Consort Jia was an imperial consort to 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...

's Emperor Ming

Emperor Ming of Han

Emperor Ming of Han, , was second emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.He was the second son of Emperor Guangwu. It was during Emperor Ming's reign that Buddhism began to spread into China. One night, he is said to have dreamed of a golden man or golden men...

. She gave birth to Prince Liu Da (劉炟), later Emperor Zhang

Emperor Zhang of Han

Emperor Zhang of Han, ch. 漢章帝, py. hàn zhāng dì, wg. Han Chang-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 75 to 88. He was the third emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty....

, in 57, while Emperor Ming was still crown prince

Crown Prince

A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....

. At Emperor Ming's direction, his wife Empress Ma

Empress Ma (Ming)

Empress Ma , formally Empress Mingde , was an empress during Han Dynasty from the year 60 until her death...

, Consort Jia's aunt—her mother's sister—adopted Prince Da as her own son. The eventual Emperor Zhang was aware of Consort Jia's status as his birth mother but never treated her as mother. Even after Empress Dowager Ma died in 79, Emperor Zhang only authorized her to use the style of an imperial prince, never as an empress dowager, and her brothers were not honored as his uncles.