empress dowager yang zhi
China

Empress Dowager Yang Zhi – The tragic victim of imperial politics who died of starvation

Empress Dowager Yang Zhi was Emperor Wu’s second empress. She has often been portrayed as a “tragic victim of imperial politics.”[1] She is most famous for being locked in a power struggle against Empress Jia Nanfeng.[2] Empress Dowager Yang Zhi lost and was forced to die of starvation.[3] Therefore, Empress Dowager Yang Zhi was one of the Jin [read more]
empress yang yan
China

Empress Yang Yan – The first and politically influential Empress of the Jin Dynasty

Empress Yang Yan was the first Empress of the Jin Dynasty (266-420 C.E.). She was the first Empress to Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty (r. 266-290 C.E.). Empress Yang Yan has often been depicted negatively in Chinese history.[1] She has been criticised for exerting immense political influence over her husband.[2] However, Empress Yang Yan’s story [read more]
empress dowager chu suanzi
China

Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi – The legendary Empress Dowager who was regent three times and reigned for over forty years

Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi was one of China’s most legendary figures.[1] She was also one of China’s most powerful women.[2] She was the empress to Emperor Kang of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the mother of Emperor Mu.[3] However, she was regent three times and reigned for over forty years.[4] She also influenced the reign of six emperors.[5] Therefore, [read more]
empress jianwenshun
China

Empress Jianwenshun – Emperor Jianwen of the Eastern Jin Dynasty’s posthumous Empress who lost both of her sons and had a miserable end

Empress Jianwenshun was the posthumous Empress of Emperor Jianwen of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Empress Jianwenshun bore Prince Sima Rui (the future Emperor Jianwen) two children.[1] However, her two children would have tragic deaths.[2] The deaths of her children would lead to Empress Jianwenshun’s unfortunate end.[3] The birthdate of Empress Jianwenshun is unrecorded.[4] She was from the Wang [read more]
Empress Yuanjing
China

Empress Yuanjing – Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty’s beloved posthumous Empress

Empress Yuanjing was the posthumous empress of Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. However, very little is known about her.[1] She had a loving marriage with Emperor Yuan when he was still a vassal prince.[2] She was also barren.[3] Empress Yuanjing was often in conflict with her husband’s imperial concubine, Imperial Consort Xun.[4] Eventually, Imperial Consort [read more]
imperial consort xun
China

Imperial Consort Xun – The expelled Imperial Consort of Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty who was forced to remarry a commoner

Imperial Consort Xun was once an imperial concubine to Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[1] She was also the mother of Emperor Ming and the grandmother of Emperor Cheng of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[2] However, Imperial Consort Xun was often in conflict with the future Emperor Yuan’s principal wife, Princess Yu Mengmu (the posthumous Empress [read more]