Empress Dowager Xiaochun (1588–1615), surnamed Liu, was a

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

concubine of the

Taichang Emperor The Taichang Emperor (28 August 1582 – 26 September 1620), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Guangzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Changluo, was the 15th List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, emperor of the Ming dynasty. He was the ...

and biological mother of the

Chongzhen Emperor The Chongzhen Emperor (6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644), personal name Zhu Youjian, courtesy name Deyue,Wang Yuan (王源)，''Ju ye tang wen ji'' (《居業堂文集》), vol. 19. "聞之張景蔚親見烈皇帝神主題御諱字德約，行� ...

.Zhang Tingyu (1739), volume 114

Biography

Liu became a

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...

Zhu Changluo The Taichang Emperor (28 August 1582 – 26 September 1620), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Guangzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Changluo, was the 15th List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, emperor of the Ming dynasty. He was the ...

when he was the

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 ...

. She was of the rank ''

lady ''Lady'' is a term for a woman who behaves in a polite way. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the female counterpart of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. "Lady" is al ...

'' (), a low-level concubine. In February 1611, Lady Liu gave birth to a son named Zhu Youjian. In 1614, her husband became infuriated with her for an unknown reason and ordered that she be punished, at which point Lady Liu was killed. It is debated whether the crown prince ordered Lady Liu's death, or it occurred accidentally during her punishment.

Legacy

Fearing reproachment for Lady Liu's death from his father, as well as the

spirits Spirit(s) commonly refers to: * Liquor, a distilled alcoholic drink * Spirit (animating force), the non-corporeal essence of living things * Spirit (supernatural entity), an incorporeal or immaterial being Spirit(s) may also refer to: Liquids ...

and ancestors, the

forbade the palace staff from mentioning the affair and had Lady Liu buried in the

Western Hills The Western Hills () are the hills and mountains in the western part of Beijing. Geography Being an extension of the Taihang mountain range from the Hebei Province, the Western Hills cover approximately 17% of the Beijing municipality, incl ...

near

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

. On the succession of the

Tianqi Emperor The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627), personal name Zhu Youjiao, was the 16th emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1620 to 1627. He was the eldest son of the Taichang Emperor and an elder brother of the Chongzhen ...

in 1620, Zhu Youjian was given the title Prince of Xin (信王) and Lady Liu was posthumously awarded the title

Consort __NOTOC__ Consort may refer to: Music * "The Consort" (Rufus Wainwright song), from the 2000 album ''Poses'' * Consort of instruments, term for instrumental ensembles * Consort song (musical), a characteristic English song form, late 16th–earl ...

Xian (). During this time, Zhu Youjian uncovered the location of his mother's resting place from his attendants. When Zhu Youjian succeeded to the imperial throne as the

in 1627, he granted his mother the posthumous title of Empress Dowager Xiaochun gongyi shumu zhuangjing pitian yusheng. The

also moved her tomb to Qingling to be buried alongside her husband.

Titles

*During the reign of the

Wanli Emperor The Wanli Emperor (4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Shenzong of Ming, personal name Zhu Yijun, art name Yuzhai, was the 14th List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, emperor of the Ming dynasty, reig ...

(r. 1572–1620): **Lady Liu (劉氏; from 1588) **Lady of Gentleness (淑女) *During the reign of the

(r.1620–1627): **''Consort Xian'' (賢妃; from 1621) *During the reign of the

(r. 1627–1644): **''Empress Dowager Xiàochún Gōngyì Shūmù Zhuāngjìng Pítiān Yùshèng'' (孝純恭懿淑穆莊靜毘天毓聖皇太后; from 1627)

Issue

*As Lady of Gentleness: **Zhu Youjian, the

(崇禎帝朱由檢; 6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644), the Taichang Emperor's fifth son

References

Notes

Works cited

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Xiaochun, Empress Dowager 1580s births 1614 deaths Ming dynasty imperial consorts 16th-century Chinese women 16th-century Chinese people 17th-century Chinese women 17th-century Chinese people Murdered Chinese royalty Ming dynasty posthumous empresses People from Lianyungang Mothers of Chinese emperors