Empress Chu Lingyuan
Encyclopedia
Empress Chu Lingyuan (384–436), formally Empress Gongsi (恭思皇后), was the last empress of Jin Dynasty (265–420). Her husband was the last emperor of the dynasty, Emperor Gong
(Sima Dewen).
Chu Lingyuan was the daughter of the commandery governor Chu Shuang (褚爽), who was a grandson of the official Chu Pou (褚裒), making Chu Lingyuan a grandniece of Emperor Kang
's wife Empress Chu Suanzi
. It is not known exactly when she married Emperor Gong, but the marriage took place while he was the Prince of Langye, during the reign of his developmentally disabled
brother Emperor An
. After the regent Liu Yu
killed Emperor An in 419 and made Sima Dewen emperor, she was created empress. Emperor Gong subsequently was forced to give up the throne to Liu Yu in 420, ending Jin. Liu Yu, who established Liu Song, created the former Jin emperor the Prince of Lingling, and Empress Chu received the title Princess of Lingling. During their marriage, she bore two daughters -- Sima Maoying
the Princess Haiyan, and the Princess Fuyang, whose name is lost to history.
However, Liu Yu viewed the former emperor and any male progeny that he might bear as threats, and therefore had his officials (and former Empress Chu's brothers) Chu Xiuzhi (褚秀之) and Chu Danzhi (褚淡之) poison any male infants that Princess Chu or his concubines might bear. The former emperor himself feared death. He lived in the same house as his princess, and they set up a stove next to their bed, cooking their own meals (to try to prevent poisoning), and the princess herself paid for the material of the meals. The assassins that Liu Yu sent had little chance to poison him. However, in fall 421, Liu Yu sent Chu Danzhi and his brother Chu Shudu (褚叔度) to meet Princess Chu, and as they gathered in another house, assassins Liu Yu sent jumped into the prince's residence and try to force him to take poison. The former emperor refused, stating that Buddhist
doctrines prohibited suicide and that those who committed suicide could not receive human bodies in the next reincarnation. The assassins therefore used a blanket to cover his head and asphyxiated him.
Little is known about Princess Chu's life after her husband's death. Liu Yu had her adopt a son, presumably another member of the imperial Sima household, to inherit the title of Prince of Lingling, but this adopted son's name and identity is otherwise unknown. After the adoption, she became known as the Princess Dowager of Lingling. Her daughter Sima Maoying married Liu Yu's crown prince
Liu Yifu
, and after Liu Yu died in 422, Liu Yifu became emperor (as Emperor Shao) and created Sima Maoying empress, although Liu Yifu was himself removed and killed in 424 by imperial officials dissatisfied with his abilities to govern, and Empress Sima was demoted to being Princess of Yingyang. The former Jin empress died in 436 and was buried with imperial honors with her husband Emperor Gong.
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Emperor Gong of Jin
Emperor Gong of Jin was last emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He became emperor in 419 after his developmentally disabled brother Emperor An was killed by the regent Liu Yu, and during his brief reign, actual power was in Liu Yu's hands. In 420, under pressure from Liu Yu, he...
(Sima Dewen).
Chu Lingyuan was the daughter of the commandery governor Chu Shuang (褚爽), who was a grandson of the official Chu Pou (褚裒), making Chu Lingyuan a grandniece of Emperor Kang
Emperor Kang of Jin
Emperor Kang of Jin , personal name Sima Yue , courtesy name Shitong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty . He was a son of Emperor Ming and younger brother of Emperor Cheng...
's wife Empress Chu Suanzi
Empress Chu Suanzi
Empress Chu Suanzi , formally Empress Kangxian , at times as Empress Dowager Chongde , was an empress of Jin Dynasty...
. It is not known exactly when she married Emperor Gong, but the marriage took place while he was the Prince of Langye, during the reign of his developmentally disabled
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
brother Emperor An
Emperor An of Jin
Emperor An of Jin , personal name Sima Dezong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was described as so developmentally disabled that he was unable to speak, clothe himself, or be able to express whether he was hungry or full...
. After the regent Liu Yu
Emperor Wu of Liu Song
Emperor Wu of Song , personal name Liu Yu , courtesy name Dexing , nickname Jinu , was the founding emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He came from a humble background, but became prominent after leading a rebellion in 404 to overthrow Huan Xuan, who had usurped the Jin throne in 403...
killed Emperor An in 419 and made Sima Dewen emperor, she was created empress. Emperor Gong subsequently was forced to give up the throne to Liu Yu in 420, ending Jin. Liu Yu, who established Liu Song, created the former Jin emperor the Prince of Lingling, and Empress Chu received the title Princess of Lingling. During their marriage, she bore two daughters -- Sima Maoying
Empress Sima Maoying
Empress Sima Maoying was a princess of Jin Dynasty and an empress of the Liu Song Dynasty. Her father was Emperor Gong of Jin, and her husband was Emperor Shao of Liu Song ....
the Princess Haiyan, and the Princess Fuyang, whose name is lost to history.
However, Liu Yu viewed the former emperor and any male progeny that he might bear as threats, and therefore had his officials (and former Empress Chu's brothers) Chu Xiuzhi (褚秀之) and Chu Danzhi (褚淡之) poison any male infants that Princess Chu or his concubines might bear. The former emperor himself feared death. He lived in the same house as his princess, and they set up a stove next to their bed, cooking their own meals (to try to prevent poisoning), and the princess herself paid for the material of the meals. The assassins that Liu Yu sent had little chance to poison him. However, in fall 421, Liu Yu sent Chu Danzhi and his brother Chu Shudu (褚叔度) to meet Princess Chu, and as they gathered in another house, assassins Liu Yu sent jumped into the prince's residence and try to force him to take poison. The former emperor refused, stating that Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
doctrines prohibited suicide and that those who committed suicide could not receive human bodies in the next reincarnation. The assassins therefore used a blanket to cover his head and asphyxiated him.
Little is known about Princess Chu's life after her husband's death. Liu Yu had her adopt a son, presumably another member of the imperial Sima household, to inherit the title of Prince of Lingling, but this adopted son's name and identity is otherwise unknown. After the adoption, she became known as the Princess Dowager of Lingling. Her daughter Sima Maoying married Liu Yu's 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....
Liu Yifu
Emperor Shao of Liu Song
Emperor Shao of Song , also known by his post-removal title Prince of Yingyang , personal name Liu Yifu , nickname Chebing , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He was the oldest son of the founding emperor, Emperor Wu, and became emperor after his father's death in 422...
, and after Liu Yu died in 422, Liu Yifu became emperor (as Emperor Shao) and created Sima Maoying empress, although Liu Yifu was himself removed and killed in 424 by imperial officials dissatisfied with his abilities to govern, and Empress Sima was demoted to being Princess of Yingyang. The former Jin empress died in 436 and was buried with imperial honors with her husband Emperor Gong.
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