Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai was originally a Princess of Jin.[1] She married the King of Dai and became his Imperial Consort.[2] In 475 B.C.E., Duke Zhao Xiangzi of Jin (Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai’s younger brother) killed her husband and annexed the State of Dai.[3] Duke Xiangzi of Jin wanted to marry his older sister, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai, and make her his duchess.[4] Thus, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai was forced to make a difficult decision.[5] Her decision would be praised by Chinese historians for thousands of years.[6]
In circa 490 B.C.E., Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai was born.[7] She lived during the Spring and Autumn era (which lasted from 771 to 453 B.C.E).[8] During this period, Chinese states were declaring their own independence from the ruling Zhou Dynasty to form their own dynasties.[9] Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai was a Princess of Jin.[10] Her father was Duke Zhao Jiangzi of Jin.[11] She had a younger brother named Prince Zhao Xiangzi.[12] She married the King of Dai (modern-day Zhejiang Province) and became his Imperial Consort.[13]
In 475 B.C.E., Duke Zhao Jiangzi of Jin died.[14] Prince Zhao Xiangzi became the next Duke of Jin.[15] He decided to annex the small State of Dai.[16] Duke Zhao Xiangzi of Jin murdered Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai’s husband.[17] Then, he raised an army and invaded the State of Dai.[18] Duke Zhao Xiangzi of Jin wanted to take his older sister, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai, back to Jin and make her his duchess.[19] However, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai refused.[20] She said:
“Now Dai has been extinguished, but how can I return home? I have heard that a wife’s righteousness comes from not having two husbands. How could I have two husbands then? It is not right for me to either insult my husband with my younger brother or insult my younger brother with my husband. I dare not cause resentment and hence can not return.”[21]
Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai wept and “called up to Heaven.”[22] Then, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai committed suicide by stabbing herself with a hairpin.[23] Imperial Consort Zhao died in 475 B.C.E.[24] The people of Dai admired her act of remaining faithful to her husband, and she became well-loved by her people.[25]
Ancient chroniclers did not criticize Duke Xiangzi of Jin “for wanting to commit incest with his sister”, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai.[26] Instead, they praised Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai’s faithfulness to her husband, the King of Dai.[27] She is also praised for not showing any anger toward her brother for his ruthless deeds.[28] For thousands of years, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai has been the model of “chastity and propriety.”[29] In Biographies of Eminent Women, Imperial Consort Zhao of Dai has been categorized under “Biographies of the Chaste and Righteous.”[30]
Sources:
Cook, C. A. (2015). “Zhao, Wife of the King of Dai”. 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. 92-93.
Eno, R. (2010). 1.7. Spring and Autumn China (771-453). Indiana University, PDF.
Liu, X., Kinney, A. B. (2014). Exemplary Women of Early China: The Lienü Zhuan of Liu Xiang. United Kingdom: Columbia University Press.
[1] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[2] Cook, 2015
[3] Cook, 2015; Liu and Kinney, 2014
[4] Cook, 2015
[5] Cook, 2015
[6] Cook, 2015
[7] Cook, 2015
[8] Eno, 2010
[9] Eno, 2010
[10] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[11] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[12] Cook, 2015
[13] Cook, 2015
[14] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[15] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[16] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[17] Cook, 2015
[18] Cook, 2015
[19] Cook, 2015
[20] Cook, 2015
[21] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[22] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[23] Cook, 2015; Liu and Kinney, 2014
[24] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[25] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[26] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[27] Cook, 2015
[28] Cook, 2015
[29] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[30] Cook, 2015, p. 93
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