Empress Hesi was one of Tang Dynasty’s most mysterious and tragic empresses.[1] She was the first wife of Emperor Zhongzong before he became crown prince.[2] However, Empress Wu Zetian was jealous of her mother and took her displeasure out on Empress Hesi.[3] Empress Hesi was brutally murdered by Empress Wu Zetian.[4] Empress Hesi was eventually made a posthumous empress.[5]
The birthdate of Empress Hesi is unknown. She was born in Chang’an.[6] Her personal name is also unknown. Empress Hesi was from the prominent Zhao family.[7] Her paternal grandfather was Zhao Chuo (General of the Right Guard).[8] Her father was Zhao Gui (General of the Left Thousand Oxen).[9] She was also descended from the Tang Dynasty imperial family.[10] Her maternal grandfather was Emperor Gaozu.[11] Her mother was Princess Changle.[12]
Lady Zhao eventually married the son of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu, Prince Li Xian (the Prince of Zhou).[13] Therefore, Lady Zhao became the Princess of Zhou. Emperor Gaozong frequently showed favour towards Princess Zhao’s mother, Princess Changle.[14] Empress Wu became very jealous and took her anger out on Princess Zhao.[15] Therefore, Empress Wu disapproved of Prince Li Xian’s marriage and was displeased with Princess Zhao.[16] In 675, Empress Wu imprisoned Princess Zhao and starved her to death.[17] Princess Zhao was given a hasty burial.[18] Prince Li Xian then married Lady Wei.[19] Empress Wu also demoted Princess Zhao’s father, Zhao Gui, to the Kuo Prefecture.[20] She then exiled both Zhao Gui and Princess Changle.[21]
Zhao Gui and Princess Changle resented Empress Wu for murdering their daughter.[22] In 688 C.E., Prince Li Zhen of Yue rebelled against Empress Dowager Wu.[23] Zhao Gui and Princess Changle expressed their support for Prince Li Zhen.[24] When Prince Li Zhen was defeated, Zhao Gui and Princess Changle were arrested and declared traitors to the Tang Dynasty.[25] They both committed suicide in prison.[26]
On 23 February 705, Li Xian ascended the Tang throne for the second time as Emperor Zhongzong. He made Princess Zhao a posthumous empress.[27] He gave her the posthumous name of Empress Gong.[28] He did not attempt to rebury her.[29]
On 3 July 710, Emperor Zhongzong died. On 25 July 710, Emperor Ruizong ascended the Tang throne through a palace coup. Because Empress Wei was declared a traitor to the Tang Dynasty, he did not want her to be buried with Emperor Zhongzong in the Ding Mausoleum.[30] Therefore, Emperor Ruizong chose Empress Gong to be buried with Emperor Zhongzong.[31] Because Empress Gong was given a hasty burial, he could not find her body.[32] He then conducted a spirit summoning ritual and buried Princess Zhao’s personal belongings (which substituted as her remains) with Emperor Zhongzong in the Ding Mausoleum.[33] Emperor Ruizong then gave Empress Gong the posthumous name of Empress Hesi.[34]
There are very few facts known about Empress Hesi.[35] However, it is clear that she had a short and tragic life.[36] She was imprisoned by Empress Wu and died of starvation.[37] Empress Hesi has been a forgotten empress.[38] She has been overshadowed by the powerful Empress Wei.[39] Because of Empress Wei’s downfall, Empress Hesi was allowed to get some justice in the afterlife.[40] It was Empress Hesi and not Empress Wei who was buried alongside Emperor Zhongzong in the imperial mausoleum.[41]
Sources:
Choo, J. J. C. (2022). Inscribing Death: Burials, Representations, and Remembrance in Tang China. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press.
iMedia. (n.d.). “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”. Retrieved on November 15, 2025 from https://min.news/en/history/81e9574f9d62ba4172f3b6dfa3786131.html/2.
[1] Choo, 2022
[2] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[3] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[4] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[5] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[6] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[7] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[8] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[9] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[10] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[11] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[12] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[13] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[14] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[15] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Chooo, 2022
[16] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[17] Choo, 2022
[18] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[19] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[20] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[21] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[22] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[23] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[24] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[25] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[26] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[27] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[28] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[29] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[30] Choo, 2022
[31] Choo, 2022
[32] Choo, 2022
[33] Choo, 2022
[34] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[35] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[36] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[37] Choo, 2022
[38] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[39] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; Choo, 2022
[40] Choo, 2022
[41] Choo, 2022
Be the first to comment