Empress Taimu (; 559?–603?) was posthumously honored the first empress 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 known as Duchess Dou or Lady Dou (竇氏) throughout her lifetime, and was the wife of Emperor Gaozu and mother of Emperor Taizong.

Background

Lady Dou was the daughter of Dou Yi (519 – 3 January 583) and Princess Xiangyang. Dou Yi was the son of Dou Yue (窦岳), an elder brother of Dou Chi (竇熾), a high-level official of both the

Northern Zhou Zhou (), known in historiography as the Northern Zhou (), was a Xianbei-led Dynasties in Chinese history, dynasty of China that lasted from 557 to 581. One of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties of China's ...

and successive Sui dynasties. Dou Chi also had a son named

Dou Wei Dou Wei (born October 14, 1969) is a Chinese musician, singer-songwriter, composer and music producer. He is a representative figure in Chinese rock music. Alongside rock singers He Yong and Zhang Chu, they were collectively known as the "Pro ...

, a scribe for Yang Xiu, the Prince of Shu, who later served as chancellor during the early years of the Tang dynasty. Her mother Princess Xiangyang was the fifth daughter of

Yuwen Tai Yuwen Tai () (505/7 – 21 November 556According to Yuwen Tai's biography in ''Book of Zhou'', he died aged 52 (by East Asian reckoning) on the ''yihai'' day of the 10th month of the 3rd year of the reign of Emperor Gong of Western Wei. This co ...

, Emperor Wen of Northern Zhou, and a sister of Empress Yuwen. Lady Dou also had an elder brother, Dou Xian (竇贤), and at least one other elder cousin ( Dou Kang). As a young child, Lady Dou was raised in the palace and particularly favored by her uncle Yuwen Yong (Emperor Wu). She once recommended Yuwen Yong to establish a relationship between Northern Zhou and Tujue through the

Heqin ''Heqin'', also known as marriage alliance, refers to the historical practice of Chinese monarchs marrying princesses—usually members of minor branches of the ruling family—to rulers of neighboring states. It was often adopted as an appeasem ...

system. As a result, Yuwen Yong married Empress Ashina, the daughter of Muqan Qaghan on 20 April 568. Yuwen Yong didn't favor Empress Ashina at first, but agreed after Lady Dou and her father reminded him of Tujue's power and that he still had to face the rivaling neighbor kingdoms

Northern Qi Qi, known as the Northern Qi (), Later Qi (後齊) or Gao Qi (高齊) in historiography, was a Dynasties in Chinese history, Chinese imperial dynasty and one of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties during the ...

and

Chen dynasty The Chen dynasty (), alternatively known as the Southern Chen (南陳 / 南朝陳) in historiography, was a Dynasties in Chinese history, Chinese imperial dynasty and the fourth and last of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Southern dynasties, ...

. Lady Dou persuaded the general Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟) to form a marriage alliance with the Tang household. Zhangsun Sheng's son Zhangsun Wuji would later become a prominent official and daughter Lady Zhangsun would become Lady Dou's daughter-in-law. After Yang Jian overthrew the Yuwen family and established the Sui dynasty in March 581, Lady Dou lamented that she wasn't able to help her uncle and cousins. Her parents Dou Yi (by then about 62 years old) and Princess Xiangyang cautioned her to keep her mouth shut in order to live.

Duchess

As Lady Dou grew older, Dou Yi told Princess Xiangyang to marry their daughter to a wise and intelligent gentleman. Dou Yi placed two peacocks between an armorial screen and let the proposers shoot two arrows. The proposer who could shoot two arrows on the peacock's eye would be married to Lady Dou. Several proposers failed, except for a man named Li Yuan. Lady Dou and Li Yuan were married, and Li Yuan would later become the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty. Lady Dou and Li Yuan were deeply in love and accompanied each other everywhere. Since Lady Dou grew up in the palace, she was familiar with politics and history books. She assisted her husband in his studies and raised their children. They had four sons, Li Jiancheng,

Li Shimin Emperor Taizong of Tang (28January 59810July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second Emperor of China, emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder ...

, Li Xuanba, and

Li Yuanji Li Yuanji ( Chinese: 李元吉, Pinyin: Lǐ Yuánjí) (603 – 2 July 626), formally Prince La of Chao (巢剌王), more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi (齊王), nickname Sanhu (三胡), was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang dy ...

, and one daughter who would become Princess Pingyang. Lady Dou established a close bond with her mother-in-law, Lady Dugu. Lady Dugu was a daughter of the prominent general

Dugu Xin Dugu Xin ( Chinese: 獨孤信; 503 – 24 April 557), Xianbei name Qimitou (期彌頭), known as Dugu Ruyuan (獨孤如願) before 540, was a general and official during the chaotic Northern and Southern dynasties period of imperial China ...

, and a sister of two empresses from different dynasties, Empress Dugu and Dugu Qieluo. Li Yuan's father Li Bing had died early, leaving Lady Dugu in charge of the Li household. Lady Dugu suffered from poor health, and Lady Dou assisted her mother-in-law in managing household affairs. Once, Lady Dugu was extremely sick and due to her reckless and adamant personality, several of her daughter-in-laws refused to assist her. Only Lady Dou cared for Lady Dugu, and Lady Dugu recovered after a month. Lady Dugu was grateful and favored Lady Dou.

Death and posthumous honors

Lady Dou died at the age of 45 (by

East Asian East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...

reckoning). After Li Yuan was made Prince of Tang, Lady Dou was given the posthumous name "Mu" on 8 January 618. After Li Yuan overthrew the Sui dynasty and established the Tang dynasty, he honored Lady Dou as Empress Mu (穆皇后) on 3 July 618. When her son Li Shimin succeeded to the throne as Emperor Taizong, he honored Lady Dou as Empress Taimu (太穆皇后) on 12 December 635. She was further honored as Empress Taimu Shunsheng (太穆顺圣皇后) on 22 July 749.( ��宝八载��月......。丙寅，上亲谒太清宫.....；太穆、文德、则天、和思、昭皇后，皆加“顺圣皇后”之字。) ''Jiu Tang Shu'', vol.09. Volume 3 of ''Tang Huiyao'' gave the date as the 15th day of the 6th month of the same year, which corresponds to 4 July 749 in the Julian calendar (天宝八载六月十五日，追尊太穆顺圣皇后。).

Family

Parents *Father: Dou Yi, Duke Shenwu (河南竇毅; 519 – 3 January 583) *Mother: Princess Xiangyang (襄陽公主), **Maternal Grandfather:

(宇文泰, 507 – 556) Spouse and issue(s): * Li Yuan (李淵, 7 April 566 – 25 June 635), Emperor Gaozu of Tang ** Li Jiancheng, Crown Prince Yin (隱皇太子李建成; 589–626) ** Princess Pingyangzhao (平陽昭公主; d. 623), ***Married Chai Shao, Duke Huo (d. 638), and had issue (two sons) **

, Emperor Taizong (太宗李世民; 598–649) ** Li Xuanba, Prince Weihuai (衛懷王李玄霸; 599–614) **

, Prince Chaola (巢剌王李元吉; 603–626)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taimu, Empress 7th-century Chinese women 7th-century Chinese people Emperor Taizong of Tang Tang dynasty posthumous empresses 560s births 610s deaths Mothers of Chinese emperors