Princess Yuan was the daughter of the infamous warlord, Emperor Yuan Shu of the Zhong Dynasty. She was also an imperial concubine to Emperor Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu Dynasty. Princess Yuan was barren and did not have any children.[1] However, Emperor Sun Quan admired her character.[2] Princess Yuan almost became Emperor Sun Quan’s empress.[3]
The birthdate of Princess Yuan is unknown.[4] She was from Runan.[5] Her personal name is also unknown.[6] She was the daughter of the infamous Emperor Yuan Shu, who had proclaimed himself Emperor of the short-lived Zhong Dynasty.[7] Her mother was Empress Feng of the Zhong Dynasty.[8] She had a brother named Prince Yuan Yao.[9]
In 199 C.E., Emperor Yuan Shu of the Zhong dynasty died. His death ended the dynasty that he had founded.[10] Prince Yuan Yao and Princess Yuan were forced to flee south to join the warlord Liu Xun.[11] They were later defeated and captured by Sun Ce.[12] Prince Yuan Yao worked in Emperor Sun Quan’s palace as a gentleman.[13] Princess Yuan joined Emperor Sun Quan’s imperial harem and became his imperial concubine.[14] She proved to be infertile and had no children.[15] Imperial Consort Yuan was said to be of good character and was modest and humble.[16] Emperor Sun Quan admired her good character and favoured her.[17] Because Emperor Sun Quan sympathised with her barrenness, he gave Imperial Consort Yuan his children, whom he had with other imperial concubines to raise.[18]
In 238 C.E., Imperial Consort Bu (who would posthumously be made Empress) died. Emperor Sun Quan wished to make Imperial Consort Yuan his empress.[19] However, Imperial Consort Yuan stubbornly refused the Empress position because she had no children.[20] Imperial Consort Yuan’s life afterwards is unknown.[21] Imperial Consort Yuan died in 243 C.E..[22]
Princess Yuan would have been Emperor Sun Quan’s empress.[23] However, she felt that she was not qualified to be empress because of her barrenness.[24] Her refusal to be an empress shows her humility and her good character.[25] It is no wonder why Emperor Sun Quan wanted Princess Yuan to raise his children.[26] Therefore, Princess Yuan’s good character earned Emperor Sun Quan’s respect and admiration.[27]
Sources:
Peirce, J. (n.d.). “Lady Yuan”. Konming Archives. Retrieved on December 2, 2024 from https://kongming.net/encyclopedia/Lady-Yuan.
Peirce, J. (n.d.). “Yuan Yao, 袁燿”. Konming Archives. Retrieved on December 2, 2024 from https://kongming.net/encyclopedia/Yuan-Yao.
Chen, S., & Pei, S. (1999). Empresses and Consorts: Selections from Chen Shou’s Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi’s Commentary. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press.
[1] Chen and Pei, 1999
[2] Chen and Pei, 1999
[3] Chen and Pei, 1999
[4] Peirce, n.d., “Lady Yuan”
[5] Peirce, n.d., “Lady Yuan”
[6] Peirce, n.d., “Lady Yuan”
[7] Chen and Pei, 1999
[8] Peirce, n.d., “Lady Yuan”
[9] Peirce, n.d., “Yuan Yao, 袁燿”
[10] Peirce, n.d., “Yuan Yao, 袁燿”
[11] Peirce, n.d., “Yuan Yao, 袁燿”
[12] Peirce, n.d., “Yuan Yao, 袁燿”
[13] Peirce, n.d., “Yuan Yao, 袁燿”
[14] Chen and Pei, 1999
[15] Chen and Pei, 1999
[16] Chen and Pei, 1999
[17] Chen and Pei, 1999
[18] Chen and Pei, 1999
[19] Chen and Pei, 1999
[20] Chen and Pei, 1999
[21] Chen and Pei, 1999
[22] Peirce, n.d., “Lady Yuan”
[23] Chen and Pei, 1999
[24] Chen and Pei, 1999
[25] Chen and Pei, 1999
[26] Chen and Pei, 1999
[27] Chen and Pei, 1999
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