Consort Wu (Xuanzong)
Encyclopedia
Consort Wu, imperial consort rank Huifei (武惠妃) (d. 737), posthumously Empress Zhenshun (貞順皇后, literally "the virtuous and serene empress"), was an imperial consort of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong
. She was Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine during her lifetime, and after the death of his wife Empress Wang
in 724, she became honored like an empress inside the palace, although she never became empress on account of her father Wu Youzhi (武攸止) being a nephew of Emperor Xuanzong's grandmother Wu Zetian
, the memory about whose takeover of the Tang throne terrified the officials.
's uncle Wu Shirang (武士讓). After Wu Zetian became "emperor" in 690 after having been empress dowager
over her sons Emperor Zhongzong
and Emperor Ruizong
, Wu Youzhi was created the Prince of Heng'an. The future Consort Wu was born sometime between 688 and 697. It was said that Wu Youzhi died when she was still young, and she entered the palace afterwards.
(Emperor Ruizong's son) became emperor in 712, Consort Wu became an imperial consort and was favored by him. Early in his Kaiyuan era (713-741), she successively gave birth to two sons, Li Yi (李一, posthumously honored Prince Dao of Xia) and Li Min (李敏, posthumously honored Prince Ai of Huai), and one daughter (posthumously honored Princess Shangxian), all of whom were described to be beautiful but all of whom died in their childhood (Li Yi in 717, Li Min in 720, and Princess Shangxian's death date is unknown). After she later gave birth to another son, Li Qing
(李清), Emperor Xuanzong asked his brother Li Xian
the Prince of Ning to raise the child, and Li Xian and his wife Princess Yuan raised the child personally.
Meanwhile, as Emperor Xuanzong's favors for Consort Wu waxed, his favors for his wife Empress Wang
waned. It was said that Consort Wu was ambitious and, taking after Wu Zetian, had designs to be empress, and Empress Wang was often arguing with Emperor Xuanzong over the issue. In 722, Emperor Xuanzong discussed with his close associate Jiang Jiao (姜皎) deposing Empress Wang on the basis that Empress Wang did not have a son, but after Jiang leaked the news, Jiang was exiled, and Empress Wang remained in her position. In 724, however, Empress Wang's brother Wang Shouyi (王守一) was discovered to have engaged a Buddhist monk to use magic on her behalf and had her wear an amulet that he hoped would allow her to have a son. Empress Wang was deposed and died soon after.
Emperor Xuanzong did not create Consort Wu empress, but had the other concubines, ladies in waiting
, and eunuchs all treat her as the empress inside the palace. Her mother Lady Yang was created the Lady of Zheng, and her brothers Wu Zhong (武忠) and Wu Xin (武信) became honoured officials. She had one more son, Li Qi (李琦) the Prince of Sheng, and two daughters, the Princesses Xianyi and Taihua.
Meanwhile, Consort Wu had designs to have her oldest son Li Qing, whose name was by then changed to Li Mao (李瑁) and who had been created the Prince of Shou, named crown prince. She and the official Li Linfu
entered into an alliance, where Li Linfu agreed to help her to have Li Mao created crown prince, while she recommended Li Linfu to be chancellor. Li Linfu became chancellor in 734, and thereafter began to lobby on Li Mao's behalf.
Some time later Li Siqian, whose name had by then been changed to Li Ying, met with his brothers Li Yao (李瑤) the Prince of E, born of Consort Huangfu, and Li Ju (李琚) the Prince of Guang, born of Consort Liu, and each of them was complaining about how their mothers, originally favoured by Emperor Xuanzong, had lost favor to Consort Wu. Princess Xianyi's husband Yang Hui (楊洄) reported this to Consort Wu, and she tearfully accused Li Ying of defaming her and Emperor Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong, in anger, discussed the possibility of deposing Li Ying with the chancellors. The senior chancellor Zhang Jiuling
firmly opposed this, and when Consort Wu sent her servant Niu Gui'er (牛貴兒) to try to lobby him, he refused and reported this to Emperor Xuanzong. Because of Zhang's firm opposition to Li Ying's removal, it was said that Li Ying's position was firm for as long as Zhang remained chancellor, but after Zhang was removed in 736, things began to change.
In 737, Consort Wu decided to try to trick Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju. She had a message sent to the three princes, stating, "There are bandits in the palace. Please report at once in armour!" The three princes arrived in full armour, and she told Emperor Xuanzong, "The three princes are planning treason. Look, they have come in full armour." Emperor Xuanzong had his eunuchs check out the situation, and the three princes were seen in full armour. Yang Hui subsequently accused Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju of treason. When Emperor Xuanzong discussed this with the chancellors, Li Linfu, by now the most powerful official at court, stated that, "This is Your Imperial Majesty's family matter. We will not interfere." The three princes were soon reduced to commoner rank and forced to commit suicide. It was said that thereafter Consort Wu was often terrified by visions of the three princes in her dreams, and she offered sacrifices to them, but the dreams continued. She became ill, and died later that year in her 40s.
Emperor Xuanzong posthumously honoured her as empress and buried her with ceremonies due an empress, but he rebuffed proposals for mourning periods to be observed for her. However, due to her significant and widely-known offence on three princes, her son did not succeed "crown-prince" title, and her "empress" title and all other honours was divested by the succeeding emperor, Suzong, who was also the foster son of Empress Wang.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
. She was Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine during her lifetime, and after the death of his wife Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Xuanzong)
Empress Wang was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Xuanzong. She was initially made empress after he became emperor in 712, but eventually lost favor to Consort Wu, partly because she never had a son...
in 724, she became honored like an empress inside the palace, although she never became empress on account of her father Wu Youzhi (武攸止) being a nephew of Emperor Xuanzong's grandmother Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
, the memory about whose takeover of the Tang throne terrified the officials.
Background
The future Consort Wu was a daughter of Wu Youzhi, who was a grandson of Wu ZetianWu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
's uncle Wu Shirang (武士讓). After Wu Zetian became "emperor" in 690 after having been empress dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
over her sons Emperor Zhongzong
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Xiǎn , at times during his life Li Zhe and Wu Xian , was the fourth Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710.Emperor Zhongzong was the son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu...
and Emperor Ruizong
Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor Ruizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Dàn , known at times during his life as Li Xulun , Li Lun , Wu Lun , and Wu Dan , was the fifth and ninth emperor of Tang Dynasty...
, Wu Youzhi was created the Prince of Heng'an. The future Consort Wu was born sometime between 688 and 697. It was said that Wu Youzhi died when she was still young, and she entered the palace afterwards.
Before Empress Wang's removal
Sometime after Wu Zetian's grandson Emperor XuanzongEmperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
(Emperor Ruizong's son) became emperor in 712, Consort Wu became an imperial consort and was favored by him. Early in his Kaiyuan era (713-741), she successively gave birth to two sons, Li Yi (李一, posthumously honored Prince Dao of Xia) and Li Min (李敏, posthumously honored Prince Ai of Huai), and one daughter (posthumously honored Princess Shangxian), all of whom were described to be beautiful but all of whom died in their childhood (Li Yi in 717, Li Min in 720, and Princess Shangxian's death date is unknown). After she later gave birth to another son, Li Qing
Li Mao
Li Qing , known as Li Mao from 725 and honored title Prince of Shou was an Imperial Prince of Chinese Tang Dynasty, he was the eighteenth son of Emperor Xuanzong and his favorite concubine Consort Wu.-Biography:...
(李清), Emperor Xuanzong asked his brother Li Xian
Li Chengqi
Li Chengqi , known as Wu Chengqi during the reign of his grandmother Wu Zetian and as Li Xian after 716, formally Emperor Rang , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who served as crown prince during the first reign of his father Emperor Ruizong who yielded that position to...
the Prince of Ning to raise the child, and Li Xian and his wife Princess Yuan raised the child personally.
Meanwhile, as Emperor Xuanzong's favors for Consort Wu waxed, his favors for his wife Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Xuanzong)
Empress Wang was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Xuanzong. She was initially made empress after he became emperor in 712, but eventually lost favor to Consort Wu, partly because she never had a son...
waned. It was said that Consort Wu was ambitious and, taking after Wu Zetian, had designs to be empress, and Empress Wang was often arguing with Emperor Xuanzong over the issue. In 722, Emperor Xuanzong discussed with his close associate Jiang Jiao (姜皎) deposing Empress Wang on the basis that Empress Wang did not have a son, but after Jiang leaked the news, Jiang was exiled, and Empress Wang remained in her position. In 724, however, Empress Wang's brother Wang Shouyi (王守一) was discovered to have engaged a Buddhist monk to use magic on her behalf and had her wear an amulet that he hoped would allow her to have a son. Empress Wang was deposed and died soon after.
After Empress Wang's removal
After Empress Wang was deposed, Emperor Xuanzong gave Consort Wu the highly honourable rank of Huifei, the highest rank possible for imperial consorts at that point, and in 726, he considered creating Consort Wu empress. However, this drew petitions of protest from his officials, the most famous of which stated, in fairly blunt language:Emperor Xuanzong did not create Consort Wu empress, but had the other concubines, ladies in waiting
Lady in Waiting
Lady in Waiting is the 2nd album by American southern rock band Outlaws, released in 1976. -Track listing:#"Breaker-Breaker" – 2:59#"South Carolina" – 3:05#"Ain't So Bad" – 3:48...
, and eunuchs all treat her as the empress inside the palace. Her mother Lady Yang was created the Lady of Zheng, and her brothers Wu Zhong (武忠) and Wu Xin (武信) became honoured officials. She had one more son, Li Qi (李琦) the Prince of Sheng, and two daughters, the Princesses Xianyi and Taihua.
Meanwhile, Consort Wu had designs to have her oldest son Li Qing, whose name was by then changed to Li Mao (李瑁) and who had been created the Prince of Shou, named crown prince. She and the official Li Linfu
Li Linfu
Li Linfu , nickname Genu , formally the Duke of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor for 18 years , during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong—one of the longest terms of service for a chancellor in Tang history, and the longest during Xuanzong's reign.Li...
entered into an alliance, where Li Linfu agreed to help her to have Li Mao created crown prince, while she recommended Li Linfu to be chancellor. Li Linfu became chancellor in 734, and thereafter began to lobby on Li Mao's behalf.
Some time later Li Siqian, whose name had by then been changed to Li Ying, met with his brothers Li Yao (李瑤) the Prince of E, born of Consort Huangfu, and Li Ju (李琚) the Prince of Guang, born of Consort Liu, and each of them was complaining about how their mothers, originally favoured by Emperor Xuanzong, had lost favor to Consort Wu. Princess Xianyi's husband Yang Hui (楊洄) reported this to Consort Wu, and she tearfully accused Li Ying of defaming her and Emperor Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong, in anger, discussed the possibility of deposing Li Ying with the chancellors. The senior chancellor Zhang Jiuling
Zhang Jiuling
Zhang Jiuling , courtesy name Zishou , nickname Bowu , formally Count Wenxian of Shixing , was a prominent minister, noted poet and scholar of the Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.- Background :Zhang Jiuling was born in 673, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong...
firmly opposed this, and when Consort Wu sent her servant Niu Gui'er (牛貴兒) to try to lobby him, he refused and reported this to Emperor Xuanzong. Because of Zhang's firm opposition to Li Ying's removal, it was said that Li Ying's position was firm for as long as Zhang remained chancellor, but after Zhang was removed in 736, things began to change.
In 737, Consort Wu decided to try to trick Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju. She had a message sent to the three princes, stating, "There are bandits in the palace. Please report at once in armour!" The three princes arrived in full armour, and she told Emperor Xuanzong, "The three princes are planning treason. Look, they have come in full armour." Emperor Xuanzong had his eunuchs check out the situation, and the three princes were seen in full armour. Yang Hui subsequently accused Li Ying, Li Yao, and Li Ju of treason. When Emperor Xuanzong discussed this with the chancellors, Li Linfu, by now the most powerful official at court, stated that, "This is Your Imperial Majesty's family matter. We will not interfere." The three princes were soon reduced to commoner rank and forced to commit suicide. It was said that thereafter Consort Wu was often terrified by visions of the three princes in her dreams, and she offered sacrifices to them, but the dreams continued. She became ill, and died later that year in her 40s.
Emperor Xuanzong posthumously honoured her as empress and buried her with ceremonies due an empress, but he rebuffed proposals for mourning periods to be observed for her. However, due to her significant and widely-known offence on three princes, her son did not succeed "crown-prince" title, and her "empress" title and all other honours was divested by the succeeding emperor, Suzong, who was also the foster son of Empress Wang.