Empress Yu Wenjun
Encyclopedia
Empress Yu Wenjun (297–328), formally Empress Mingmu (明穆皇后, literally "the understanding and solemn empress") was an empress of Jin Dynasty (265-420)
. Her husband was Emperor Ming of Jin
.
Empress Yu's father Yu Chen (庾琛) was the governor of Kuaiji Commandery (會稽, roughly modern Shaoxing
, Zhejiang
), and later served on the staff of Sima Rui the Prince of Langye (later Emperor Yuan
) when Sima Rui was posted at Jianye
. She was considered kind and beautiful, and Sima Rui took her to be his son Sima Shao's wife. Her brother Yu Liang
became a key friend and advisor to Sima Shao. Later, after Sima Rui declared himself emperor and created Sima Shao crown prince, she became crown princess. After Emperor Yuan died in 323 and Sima Shao succeeded to the throne as Emperor Ming, she became empress. She bore him two sons, Sima Yan
and Sima Yue
).
Emperor Ming only ruled briefly and died in 326. Initially, he left a balance of power between high level officials that he entrusted the four-year-old Crown Prince Yan (who succeeded to the throne as Emperor Cheng) with, but after Empress Yu was honored as Empress Dowager Yu, she was encouraged by these officials to be regent
, and soon Yu Liang became alone the most powerful official of the empire. He became apprehensive of the generals Su Jun
, Zu Yue (祖約), and Tao Kan
, each of whom suspected Yu of erasing their names from Sima Shao's will, which promoted and honored a large number of officials, and he also was apprehensive of Emperor Ming's stepuncle Yu Yin (虞胤) and the imperial princes Sima Zong (司馬宗) the Prince of Nandun and Sima Yang (司馬羕) the Prince of Xiyang, all of whom were powerful during Emperor Ming's reign but who had been removed from powerful positions under Empress Dowager Yu's regency. In winter 326, he accused Sima Zong of treason and killed him, demoted Sima Yang, and exiled Yu Yin. This led to the people losing confidence in him.
In 327, Yu Liang further resolved on separating Su, then the governor of Liyang Commandery (歷陽, roughly modern Chaohu, Anhui
) from his troops, and he promoted Su to be the minister of agriculture—a post that did not involve commanding troops. Su saw his intent and declared a rebellion, with Zu's assistance. Yu Liang initially thought that Su could be easily defeated, but instead Su quickly arrived at the capital early 328 and captured it. Yu Liang was forced to flee. Meanwhile, Su pillaged the capital, and it was said that even Empress Dowager Yu's servant girls became spoils for his troops. Further, it was said that Su himself "humiliated" Empress Dowager Yu—although the method of humiliation was not specified in history. She died in distress and fear. Her son Emperor Cheng would become Su's captive for months before other provincial generals would converge on Jiankang and defeat Su.
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...
. Her husband was Emperor Ming of Jin
Emperor Ming of Jin
Emperor Ming of Jin , personal name Sima Shao , courtesy name Daoji , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty...
.
Empress Yu's father Yu Chen (庾琛) was the governor of Kuaiji Commandery (會稽, roughly modern Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
), and later served on the staff of Sima Rui the Prince of Langye (later Emperor Yuan
Emperor Yuan of Jin
Emperor Yuan of Jin , personal name Sima Rui , courtesy name Jingwen , was an emperor of the Jin Dynasty and the first of the Eastern Jin Dynasty...
) when Sima Rui was posted at Jianye
Jianye
Jianye may refer to:*Jianye District, in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China*Jiankang, also known as Jianye, ancient city in China*Henan Jianye, Chinese football club...
. She was considered kind and beautiful, and Sima Rui took her to be his son Sima Shao's wife. Her brother Yu Liang
Yu Liang
Yu Liang , courtesy name Yuangui , formally Marquess Wenkang of Duting , was a Jin Dynasty official and general who impressed many with his knowledge but whose inability to tolerate dissent and overly high evaluation of his own abilities led to the disastrous revolt of Su Jun, weakening Jin's...
became a key friend and advisor to Sima Shao. Later, after Sima Rui declared himself emperor and created Sima Shao crown prince, she became crown princess. After Emperor Yuan died in 323 and Sima Shao succeeded to the throne as Emperor Ming, she became empress. She bore him two sons, Sima Yan
Emperor Cheng of Jin
Emperor Cheng of Jin , personal name Sima Yan , courtesy name Shigen , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty . He was the eldest son of Emperor Ming and became the crown prince on April 1, 325...
and Sima Yue
Emperor Kang of Jin
Emperor Kang of Jin , personal name Sima Yue , courtesy name Shitong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty . He was a son of Emperor Ming and younger brother of Emperor Cheng...
).
Emperor Ming only ruled briefly and died in 326. Initially, he left a balance of power between high level officials that he entrusted the four-year-old Crown Prince Yan (who succeeded to the throne as Emperor Cheng) with, but after Empress Yu was honored as Empress Dowager Yu, she was encouraged by these officials to be regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
, and soon Yu Liang became alone the most powerful official of the empire. He became apprehensive of the generals Su Jun
Su Jun
Su Jun was a Jin Dynasty general, whose rebellion against Emperor Cheng's regent Yu Liang was initially successful, allowing him to take over the imperial government, but he was eventually defeated by Tao Kan and Wen Jiao's forces and killed in battle...
, Zu Yue (祖約), and Tao Kan
Tao Kan
Tao Kan , courtesy name Shixing , formally Duke Huan of Changsha , was a renowned Jin Dynasty general and governor. He was the great-grandfather of the Jin Dynasty poet Tao Yuanming.- Early career :...
, each of whom suspected Yu of erasing their names from Sima Shao's will, which promoted and honored a large number of officials, and he also was apprehensive of Emperor Ming's stepuncle Yu Yin (虞胤) and the imperial princes Sima Zong (司馬宗) the Prince of Nandun and Sima Yang (司馬羕) the Prince of Xiyang, all of whom were powerful during Emperor Ming's reign but who had been removed from powerful positions under Empress Dowager Yu's regency. In winter 326, he accused Sima Zong of treason and killed him, demoted Sima Yang, and exiled Yu Yin. This led to the people losing confidence in him.
In 327, Yu Liang further resolved on separating Su, then the governor of Liyang Commandery (歷陽, roughly modern Chaohu, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) from his troops, and he promoted Su to be the minister of agriculture—a post that did not involve commanding troops. Su saw his intent and declared a rebellion, with Zu's assistance. Yu Liang initially thought that Su could be easily defeated, but instead Su quickly arrived at the capital early 328 and captured it. Yu Liang was forced to flee. Meanwhile, Su pillaged the capital, and it was said that even Empress Dowager Yu's servant girls became spoils for his troops. Further, it was said that Su himself "humiliated" Empress Dowager Yu—although the method of humiliation was not specified in history. She died in distress and fear. Her son Emperor Cheng would become Su's captive for months before other provincial generals would converge on Jiankang and defeat Su.