Empress Teng
Encyclopedia
Teng Fanglan, formally known as Empress Teng, was an empress of Eastern Wu
during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history
. She was married to Sun Hao
, the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu.
Her father Teng Mu (滕牧) was a distant relative of one-time Eastern Wu chancellor Teng Yin (滕胤), and when Teng Yin was killed in a failed attempt to overthrow the regent Sun Lin
in 256, Teng Mu and his family were exiled to the border. After the emperor Sun Xiu
killed Sun Lin in 258, he declared a general pardon for those who had been condemned by Sun Lin, and Teng Mu was able to return from exile with his family and became a mid-level official. Lady Teng was then married to Sun Hao, the Marquess of Wucheng, the son of former crown prince
Sun He
and the nephew of the emperor. When Sun Xiu died in 264, the powerful officials Puyang Xing (濮陽興) and Zhang Bu (張布) made him emperor, and Marchioness Teng became empress that year. Teng Mu was promoted, and eventually became deputy chancellor and a marquess.
Sun Hao was a cruel, superstitutious, and incompetent ruler. The officials were, however, hesitant to try to correct him with advice because of his cruelty, and because of Teng Mu's honored status, they often asked him to present the proposals that the emperor might otherwise be offended by. Eventually, Sun Hao tired of Teng Mu's suggestions, and as a result Empress Teng began to lose favor as well. In 266, Sun Hao suddenly ordered Teng Mu to move to Cangwu (蒼梧, in modern Wuzhou
, Guangxi
) -- and while Teng Mu retained his posts and titles, this was an effective exile. He died in distress on the way to Cangwu. Sun Hao also considered deposing Empress Teng, but Sun Hao's superstitiousness worked in Empress Teng's favor—as the sorcerers that he trusted told him that changing the lady of the palace would lead to disaster. Sun Hao's mother, Empress Dowager He
, also worked to protect Empress Teng. However, she stayed with Empress Dowager He and rarely saw her husband again, and many of his favorite concubines were allowed to carry empress seals, although they continued to revere her as the empress.
Little else is known about Empress Teng. When Eastern Wu was conquered by the rival Jin
in 280, she accompanied her husband to the Jin capital Luoyang
, and presumably, after he was created the Marquess of Guiming, she carried the title of marchioness. It is not known when she died.
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history
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...
. She was married to Sun Hao
Sun Hao
Sun Hao , style name Yuanzong , originally named Sun Pengzu with the style name Yuanzong , was the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. He was the son of Sun He, a one-time crown prince of the founding emperor Sun Quan...
, the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu.
Her father Teng Mu (滕牧) was a distant relative of one-time Eastern Wu chancellor Teng Yin (滕胤), and when Teng Yin was killed in a failed attempt to overthrow the regent Sun Lin
Sun Lin
Sun Lin , style name Zitong , was a regent of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled as regent during the reigns of the emperors Sun Liang and Sun Xiu. His conflict with Sun Liang eventually led him to depose the emperor in favor of Sun Xiu...
in 256, Teng Mu and his family were exiled to the border. After the emperor Sun Xiu
Sun Xiu
Sun Xiu , formally known as Emperor Jing of Wu, was the third emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Early life:...
killed Sun Lin in 258, he declared a general pardon for those who had been condemned by Sun Lin, and Teng Mu was able to return from exile with his family and became a mid-level official. Lady Teng was then married to Sun Hao, the Marquess of Wucheng, the son of former 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....
Sun He
Sun He
Sun He , style name Zixiao , formally known as Emperor Wen , was a son and crown prince of Eastern Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
and the nephew of the emperor. When Sun Xiu died in 264, the powerful officials Puyang Xing (濮陽興) and Zhang Bu (張布) made him emperor, and Marchioness Teng became empress that year. Teng Mu was promoted, and eventually became deputy chancellor and a marquess.
Sun Hao was a cruel, superstitutious, and incompetent ruler. The officials were, however, hesitant to try to correct him with advice because of his cruelty, and because of Teng Mu's honored status, they often asked him to present the proposals that the emperor might otherwise be offended by. Eventually, Sun Hao tired of Teng Mu's suggestions, and as a result Empress Teng began to lose favor as well. In 266, Sun Hao suddenly ordered Teng Mu to move to Cangwu (蒼梧, in modern Wuzhou
Wuzhou
Wuzhou , historically known as Wuchow, is a prefecture-level city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.-Geography and climate:Wuzhou is located in eastern Guangxi bordering Guangdong province. It is at the confluence of the Gui River and the Xun River where they form the Xi River; 85% of all...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
) -- and while Teng Mu retained his posts and titles, this was an effective exile. He died in distress on the way to Cangwu. Sun Hao also considered deposing Empress Teng, but Sun Hao's superstitiousness worked in Empress Teng's favor—as the sorcerers that he trusted told him that changing the lady of the palace would lead to disaster. Sun Hao's mother, Empress Dowager He
Empress Dowager He (Sun Hao)
Empress Dowager He, personal name unknown, was an empress dowager during the reign of her son Sun Hao, the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
, also worked to protect Empress Teng. However, she stayed with Empress Dowager He and rarely saw her husband again, and many of his favorite concubines were allowed to carry empress seals, although they continued to revere her as the empress.
Little else is known about Empress Teng. When Eastern Wu was conquered by the rival Jin
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
in 280, she accompanied her husband to the Jin 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...
, and presumably, after he was created the Marquess of Guiming, she carried the title of marchioness. It is not known when she died.