China

Empress Zhaocheng – The mother of Emperor Xuanzong who was murdered by Empress Wu Zetian of the Zhou Dynasty

Empress Zhaocheng was one of Tang Dynasty’s most mysterious and tragic empresses.[1] She was originally an imperial consort to Emperor Ruizong. She was the mother of Emperor Xuanzong. However, she was falsely accused of witchcraft.[2] She was murdered by Empress Wu, and her body was never found.[3] However, Emperor Ruizong and Emperor Xuanzong tried to make up for [read more]

China

Empress Suming – Emperor Ruizong’s Empress who was murdered by Empress Wu Zetian of the Zhou Dynasty

Empress Suming was one of Tang’s Dynasty’s most mysterious and tragic empresses.[1] She was the empress consort to Emperor Ruizong. She was the daughter-in-law of Empress Wu. She was said to be very gentle.[2] However, she was killed on Empress Wu’s orders on false charges of witchcraft.[3] Her body has never been found.[4] The birthdate of [read more]

Princess Duan Sengnu The Yuan Dynasty Princess who hungered for revenge
China

Princess Duan Sengnu – The Yuan Dynasty Princess who hungered for revenge

Princess Duan Sengnu was a Yuan Dynasty princess and a descendant of Kublai Khan.[1] She has often been overshadowed by her more famous mother, Princess Agai.[2] Princess Duan Sengnu’s father was murdered by her maternal grandfather.[3] She harboured a desire to get revenge on her grandfather.[4] Like her mother, Princess Duan Sengnu is most famous for her [read more]

Shi Shi as Empress Wang in the 2014 Chinese television series, The Empress of China
China

Empress Wang – Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty’s forgotten, childless deposed Empress

Empress Wang of the Tang Dynasty was the first empress to Emperor Gaozong. However, she has largely been forgotten and overshadowed by her successor, Empress Wu Zetian (who later ruled in her own right as the Empress of China).[1] Empress Wang has often been seen as a victim of Empress Wu’s political machinations.[2] However, the truth seems [read more]

Empress Xiaoyuanjing as portrayed by Gina Jin in the 2016 Chinese television series, The Imperial Doctress
China

Empress Xiaoyuanjing – The Jingtai Emperor’s deposed Empress who was greatly loved by her people

Empress Xiaoyuanjing was the first empress to Emperor Daizong (also known as the Jingtai Emperor) of the Ming Dynasty. She was a devoted empress.[1] However, she opposed Emperor Daizong’s proposal to remove the Crown Prince.[2] Because of her opposition, she was deposed and banished to the cold palace.[3] After Emperor Daizong’s death, Empress Xiaoyuanjing was given many [read more]