Empress Zhangjing was the second empress of Emperor Suzong. She was Emperor Suzong’s imperial consort when he was still a minor prince and was not yet made the heir apparent.[1] Empress Zhangjing was the mother of Emperor Daizong. However, Empress Zhangjing died young.[2] She did not live to see her husband, Emperor Suzong, ascend to the throne.[3]
The birthdate of Empress Zhangjing is unknown.[4] Her personal name is unknown.[5] She was from Puyang, Puzhou (modern-day Puyang).[6] She was from the Wu clan.[7] Her father was Wu Linggui.[8] Her mother’s name is unknown.[9] Her father, Wu Linggui, had committed a major crime.[10] Therefore, Lady Wu was imprisoned.[11] In 725, Lady Wu was selected to become an imperial consort for Prince Li Heng (the Prince of Zhong and the future Emperor Suzong).[12]
Imperial Consort Wu was said to be beautiful and humble.[13] Prince Li Heng grew very fond of her.[14] In 726, Imperial Consort Wu bore Prince Li Heng a son named Prince Li Yu (the future Emperor Daizong). Very little is known about Imperial Consort Wu after she gave birth to Prince Li Yu.[15] She still maintained Prince Li Heng’s favour.[16] Imperial Consort Wu died of illness in 730.[17] On 24 June 738, Emperor Xuanzong appointed Li Heng the Crown Prince.
On 12 August 756, Crown Prince Li Heng ascended the throne as Emperor Suzong. Imperial Consort Wu’s son, Li Yu, was made the Crown Prince. In 762, Empress Zhang (Emperor Suzong’s empress) tried to depose Crown Prince Li Yu in favour of Prince Li Shi (the Prince of Yue and Emperor Suzong’s second son, whom he had with Imperial Consort Sun).[18] However, Empress Zhang was thwarted by the powerful eunuch, Li Fuguo.[19] Therefore, Li Yu maintained his position as Crown Prince.[20]
On 16 May 762, Emperor Suzong died. On 18 May 762, Li Yu ascended the throne as Emperor Daizong. Emperor Daizong posthumously elevated his mother, Imperial Consort Wu, to the status of empress.[21] Emperor Daizong gave her the posthumous name of Empress Zhangjing.[22] He then reburied Empress Zhangjing next to Emperor Suzong in the Jiangling Mausoleum.[23]
There are very few facts known about Empress Zhangjing.[24] She was the daughter of a criminal.[25] However, she had the fortune to become an imperial consort to a prince.[26] She also died before her husband could be both the crown prince and the emperor.[27] Yet, her greatest legacy was that she was the mother of an emperor.[28] If Empress Zhangjing was not the mother of an emperor, she would have remained in obscurity as a forgotten royal figure in a prince’s imperial harem.[29]
Sources:
iMedia. (n.d.). “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”. Retrieved on December 13, 2025 from https://min.news/en/history/81e9574f9d62ba4172f3b6dfa3786131.html/2.
Liu, N. & Cui, H. S. (trans.). (2014). “Zhang, Demoted Empress of Emperor Suzong of Tang.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (Xiao, H. Lee, L., Ed. & Wiles, S., Ed.) NY: Routledge. pp. 578-579.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
[2] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
[3] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
[4] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[5] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[6] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[7] Liu, 2014
[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”
[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”
[16] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[17] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[18] Liu, 2014; McMahon, 2013
[19] Liu, 2014; McMahon, 2013
[20] Liu, 2014; McMahon, 2013
[21] Liu, 2014
[22] Liu, 2014
[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”
[26] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
[27] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
[28] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
[29] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”; McMahon, 2013
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