Empress Mao – Emperor Ming of Wei’s first Empress who was forced to commit suicide after asking the Emperor about his secret party

Empress Mao was the first Empress of Emperor Ming of the Wei Dynasty. She was of humble origins.^[1] She was originally Emperor Ming’s favourite consort.^[2] He elevated her to the Empress position.^[3] Once she was Empress, Emperor Ming grew tired of her and forced her to commit suicide.^[4]

In circa 210 C.E., Empress Mao was born in Henei (located in modern-day Shanxi Province).^[5] Her father was Mao Jia, who worked as a carpenter in the Department of Public Works.^[6] She had a younger brother named Mao Cang. She entered the household of Cao Rui (the Prince of Pingyuan) and became his favourite concubine.^[7] He preferred Lady Mao over his principal wife, Princess Yu, and she often rode with him in his carriage.^[8]

On 26 June 226 C.E., Cao Rui ascended the throne as Emperor Ming of the Wei Dynasty. Emperor Ming chose to make Lady Mao his Empress over Princess Yu.^[9] In 227 C.E., Lady Mao was invested as Empress of China. Princess Yu was very upset that she was not made Empress and heavily criticised the imperial Cao family.^[10] Imperial Consort Yu was exiled and spent her remaining years in disgrace.^[11]

Upon Empress Mao’s investiture, all the officials were promoted, and the poor were given grain.^[12] Her father, Mao Jia, was made Chief Commander of the cavalry.^[13] He often referred to himself as “the Lordly Person”^[14], and everyone in court would laugh at him for his arrogance.^[15] Her brother, Mao Cang, was made General of the Palace.^[16] In 231 C.E., Empress Mao gave birth to a son named Prince Cao Yin. He died in 232 C.E. Cao Pin was given the title of Prince Ai of Anping.

Emperor Ming quickly lost interest in Empress Mao.^[17] Instead, he favoured Imperial Consort Guo. In September 237 C.E., Emperor Ming hosted a party in his rear garden and invited his high-ranking imperial consorts.^[18] Imperial Consort Guo asked Emperor Ming if Empress Mao should be invited to the party.^[19] However, Emperor Ming refused to invite her.^[20] He forbade them from telling Empress Mao about the party.^[21]

Emperor Ming’s secret party quickly reached Empress Mao’s ears.^[22] The next day, Empress Mao asked Emperor Ming, “Was yesterday’s party in the northern garden pleasant?”^[23] Emperor Ming was angry that she had learned about his secret party.^[24] He killed over ten of her attendants because he believed that one of them had told the Empress.^[25] On 22 September 237 C.E., Emperor Ming ordered Empress Mao to commit suicide.^[26] She was buried in Mingling.^[27] Emperor Ming gave her the posthumous name of Empress Mingdao. He still promoted her brother, Mao Cang.^[28] On 16 January 239 C.E., Emperor Ming invested Lady Guo as Empress of the Wei Dynasty.

Empress Mao enjoyed many privileges when she was favoured by Emperor Ming.^[29] However, Emperor Ming eventually grew tired of her.^[30] He did not want to invite her to his party.^[31] Once she found out about it, he wanted to get rid of her to make his new favourite the next Empress.^[32] Therefore, Empress Mao met a tragic end.^[33] She is one of China’s most unfortunate Empresses.^[34]

Sources:

Chen, S. & Pei, S. (1999). Empresses and Consorts: Selections from Chen Shou’s Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi’s Commentary. (R. J. Cutter, Ed.; S. Pei. Ed.; W. G. Crowell, Ed.). Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press.

Ching-Chung, P. (2015). “Mao, Empress of Emperor Ming 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. 322-323.