Empress Liu E
Encyclopedia
Empress Liu E (died 314), courtesy name Lihua (麗華), formally Empress Wuxuan (武宣皇后, literally "the martial and responsible empress") was an empress of the Chinese
/Xiongnu
state Han Zhao
. She was Liu Cong
(Emperor Zhaowu)'s third wife.
Liu E was the daughter of one of Liu Cong's honored officials, Liu Yin (劉殷), who was described as someone who was willing to point out Liu Cong's faults, but only doing so in private, thus earning the temperamental and impulsive emperor's respect. She was initially taken as a concubine by him in 312, along with her sister Liu Ying (劉英) and four of her nieces. This move was opposed by Liu Cong's brother and crown prince Liu Ai (劉乂), who argued it would be a violation of the prohibition against endogamy
. Liu Cong, however, rationalized the move in that Liu Yin was ethnically Han
, while he himself was ethnically Xiongnu, and therefore were not of the same ancestor.
Liu E and her sister Liu Ying were both favored by Liu Cong. Initially, in 312, Liu Cong wanted to create Liu Ying empress to replace Empress Huyan
, who died earlier that year, but at his mother Empress Dowager Zhang
's insistence, he created another concubine, Zhang Huiguang
empress instead. Liu Ying died soon thereafter.
In 313, Empress Zhang died. Liu Cong created Liu E empress and wanted to build a palace for her. His minister Chen Yuanda (陳元達) tried to persuade that it was overly wasteful, and Liu Cong, in anger, ordered Chen's execution. However, the new empress interceded, and Chen was spared and further promoted. For the next year, under Empress Liu's and Chen's advice, Liu Cong was said to have corrected his behavior to some extent.
Empress Liu herself was described as intelligent and kind. However, she died in 314. It was said that from that point on, Liu Cong's palace would be thoroughly in a confused state, and Liu Cong's own personal behavior appeared to degenerate after this, without her counsel.
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...
/Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
state Han Zhao
Han Zhao
The Han Zhao , or Former Zhao, or Northern Han , was a Southern Xiongnu state during Sixteen Kingdoms period coeval with the Chinese Jin Dynasty...
. She was Liu Cong
Liu Cong
Liu Cong may refer to:*Liu Cong , emperor of Han Zhao of the Sixteen Kingdoms*Liu Cong , younger son of the Han Dynasty warlord Liu Biao...
(Emperor Zhaowu)'s third wife.
Liu E was the daughter of one of Liu Cong's honored officials, Liu Yin (劉殷), who was described as someone who was willing to point out Liu Cong's faults, but only doing so in private, thus earning the temperamental and impulsive emperor's respect. She was initially taken as a concubine by him in 312, along with her sister Liu Ying (劉英) and four of her nieces. This move was opposed by Liu Cong's brother and crown prince Liu Ai (劉乂), who argued it would be a violation of the prohibition against endogamy
Endogamy
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. A Greek Orthodox Christian endogamist, for example, would require that a marriage be only with another...
. Liu Cong, however, rationalized the move in that Liu Yin was ethnically Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
, while he himself was ethnically Xiongnu, and therefore were not of the same ancestor.
Liu E and her sister Liu Ying were both favored by Liu Cong. Initially, in 312, Liu Cong wanted to create Liu Ying empress to replace Empress Huyan
Empress Huyan (Zhaowu)
Empress Huyan , formally Empress Wuyuan was an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. She was Liu Cong 's first wife....
, who died earlier that year, but at his mother Empress Dowager Zhang
Empress Dowager Zhang (Zhaowu)
Empress Dowager Zhang , formally Empress Guangxian , was an empress dowager of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao, during the reign of her son Liu Cong .She was the founding emperor Liu Yuan's concubine...
's insistence, he created another concubine, Zhang Huiguang
Empress Zhang Huiguang
Empress Zhang Huiguang , formally Empress Wuxiao , was an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao...
empress instead. Liu Ying died soon thereafter.
In 313, Empress Zhang died. Liu Cong created Liu E empress and wanted to build a palace for her. His minister Chen Yuanda (陳元達) tried to persuade that it was overly wasteful, and Liu Cong, in anger, ordered Chen's execution. However, the new empress interceded, and Chen was spared and further promoted. For the next year, under Empress Liu's and Chen's advice, Liu Cong was said to have corrected his behavior to some extent.
Empress Liu herself was described as intelligent and kind. However, she died in 314. It was said that from that point on, Liu Cong's palace would be thoroughly in a confused state, and Liu Cong's own personal behavior appeared to degenerate after this, without her counsel.