Consort Ban
Encyclopedia
Consort Ban called Ban Jieyu ' onMouseout='HidePop("11098")' href="/topics/Classical_Chinese_poetry">poet
during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 23
). Jieyu was a title for a concubine, her personal name is not known.
and quickly rose to prominence at court. She bore him two sons, but both died in infancy. Once she declined an invitation to ride in a palanquin because she feared to distract him from matters of state. She was also renowned as a great scholar, able to recite poems from the Shi Jing
.
Because neither the Empress Xu
nor Consort Ban produced him an heir, the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun
encouraged him to take more concubines. Around 19 BC, however, Emperor Cheng took a liking to the dancing girl Zhao Feiyan
and her sister Zhao Hede
. They were both made concubines and he favored them over Empress Xu and Consort Ban. In 18 BC both the Empress and Consort Ban were accused of witchcraft. Empress Xu was put under house arrest away from court, but Consort Ban pleaded her case. She used citations of Confucius
and made a speech that impressed the emperor and he allowed her to stay at court. She then chose to become a lady in waiting to the Empress Dowager, instead of remaining consort to the Emperor. Consort Ban became part of the emperor's funeral park after his death in 7 B.C.E. and died a year later.
. He in turn had a son and a daughter, Ban Gu
and Ban Zhao
, who would complete their father's historic work Book of Han
.
Her poems were read for many centuries after her death.
(Biographies of Exemplary Women), which was first started by the Han dynasty
scholar Liu Xiang. Consort Ban's biography is part of Scroll 9, titled Supplemental Biographies (新刊續列女傳).
Classical Chinese poetry
thumb|right|300px|Attributed to [[Han Gan]], Huiyebai , about 750CE .Classical Chinese poetry is that type of poetry that is the traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese. It is typified by certain traditional forms, or modes, and certain traditional genres...
during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 23
23
Year 23 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pollio and Vetus...
). Jieyu was a title for a concubine, her personal name is not known.
Life
Consort Ban started as a junior maid, became a concubine of Emperor ChengEmperor Cheng of Han
Emperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor...
and quickly rose to prominence at court. She bore him two sons, but both died in infancy. Once she declined an invitation to ride in a palanquin because she feared to distract him from matters of state. She was also renowned as a great scholar, able to recite poems from the Shi Jing
Shi Jing
The Classic of Poetry , translated variously as the Book of Songs, the Book of Odes, and often known simply as its original name The Odes, is the earliest existing collection of Chinese poems and songs. It comprises 305 poems and songs, with many range from the 10th to the 7th centuries BC...
.
Because neither the Empress Xu
Empress Xu (Cheng)
Empress Xu was an empress during Han Dynasty, who came from a powerful family and who was initially very much loved by her husband Emperor Cheng, but who eventually lost favor and, as a result of the machinations of her eventual successor, Empress Zhao Feiyan, was deposed...
nor Consort Ban produced him an heir, the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun
Empress Wang Zhengjun
Empress Wang Zhengjun , , official imperial title Empress Xiaoyuan , later and more commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang, born in Yuancheng , was an empress during the Western Han Dynasty of China, who played important roles during the reigns of five successive Han emperors—her...
encouraged him to take more concubines. Around 19 BC, however, Emperor Cheng took a liking to the dancing girl Zhao Feiyan
Empress Zhao Feiyan
Empress Zhao Feiyan , formally Empress Xiaocheng , was an empress during the Han Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Cheng...
and her sister Zhao Hede
Consort Zhao Hede
Consort Zhao Hede was an imperial consort, with the title Zhaoyi , during the Han Dynasty. She was a consort to Emperor Cheng and sister to Empress Zhao Feiyan....
. They were both made concubines and he favored them over Empress Xu and Consort Ban. In 18 BC both the Empress and Consort Ban were accused of witchcraft. Empress Xu was put under house arrest away from court, but Consort Ban pleaded her case. She used citations of Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
and made a speech that impressed the emperor and he allowed her to stay at court. She then chose to become a lady in waiting to the Empress Dowager, instead of remaining consort to the Emperor. Consort Ban became part of the emperor's funeral park after his death in 7 B.C.E. and died a year later.
Family
Consort Ban once saved her brother Ban Zhi from a charge of treason. Ban Zhi who was to become the father of the historian Ban BiaoBan Biao
Ban Biao , courtesy name , was a Chinese historian, and an official born in what is now Xianyang, Shaanxi during the Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng....
. He in turn had a son and a daughter, Ban Gu
Ban Gu
Ban Gu , courtesy name Mengjian , was a 1st century Chinese historian and poet best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han. He also wrote in the main poetic genre of the Han era, a kind of poetry interspersed with prose called fu. Some are anthologized by Xiao Tong in his Selections of...
and Ban Zhao
Ban Zhao
Bān Zhāo , courtesy name Huiban , was the first known female Chinese historian. She completed her brother Ban Gu's work as he was imprisoned and executed in the year 92 BCE. because of his association with the family of Empress Dowager Dou. It was said her works could have filled eight volumes...
, who would complete their father's historic work Book of Han
Book of Han
The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
.
Poems
In her most famous poem, she compares herself to an autumn fan that is discarded. It deals with her sorrow at having been abandoned by the Emperor and is written in the Yuefu style of poetry.Her poems were read for many centuries after her death.
Inclusion in the Lienü zhuan
Her biography was added to the Lienü zhuanLienü zhuan
The Lienü Zhuan is a ca. 18 BCE book compiled by the famous Han Dynasty scholar Liu Xiang. It includes 125 biographical accounts of women exemplars in early China, taken from Chinese histories like the Chun Qiu, Zuo Zhuan, and Shiji...
(Biographies of Exemplary Women), which was first started by the Han dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
scholar Liu Xiang. Consort Ban's biography is part of Scroll 9, titled Supplemental Biographies (新刊續列女傳).