Empress Zhaocheng was one of Tang Dynasty’s most mysterious and tragic empresses.[1] She was originally an imperial consort to Emperor Ruizong. She was the mother of Emperor Xuanzong. However, she was falsely accused of witchcraft.[2] She was murdered by Empress Wu, and her body was never found.[3] However, Emperor Ruizong and Emperor Xuanzong tried to make up for the injustice she suffered.[4]
The birthdate of Empress Zhaocheng is unknown.[5] Her personal name is unknown.[6] She was from the prominent Dou family.[7] Her great-grandfather was Dou Kang.[8] He was related to Empress Taimu, who was Emperor Gaozu’s empress.[9] Her father was Xiao Chen, a military governor.[10] Her mother is unknown.[11]
In 684, Lady Dou became an imperial consort to Emperor Ruizong.[12] On 8 September 685, Imperial Consort Dou gave birth to a son named Li Longji (the future Emperor Xuanzong). In 689, Imperial Consort Dou gave birth to a daughter named Princess Jinxian. She also bore Emperor Ruizong another daughter, Princess Yuzhen, at an unknown date.
On 16 October 690, Empress Wu officially dethroned Emperor Ruizong. Empress Wu ascended the Tang throne as an empress regnant. The deposed Emperor Ruizong became Crown Prince Li Dan. Imperial Consort Dou lived with Crown Prince Li Dan in the Eastern Palace.[13]
In January 693, Wei Tuan’er (one of Empress Wu’s ladies-in-waiting) accused Imperial Consort Dou and Crown Princess Liu of using witchcraft to get rid of Empress Wu.[14] When Empress Wu learned of the accusation, she was furious and arrested Imperial Consort Dou and Princess Liu.[15] On 8 January 693, Imperial Consort Dou and Princess Liu were killed under Empress Wu’s orders.[16] Their bodies were never found.[17] When Prince Li Dan learned of his wives’ assassination, he dared not show any sadness.[18] When Wei Tuan’er falsely accused Prince Li Dan, Empress Wu executed her.[19] Prince Li Dan continued to search for the bodies of Imperial Consort Dou and Princess Liu but could not find them.[20]
On 25 July 710, Prince Li Dan ascended the throne as Emperor Ruizong for the second time. He made both Imperial Consort Dou and Princess Liu posthumous empresses.[21] Princess Liu was given the posthumous name of Empress Suming.[22] Imperial Consort Dou was given the posthumous name of Empress Zhaocheng.[23] Because Emperor Ruizong never found Empress Zhaocheng’s and Empress Suming’s bodies, he made cenotaphs and buried their personal belongings that substituted for their remains.[24] They were buried in Luoyang.[25] Their spirit tablets were placed in Yiqun Temple.[26]
On 8 September 712, Emperor Ruizong officially abdicated. On that same day, Empress Zhaocheng’s son, Prince Li Longji, ascended the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. On 13 July 716, Emperor Ruizong died. Her son, Emperor Xuanzong, buried Emperor Ruizong and reburied Empress Zhaocheng’s and Empress Suming’s cenotaphs and personal belongings in the Qiao Mausoleum (modern-day Pucheng in Shaanxi Province).[27]
There is very little information known about Empress Zhaocheng.[28] However, it is clear that she led a very turbulent and sad life.[29] She died unjustly at the hands of Empress Wu, and her body was never found.[30] However, Emperor Ruizong and Emperor Xuanzong have tried to give her some justice.[31] Emperor Ruizong made her a posthumous empress.[32] Emperor Xuanzong decided to bury her remains with his father in Qiao Mausoleum.[33] If it weren’t for the fact that she was not the mother of Emperor Xuanzong, Empress Zhaocheng would remain a forgotten figure in Chinese history.[34]
Sources:
Chen, J. (2007). Philosopher, Practitioner, Politician: The Many Lives of Fazang (643-712). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
Choo, J. J. C. (2022). Inscribing Death: Burials, Representations, and Remembrance in Tang China. Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii Press.
iNews. (n.d.). “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”. Retrieved on November 14, 2025 from https://inf.news/en/history/3da94448ff94f27133768a37545a0114.html/2.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[2] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[3] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; McMahon, 2013; Choo, 2022
[4] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; Choo, 2022
[5] Chen, 2007
[6] Chen, 2007
[7] Chen, 2007
[8] Chen, 2007
[9] Chen, 2007
[10] Chen, 2007
[11] Chen, 2007
[12] Chen, 2007
[13] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[14] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[15] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[16] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; McMahon, 2013; Choo, 2022
[17] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; Choo, 2022
[18] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[19] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[20] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[21] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[22] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[23] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[24] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[25] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[26] Choo, 2022
[27] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; Choo, 2022
[28] Chen, 2007
[29] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
[30] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; McMahon, 2013; Choo, 2022
[31] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; Choo, 2022
[32] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; Choo, 2022
[33] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”; Choo, 2022
[34] iNews, n.d. “Empress Suming of Emperor Ruizong of Tang: A tragic woman in the prosperous Tang Court who was twice crowned empress but mysteriously disappeared”
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