Empress Song (Ling)
Encyclopedia
Empress Song (died 178) was an empress during the Han Dynasty
. She was Emperor Ling
's first wife, who later became a victim of the powerful eunuchs.
, the imperial consort of Emperor Zhang
who gave birth to his first crown prince
Liu Qing. During the early reign of Emperor Ling, he served as the commander of the capital (Luoyang
) defense forces. Her aunt was the wife of Prince Liu Kui (劉悝) of Bohai, the brother of Emperor Ling's predecessor Emperor Huan
.
In 170, Lady Song was selected to be an imperial consort. In 171, even though she was not a favored consort, she was created empress, perhaps because of her noble lineage. Her father Song Feng was created a marquess.
, Cao was dismissed from his post as magistrate of Dunqiu (顿丘). Some of the eunuchs not involved in the plot who took pity on the late empress gathered her body and those of her family members and gave them proper burials, but as commoners.
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...
. She was Emperor Ling
Emperor Ling of Han
Emperor Ling of Han, trad. ch. 漢靈帝;, sim. ch. 汉灵帝, py. hàn líng dì, wg. Han Ling-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out during Emperor Ling's reign.Emperor Ling's reign saw yet another repetition of...
's first wife, who later became a victim of the powerful eunuchs.
Family background and marriage to Emperor Ling
The later Empress Song was born into a clan that was honored, but not particularly powerful, during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Her father Song Feng (宋酆) was a grandnephew of Consort SongConsort Song
Consort Song , posthumous title Empress Jingyin , was an imperial consort for Emperor Zhang of Han who was the victim of palace intrigue at the hands of Emperor Zhang's wife Empress Dou.Consort Song was the older daughter of Song Yang , a seventh-generation descendant of Song Chang ,...
, the imperial consort of 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....
who gave birth to his first 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 Qing. During the early reign of Emperor Ling, he served as the commander of the capital (Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
) defense forces. Her aunt was the wife of Prince Liu Kui (劉悝) of Bohai, the brother of Emperor Ling's predecessor Emperor Huan
Emperor Huan of Han
Emperor Huan of Han, ch. 漢桓帝, py. hàn húan dì, wg. Han Huan-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang....
.
In 170, Lady Song was selected to be an imperial consort. In 171, even though she was not a favored consort, she was created empress, perhaps because of her noble lineage. Her father Song Feng was created a marquess.
Fall and death
As stated, however, Empress Song never had Emperor Ling's favor. Therefore, the concubines who wanted to replace her often defamed her. In 172, an incident occurred that would have great negative implications for her—the powerful eunuch Wang Fu (王甫), after Prince Kui of Bohai failed to pay him bribes that had been promised him, falsely accused Prince Kui of treason. Prince Kui was forced to commit suicide, and his entire household—including his wife—was executed. Thereafter, Wang and his confederates became constantly concerned that if Empress Song became powerful, she would avenge her aunt. They therefore joined with the concubines to falsely accuse her of witchcraft against Emperor Ling's life. In 178, Emperor Ling finally believed them and deposed Empress Song. Empress Song was imprisoned and died in despair. Her father Song Feng and her brothers were all executed. Song Qi (宋奇), formally Marquess Yinqiang (隐强侯), who was also executed, was probably a brother of the empress; and as his wife was a younger cousin sister of Cao CaoCao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
, Cao was dismissed from his post as magistrate of Dunqiu (顿丘). Some of the eunuchs not involved in the plot who took pity on the late empress gathered her body and those of her family members and gave them proper burials, but as commoners.