Imperial Consort Zhang was an imperial consort to King Fu Jian of the Former Qin Dynasty. However, there is very little information on her.[1] From the few facts that we know about her in history, we can piece together that she was extremely intelligent and had great foresight.[2] However, her husband did not see the value of her intellect and did not heed her wise advice.[3] Because of this, Imperial Consort Zhang would meet a tragic end.[4]
The birthdate of Imperial Consort Zhang is unknown.[5] Her personal name is unknown.[6] She was from the Zhang clan.[7] The name of her parents is unknown.[8] The early life of Imperial Consort Zhang is also unknown.[9]
Imperial Consort Zhang was an imperial consort to King Fu Jian of the Former Qin, who gave himself the title of “Heavenly King of Great Qin.”[10] King Fu Jian was the third ruler of the Former Qin Dynasty.[11] He already had a queen named Queen Gou. King Fu Jian was initially known to be a good ruler.[12] He had strengthened the Former Qin Dynasty in northern China.[13] However, his folly was that he wanted to conquer the powerful Eastern Jin Empire.[14]
The advisors of Former Qin were against King Fu Jian conquering the Eastern Jin Empire.[15] They thought that he would be defeated.[16] Imperial Consort Zhang was also worried about her husband, King Fu Jian, launching a war against the Eastern Jin Empire.[17] She knew that it would not be a good idea.[18] She wrote a memorial to counsel King Fu Jian about the dangers of going to war against the Eastern Jin Empire.[19] An excerpt of the memorial went:
“Now all the ministers at court have said that it should not be done; what then does Your Majesty base your action on? It is said in Book of Documents (Shu jing), “Heaven hears and sees what the people hear and see.” If even Heaven is like this, how much more so should a ruler be? I have heard that a ruler who intends to conquer another country should observe the signs in the sky and collect auspicious manifestations on earth. The way of heaven is high and far away, not something I understand but, judging from the affairs of men, I see nothing positive about it.”[20]
When King Fu Jian read Imperial Consort Zhang’s memorial, he was furious.[21] His response was: “Women should not participate in military decisions.”[22] King Fu Jian invaded the Eastern Jin Empire.[23] Before his invasion, King Fu Jian asked Imperial Consort Zhang to go with him.[24] Imperial Consort Zhang accompanied him.[25]
As Imperial Consort Zhang had predicted, the Former Qin Dynasty’s war on the Eastern Jin Empire was a disaster.[26] In 383 C.E., King Fu Jian was defeated at the Battle of the Fei River in Shouchun (modern-day Anhui Province).[27] After the battle, Imperial Consort Zhang killed herself.[28] Ancient chroniclers did not state why Imperial Consort Zhang killed herself.[29] However, modern historian Lily Xiao Hong Lee speculates that she committed suicide because “she was extremely angry with Fu Jian for not heeding her advice.”[30]
Imperial Consort Zhang’s life is mostly unknown.[31] However, Imperial Consort Zhang has been admired by ancient chroniclers “for her perception and judgment in state affairs.”[32] She gave good counsel to her husband, King Fu Jian.[33] However, King Fu Jian ignored it because she was a woman.[34] If King Fu Jian listened to her advice, the Former Qin Dynasty would not have weakened but would have continued to be a strong kingdom, and Imperial Consort Zhang’s ending would have been different.[35] Instead, King Fu Jian’s folly caused his kingdom to fall into disrepair, and it would also cause him to lose his own life.[36]
Sources:
Grousset, R. (1970). The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia. (Walford, N., Trans.). New Brunswick, Canada: Rutgers University Press.
Lee, L. X. H. (2015). “Zhang, Concubine of Fu Jian”. 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. 381-382.
[1] Lee, 2015
[2] Lee, 2015
[3] Lee, 2015
[4] Lee, 2015
[5] Lee, 2015
[6] Lee, 2015
[7] Lee, 2015
[8] Lee, 2015
[9] Lee, 2015
[10] Lee, 2015, p. 381
[11] Lee, 2015
[12] Grousset, 1970; Lee, 2015
[13] Grousset, 1970; Lee, 2015
[14] Grousset, 1970; Lee, 2015
[15] Lee, 2015
[16] Lee, 2015
[17] Lee, 2015
[18] Lee, 2015
[19] Lee, 2015
[20] Lee, 2015, p. 382
[21] Lee, 2015
[22] Lee, 2015, p. 382
[23] Grousset. 1970; Lee, 2015
[24] Lee, 2015
[25] Lee, 2015
[26] Grousset, 1970; Lee, 2015
[27] Grousset, 1970; Lee, 2015
[28] Lee, 2015
[29] Lee, 2015
[30] Lee, 2015, p. 382
[31] Lee, 2015
[32] Lee, 2015, p. 381
[33] Lee, 2015
[34] Lee, 2015
[35] Grousset, 1970; Lee, 2015
[36] Grousset, 1970
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