Lady Mozang (died 1056),

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary Personal name, name given mainly to revered dead people in East Asian cultural sphere, East Asian culture. It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. ...

Empress Xuanmu Huiwen (), was a consort of

Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia (1003–1048), born Li Yuanhao () or Tuoba Yuanhao (), also known as Zhao Yuanhao (趙元昊), Weiming Yuanhao (嵬名元昊) and Weiming Nangxiao (嵬名曩霄), was the founding emperor of the Western Xia dynasty ...

. She was regent of

Western Xia The Western Xia or the Xi Xia ( zh, c=, w=Hsi1 Hsia4, p=Xī Xià), officially the Great Xia ( zh, c=大夏, w=Ta4 Hsia4, p=Dà Xià, labels=no), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts ...

during the minority of her son

Emperor Yizong of Western Xia Emperor Yizong of Western Xia (1047–1068), sinicized name Li Liangzuo (), was the second emperor of the Western Xia dynasty of China, reigning from 1048 to 1067. Yizong was also known by his Tangut name Ningling Liangcha (寧令兩岔). "Ning ...

in 1048 from 1056.

Life

Family background

Lady Mozang was born into a prominent Tangut Mozang clan. Elder brother:

Mozang Epang Mozang Epang (, d. 1061) was an ethnic Tangut statesman and chancellor of the Western Xia dynasty of China during the reign of the Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Yizong. Life Family background Mozang Epang was a member of the Tangut promine ...

(没藏讹庞; d.1061), has served as great advisor (大师) since 1046 Paternal niece: Empress Mozang (皇后没藏氏; d.1061), daughter of Mozang Epang, empress of the

During the reign of Emperor Jingzong

It is not known when was Lady Mozang born nor when did she enter the imperial palace. Lady Mozang was known to be a gorgeous beauty and remarkable woman. Before entering the harem of Li Yuanhao, Lady Mozang had been a wife of Yeli Yuqi (野利遇乞), an elder brother of Empress Xiancheng. In 1047, Empress Xiancheng, lady Yeli, was demoted to a commoner and turned to nunnery due to her machinations. She had framed Lady Yeli for a romance with the official Buxiqi Duosi (补细乞多巳), using the hand of Yeli Yuqi, brother of Empress Yeli. This strengthened the relationship between Lady Mozang and Emperor Jingzong. On 5 March 1047, Empress Xuanmuhuiwen gave birth to Ningling Liangcha (宁令两岔) aka Liangzuo (谅祚).

During the reign of Emperor Yizong

After Li Yuanhao was killed by crown prince Ninglingge, Li Liangzuo ascended to the throne. At that time Liangzuo was one year old, therefore the main power laid in the hands of Lady Mozang and her brother. As the mother of emperor, Lady Mozang received the title of empress dowager. Her brother, Epang, wielded an authority in the imperial court by the virtue of being an uncle of the emperor. The upbringing of the emperor laid in the hands of Lady Mozang and Epang.

Death

In 1056, the Empress Dowager went to the hunt in

Helan Mountains The Helan Mountains, frequently called Alashan Mountains in older sources, are an isolated desert mountain range forming the border of Inner Mongolia's Alxa League and Ningxia. They run north-south parallel to the north-flowing Yellow River in ...

together with her lover, Buxiqi Duosi. During the hunt, dying Lady Mozang was brought to the capital by the servants of Li Shougui (李守贵), her first love and subordinate of Yeli Yuqi. Unfortunately, Li Shougui was murdered together with Empress Dowager and Buxiqi Duosi on the way to the capital allegedly on Mozang Epang's order. She was posthumously honoured as Empress Xuanmuhuiwen (宣穆惠文皇后).

In fiction and popular culture

* Portrayed by Li Jianqun (李建群) as Mozang Heiyun in ''Western Xia dynasty (Snow in the Helan Mountains).'' * Portrayed by Wang Weilin (王维琳) as Mozang Heiyun in

Oh My General ''Oh My General'' ( Chinese: ) is a 2017 Chinese streaming television series starring Ma Sichun and Sheng Yilun. It is adapted from the novel ''General Above I Am Below'' ( Chinese: ) by Ju Hua San Li. Set against the backdrop of the Song dynast ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lady Mozang 11th-century births 1056 deaths 11th-century women regents 11th-century Tangut women 11th-century Tangut people Western Xia empresses Chinese posthumous empresses 11th-century regents Mothers of Chinese emperors