Imperial Consort Xun was once an imperial concubine to Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[1] She was also the mother of Emperor Ming and the grandmother of Emperor Cheng of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[2] However, Imperial Consort Xun was often in conflict with the future Emperor Yuan’s principal wife, Princess Yu Mengmu (the posthumous Empress Yuanjing).[3] Imperial Consort Xun ultimately lost her fight with Princess Yu Mengmu.[4] She was expelled from the palace by Prince Sima Rui (the future Emperor Yuan) and was forced to remarry a commoner.[5]
The birthdate of Imperial Concubine Xun is unknown.[6] Her personal name is also unknown.[7] She was from the Xun family, but their origins are unknown.[8] Some scholars believe that she had Xianbei origins.[9] Lady Xun eventually became a palace maid at the royal palace of the Western Jin Dynasty.[10] Prince Sima Rui (the Prince of Langya and the future Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty) did not have any children.[11] Therefore, he summoned Lady Xun from the royal palace to serve him in bed.[12]
Lady Xun was said to be “young, beautiful, lively, and clever.”[13] Therefore, Prince Sima Rui greatly favoured her. In 299 C.E., Lady Xun gave birth to a son named Prince Sima Shao (the future Emperor Ming of the Eastern Jin Dynasty).[14] In 301 C.E., Lady Xun gave birth to another son named Prince Sima Bing (who would later have the title of Prince of Langya).[15] Prince Sima Rui was very happy that he had two sons.[16] He promoted her family and made Lady Xun his imperial concubine.[17]
Princess Yu Mengmu (Prince Sima Rui’s principal wife and the posthumous Empress Yuanjing) was very jealous of Imperial Consort Xun because she had two children.[18] She scolded Imperial Consort Xun whenever she saw her.[19] Imperial Consort Xun often complained about Princess Yu Mengmu.[20] Eventually, Imperial Consort Xun’s complaints reached Prince Sima Rui’s ears.[21] Even though Princess Yu Mengmu was childless, Prince Sima Rui still deeply loved her.[22] Therefore, Imperial Consort Xun’s complaints greatly angered Prince Sima Rui.[23] He drove her out of his palace and forced her to remarry a commoner named Ma.[24] Her two sons were raised by Princess Yu Mengmu.[25]
Even though Imperial Consort Xun’s children were given to Princess Yu Mengmu to raise, Prince Sima Rui still permitted them to visit her.[26] Therefore, her sons ensured that Lady Xun lived comfortably.[27] On 4 January 323 C.E., Sima Shao ascended the Eastern Jin throne as Emperor Ming. He made Lady Xun the Lady of Jin’an and built a mansion for her and her husband, Ma.[28] Lady Xun’s husband, Ma, died sometime in 323 C.E.[29] After her husband’s death, Emperor Ming brought Lady Xun to the royal palace.[30] Because Lady Xun had remarried, Emperor Ming could not make his mother the Empress Dowager.[31] However, he gave her the luxury and respect that was equal to that of an Empress Dowager.[32]
On 18 October 325 C.E., Emperor Ming died. He was succeeded by his son, Emperor Cheng. Emperor Cheng also did not make Lady Xun the Empress Dowager.[33] However, he gave her the luxury, honour, and respect that was equivalent to an Empress Dowager.[34] Because Emperor Cheng was young, Lady Xun may have raised him.[35] In 335 C.E., Lady Xun died.[36] She was given the posthumous title of Lady of Yuzhang County.[37] Because Lady Xun could not be buried in the imperial mausoleum, Emperor Cheng built a temple for her.[38]
Imperial Consort Xun was once favoured by Prince Sima Rui (the future Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty).[39] However, her conflict with Empress Yuanjing caused her to lose his favour.[40] He banished her and forced her to remarry a man of low status.[41] However, her sons took care of her and ensured she lived in comfort.[42] Emperor Ming and Emperor Cheng treated her as the unofficial Empress Dowager.[43] She may have wielded immense influence, especially during her grandson’s reign.[44] Even though Imperial Consort Xun was the loser in her conflict with Empress Yuanjing, she still enjoyed many honours and privileges during her lifetime.[45]
Sources:
iMedia. (n.d.). “The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”. Retrieved on December 23 from https://min.news/en/history/27cc2a83a0f7f6d947c6a8fc0dea218f.html#google_vignette.
Maenchen-Helfen, O. (1973). The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture. Berkeley: University of California Press.
[1] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[2] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[3] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[4] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[5] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[6] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[7] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[8] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[9] Maenchen-Helfen, 1973
[10] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[11] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[12] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[13] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”, para. 5
[14] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[15] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[16] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[17] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[18] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[19] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[20] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[21] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[22] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[23] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[24] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[25] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[26] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[27] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[28] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[29] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[30] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[31] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[32] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[33] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[34] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[35] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[36] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[37] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[38] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[39] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[40] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[41] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[42] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[43] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[44] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
[45] iMedia, n.d.,“The widow remarried, became the imperial concubine, and was loved by the Emperor all her life—Zheng Achun, the wife of Emperor Jin Yuan”
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