Empress Xu
Encyclopedia
Empress Xu (1362 – July 1407), formally Empress Ren Xiao Wen (仁孝文皇后), birth name Xu Yihua (徐儀華), was the empress consort to the Yongle Emperor
and the third empress of China's
Ming Dynasty
. She was well educated, compiling bibliographies of virtuous women, an activity connected with court politics.
and Lady Xie (謝氏). She had four brothers—Xu Huizu (徐輝祖), Xu Tianfu (徐添福), Xu Yingxu (徐膺緒), and Xu Zengshou (徐增壽)—and two younger sisters, who were the wives of Zhu Gui, Prince Jian of Dai (thirteenth son of the Hongwu Emperor
) and Zhu Ying, Prince Hui of An (twenty-second son of the Hongwu Emperor
). On 17 February 1376, she married the Zhu Di, Prince of Yan
, the Hongwu Emperor's
fourth son. After Zhu Di ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor
on 17 July 1402, Xu Yihua, as his primary wife and consort, was created empress in December 1402.
A devout Buddhist, Empress Xu is the first person credited with transcribing a Buddhist sutra from a dream revelation. The work is entitled Da Ming Ren xiao Huang hou meng kan Fo Shuo di yi xi yu da gong de jing (The sutra of great merit of the foremost rarity spoken by the Buddha which the Renxiao empress of the great Ming received in a dream). In her introduction to the sutra, the empress wrote that one night after meditating and burning incense, Guanyin appeared to her as if in a dream, and took her to a holy realm where the sutra was revealed to her in order to save her from disaster. After reading the sutra three times, she was able to memorize it and recall it perfectly upon awakening and writing it down. The sutra conveys conventional Mahayana philosophies, and the mantras for chanting were typical of Tibetan Buddhist practices.
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
and the third empress of China's
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. She was well educated, compiling bibliographies of virtuous women, an activity connected with court politics.
Biography
Xu Yihua was born in 1362, as the eldest daughter of Xu DaXu Da
Xu Da was a Chinese military general who lived in the early Ming Dynasty and contributed to the founding of the dynasty. Apart from being a friend of the Hongwu Emperor, founding emperor of the dynasty, Xu was also the father of Empress Xu, who would marry the third ruler of the Ming, the Yongle...
and Lady Xie (謝氏). She had four brothers—Xu Huizu (徐輝祖), Xu Tianfu (徐添福), Xu Yingxu (徐膺緒), and Xu Zengshou (徐增壽)—and two younger sisters, who were the wives of Zhu Gui, Prince Jian of Dai (thirteenth son of the Hongwu Emperor
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
) and Zhu Ying, Prince Hui of An (twenty-second son of the Hongwu Emperor
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
). On 17 February 1376, she married the Zhu Di, Prince of Yan
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
, the Hongwu Emperor's
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
fourth son. After Zhu Di ascended the throne as the Yongle Emperor
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
on 17 July 1402, Xu Yihua, as his primary wife and consort, was created empress in December 1402.
A devout Buddhist, Empress Xu is the first person credited with transcribing a Buddhist sutra from a dream revelation. The work is entitled Da Ming Ren xiao Huang hou meng kan Fo Shuo di yi xi yu da gong de jing (The sutra of great merit of the foremost rarity spoken by the Buddha which the Renxiao empress of the great Ming received in a dream). In her introduction to the sutra, the empress wrote that one night after meditating and burning incense, Guanyin appeared to her as if in a dream, and took her to a holy realm where the sutra was revealed to her in order to save her from disaster. After reading the sutra three times, she was able to memorize it and recall it perfectly upon awakening and writing it down. The sutra conveys conventional Mahayana philosophies, and the mantras for chanting were typical of Tibetan Buddhist practices.
Family
- Father
- Xu DaXu DaXu Da was a Chinese military general who lived in the early Ming Dynasty and contributed to the founding of the dynasty. Apart from being a friend of the Hongwu Emperor, founding emperor of the dynasty, Xu was also the father of Empress Xu, who would marry the third ruler of the Ming, the Yongle...
- Xu Da
- Mother
- Lady Xie (謝氏), second daughter of Xie Jianxing (謝再興)
- Husband
- Yongle EmperorYongle EmperorThe Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
- Yongle Emperor
Sons
| Number | Name | Formal Title | Born | Died | Spouse | Issue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhu Gaochi 朱高熾 |
The Hongxi Emperor Hongxi Emperor The Hongxi Emperor was the fourth emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He succeeded his father, the Yongle Emperor, in 1424. His era name means "Vastly bright".-Biography:... |
16 August 1378 | 29 May 1425 | Lady Zhang, Empress Cheng Xiao Zhao Empress Cheng Xiao Zhao Empress Xiao Gong Zhang was a Chinese Empress consort of the Ming Dynasty, married to the Xuande Emperor.- Sources :... 11 concubines |
Zhu Zhanji, Xuande Emperor Xuande Emperor The Xuande Emperor was Emperor of China from 1425 to 1435. His era name means "Proclamation of Virtue".-Biography:... Zhu Zhanxun, Prince Jing of Zheng Zhu Zhanyong, Prince Jing of Yue Zhu Zhanyin, Prince Xian of Qi Zhu Zhanshan, Prince Xian of Xiang Zhu Zhangang, Prince Xian of Jing Zhu Zhanyu, Prince Jing of Huai Zhu Zhankai, Prince Huai of Teng Zhu Zhanji, Prince Zhuang of Liang Zhu Zhanyan, Prince Gong of Wei Princess Jiaxing Zhu Yuantong, Princess Qingdou Princess Qinghe Princess De'an Princess Yanping Princess Deqing Princess Zhending |
|
| 2 | Zhu Gaoxu 朱高煦 |
Prince of Han 漢王 |
30 December 1380 | 6 October 1426 | Consort Wei 韋妃 |
Zhu Zhanhe, Heir Apparent Yi Zhuang Zhu Zhanqi, Heir Apparent Zhu Zhanci, Prince of Jiyang Zhu Zhanyu, Prince of Linzi Zhu Zhanyi, Prince Zichuan Zhu Zhanxing, Prince of Changle Zhu Zhanping, Prince of Qidong Zhu Zhandao, Prince of Rencheng Zhu Zhanchang, Prince of Haifeng Zhu Zhanbang, Prince of Xintai |
|
| 3 | Zhu Gaosui 朱高燧 |
Prince Jian of Zhao 趙簡王 |
19 January 1383 | 5 October 1431 | Lady Xu (daughter of Xu Zhang (徐章)) Lady Mu (daughter of Mu Cheng (沐晟)) |
Zhu Zhanba, Heir Apparent Daoxi of Zhao Zhu Zhanque, Prince Hui of Zhao a son |
Created Prince of Zhao on 12 May 1404 |
Daughters
| Number | Title | Born | Died | Date Married | Spouse | Issue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princess Ancheng 安成公主 |
- | 1444 | 1402 | Song Hu 宋琥 (second son of Song Cheng, Marquess of Xining) |
- | |
| 2 | Princess Xianning 咸寧公主 |
- | 1442 | 1412 | Song Ying 宋瑛 (third son of Song Cheng, Marquess of Xining) |
- |