August Empress Dowager Fu was originally an imperial concubine to Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty. She was also Emperor Yuan’s favourite.[1] She was also the grandmother of Emperor Ai of the Western Han Dynasty. August Empress Dowager Fu was influential in making her grandson the Emperor.[2] Because of her influence, she was given many titles and honours.[3]
In circa 72 B.C.E., August Empress Dowager Fu was born.[4] Her father was a soldier in the Henei Commamdary (modern-day Hebei Province). He died in her early childhood. After his death, her mother was remarried to a man who was from the Zheng clan. Her personal name is also unknown.[5] Empress Dowager Fu entered the palace when she was young.[6] She became a Cairen, which meant “Lady of Talents”[7] under Grand Empress Dowager Shangguan.
Sometime after 65 B.C.E., Lady Fu became an imperial concubine for Liu Shi (the Crown Prince and who would later become Emperor Yuan).[8] Imperial Concubine Fu performed libations at feasts to wish the guests good luck and good health.[9] She was said to be “resourceful, but she was also amenable.”[10] In 48 B.C.E., Liu Shi ascended the throne of China as Emperor Yuan. Imperial Consort Fu was promoted to Jieyu, which meant “Lady of Handsome Fairness”[11] (the second highest rank below Empress). She was Emperor Yuan’s favourite.[12] She would continue to be his favourite until his death.[13] She gave birth to a son named Liu Kang (who would be the future Prince Gong of Dingtao).[14] She also gave birth to a daughter who was the Princess of Pingdu.[15]
Imperial Consort Fu was rivals with Imperial Consort Feng Yuan for Emperor Yuan’s affections.[16] Imperial Consort Fu tried to make her son, Liu Kang, the Crown Prince.[17] However, Emperor Yuan made Liu Ao (his son whom he had with Empress Wang Zhengjun) the heir apparent instead.[18] Emperor Yuan tried to console Imperial Consort Fu by making her a Zhaoyi, which meant “Lady of Bright Deportment”[19] (the highest rank below Empress).[20]
In 33 B.C.E., Emperor Yuan died. Imperial Consort Fu was given the title of Princess Dowager of Dingtao.[21] Her son named Liu Kang became Prince Gong of Dingtao.[22] She moved with her son to his fiefdom of Dingtao (modern-day Shandong Province).[23] Historians believe that this meant that she held some rights over the fiefdom.[24] Prince Gong took Lady Ding as a concubine.[25] In 25 B.C.E., Lady Ding gave birth to Liu Xin (the future Emperor Ai). In 22 B.C.E., Prince Gong of Dingtao died and his son, Prince Liu Xin, inherited his fiefdom.[26]
Princess Dowager Fu decided to raise Prince Liu Xin rather than letting him be raised by his mother.[27] This is because Princess Dowager Fu hoped that Prince Liu Xin could become the next Emperor.[28] Emperor Cheng had no son and needed to choose a successor.[29] Therefore, Princess Dowager Fu seized the opportunity to make her grandson the Crown Prince.[30] In 9 B.C.E., Prince Liu Xin and Prince Xiao of Zhongshan (the son of her rival, Imperial Consort Feng Yuan, who had received the title of Princess Dowager of Zhongshan) visited Emperor Cheng to see who would be the heir apparent.[31] Princess Dowager Fu made use of the opportunity to make her grandson the Crown Prince.[32] She sent gifts to everyone who was close to Emperor Cheng.[33] They all recommended Prince Liu Xin to Emperor Cheng.[34] Emperor Cheng also liked Liu Xin.[35] In 8 B.C.E., Liu Xin was made the Crown Prince. Princess Dowager Fu became Empress Dowager Dingtao.[36] Only Empress Dowager Dingtao was permitted to visit Crown Prince Liu Xin.[37]
In 7 B.C.E., Emperor Cheng died. Liu Xin ascended the throne as Emperor Ai of China. Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun allowed both Empress Dowager Dingtao and Lady Ding to visit him every ten days in Weiyang Palace.[38] Empress Dowager Dingtao and Lady Ding also raised their families to great prominence though they were not as esteemed as the Wang family.[39] Lady Ding became Empress Gong.[40] In 6 B.C.E., Empress Gong was promoted to Empress Dowager Ding.[41] She died two months later and was given the rites befitting an Empress Dowager.[42] In 1 B.C.E., Empress Dowager Ding was demoted to Lady Ding.[43] In 5 C.E., Wang Mang reburied Lady Ding to befit the rites of a commoner and razed her tomb.[44]
Empress Dowager Dingtao was given the title of Empress Dowager Fu.[45] When Emperor Ai died, she became Grand Empress Dowager Fu.[46] She was finally given the title of August Empress Dowager Fu.[47] She lived in Yongxin Palace.[48] She grew increasingly haughty.[49] She called Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun as “that old woman.”[50] She also eliminated her longtime rival Princess Dowager Feng Yuan in 6 B.C.E.[51] August Empress Dowager Fu died on 21 February 2 B.C.E. She was buried alongside Emperor Yuan in Weiling.[52]
August Empress Dowager Fu originally started out as a “Lady of Talents.”[53] She eventually became Emperor Yuan’s favourite imperial consort.[54] In her final years, she finally rose to become the second most powerful woman in China.[55] Even though she failed in making her son the Crown Prince, she succeeded in making her grandson the Emperor.[56] Thus, August Empress Dowager Fu enjoyed many privileges and titles in her lifetime.[57]
Sources:
Milburn, O. (2016). Palace Women in the Former Han Dynasty (202 BCE–CE 23): Gender and Administrational History in the Early Imperial Era . NAN NÜ, 18(2), 195-223.
Wu, J. (2015). “Fu, Concubine of Emperor Yuan”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 140-142.
[1] Milburn, 2016
[2] Wu, 2015
[3] Wu, 2015
[4] Wu, 2015
[5] Wu, 2015
[6] Wu, 2015
[7] Wu, 2015, p. 141
[8] Wu, 2015
[9] Wu, 2015
[10] Wu, 2015, p. 141
[11] Wu, 2015, p. 141
[12] Milburn, 2016
[13] Milburn, 2016
[14] Wu, 2015
[15] Wu, 2015
[16] Wu, 2015
[17] Wu, 2015
[18] Wu, 2015
[19] Wu, 2015, p. 141
[20] Milburn, 2016
[21] Wu, 2015
[22] Wu, 2015
[23] Milburn, 2016; Wu 2015
[24] Milburn, 2016
[25] Wu, 2015
[26] Wu, 2015
[27] Wu, 2015
[28] Wu, 2015
[29] Wu, 2015
[30] Wu, 2015
[31] Wu, 2015
[32] Wu, 2015
[33] Wu, 2015
[34] Wu, 2015
[35] Wu, 2015
[36] Wu, 2015
[37] Wu, 2015
[38] Wu, 2015
[39] Wu, 2015
[40] Wu, 2015
[41] Wu, 2015
[42] Wu, 2015
[43] Wu, 2015
[44] Wu, 2015
[45] Wu, 2015
[46] Wu, 2015
[47] Wu, 2015
[48] Wu, 2015
[49] Wu, 2015
[50] Wu, 2015, p. 142
[51] Wu, 2015
[52] Wu, 2015
[53] Wu, 2015, p. 141
[54] Milburn, 2016
[55] Wu, 2015
[56] Wu, 2015
[57] Wu, 2015
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