china Archives - Page 3 of 40 - History of Royal Women

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

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

Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

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

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

Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

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]

Empress Hang as portrayed by Cecilia Liu in the 2016 Chinese television show, Imperial Doctress

Empress Hang – The political scapegoat

Thursday, 2 April 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Hang was one of the Ming Dynasty’s most controversial empresses.[1] She was the second empress of Emperor Daizong (also known as the Jingtai Emperor). After Empress Hang’s death, many chronicles have portrayed her as an “evil empress”[2]. She has also been seen as “a disaster for the nation and its people.”[3] Did Empress Hang truly [read more]

Empress Lu of Tang Dynasty – The forgotten seventeen-day Empress

Wednesday, 1 April 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Lu was the empress consort to Emperor Shang of the Tang Dynasty. She was Empress for seventeen days. She has been largely overshadowed by Empress Wei. Empress Lu still remains a forgotten historical figure. The birthdate of Empress Lu of the Tang Dynasty is unknown.[1] Her personal name is also unknown.[2] She was from the Lu [read more]

Imperial Consort Zhang – The Imperial Consort who was known for her wise counsel but was ignored by her own husband

Saturday, 21 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

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 [read more]

Empress Yuan Qigui – The Empress whose ghost saved an innocent Imperial Consort

Thursday, 19 March 2026, 6:00 Lauralee Swann 0

Empress Yuan Qigui was the empress consort of Emperor Wen of the Liu-Song Dynasty. Empress Yuan Qigui believed that Emperor Wen treated her unfairly. [1] She held a grudge for him that lasted until her death.[2] Empress Yuan Qigui’s ghost was believed to have saved a wrongfully accused imperial consort from death.[3] In 405 C.E., Empress [read more]