Imperial Consort Shen was Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty’s favourite Imperial Consort.[1] Emperor Wen loved Imperial Consort Shen very deeply.[2] She was of “significant status.”[3] She even shared the same privileges as Empress Dou Yifang.[4] Imperial Consort Shen was highly intelligent and frugal.[5]
Very little is recorded of Imperial Consort Shen in historical sources.[6] In circa 180 B.C.E., Imperial Consort Shen was born in Handan (modern-day Shanxi Province).[7] Her early life is unknown.[8] She became an Imperial Consort to Emperor Wen (r. 180-157 B.C.E.). She quickly became his favourite and was often in his company.[9] Emperor Wen was very frugal and wore “coarse black clothes.”[10] He asked Imperial Consort Shen to wear frugal clothes.[11] Imperial Consort Shen gave up her elaborate and elegant clothes in favour of more frugal ones.[12] Thus, she led an exemplary example of frugality and simplicity.[13]
One day, Imperial Consort Shen accompanied Emperor Wen to Bailing. He asked her to play the se (a 25-stringed musical instrument), and he sang the chorus.[14] Suddenly, he became very melancholic.[15] He said to his officials, “Oh, if my coffin were to be made of Beishan stone and padded with silk wool and sealed with lacquer; no one would be able to open it!”[16] No one dared to disagree with him except Zhang Shizhi (Leader of the Court Gentlemen).[17] He said, “With valuables inside the tomb, people would find ways to break into it even if it were as strong as the mountains. But if it contained no valuables, Your Majesty would have no need to worry about burglars even if the coffin were not made of stone.”[18] Emperor Wen was impressed with Zhang Shizhi’s words and promoted him.[19] Imperial Consort Shen did not comment on Zhang Shizi’s words.[20]Modern historians believe that Imperial Consort Shen also agreed with Zhang Shizhi’s wisdom.[21]
Even though Imperial Consort Shen remained childless, she continued to be favoured by Emperor Wen.[22] In fact, she was given the same privileges as Empress Dou Yifang.[23] Empress Dou Yifang and Imperial Consort Shen both sat at Emperor Wen’s table.[24] When they were on a pleasure outing at Shangling Park, the three of them sat together at a table.[25] However, an official named Yuan Ang got up and led Imperial Consort Shen to a table located beneath the Emperor’s table.[26] Imperial Consort Shen felt insulted and refused to sit.[27] Emperor Wen was also angry and immediately returned to the palace.[28]
Once they arrived at the palace, Emperor Wen held a private audience with Yuan Ang.[29] Yuan Ang advised Emperor Wen not to let his Imperial Consort share the same status as his Empress.[30] He said it “violated the hierarchical order of seniority”[31] and could cause discord.[32] He also said that even though Emperor Wen deeply loved her, she could share the same fate as Imperial Consort Qi after his death.[33] Emperor Shen agreed with Yuan Ang.[34] He explained Yuan Ang’s wisdom to Imperial Consort Shen.[35] Imperial Consort Shen rewarded Yuan Ang with gold.[36] Imperial Consort Shen died in 157 B.C.E.
Even though very little is known about Imperial Consort Shen, it is clear that she was highly respected in the court of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty.[37] Imperial Consort Shen had good observational skills and made smart decisions.[38] She knew how to appreciate and heed wise counsel.[39] She was also very simple and frugal.[40] It is no wonder that she won Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty’s heart.[41]
Sources:
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
Zhang Q. (2015). “Shen, Concubine of Emperor Wen”. 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. 189-191.
[1] McMahon, 2013
[2] Zhang, 2015
[3] Zhang, 2015, p. 190
[4] Zhang, 2015
[5] Zhang, 2015
[6] Zhang, 2015
[7] Zhang, 2015
[8] Zhang, 2015
[9] McMahon, 2013; Zhang, 2015
[10] Zhang, 2015, p. 190
[11] Zhang, 2015
[12] Zhang, 2015
[13] Zhang, 2015
[14] Zhang, 2015
[15] Zhang, 2015
[16] Zhang, 2015, p. 190
[17] Zhang, 2015
[18] Zhang, 2015, p. 190
[19] Zhang, 2015
[20] Zhang, 2015
[21] Zhang, 2015
[22] Zhang, 2015
[23] Zhang, 2015
[24] Zhang, 2015
[25] Zhang, 2015
[26] Zhang, 2015
[27] Zhang, 2015
[28] Zhang, 2015
[29] Zhang, 2015
[30] Zhang, 2015
[31] Zhang, 2015
[32] Zhang, 2015
[33] Zhang, 2015
[34] Zhang, 2015
[35] Zhang, 2015
[36] Zhang, 2015
[37] Zhang, 2015
[38] Zhang, 2015
[39] Zhang, 2015
[40] Zhang, 2015
[41] McMahon, 2013; Zhang, 2015
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