Empress Wang Shen’ai – The twice-crowned Empress of the Eastern Jin Dynasty whose husband was mute and intellectually disabled

Empress Wang Shen’ai was the empress consort of Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Due to turbulent events in her lifetime, Empress Wang Shen’ai was invested as empress twice.^[1] Her reign as empress was often unhappy.^[2] Her husband, Emperor An, was intellectually disabled and could not speak.^[3] She was also a hostage of three powerful men.^[4] Therefore, Empress Wang Shen’ai is a very tragic figure.^[5]

In 384 C.E., Empress Wang Shen’ai was born. She was the granddaughter of Emperor Jianwen. Her mother was Princess Xin’an. Her father was Wang Xianzhi. She had a brother named Wang Gong.^[6] In 396 C.E., at the age of twelve, Wang Shen’ai married the fourteen-year-old Crown Prince named Sima Dezong.^[7] Wang Shen’ai became the Crown Princess of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Prince Sima Dezong was intellectually disabled and could not speak.^[8] Therefore, they did not consummate their marriage.^[9]

In that same year, Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty was murdered by his favourite concubine, Imperial Consort Zhang.^[10] Sima Dewen ascended the throne as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. On 3 May 397 C.E., Wang Shen’ai was invested as empress. In 398 C.E., Empress Wang Shen’ai’s brother Wang Gong, and Huan Xuan started a rebellion and attacked the capital, Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing in Jiangsu Province).^[11] Wang Gong was killed by his own supporters.^[12] However, Huan Xuan gained prominence and power.^[13] He became a threat to the Eastern Jin Dynasty.^[14]

In 402 C.E., an imperial edict was issued for people to fight against Huan Xuan.^[15] The imperial army was led by Sima Daozi and his son, Sima Yuanxian.^[16] Emperor Sima Dezong was clothed in armour and gave them a feast.^[17] However, the imperial army was defeated by Huan Xuan’s army.^[18] Huan Xuan entered Jiankang and executed Sima Daozi and Sima Yuanxian.^[19] In 403 C.E., Huan Xuan proclaimed himself emperor.^[20] He formed a new dynasty known as the Huan-Chu Dynasty. Huan Xuan would become known in history as Emperor Wudao of the Huan-Chu Dynasty. However, his reign lasted a few months. Emperor Sima Dezong was demoted to Prince of Pinggu.^[21] Empress Wang Shen’ai became the Princess of Pinggu. They resided in Xunyang (modern-day Jiujiang in Jiangsu Province).^[22]

In 404 C.E., Liu Yu (the Duke of Song) wanted to restore the Eastern Jin Dynasty.^[23] He attacked Emperor Huan Xuan.^[24] Emperor Huan Xuan kidnapped Prince Sima Dezong and Princess Wang Shen’ai and fled to Jiangling (modern-day Shashi in Hubei Province).^[25] Duke Liu Yu attacked Jiangling.^[26] On 19 June 404 C.E., Duke Liu Yu killed Emperor Huan Xuan.^[27] Duke Liu Yu restored Emperor Sima Dezong’s throne.^[28] Wang Shen’ai was empress again for the second time.^[29]

On 26 June 404 C.E., Emperor Huan Xuan’s nephew, Huan Zhen, invaded Jiangling and kidnapped Emperor Sima Dezong and Empress Wang Shen’ai.^[30] In the spring of 405 C.E., Jiangling finally fell to Duke Liu Yu’s army.^[31] Liu Yu brought Emperor Sima Dezong and Empress Wang Shen’ai to Jiankang.^[32] However, the imperial family was powerless.^[33] Duke Liu Yu had total control of the Eastern Jin Empire and was made regent.^[34]

In 412 C.E., Empress Wang Shen’ai died at the age of twenty-eight. She was given a funeral that befitted her empress position. Her posthumous name was Empress Anxi. On 28 January 419 C.E., Duke Liu Yu murdered Emperor Sima Dezong.^[35] His posthumous name was Emperor An, which means “the Peaceful.”^[36] Duke Liu Yu installed Sima Dewen as emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.^[37] On 7 July 420 C.E., Emperor Sima Dewen abdicated.^[38] The Jin Dynasty ended, and Liu Yu became emperor of the new Liu-Song Dynasty.^[39]

Empress Wang Shen’ai is truly a pitiful figure.^[40] Her husband, Emperor An, was intellectually disabled and could not speak.^[41] Therefore, her marriage was unconsummated.^[42] Emperor An’s disability also meant that he could be manipulated and controlled by others.^[43] Because Emperor An was a puppet, the imperial family had no power.^[44] This led to the downfall of the Jin Dynasty.^[45] The Jin Dynasty lasted only eight years after Empress Wang Shen’ai’s death.

Sources:

iNews. (n.d.). “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”. Retrieved on 25 November 2024 from https://inf.news/en/history/6fcd788fe04aeaa0953af1e2df30f101.html#google_vignette.

McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.

Theobald, U. (16 June2018). “Jin Andi 晉安帝 Sima Dezong 司馬德宗”. Chinaknowledge.de- An Encyclopedia on Chinese History, Literature, and Art. Retrieved on 25 November 2024 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Division/personsjinandi.html.