Empress Dowager Wang (王太后, personal name unknown) (763 – April 5, 817), formally Empress Zhuangxian (莊憲皇后, "the mighty and knowledgeable empress"), was an
empress dowager
Empress dowager (also dowager empress or empress mother; ) is the English language translation of the title given to the mother or widow of a monarch, especially in regards to Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese monarchs in the Chines ...
of the
Chinese Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
. She was the mother of
Emperor Xianzong
Emperor Xianzong of Tang (4 March to 1 April 778''Old Book of Tang'', vol. 14. – 14 February 820; r. 805 – 820), personal name Li Chun, né Li Chun (), was an emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty. He was the eldest son of Emperor Shunzong, ...
.
Background
The future Empress Dowager Wang was born in 763, during the reign of
Emperor Daizong. Her family was from the
Langya Clan (琅邪, in modern
Linyi
Linyi ( zh, s=临沂 , t=臨沂 , p=Línyí) is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, China. As of 2011, Linyi is the largest prefecture-level city in Shandong, both by area and population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the eas ...
,
Shandong
Shandong is a coastal Provinces of China, province in East China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. It has served as a pivotal cultural ...
). Her grandfather Wang Nande (王難得) was said to have had well-known accomplishments.
['']New Book of Tang
The ''New Book of Tang'', generally translated as the "New History of the Tang" or "New Tang History", is a work of official history covering the Tang dynasty in ten volumes and 225 chapters. The work was compiled by a team of scholars of the So ...
''
vol. 77
. Her father was named Wang Yan (王顏).
['']Old Book of Tang
The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
''
vol. 52
.
When she was young, she was selected to be an imperial consort with the rank of ''Cairen'' (才人). However, because she was very young, in 775, Emperor Daizong gave her to his grandson
Li Song, who had not yet been given a princely title and who was 14 at the time.
[
]
As princely consort
In 778, the future Empress Dowager Wang gave birth to Li Song's oldest son Li Chun, and in 779, when Li Song was created the Prince of Xuan, she was given the rank of ''Ruren'' (孺人) as a princely consort. When, later in the year, he was created Crown Prince
A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent.
''Crown prince ...
(with Emperor Daizong's son and Li Song's father Emperor Dezong being emperor at that point), she was given the rank of ''Liangdi'' (良娣). It was said that she was respectful and careful, and the people in the palace praised her for her virtues.[
]
As imperial consort
In 805, Emperor Dezong died, and Li Song became emperor (as Emperor Shunzong). Just prior to Emperor Dezong's death, Emperor Shunzong himself had suffered a debilitating stroke
Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...
, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to speak.['']Zizhi Tongjian
The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...
'', vol. 236. It was said that Consort Wang carefully attended to his medical needs and rarely left his presence. It was also said that he wanted to create her empress, but because he was unable to speak, the creation never took place.[
]
As retired empress
Later in 805, Emperor Shunzong yielded the throne to Li Chun, who had been created Crown Prince (as Emperor Xianzong). Emperor Xianzong honored Emperor Shunzong as ''Taishang Huang
In Chinese history, a Taishang Huang or Taishang Huangdi is an honorific and institution of a retired emperor. The former emperor had, at least in name, abdicated in favor of someone else. Although no longer the reigning sovereign, there are ins ...
'' (retired emperor), and Consort Wang as ''Taishang Huanghou'' (太上皇后, "retired empress").[
]
As empress dowager
Emperor Shunzong died in 806, and Emperor Xianzong thereafter honored Retired Empress Wang as Empress Dowager
Empress dowager (also dowager empress or empress mother; ) is the English language translation of the title given to the mother or widow of a monarch, especially in regards to Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese monarchs in the Chines ...
. She took up residence at Xingqing Palace (興慶宮). It was said that she had a kind, peaceful, respectful, and humble disposition, and she did not allow her family members to take power. She died in 816 and was buried at the same tomb as Emperor Shunzong.[''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 239.]
Notes and references
* ''Old Book of Tang
The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
''
vol. 52
* ''New Book of Tang
The ''New Book of Tang'', generally translated as the "New History of the Tang" or "New Tang History", is a work of official history covering the Tang dynasty in ten volumes and 225 chapters. The work was compiled by a team of scholars of the So ...
''
vol. 77
* ''Zizhi Tongjian
The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...
'', vols. 236
__NOTOC__
Year 236 ( CCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Verus and Africanus (or, less frequently, year 989 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 23 ...
, 237
Year 237 (Roman numerals, CCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Perpetuus and Felix (or, less frequently, year 990 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denominatio ...
, 239
__NOTOC__
Year 239 ( CCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gordianus and Aviola (or, less frequently, year 992 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 23 ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Empress Dowager (Xianzong)
763 births
816 deaths
Tang dynasty empresses dowager
Mothers of Chinese emperors