Princess Qin Mu Ji (also known as the Ji-Clan Woman) was a Princess of Jin. She married Duke Mu of Qin for political reasons. Her brother, Duke Hui of Jin, violated the peace treaty between the States of Jin and Qin. Her husband, Duke Mu of Qin invaded the State of Jin and captured her brother. In order for her brother to not be killed by her husband, Princess Qin Mu Ji threatened to kill herself. Her willingness to sacrifice herself for her brother earned her husband’s admiration.[1]
Princess Qin Mu Ji was born in the mid-seventh century B.C.E.[2] She lived during the Spring and Autumn period, which lasted from 771 to 453 B.C.E. During this period, Chinese states were declaring their own independence from the ruling Zhou Dynasty to form their own dynasties.[3] She was a Princess of Jin (present-day Shaanxi Province).[4] Her father was Duke Xian of Jin. Her mother was Duchess Qi Jiang.
In 655 B.C.E., Princess Qin Mu Ji married Duke Mu of Qin (present day-provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu). She was angry with her brother, Prince Yiwu, for having an illicit affair with their father’s consort, Jia Jun.[5] Prince Yiwu fled to the State of Liang after Duke Xian tried to assassinate him.[6] In 650 B.C.E., Prince Yiwu returned to the State of Qin and became Duke Hui. Duchess Qin Mu Ji asked Duke Hui to restore his brothers’ status after they had been sent away by Duchess Li Ji.[7] Duke Hui ignored his sister’s request.[8]
Duke Hui also alienated the State of Qin by refusing to send them grain during their famine.[9] Because of the poor relationship between Duke Hui and Duke Mu, the State of Qin attacked the State of Jin.[10] In 645 B.C.E., Duke Hui was captured. However, Duchess Qin Mu Ji did not want her husband to kill her brother.[11] She and her children went into a tower.[12] She threatened to burn herself and her children if her husband ever harmed her brother.[13] Duke Mu was so terrified of Duchess Qin Mu Ji’s threat that he safely allowed Duke Hui to return to the State of Jin.[14] Duke Mu admired his wife’s act and viewed her as “righteous.”[15]
Prince Chong Er (one of Duchess Qin Mu Ji’s brothers) eventually returned to the State of Jin after nineteen years of long exile. In 636 B.C.E. he ascended the throne of the State of Jin as Duke Wen. The State of Qin personally escorted Prince Chong Er back to State of Jin.[16] However, Duchess Qin Mu Ji had already passed away.[17] Therefore, she could not have influenced Duke Wen’s accession to the throne of the State of Jin.[18]
Princess Qin Mu Ji did not get along with her brother, Duke Hui of Jin.[19] She disapproved of his actions.[20] However, she still did not want his death.[21] She was prepared to sacrifice her life to save her brother.[22] Many Confucian scholars have deemed her actions heroic and “righteous.”[23] In Biographies of Eminent Women, her biography is categorized in “Biography of the Virtuous and Wise”[24]. Thus, she will always be remembered as one of China’s wisest princesses.[25]
Sources:
Cook, C. A. (2015). “Ji Clan Woman, Wife of Duke Mu of Qin”. 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. 34-35.
Eno, R. (2010). 1.7. Spring and Autumn China (771-453). Indiana University, PDF.
Liu, X., Kinney, A. B. (2014). Exemplary Women of Early China: The Lienü Zhuan of Liu Xiang. United Kingdom: Columbia University Press.
[1] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[2] Cook, 2015
[3] Eno, 2010
[4] Cook, 2015
[5] Cook, 2015
[6] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[7] Cook, 2015
[8] Cook, 2015
[9] Cook, 2015
[10] Cook, 2015
[11] Cook, 2015
[12] Cook, 2015
[13] Cook, 2015
[14] Cook, 2015
[15] Liu and Kinney, 2014, p. 30
[16] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[17] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[18] Cook, 2015
[19] Cook, 2015
[20] Cook, 2015
[21] Cook, 2015
[22] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[23] Liu and Kinney, 2014, p.30
[24] Cook, 2015, p. 35
[25] Cook, 2015
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