Imperial Consort Li Ye – Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty’s Imperial Consort who became a famous poet

Imperial Consort Li Ye was one of the most famous poets of the Tang Dynasty.^[1] She was Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty’s imperial consort.^[2] She was chosen for her literary talent.^[3] However, Imperial Consort Li Ye became a tragic victim of imperial politics.^[4] However, Imperial Consort Li Ye’s greatest legacy is her poems.^[5]

The birthdate of Imperial Consort Li Ye is unknown.^[6] She was born in Wuxing (modern-day Huzhou in Zhejiang Province).^[7] Her parents’ names are unrecorded.^[8] She was said to be very intelligent and loved writing poetry.^[9] Li Ye’s father thought that Li Ye deserved better than an ordinary marriage because of her literary talent.^[10] He was also concerned for her because it was destined that Li Ye would be “an unchaste woman.”^[11]

Li Ye became a famous courtesan.^[12] She was said to be very graceful and beautiful.^[13] She became popular in many literary circles and had many famous poets as friends.^[14] They were Liu Changqing, Jiaoran, Li Yu, Zhu Fang, Yan Bojun, and Cui Han.^[15] Li Ye’s “unchaste” character is reflected in a poem that Jiaoran wrote about her when she visited him.^[16] He wrote:

“A celestial fairy came to test me,

With the intention of spreading her blossoms onto my clothes.

But in the end my Chan Buddhist sense was not affected.

She then retreated with the same blossoms.”^[17]

The “blossoms”^[18] in Jiaoran’s poem symbolised her beauty.^[19] The poem did not harm Li Ye’s friendship with Jiaoran.^[20] It also did not harm her reputation because she still attracted many poets with her “beauty and talent.”^[21]

Many scholars have also been intrigued by Li Ye’s love life.^[22] Some scholars believe that she may have been in love with Li Yu.^[23] This is evident in the poem she wrote after he visited her when she was ill.^[24] Scholars believe that this poem reflects her “lovesickness”^[25] over Li Yu. It went:

“Last time you left in the month of dense frost.

Now you come in the season of bitter fog.

At our reunion, I am still lying infirm.

My tears drip when I am about to speak.

I force myself to offer the Tao Qian wine.

Then I recite the poetry of Xie Lingyun.

On this occasion, we get drunk.

Other than this where else can we go?”^[26]

Li Ye may also have been the lover of both Zhu Fang and Cui Han.^[27] Scholars also believe that she was deeply in love with Yan Bojun and that her relationship with him was serious.^[28] Her love for Yan Bojun is evident in the poem she wrote for him titled “On Receiving a Letter from Yan Bojun.”^[29] It went:

“As your love message arrives, I sit before the mirror but I don’t want to comb my hair.

The evening rain, so dreary and desolate, bring out the autumnal hues in the courtyard trees.

Do not be surprised at me, tearfully and woefully, putting down my jade chopsticks.

It is simply my melancholy when I gaze at the silver hook.”^[30]

During the Dali period (766-779), Li Ye was summoned to Emperor Daizong’s imperial harem to become his imperial consort when she was middle-aged.^[31] She was an imperial consort “who entered through the lateral courts not through regular recruitment but as a victory prize.”^[32] Therefore, it was because of her literary talent that she became an imperial consort.^[33] She wrote a poem titled “In Response to the Imperial Summons, Written for My Friends in Guangling upon My Departure.”^[34]

Emperor Daizong was greatly impressed with Imperial Consort Li Ye’s poetry.^[35] He made her a poet laureate and showered her with royal favours.^[36] However, she did not want to continue to receive Emperor Daizong’s royal favours.^[37] Instead, she longed for a more “reclusive, carefree life”^[38] away from the imperial harem. She continued to receive Emperor Daizong’s favour for a month.^[39] After a month, she was given permission to leave Emperor Daizong’s imperial harem and return home.^[40]

In 783, the rebel leader, General Zhu Ci, rebelled against the Tang Dynasty. The current emperor, Dezong, was forced to abandon his subjects.^[41] He fled to Fengtian.^[42] General Zhu Ci captured Chang’an and placed himself upon the throne.^[43] Imperial Consort Li Ye was forced by Emperor Zhu Ci to write poetry that portrayed the Tang imperial family in a negative light.^[44]

In 784, Emperor Zhu Ci was defeated by the Tang imperial army. His defeat allowed for the return of Emperor Dezong.^[45] When Emperor Dezong learned that Imperial Consort Li Ye had written poetry that was against the Tang imperial family, he was furious with her.^[46] He executed Imperial Consort Li Ye for treason in 784.^[47]

Many scholars have long been intrigued by Imperial Consort Li Ye.^[48] Her tragic death has “aroused the sympathy and indignation”^[49] of modern scholars. Her poems have often been praised by literary scholars.^[50] In her poetry, she expresses her own genuine feelings.^[51] In the Completion of Tang Poetry, eighteen of Imperial Consort Li Ye’s poems have been preserved.^[52] Through the preservation of these poems, Imperial Consort Li Ye’s poetry will continue to be admired and studied.^[53]

Sources:

Cahill, S. (2008). “Li Ye”. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History. (Smith, B. G., Ed.). NY: Oxford University Press.

Chan, T. W. K. (2014). “Li Ye”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (Xiao, H. Lee, L., Ed. & Wiles, S., Ed.) NY: Routledge. pp. 230-233.

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