The Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty had four Empresses. Yet, each of them suffered under his abuse and met a tragic end. One of them was Empress Zhang Qijie. Zhang Qijie was his second Empress and the only Empress that the Jiajing Emperor deposed. She reigned alongside him as Empress of China for six years. When she interceded for someone he greatly disliked, he beat her and deposed her. Empress Zhang Qijie’s story is truly tragic because she suffered from her abusive husband.
Empress Zhang Qijie’s birth date is unknown. She was the daughter of Zhang Ji, who was an imperial guard. Her mother was Lady Xue. Zhang Qijie was said to be very beautiful, but she was not well-learned.[1] In 1526, she became a concubine to the Jiajing Emperor. The Jiajing Emperor and Empress Chen had a strained relationship.[2] The Jiajing Emperor began to favour Consort Zhang Qijie.[3] In 1528, a horrible event happened that made Consort Zhang Qijie become the next Empress.
One day in 1528, Consort Zhang Qijie and Consort Fang (who would become the third Empress of the Jiajing Emperor) served tea to the pregnant Empress Chen and the Jiajing Emperor. When the Jiajing Emperor accepted the tea his consorts served him, he stared at them lustfully.[4] Empress Chen was furious when she noticed that the Jiajing Emperor was lusting after other women in her presence.[5] She threw her teacup to the ground and stood up to leave.[6] The Jiajing Emperor was enraged that Empress Chen was displeased with his behaviour.[7] He kicked Empress Chen several times, causing her to have a miscarriage.[8] Empress Chen never recovered and died a month later.[9]
The Jiajing Emperor decided to appoint Zhang Qijie as his next Empress.[10] However, Zhang Qijie did not want to be his Empress because she was afraid that he would treat her like Empress Chen.[11] Yet, Zhang Qijie realized there was no choice and was invested as Empress of China.[12] Zhang Qijie did not enjoy the Empress position.[13] She was always afraid that she would meet the same fate as her predecessor.[14] Unfortunately, it would later prove to be true.
Empress Zhang Qijie participated in rituals and ceremonies with the Jiajing Emperor.[15] Gradually, the Jiajing Emperor grew disappointed with her because she still had not given him a son.[16] He also disapproved of her close relationship with his aunt, Empress Dowager Zhang (also known as Empress Xiaochengjing), whom he greatly disliked.[17] This would cause Empress Zhang Qijie’s swift and sudden downfall.
In January of 1534, the Jiajing Emperor convicted Empress Dowager Zhang’s younger brother of treason to eliminate his aunt’s family.[18] Empress Zhang Qijie interceded on behalf of his aunt’s younger brother.[19] Emperor Jiajing was furious that Empress Zhang Qijie sided with Empress Dowager Zhang and not with him.[20] On 19 January 1534, the Jiajing Emperor deposed Empress Zhang Qijie.[21] He stripped off her crown dress.[22] Then, he whipped her and sent her to the cold palace.[23] She was the Empress of China for six years.[24] The deposed Empress Zhang Qijie died lonely and unhappy three years later in 1537.[25] She had a simple and hasty funeral.[26] She was buried without the rites of an Empress.[27]
Zhang Qijie was right to fear the Empress position. Like her predecessor, she also suffered a tragic fate. The Jiajing Emperor once showered her with favour and made her Empress of China. However, he was disappointed with her because she did not give him a son. When she interceded with his aunt’s brother, he deposed her and whipped her. Empress Zhang Qijie could not control the events in her life. It is no wonder why she hated being Empress of China.
Sources:
Dardess, J. W. (2012). Ming China, 1368-1644: A Concise History of a Resilient Empire. NY: Rowman & Littlefield.
iMedia. (n.d.). “Emperor Jiajing, the three queens did not end well, the mother, Empress Dowager Jiang and her children died one after another, and the harem was restless”. Retrieved on 16 August 2023 from https://min.news/en/history/fdd590be81f67c9b9350e458fe46a76e.html.
iMedia. (n.d.). “The most perverted emperor, all three queens were brutally murdered”. Retrieved on 16 August 2023 from https://min.news/en/history/7b60c5b3bd4e2f0ff235435a104ca79a.html.
iNews. (n.d.). “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”. Retrieved on 16 August 2023 from https://inf.news/en/history/fd25cd37ddc5dde7f8d082a8c8e8317a.html.
iNews. (n. d.). “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”. Retrieved on 16 August 2023 from https://inf.news/en/history/1f8452ac40a3e4de432248aee9dc9e17.html.
Lin, Y & Lee, L. X. H. trans. (2014). “Chen, Empress of the Jiajing Emperor, Shizong, of Ming.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 28-29.
Lin, Y & Lee, L. X. H. trans. (2014). “Fang, Empress of the Jiajing Emperor, Shizong, of Ming.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 59-60.
[1] iNews, n. d., “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”
[2] Lin and Lee, 2014
[3] Lin and Lee, 2014
[4] Lin and Lee, 2014
[5] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[6] Lin and Lee, 2014
[7] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[8] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[9] Lin and Lee, 2014
[10] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[11] iMedia, n.d., “The most perverted emperor, all three queens were brutally murdered”
[12] iMedia, n.d., “The most perverted emperor, all three queens were brutally murdered”
[13] iMedia, n.d., “The most perverted emperor, all three queens were brutally murdered”
[14] iMedia, n.d., “The most perverted emperor, all three queens were brutally murdered”
[15] Dardess, 2012
[16] Dardess, 2012
[17] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[18] iNews, n. d., “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”
[19] iNews, n. d., “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”
[20] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[21] iNews, n. d., “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”
[22] iNews, n. d., “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”
[23] iNews, n. d., “The most famous scumbag emperor in history, as long as the woman who has a relationship with him does not end well.”
[24] iNews, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing set up three queens in succession, each of them couldn’t end well, and the queens were unbelievable.”
[25] iMedia, n.d., “Emperor Jiajing, the three queens did not end well, the mother Empress Dowager Jiang and her children died one after another, and the harem was restless”
[26] Lee and Lin, 2014
[27] Lee and Lin, 2014
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