Empress Zhaode was the empress consort of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty. She was invested on her deathbed.[1] She died three days after her investiture as empress.[2] Therefore, she did not get to enjoy the privileges of being an empress.[3] Empress Zhaode was also the mother of Emperor Shunzong of the Tang Dynasty.
The birthdate of Empress Zhaode is unknown.[4] Her personal name is unknown.[5] She was from the Wang clan.[6] Her father was Wang Yu (the Secretary General).[7] Her mother is unknown.[8] She had a brother named Wang Guo.[9]
Lady Wang became an imperial consort to Prince Li Kuo (the Prince of Fengjie).[10] In 761, Imperial Consort Wang bore Prince Li Kuo’s eldest son, Prince Li Song (the future Emperor Shunzong of the Tang Dynasty).[11] Prince Li Kuo was so overjoyed over the birth of Prince Li Song that she became his favourite.[12] He gave her the title of “Ruren”[13], a middle-level title for imperial concubines of princes of the Tang Dynasty. In 762, Prince Li Kuo was given the title of the Prince of Lu.[14] He was later promoted to Prince of Yong.[15] Imperial Consort Wang was given the title of “Liangdi.”[16]
In 763, the Tibetan Kingdom invaded Chang’an (the capital of the Tang Dynasty).[17] Prince Li Kuo was forced to flee with Imperial Consort Wang and Prince Li Song.[18] During their escape, Prince Li Song contracted smallpox.[19] Imperial Consort Wang cared for him until he recovered.[20] Prince Li Kuo was deeply touched by Imperial Consort Wang’s devotion to her son.[21]
On 12 June 779, Li Kuo ascended the throne as Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty. He decided not to appoint an empress immediately upon his ascension.[22] This was because Emperor Dezong was afraid that an empress would use her status and influence to interfere in affairs of the state.[23] Instead, he gave Imperial Consort Wang the title of “Shu”[24] (which was the second-highest rank below the empress) and put her in charge of the imperial harem. Emperor Dezong posthumously honoured Imperial Consort Wang Shu’s father, Wang Yu, by making him the Grand Commander of Yangzhou.[25] He also made her brother, Wang Guo, the Sima of Meizhou.[26] Emperor Dezong also appointed over twenty of Imperial Consort Wang Shu’s family members to official positions.[27] Even though Imperial Consort Wang Shu was not appointed empress, she still exercised the power of an empress.[28]
In 783, a mutiny broke out in Chang’an by soldiers from the Jingyuan Circuit (Jingyuan is located in modern-day Pingliang in Gansu Province).[29] Imperial Consort Wang Shu tied the imperial seal to her belt.[30] Then, she fled with Emperor Dezong to Fengtian (modern-day Qianxian County in Shaanxi Province).[31] In 784, Emperor Dezong and Imperial Consort Wang Shu returned to Chang’an.[32]
In 786, Imperial Consort Wang Shu fell gravely ill.[33] Emperor Dezong finally decided to make her his empress.[34] This was a way to formally honour Imperial Consort Wang Shu and her family.[35] It also meant that by appointing Imperial Consort Wang Shu as empress when she was close to death, she would not have the time to use her influence as empress to interfere with state affairs.[36]
On 3 December 786, Imperial Consort Wang Shu was invested as empress. Empress Wang was empress for only three days.[37] Empress Wang died three days later on 6 December 786.[38] In May 787, Empress Wang was buried in Jingling Mausoleum.[39] She was given the posthumous name of Empress Zhaode.[40] In 805, Empress Zhaode was reburied in the Chongqing Museum next to Emperor Dezong.[41]
Empress Zhaode was empress for only three days.[42] Emperor Dezong made her his empress to formally honour her.[43] He also waited until she was on her deathbed to ensure that she would not be involved in state affairs.[44] Empress Zhaode greatly earned Emperor Dezong’s trust and love.[45] When they had to flee Chang’an due to a mutiny, he entrusted her with the imperial seal while she was still an imperial consort.[46] After the death of Empress Zhaode, there would not be another living Tang Dynasty empress until a hundred and two years later, when Empress He was invested as empress in 888.[47]
Sources:
iMedia. (n.d.). “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”. Retrieved on March 3, 2026 from https://min.news/en/history/81e9574f9d62ba4172f3b6dfa3786131.html/2.
iNews. (n.d.). “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”. Retrieved on March 3, 2026 from https://inf.news/en/history/0e8ddc4f03767de905d526cd3a82d62b.html.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] McMahon, 2013
[2] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[3] 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] McMahon, 2013
[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] McMahon, 2013
[12] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[13] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”, para. 7
[14] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[15] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[16] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”, para. 8
[17] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[18] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[19] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[20] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[21] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[22] McMahon, 2013
[23] McMahon, 2013
[24] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”, para. 11
[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”
[27] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[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] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[31] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[32] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[33] McMahon, 2013
[34] McMahon, 2013
[35] McMahon, 2013
[36] McMahon, 2013
[37] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[38] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[39] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[40] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[41] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[42] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[43] McMahon, 2013
[44] McMahon, 2013
[45] iNews, n.d., “Empress Zhaode of Emperor Dezong of Tang: She accompanied him on his escape, cutting her hair to exchange for food; after her death, the emperor did not appoint another empress”
[46] iMedia, n.d., “List and introduction of empresses of the Tang Dynasty”
[47] McMahon, 2013
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