Imperial Consort Qi was Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty’s favourite Imperial Consort. Her son, Prince Liu Ruyi, almost became Emperor of China. However, she is most famous for her gruesome and tragic death at the hands of Empress Dowager Lu Zhi.[1] Modern historians are beginning to doubt the accuracy of historical sources regarding Imperial Consort Qi’s tragic end.[2] After Empress Dowager Lu Zhi died, the Lu clan was mostly wiped out, and they had a negative reputation that would endure for centuries.[3] Empress Dowager Lu Zhi is often depicted as a “vengeful, murdering femme fatale and an exemplar of the problems that occur when a woman is allowed to hold power.”[4] Therefore, modern historians believe that Imperial Consort Qi’s death may be less gruesome than what is often depicted in ancient historical sources.[5]
In circa 220 B.C.E., Imperial Consort Qi was born in Dingtao (northwest of modern-day Dingtao District in Shandong Province).[6] Her early life is unknown.[7] She became an Imperial Consort to Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty (r. 202-195 B.C.E.). In 208 B.C.E., Imperial Consort Qi bore Emperor Gaozu a son named Prince Liu Ruyi. Liu Ruyi would later be made the Prince of Zhao.[8]
Emperor Gaozu wanted to make Liu Ruyi the Crown Prince instead of his eldest son, Prince Liu Ying (the future Emperor Hui).[9] This was because he was disappointed with Prince Liu Ying because of his gentle temperament.[10] Because Emperor Gaozu wanted to replace Prince Liu Ying as Crown Prince in favour of Prince Liu Ruyi, it created tension between Imperial Consort Qi and Empress Lu Zhi.[11] Imperial Consort Qi accompanied Emperor Gaozu whenever he left the capital.[12] Empress Lu Zhi stayed behind in the capital and rarely saw her husband.[13]
On 1 June 195 B.C.E., Emperor Gaozu died of illness. With the support of Emperor Gaozu’s ministers, Empress Lu Zhi managed to secure her son’s throne.[14] Liu Ying ascended the throne as Emperor Hui. Therefore, Imperial Consort Qi lost the battle in making her son, Prince Liu Ruyi, the next Emperor.[15] After her son’s enthronement, Empress Dowager Lu Zhi imprisoned Imperial Consort Qi in Yongxiang Palace.[16] Her head was shaven.[17] She wore an iron ring around her neck and wore prisoner’s clothes.[18] She was forced to pound rice.[19]It was said that Imperial Consort Qi composed a song.[20] It went: “My son is a prince, but I am a prisoner pounding rice all day long and often in the company of death. We live a thousand li apart. Who should I send to tell you of this?”[21]
Imperial Consort Qi’s song enraged Empress Dowager Lu Zhi. Empress Dowager Lu Zhi poisoned Prince Liu Ruyi with wine.[22] Then, Emperor Lu Zhi cut off Imperial Consort Qi’s hands, feet, and eyes.[23] She deafened her ears and made her mute by filling her throat with wine full of poison.[24] Before Empress Dowager Lu Zhi killed her in 194 B.C.E., Imperial Consort Qi was thrown in a small room (though some historical sources call it a “toilet”).[25] As a last insult, Empress Dowager Lu Zhi called her a “human pig.”[26]
It is hard for modern historians to determine the actual fate of Imperial Consort Qi.[27] This is because ancient chroniclers wanted to paint Empress Dowager Lu Zhi in the most negative light possible.[28] It was unseemly for a woman to rule.[29] Imperial Consort Qi’s story was a morality tale to ensure that a woman like Empress Dowager Lu Zhi could never take power.[30] Many people have sympathized with Imperial Consort Qi.[31] For centuries, many people in China have worshipped Imperial Consort Qi as the “Toilet Goddess.”[32]
Sources:
Brown, Kerry. (2014). Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography. (Brown, K., Ed). Great Barrington, Massachusetts: Berkshire Publishing Group.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
Wang, L. (2015). “Qi, Concubine of Emperor Gaozu”. 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. 185-186.
[1] McMahon, 2013
[2] Brown, 2014
[3] Brown, 2014
[4] Brown, 2014, p. 202
[5] Brown, 2014
[6] Wang, 2015
[7] Wang, 2015
[8] Wang, 2015
[9] McMahon, 2013; Wang, 2015
[10] Wang, 2015
[11] McMahon, 2013; Wang, 2015
[12] Wang, 2015
[13] Wang, 2015
[14] McMahon, 2013; Wang, 2015
[15] Wang, 2015
[16] Wang, 2015
[17] Wang, 2015
[18] Wang, 2015
[19] Wang, 2015
[20] Wang, 2015
[21] Wang, 2015, p. 185
[22] Wang, 2015
[23] Wang, 2015
[24] Wang, 2015
[25] Wang, 2015, p. 185
[26] Wang, 2015, p. 185
[27] Brown, 2014
[28] Brown, 2014
[29] Brown, 2014
[30] Brown, 2014
[31] Wang, 2015
[32] Wang, 2015, p. 186
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