Empress Xiaoduanxian of the Ming Dynasty was known as the longest reigning empress consort in Chinese history.[1] She reigned for forty-two years. She was known to be one of the Ming dynasty’s most virtuous empresses.[2] However, she failed to give a son to Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (also known as the Wanli Emperor). This failure forced Emperor Shenzong to no longer favour her, but he still respected her as his empress. Empress Xiaoduanxian was also renowned for being the owner of the famous phoenix crown, which consists of over five thousand pearls, that is currently housed in the National Museum of China in Beijing.
On 7 November 1564 C.E., Empress Xiaoduanxian was born in Beijing. Her birth name was Wang Xijie. Her father was Wang Wei. They were from a commoner family.[3] Wang Xijie grew up to be a gentle, obedient, and beautiful daughter.[4] In 1577 C.E., Wang Xijie participated in the palace selection for empress consort to Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty.[5] After intense scrutiny, she was finally chosen to be the next empress.[6] In 1578 C.E., the sixteen-year-old Emperor Shenzong formally married the thirteen-year-old Wang Xijie. Emperor Shenzong was impressed with his empress and greatly admired her.[7]
In June 1582 C.E., Empress Wang Xijie gave birth to a daughter, who later became Princess Rongchang. Empress Wang Xijie was disappointed because it was not the longed-for son that the couple had hoped for.[8] Emperor Shenzong and Empress Wang Xijie still had a loving and respectful relationship.[9] They believed the empress would eventually have a son. However, Empress Wang Xijie became pregnant several times, but the pregnancies always ended in miscarriages.[10] It began to dawn on Emperor Shenzong that Empress Wang Shijie would never give him a son. He began to distance himself from her and began to shower his love and affection on his favourite consort, Zheng Guifei.[11]
Empress Wang Xijie fell out of favour with Emperor Shenzong. However, she did not openly resent the loving relationship between her husband and Zheng Guifei. She never said anything malicious about Zheng Guifei.[12] Thus, while Emperor Shenzong no longer loved Empress Wang Xijie, he still respected her as his empress.[13] Empress Wang Xijie turned her attention to Emperor Shenzong’s eldest son named Zhu Changluo, whom the emperor had with Consort Wang. Consort Wang was confined to her palace and could not see her son. Therefore, Empress Wang Xijie raised and looked after him herself.[14]
On 7 May 1620 C.E., Empress Wang Xijie died at the age of fifty-six.[15] She reigned as empress for forty-two years.[16] She was the longest reigning empress consort in Chinese history.[17] Emperor Shenzong died three months later on 18 August 1620 C.E. She was buried in the Dingling Mausoleum next to Emperor Shenzong.[18] She became the posthumous Empress Xiaoduanxian of the Ming Dynasty.
In 1956 C.E., archaeologists excavated Empress Xiaoduanxian’s tomb.[19] They found two phoenix crowns that belonged to the empress.[20] One of her crowns is the most famous and exquisite artefact of the Ming dynasty.[21] The phoenix crown is 48.5 cm high, 23.7 cm in diameter, and weighs 2,320 grams.[22] The front part of the crown is decorated with nine golden dragons, and nine golden phoenixes that decorate the front and back.[23] It consists of a hundred rubies and over five thousand pearls.[24] This phoenix crown of Empress Xiaoduanxian is considered a national treasure in China.[25] The crowns are currently on display in the National Museum of China.[26]
Empress Xiaoduanxian has made many notable achievements in Chinese history. She ruled as the empress from the age of thirteen to fifty-six. This is why she has been the longest reigning empress consort in Chinese history. However, she failed to give the emperor a son, which caused turmoil in the imperial succession and made her lose favour with the emperor. Yet, Empress Xiaoduanxian continued to be virtuous and did not resent the relationship her husband had with his favourite consort. This earned Emperor Shenzong’s respect and was the reason why he never tried to depose her. Yet, her greatest legacy was what she had left behind. Her famous phoenix crown has become a national treasure. People from all over the world are impressed with its beauty and exquisite craftsmanship. Because of this precious artefact, the owner of the famous phoenix crown will never be forgotten.
Sources:
iNews. (n.d.). “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”. Retrieved on August 28, 2022 from https://inf.news/en/collect/313ea2edd40fda5e91e5fa33a98e4080.html.
Laitimes. (January 24, 2022). “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”. Retrieved on August 28, 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/28gor_2ihum.html.
McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
[1] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[2] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[3] McMahon, 2016
[4] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[5] McMahon, 2016
[6] McMahon, 2016
[7] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[8] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[9] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[10] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[11] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[12] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[13] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[14] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[15] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[16] Laitimes, 24 January 2022, “At the age of 13, Meiguan Qunfang was crowned empress and sat on the throne for 42 years by relying on 2 characters, becoming the highest in history”
[17] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[18] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[19] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[20] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[21] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[22] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[23] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[24] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[25] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
[26] iNews, n.d., “Queen Xiaoduan’s phoenix crown inlaid with more than 5,000 pearls, one of the most exquisite phoenix crowns in China”
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