Princess Zhong Zi and Princess Rong Zi were Princesses of the State of Song.[1] They were secondary wives to Duke Ling of Qi.[2] Even though the two were sisters, they had different aspirations.[3] Princess Rong Zi was very ambitious and wanted her nephew, Prince Ya, to become the Crown Prince of Qi.[4] However, Princess Zhong Zi feared that by making Prince Ya the Crown Prince, it would lead to disastrous consequences in Qi.[5] The decisions that these sisters made would lead them to have opposing reputations in Chinese history.[6]
Princess Zhong Zi and Princess Rong Zi were born during the middle of the sixth century B.C.E.[7] They lived during the Spring and Autumn period (which lasted from 771 to 453 B.C.E).[8] During this period, Chinese states were declaring their own independence from the ruling Zhou Dynasty to form their own dynasties.[9] They were Princesses of Song (modern-day Shanxi Province).[10] Their father was the Duke of the State of Song.[11] They were from the Zi clan.[12] Princess Zhong Zi was older than Princess Rong Zi.[13]
Princess Zhong Zi and Princess Rong Zi became secondary wives of Duke Ling of Qi (which is located in modern-day Shandong Province).[14] Duke Ling of Qi (who reigned from 581-564 B.C.E.) already had a primary wife named Duchess Sheng Ji.[15] Duchess Sheng Ji already had a son named Prince Guang (the future Duke Zhuang II of Qi).[16] Princess Zhong Zi bore Duke Ling of Qi a son named Prince Ya.[17] However, Duke Ling of Qi greatly favoured Princess Rong Zi over Princess Zhong Zi.[18] Therefore, Duke Ling of Qi gave Prince Ya to Princess Rong Zhi to raise as her son.[19]
Princess Rong Zhi urged Duke Ling of Qi to make Prince Ya the Crown Prince instead of Prince Guang.[20] However, Princess Zhong Zi was against her sister’s proposal.[21] She feared it would create political turmoil within the succession.[22] Princess Zhong Zi said, “I will not allow it. I recognize the sprouting seeds of calamity that shall become a fight to the death.”[23] Duke Ling of Qi wanted to please Princess Rong Zi.[24] He ignored Princess Zhong Zi’s advice.[25] He made Prince Ya the Crown Prince.[26]
In 554 B.C.E., Duke Ling of Qi died of illness.[27] His minister, Cui Zhu, successfully established Prince Guang as Duke Zhuang II of Qi.[28] Cui Zhu and Duke Zhuang II of Qi eliminated Crown Prince Ya’s supporter, Gou Hou.[29] Then, they killed Crown Prince Ya and Princess Rong Zi.[30] There is no mention of Princess Zhong Zi’s fate.[31] Instead, she has been remembered for her intelligence.[32]
Princess Zhong Zi and Princess Rong Zi were sisters. However, they were different in aspirations.[33] Their reputations in history were also vastly different.[34] Princess Rong Zi has been portrayed as a schemer who caused political turmoil in Qi and created a succession crisis.[35] However, Princess Zhong Zi has been praised for her foresight and for giving Duke Ling of Qi good advice, which he ignored.[36] In Biographies of Eminent Women, Princess Zhong Zi’s biography is categorized under “Biographies of the Benign and Wise.”[37]
Sources:
Cook, C. A. (2015). “Zhong Zi, Wife of Duke Ling of Qi”. 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. 94-95.
Eno, R. (2010). 1.7. Spring and Autumn China (771-453). Indiana University, PDF.
O’Hara, A. R. (1978). The Position of Woman in Early China: According to the Hieh Nü Chuan, “The Biographies of Chinese Women”. Taiwan: Mei Ya Publications.
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] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[4] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[5] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[6] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[7] Cook, 2015
[8] Eno, 2010
[9] Eno, 2010
[10] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[11] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[12] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[13] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[14] Cook, 2015
[15] Cook, 2015
[16] Cook, 2015
[17] Cook, 2015
[18] Cook, 2015
[19] Cook, 2015
[20] Cook, 2015
[21] Cook, 2015
[22] Cook, 2015
[23] Cook, 2015, p. 94; O’Hara, 1978, p. 86
[24] Cook, 2015
[25] Cook, 2015
[26] Cook, 2015
[27] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[28] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[29] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[30] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[31] Cook, 2015
[32] Cook, 2015
[33] Cook, 2015
[34] Cook, 2015
[35] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[36] Cook, 2015
[37] Cook, 2015, p. 94
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