Empress Wang Zhi
Encyclopedia
Empress Wang Zhi (died 126 BC), formally Empress Xiaojing (孝景皇后), was an empress during the Han Dynasty
. She was the second wife of Emperor Jing
and the mother of Emperor Wu
.
, the one-time Prince of Yan under Emperor Gao. Her parents had, in addition to her, a son Wang Xin
(王信) and another daughter Wang Xixu (王息姁). They lived in Huaili (槐里, in modern Xianyang
, Shaanxi
). After her father died, her mother remarried a man named Tian (田), and she had two more sons, Tian Fen (田蚡) and Tian Sheng (田勝).
When Wang Zhi was young, she was married to a Jin Wangsun (金王孫), and they had a daughter named Jin Su (金俗). After that, however, her mother was told by a fortuneteller that both of her daughters would become extremely honored. Zang got the idea to offer her daughters to then-Crown Prince Qi (later Emperor Jing) and forcibly divorced Zhi from her husband to do so.
As Emperor Jing's empress Empress Bo had no sons, his oldest son Liu Rong (劉榮), born of his other favorite concubine Consort Li (栗姬), was created crown prince in 153 BC. Consort Li was arrogant and jealous, and she hoped to become empress after Empress Bo was deposed in 151 BC. However, her lack of tact would give Consort Wang a break. When Consort Li, out of a grudge to Emperor Jing's sister Princess Liu Piao (劉嫖), refused to let her son marry Princess Piao's daughter Chen Jiao
(陳嬌), Consort Wang took the opportunity and had Chen Jiao betrothed to Prince Che. Princess Piao then began incessantly criticize Consort Li for her jealousy—pointing out that, if Consort Li became empress dowager, many concubines might suffer the fates of Consort Qi, Emperor Gao's favorite concubine who was tortured and killed by Emperor Gao's wife Empress Dowager Lü after Emperor Gao's death. Emperor Jing eventually agreed, and he deposed Prince Rong from his position in 150 BC. Consort Li died in anger. That year, Consort Wang was created empress, and Prince Che the crown prince.
, had asserted over her father-in-law, Emperor Wen
. She bore her husband three daughters, Princess Pingyang
(平陽公主), Princess Nangong (南宮公主), and Princess Longlü (隆慮公主). She and her ally Princess Liu Piao probably had a hand in Consort Li's son and former crown prince, Liu Rong, being forced to commit suicide in 148 BC on charges that he intruded into the grounds of Emperor Wen's temple while building walls to his palace.
Empress Wang had good relations with her mother-in-law, and both she and her brother Wang Xin were key in calming Emperor Jing from his anger against his brother Liu Wu (劉武), the Prince of Liang and the favored young son of Empress Dowager Dou, when Liu Wu assassinated a number of court officials in 148 BC. It was because of this that Empress Dowager Dou wanted to create Wang Xin a marquess, a move initially blocked by his prime minister Zhou Yafu
(周亞夫), although Emperor Jing eventually carried out the creation anyway. She was probably pleased when Zhou committed suicide in 143 BC
after being falsely accused of treason
and arrested. When Emperor Jing died in 141 BC, Crown Prince Che succeeded to the throne as Emperor Wu, and Empress Wang became empress dowager.
Empress Dowager Wang exerted significant influence on her son, as can be seen from how, with her approval, her half-brother Tian Fen became the commander of the armed forces and exerted power even beyond the military affairs. Initially, her influence was balanced and outweighed by that of her mother-in-law, Grand Empress Dowager Dou. After Grand Empress Dowager Dou's death in 135 BC, however, she would become the paramount figure at court, and it was in 135 BC that Tian Fen was made prime minister, although her son gradually asserted his position as he grew in age. For example, in 133 BC, in the aftermaths of the failed attempt to capture the Xiongnu
chanyu
at the Battle of Mayi
, Emperor Wu wanted to execute the key strategist, Wang Hui (王恢, unrelated to her), who bribed Tian, who in turn persuaded her to speak on Wang Hui's behalf. Emperor Wu refused to accept her intercession, and forced Wang Hui to commit suicide. However, it was at her behest that Emperor Wu executed his grand uncle Dou Ying (竇嬰) (Empress Dou's cousin) in 132 BC for having insulted Tian.
Empress Dowager Wang died in 126 BC, and was buried with her second husband Emperor Jing.
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 the second wife of Emperor Jing
Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
and the mother of Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
.
Family background and first marriage
Wang Zhi's father was named Wang Zhong (王仲). Her mother Zang Er (臧兒) was a granddaughter of Zang TuZang Tu
Zang Tu was a Chinese warlord who lived in the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-Biography:Zang was originally a military general serving under Han Guang, king of Yan...
, the one-time Prince of Yan under Emperor Gao. Her parents had, in addition to her, a son Wang Xin
Wang Xin
Wang Xin ; birth name Wang Ruoxue , born in Wuhan, Hubei) is a Chinese athlete who competes in diving.She initially trained atTsinghua University with controversial diving coach Yu Fen before moving to the national team in 2006....
(王信) and another daughter Wang Xixu (王息姁). They lived in Huaili (槐里, in modern Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). After her father died, her mother remarried a man named Tian (田), and she had two more sons, Tian Fen (田蚡) and Tian Sheng (田勝).
When Wang Zhi was young, she was married to a Jin Wangsun (金王孫), and they had a daughter named Jin Su (金俗). After that, however, her mother was told by a fortuneteller that both of her daughters would become extremely honored. Zang got the idea to offer her daughters to then-Crown Prince Qi (later Emperor Jing) and forcibly divorced Zhi from her husband to do so.
As consort to the crown prince and then emperor
Both Zhi and her sister Xixu became favored by Crown Prince Qi, and she, then known as Consort Wang, bore him a son, Liu Che, shortly after he became emperor, in 156 BC. When she was pregnant, she claimed that she dreamed a sun falling into her womb. In 153 BC, Prince Che was created the Prince of Jiaodong.As Emperor Jing's empress Empress Bo had no sons, his oldest son Liu Rong (劉榮), born of his other favorite concubine Consort Li (栗姬), was created crown prince in 153 BC. Consort Li was arrogant and jealous, and she hoped to become empress after Empress Bo was deposed in 151 BC. However, her lack of tact would give Consort Wang a break. When Consort Li, out of a grudge to Emperor Jing's sister Princess Liu Piao (劉嫖), refused to let her son marry Princess Piao's daughter Chen Jiao
Empress Chen Jiao
Empress Chen Jiao was an empress during Han Dynasty. She was the first wife of Emperor Wu of Han, but was deposed in 130 BC. Her father was Chen Wu , the Marquess of Tangyi. Her mother was Emperor Wu's aunt Princess Liu Piao , making her and her husband cousins...
(陳嬌), Consort Wang took the opportunity and had Chen Jiao betrothed to Prince Che. Princess Piao then began incessantly criticize Consort Li for her jealousy—pointing out that, if Consort Li became empress dowager, many concubines might suffer the fates of Consort Qi, Emperor Gao's favorite concubine who was tortured and killed by Emperor Gao's wife Empress Dowager Lü after Emperor Gao's death. Emperor Jing eventually agreed, and he deposed Prince Rong from his position in 150 BC. Consort Li died in anger. That year, Consort Wang was created empress, and Prince Che the crown prince.
As empress
Remembering the lesson of Empress Bo's and Consort Li's fate, despite her honored position as empress, Empress Wang did not try to assert as much influence on her husband as her mother-in-law, Empress Dowager DouEmpress Dou (Wen)
Empress Dou , formally Empress Xiaowen , was a Chinese empress during the Han Dynasty who greatly influenced the reigns of her husband Emperor Wen and her son Emperor Jing with her adherence of Taoist philosophy...
, had asserted over her father-in-law, Emperor Wen
Emperor Wen of Han
Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager...
. She bore her husband three daughters, Princess Pingyang
Princess Pingyang (Han Dynasty)
Princess Pingyang was the eldest daughter of Emperor Jing of Han and his second empress, Empress Wang Zhi. She was the eldest sister of Emperor Wu of Han...
(平陽公主), Princess Nangong (南宮公主), and Princess Longlü (隆慮公主). She and her ally Princess Liu Piao probably had a hand in Consort Li's son and former crown prince, Liu Rong, being forced to commit suicide in 148 BC on charges that he intruded into the grounds of Emperor Wen's temple while building walls to his palace.
Empress Wang had good relations with her mother-in-law, and both she and her brother Wang Xin were key in calming Emperor Jing from his anger against his brother Liu Wu (劉武), the Prince of Liang and the favored young son of Empress Dowager Dou, when Liu Wu assassinated a number of court officials in 148 BC. It was because of this that Empress Dowager Dou wanted to create Wang Xin a marquess, a move initially blocked by his prime minister Zhou Yafu
Zhou Yafu
Zhou Yafu was a renowned Han Dynasty general who put down the Rebellion of the Seven States, but whose honesty and integrity eventually cost him the favor of Emperor Jing and his life...
(周亞夫), although Emperor Jing eventually carried out the creation anyway. She was probably pleased when Zhou committed suicide in 143 BC
143 BC
Year 143 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Macedonicus...
after being falsely accused of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and arrested. When Emperor Jing died in 141 BC, Crown Prince Che succeeded to the throne as Emperor Wu, and Empress Wang became empress dowager.
As empress dowager
After Empress Wang became empress dowager, her son carried out several immediate acts to honor her family members. Her mother was created the Lady of Pingyuan, and her half-brothers were created marquesses. Her daughter Jin Su, from her previous marriage, was tracked down and personally visited by Emperor Wu, and he created her the Lady of Xiucheng.Empress Dowager Wang exerted significant influence on her son, as can be seen from how, with her approval, her half-brother Tian Fen became the commander of the armed forces and exerted power even beyond the military affairs. Initially, her influence was balanced and outweighed by that of her mother-in-law, Grand Empress Dowager Dou. After Grand Empress Dowager Dou's death in 135 BC, however, she would become the paramount figure at court, and it was in 135 BC that Tian Fen was made prime minister, although her son gradually asserted his position as he grew in age. For example, in 133 BC, in the aftermaths of the failed attempt to capture the 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...
chanyu
Chanyu
Chanyu , was the title used by the nomadic supreme rulers of Middle and Central Asia for 8 centuries, starting...
at the Battle of Mayi
Battle of Mayi
The Battle of Mayi was an abortive ambush operation by the Han Dynasty against the invading Xiongnu forces; casualties were minimal. It marked the end of de jure peace between the Han Dynasty and Xiongnu, and stimulated the use of effective cavalry forces and offensive military policies by the Han...
, Emperor Wu wanted to execute the key strategist, Wang Hui (王恢, unrelated to her), who bribed Tian, who in turn persuaded her to speak on Wang Hui's behalf. Emperor Wu refused to accept her intercession, and forced Wang Hui to commit suicide. However, it was at her behest that Emperor Wu executed his grand uncle Dou Ying (竇嬰) (Empress Dou's cousin) in 132 BC for having insulted Tian.
Empress Dowager Wang died in 126 BC, and was buried with her second husband Emperor Jing.