Imperial Consort Ding – The first wife of Cao Cao whom he regretted divorcing

Imperial Consort Ding was an imperial consort to the infamous Cao Cao (also known as the posthumous Emperor Wu of the Wei Dynasty). She was originally his main wife. After the death of her stepson, Cao Ang, Imperial Consort Ding blamed her husband for his death.^[1] The death of Cao Ang caused Imperial Consort Ding’s marriage to fall apart.^[2] Cao Cao divorced her.

In 160 C.E., Imperial Consort Ding was born.^[3] Her origins are unknown.^[4] It is not known when she married the warlord, Cao Cao and became his main wife.^[5] Lady Ding proved to be infertile.^[6] She remained childless.^[7] Cao Cao gave Lady Ding two of his children to raise.^[8] They were Cao Ang (also known as Zixiu) and a sister who would later be known as Princess Qinghe.^[9] She loved them “as if she had borne them herself.”^[10] Lady Ding greatly disliked Lady Bian and her children.^[11] She refused Lady Bian’s offer of friendship.^[12]

In 197 C.E., Cao Ang died in battle. Lady Ding blamed her husband, Cao Cao, for her son’s death.^[13] She said to Cao Cao: “Having taken my son and killed him, you don’t think of him anymore.”^[14] Cao Cao could no longer tolerate his wife’s sorrow.^[15] He sent her to her family and hoped that she would recover from her grief.^[16]

When Cao Cao visited her sometime later, Lady Ding did not look at him or acknowledge him while she knelt at her loom.^[17] Cao Cao caressed her back and said, “Turn around and look at me and let us ride back together.”^[18] Lady Ding remained silent.^[19] Before he left, Cao Cao begged her to go back with him.^[20] She remained silent.^[21] Cao Cao felt that he had no choice but to divorce Lady Ding.^[22] He told her family to find another man to marry.^[23] However, it would be difficult for Lady Ding to remarry because she was already in her forties.^[24] Therefore, Lady Ding remained at home.^[25]

In 219 C.E., Queen Bian made attempts at friendship with Lady Ding.^[26] She sent her gifts and met with her.^[27] When Lady Ding visited King Cao Cao’s palace, Queen Bian always gave her the seat of honour and personally saw her off when she left.^[28] Lady Ding was deeply moved by Queen Bian’s kindness to a “cast-off”,^[29] as she called herself.^[30] Lady Ding apologised to Queen Bian for her treatment of her in the past.^[31]

In 220 C.E., Lady Ding died.^[32] Queen Bian requested her husband, King Cao Cao, to hold a funeral for her.^[33] King Cao Cao gave Lady Ding a funeral that befitted her status as his imperial concubine.^[34] Before King Cao Cao died on 15 March 220 C.E., he deeply regretted divorcing Imperial Consort Ding.^[35] He said, “In all my thoughts and deeds, there has never been anything that I have been ashamed of. But if there is a soul after death, and should my son, Zixiu, ask ‘Where is my mother!’—how shall I reply?”^[36]

Many modern historians have sympathised with Imperial Consort Ding.^[37] They see her as a grieving mother.^[38] They also called her “a brave woman”^[39] because she “dared to defy”^[40] the fierce warlord, Cao Cao. Her outspokenness would lead Cao Cao to divorce her.^[41] At the end of his life, Cao Cao would deeply regret the divorce.^[42] Imperial Consort Ding is truly an unfortunate and tragic royal figure.^[43]

Sources:

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

Ching-Chung, P. (2015). “Ding, Consort of Cao Cao, King 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. 272-275.