Empress Shi – The forgotten Empress of Emperor Wang Mang the Usurper

Empress Shi was the second Empress of the infamous usurper, Emperor Wang Mang of the Xin Dynasty. She reigned for only a few months.^[1] Very little information about Empress Shi of the Xin Dynasty is known.^[2] Empress Shi’s story shows the perversity of Emperor Wang Mang.^[3] Emperor Wang Mang made her his Empress in the hopes of having an heir.^[4] Yet, Emperor Wang Mang’s hopes were quickly dashed when he was overthrown by the Eastern Han Dynasty.^[5]

Empress Shi was the daughter of one of his officials named Shi Chen. Emperor Wang Mang of Xin’s first Empress, Wang, died in 21 C.E. This left the Empress position vacant.^[6] His last remaining legitimate son named Wang Lin, the Prince of Tongyiyang, also died in 21 C.E.^[7] This also left him without an heir.^[8] Initially, Emperor Wang Mang was content to not have another Empress.^[9] He did not have any concubines.^[10] Instead, he had female “attendants.”^[11] Three of them bore him five illegitimate children.^[12] He gave these children noble titles and fiefdoms.^[13] However, Emperor Wang Mang needed both an Empress and an heir to continue his Xin Dynasty.^[14]

In early 23 C.E., Emperor Wang Mang’s official, Yang Chengxin, suggested that Emperor Wang Mang should follow the rites of The Yellow Emperor.^[15] The mythical Yellow Emperor had an Empress and an additional 120 Consorts.^[16] This was how The Yellow Emperor achieved his immortality.^[17] Therefore, Emperor Wang Mang sent his officials to look for a “chaste maiden”^[18] who was suitable enough to be his next Empress.^[19] The officials chose Lady Shi.^[20] Emperor Wang Mang sent her family exquisite gifts. He personally greeted her when she arrived at the palace.^[21] He married her in a grand ceremony.^[22] Thus, Lady Shi became Empress of China. After he invested Empress Shi, Emperor Wang Mang created a harem that consisted of 120 Consorts.^[23] He also established a concubine-ranked system.^[24]

On 4 October 23 C.E., the Han armies invaded the capital city of Chang’an. They burned Weiyang Palace.^[25] Emperor Wang Mang’s supporters, including Shi Chen, tried to defend themselves using military might.^[26] Shi Chen eventually surrendered to the Han armies. He would later be executed. Emperor Wang Mang was killed.^[27] Emperor Wang Mang’s death ended the Xin Dynasty. Emperor Wang Mang’s body was cut into multiple pieces.^[28] They even cut off his head.^[29] Emperor Wang Mang’s head was sent to Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty.^[30] Emperor Guangwu displayed Emperor Wang Mang’s head in the marketplace.^[31] Empress Shi’s fate is unknown because chroniclers never mentioned her fate.^[32]

Empress Shi was Empress of China for a few months. Emperor Wang Mang only made her his Empress because he had no heirs.^[33] Emperor Wang Mang hoped that Empress Shi would give him an heir that would continue his Xin Dynasty.^[34] However, Emperor Wang Mang did not expect he would be overthrown.^[35] Emperor Wang Mang’s short-lived Xin Dynasty lasted for fourteen years. After the Xin Dynasty ended, the Eastern Han Dynasty began. The Eastern Han Dynasty continued for almost two hundred years.

Sources:

McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.

Shackelford, T. (Ed.). (2021). The SAGE Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology. United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.

Wills, J. E., Wills, J. E. (2012). Mountain of Fame: Portraits in Chinese History. United Kingdom: Princeton University Press.