Imperial Consort Duan was the favourite Consort of the Jiajing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. However, she attracted the jealousy of two women. One would make her the scapegoat of an assassination attempt to kill the Emperor. The other would order her unjust execution. However, the Jiajing Emperor would take revenge for her death. Imperial Consort Duan’s story is truly tragic because she was an innocent victim in a harem struggle. It also tells the story of a father’s love for his daughter. He would build a monument for her that would become a national landmark.
Imperial Consort Duan’s birthdate is unknown. She was born in Wuxi in present-day Jiangsu Province.[1] She was of the Cao family. Her given name was Cao Luoying.[2] Her father was Cao Cha, who was a prominent local official and doctor.[3] Her mother is unknown. Cao Luoying had a close relationship with her father.[4] She was also known for her beauty and kindness.[5] She entered the Jiajing Emperor’s harem to become his concubine.
The Jiajing Emperor was tired of Empress Fang.[6] He quickly fell in love with Concubine Cao and showered his attention on her.[7] In 1536, Lady Cao bore him his eldest daughter named Zhu Shouzen.[8] She would become Princess of Chang’an.[9] She would die at the age of fourteen on 21 July 1549.[10] To celebrate the birth of Princess Chang’an, the Jiajing Emperor held a banquet to celebrate.[11] In 1537, the Jiajing Emperor promoted Concubine Cao to Imperial Consort Duan.[12] On 4 March 1539, Consort Duan gave birth to the Jiaging Emperor’s third daughter named Zhu Luge, who became the Princess of Ning’an. Princess Ning’an would later marry a commoner named Li He of Ningjin County. They would have one son named Li Cheng’en. She would die on 4 August 1607.[13]
Because Imperial Consort Duan was the Jiajing Emperor’s favourite, she attracted jealousy from Concubine Ning and Empress Fang.[14] One day, Imperial Consort Duan overheard Concubine Ning calling her “a saucy fox.”[15] Imperial Consort Duan told her words to the Jiajing Emperor.[16] He ordered Concubine Ning to be flogged and sentenced her to the hard labour of picking nectar.[17] The Jiajing Emperor told her that if Concubine Ning insulted Imperial Consort Duan again, then he would execute her.[18] Concubine Ning never forgave Imperial Consort Duan.[19] Concubine Ning conspired to kill the Jiajing Emperor with fifteen other palace maids whom he had brutally beaten and sexually abused.[20] She also planned to place the blame on Imperial Consort Duan.[21] This is why the assassination attempt occurred in Imperial Consort Duan’s chambers.[22]
One night in October 1542, the Jiajing Emperor was sleeping in Imperial Consort Duan’s chambers. Imperial Consort Duan got out of bed and left the room to take a bath.[23] As soon as she left, Concubine Ning took advantage of Imperial Consort Duan’s absence.[24] She and fifteen palace maids entered the room to assassinate the sleeping Emperor.[25] They tied a knot with a silken cord and hung it around his neck.[26] Then, they stabbed his groin with their hairpins.[27] Unfortunately, they tied an overhand knot and not a slipknot.[28] Therefore, it was not tight enough to kill the Jiajing Emperor.[29] Instead, it left him unconscious.[30]
One of the palace maids panicked when she realized she could not kill the Jiajing Emperor.[31] She ran to Empress Fang’s chambers and notified her of the assassination attempt.[32] Empress Fang quickly summoned a physician who saved the Emperor’s life.[33] The Jiajing Emperor remained unconscious for a day and a half.[34] Empress Fang immediately ordered the execution of all the women involved in the assassination attempt.[35]
Empress Fang saw an opportunity to get rid of her rival, Imperial Consort Duan. Imperial Consort Duan was not involved in the assassination attempt, nor did she know about it.[36] Empress Fang knew Imperial Consort Duan was innocent, but her jealousy caused her to order her execution.[37] Imperial Consort Duan, Concubine Ning, and fifteen palace maids were executed by “slow-slicing”[38] at Xiao Archway in Beijing.[39] Before her execution, Imperial Consort Duan kept pleading her innocence.[40] Concubine Ning then told her that she was relieved that Imperial Consort Duan would be dying with her.[41] She also said that she had finally achieved her revenge on Imperial Consort Duan.[42] The assassination attempt became known in history as the Palace Women’s Uprising of Renyin Year.
When the Jiajing Emperor finally regained consciousness, he noticed that Imperial Consort Duan was not by his side.[43] When he learned of Imperial Consort Duan’s fate, he was angry with Empress Fang and never forgave her.[44] In 1547, Empress Fang was trapped in a palace fire. The Jiajing Emperor took his revenge on Empress Fang for executing his beloved Imperial Consort Duan.[45] He refused to allow anyone to rescue her.[46] Empress Fang died of her burns.[47]
After Imperial Consort Duan’s unjust execution, Cao Cha stopped working.[48] Cao Cha spent all his money to build Zhaosi Hall and buried her there.[49] The archway bears no inscription, but the monument faces the capital.[50] This sends a clear message that Cao Cha mourned his innocent daughter.[51] Today, Zhaosi Hall has become a nationally protected cultural site.[52]
Imperial Consort Duan is a very sympathetic figure. She was wrongfully executed. Her story shows that having the Emperor’s favour could be deadly. Imperial Consort Duan’s burial site has become a national heritage site. The monument ensures the legacy of Imperial Consort Duan and her unwarranted execution.
Sources:
Gu 谷, Y. 岳飞 (13 July 2013). “无锡曹端妃无字牌坊穿越470年 系真实版”甄嬛传 [Wuxi Concubine Cao Duan’s wordless memorial archway travels through 470 years and is the real version of “Zhen Huan’s Biography]” China News. Retrieved on 18 August 2023 from https://www.chinanews.com.cn/cul/2013/07-13/5037979.shtml.
iMedia. (n. d.). “Is it true that 16 palace ladies strangled the Jiajing Emperor with ropes?”. Retrieved on 18 August 2023 from https://min.news/en/history/d0fc77333f44373c668b4fc663d39611.html.
iMedia. (n. d.). “The princess of the Ming Dynasty: Even though she was born in Tianhuang, she was inevitably fateful”. Retrieved on 18 August 2023 from https://min.news/en/history/d789b6687846ef6633af742b3aeded89.html.
iMedia. (n. d.). “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”. Retrieved on 18 August 2023 from https://min.news/en/history/4f8d77fe7c8c3acdf3919d192be7ec8b.html.
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.
McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Wu, M. (n. d.). “When Concubines fought back: The plot to Eliminate a mad and sadistic Emperor”. Ancient Origins. Retrieved on 18 August 2023 from https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/when-concubines-fought-back-plot-eliminate-mad-and-sadistic-emperor-009468.
[1] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[2] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[3] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[4] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[5] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[6] Lin and Lee, 2014
[7] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[8] iMedia, n. d., “The princess of the Ming Dynasty: Even though she was born in Tianhuang, she was inevitably fateful”
[9] iMedia, n. d., “The princess of the Ming Dynasty: Even though she was born in Tianhuang, she was inevitably fateful”
[10] iMedia, n. d., “The princess of the Ming Dynasty: Even though she was born in Tianhuang, she was inevitably fateful”
[11] iMedia, n. d., “The princess of the Ming Dynasty: Even though she was born in Tianhuang, she was inevitably fateful”
[12] McMahon, 2016
[13] iMedia, n. d., “The princess of the Ming Dynasty: Even though she was born in Tianhuang, she was inevitably fateful”
[14] 谷 [Gu], 2013; Lin and Lee, 2014
[15] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”, para. 37
[16] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[17] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[18] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[19] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[20] Lin and Lee, 2014
[21] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[22] 谷 [Gu], 2013; iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[23] Lin and Lee, 2014; 谷 [Gu], 2013
[24] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[25] Lin and Lee, 2014
[26] Lin and Lee, 2014
[27] Lin and Lee, 2014
[28] Lin and Lee, 2014
[29] Lin and Lee, 2014
[30] Lin and Lee, 2014
[31] Lin and Lee, 2014
[32] Lin and Lee, 2014
[33] Lin and Lee, 2014
[34] Lin and Lee, 2014
[35] Lin and Lee, 2014
[36] Lin and Lee, 2014
[37] Lin and Lee, 2014
[38] Wu, n. d., para. 9
[39] iMedia, n. d., “Is it true that 16 palace ladies strangled the Jiajing Emperor with ropes?”
[40] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[41] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[42] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[43] iMedia, n. d., “Why did the beauties kill the Jiajing Emperor in his sleep?”
[44] Lin and Lee, 2014
[45] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[46] McMahon, 2016
[47] Lin and Lee, 2014
[48] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[49] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[50] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[51] 谷 [Gu], 2013
[52] 谷 [Gu], 2013
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