] He loved her dearly.[22] In that same year, Imperial Consort Zheng Achun gave birth to a son named Prince Sima Huan.[23]
On 26 April 318 C.E., Sima Rui ascended the throne as Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He made his late wife, Yu Mengnu, his posthumous empress.[24] To respect his late wife, Emperor Yuan did not have an empress.[25] Instead, Zheng Achun was his imperial concubine. Yet, she had the top status in the imperial harem and was treated as an empress.[26] Emperor Yuan asked his sons from his other concubines to treat Imperial Consort Zheng Achun as their mother.[27]
In 320 C.E., Imperial Consort Zheng Achun gave birth to a second son named Prince Sima Yu (the future Emperor Jianwen).[28] On 3 January 323 C.E., Emperor Yuan of the Jin Dynasty died. He was succeeded by Sima Shao. He ascended the throne of the Eastern Ming Dynasty. Because there was a new emperor, Zheng Achun could no longer be called an imperial concubine.[29] Instead, she was renamed Mrs. Jianpingyuan.[30] Zheng Achun gave birth to a daughter named Princess Xunyang in that same year.[31]
In 326 C.E., Zheng Achun died. In 327 C.E., Zheng Achun was made the posthumous Imperial Consort of Kuaiji.[32] This was seen as a sign of respect for her son, Sima Yu, who was made Prince of Kuaiji.[33] In 371 C.E., Sima Yue ascended the throne as Emperor Jianwen of the Eastern Jin Empire. He did not have an empress.[34] Emperor Jianwen made his mother’s name a taboo.[35] This was unusual because she was not an empress consort.[36] Emperor Jianwen also wanted to make Imperial Consort Zheng Achun the posthumous empress dowager.[37] However, he died of illness a year after he ascended the throne.[38] Emperor Jianwen was succeeded by his son, Sima Yao. Sima Yao ascended the throne as Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He made his grandmother, Zheng Achun, the posthumous empress dowager.[39] Her posthumous name was Empress Jianwenxuan.[40]
Empress Dowager Zheng Achun was the imperial concubine, mother, and grandmother of the emperors of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[41] Therefore, she has been considered to be an ancestress of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[42] Even though she was not an empress in her lifetime, she was still treated as an empress and was very respected.[43] Emperor Yuan dearly loved and favoured her.[44] Therefore, Empress Dowager Zheng Achun lived peacefully and comfortably in the imperial palace.[45]
Sources:
Adamek, P. (2017). Good Son is Sad If He Hears the Name of His Father: The Tabooing of Names in China as a Way of Implementing Social Values. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
iMedia. (n.d.). “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”. Retrieved on January 31, 2025 from https://min.news/en/history/27cc2a83a0f7f6d947c6a8fc0dea218f.html#google_vignette.
[1] Adamek, 2017; iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[2] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[3] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[4] Adamek, 2017
[5] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[6] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[7] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[8] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[9] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[10] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[11] Adamek, 2017; iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[12] Adamek, 2017; iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[13] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[14] Adamek, 2017; iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[15] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[16] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[17] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[18] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[19] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[20] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[21] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[22] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[23] Adamek, 2017; iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[24] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[25] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[26] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[27] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[28] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[29] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[30] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[31] Adamek, 2017
[32] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[33] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[34] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[35] Adamek, 2017
[36] Adamek, 2017
[37] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[38] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[39] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”y
[40] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[41] Adamek, 2017; iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[42] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[43] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[44] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[45] iMedia, n.d., “The widow remarried became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
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