Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng was the third Empress of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty. She was never favoured by Emperor Xuan. However, Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng established a close bond with Emperor Yuan. She would be highly regarded by two Emperors who would reward her for her virtue.
The birthdate of Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng is unknown. Her personal name is also unknown.[1] She was from Pei District in modern-day Jiangsu Province.[2] She was from the Wang family.[3] Her father was Wang Fengguang, the Marquis of Guannei.[4] Her father had developed a friendship with Prince Liu Xun through their love of cockfighting.[5] On 10 September 74 B.C.E., Prince Liu Xun ascended the throne of China as Emperor Xuan. Because of his friendship with her father, Emperor Xuan sent for Lady Wang to become his imperial concubine.[6] He gave her the rank of Jieyu (the second highest rank below the Empress position).[7] She was not favoured, and she remained childless.[8]
In 66 B.C.E., Empress Huo Chengjun was deposed for trying to assassinate Liu Shi, the Crown Prince whom he had with Empress Xu Pingjun.[9] The Empress position remained vacant.[10] Emperor Xuan was hesitant to appoint another Empress because he was afraid that she would try to kill the Crown Prince.[11] For three years, he did not appoint an Empress.[12] After much pressure from his ministers, Emperor Xuan considered possible candidates for the Empress position.[13] His three favourite imperial concubines all gave him sons.[14] This threatened Liu Shi’s position as Crown Prince.[15] Instead, he chose Consort Wang because she was childless and had a gentle disposition.[16] He believed that Consort Wang would be a suitable stepmother to Liu Shi.[17]
On 26 March 64 C.E., Consort Wang was invested as Empress of China. Her father was made Marquis of Qiongcheng.[18] Emperor Xuan gave Crown Prince Liu Shi to her to raise as her stepson.[19] Emperor Xuan still did not favour her.[20] She rarely saw him, and she remained childless.[21] On 10 January 48 B.C.E., Emperor Xuan died.
On 29 January 48 B.C.E., Liu Shi ascended the throne as Emperor Yuan. Emperor Yuan made Empress Wang the Empress Dowager.[22] When Emperor Yuan died, his son, Emperor Cheng, ascended the throne on 4 August 33 B.C.E. Emperor Cheng made her the Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng.[23] He chose Qiongcheng to distinguish her from his mother, Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun.[24] Qiongcheng was the title of her father’s Marquisate.[25] On 22 September 16 B.C.E., Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng died. She was over seventy.[26] She was buried next to Emperor Xuan in the Eastern Mausoleum in present-day Chang’an District in Shaanxi Province.[27]
Even though very little information is known about her, it is clear that Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng was a remarkable Empress.[28] Three Emperors made her the Empress, Empress Dowager, and Grand Empress Dowager.[29] Even though she was not favoured and had no children of her own, she was given the greatest honour.[30] Unlike her predecessor, Empress Huo Chengjun, she established a close relationship with Emperor Yuan.[31] Emperor Yuan and Emperor Cheng deeply honoured and respected her.[32] Therefore, she was able to live a long life and received many privileges.[33] Grand Empress Dowager Qiongcheng proved to be a virtuous Empress.[34]
Sources:
Cutter, R. J. (1989). The Brush and The Spur: Chinese Culture and The Cockfight. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press.
Wang, X. (2015). “Wang, Empress of Emperor Xuan”. 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. 202-203.
[1] Wang, 2015
[2] Wang, 2015
[3] Cutter, 1989
[4] Wang, 2015 Cutter, 1989
[5] Cutter, 1989; Wang, 2015
[6] Cutter, 1989; Wang, 2015
[7] Wang, 2015
[8] Wang, 2015
[9] Wang, 2015
[10] Wang, 2015
[11] Wang, 2015
[12] Wang, 2015
[13] Wang, 2015
[14] Wang, 2015
[15] Wang, 2015
[16] Wang, 2015
[17] Wang, 2015
[18] Wang, 2015
[19] Wang, 2015
[20] Wang, 2015
[21] Wang, 2015
[22] Wang, 2015
[23] Wang, 2015
[24] Wang, 2015
[25] Wang, 2015
[26] Wang, 2015
[27] Wang, 2015
[28] Wang, 2015
[29] Wang, 2015
[30] Wang, 2015
[31] Wang, 2015
[32] Wang, 2015
[33] Wang, 2015
[34] Wang, 2015
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