Mu Jiang or Miu Chiang (; 621 BC – 6 May
[Durrant, Stephen; Li, Wai-yee; Schaberg, David (2016). ''Zuo Tradition/Zuozhuan: Commentary on the "Spring and Autumn Annals"'' (1st ed.). Seattle: University of Washington Press. ] 564 BC), was the duchess consort of
Duke Xuan of Lu
Duke Xuan of Lu (; died 26 September 591 BC), personal name Ji Tui, was a duke of the Lu state, reigning from 608 BC to 591 BC. He succeeded his father, Duke Wen, to the Lu throne. After Duke Xuan died in 591 BC, his son, Prince Heigong ( Duke Che ...
(r. 608 – 591 BC) during the
Spring and Autumn period
The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...
of
Chinese history
The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), during the reign of king Wu Ding. Ancient historical texts such as the '' Book of Documents'' (early chapte ...
.
[Lily Xiao Hong Lee, A. D. Stefanowska, Sue Wiles. 2007.]
She was the daughter of one of the dukes of
Qi. She married Duke Xuan of Lu and became the mother of
Duke Cheng of Lu Duke Cheng of Lu (鲁成公) was the son of Duke Xuan of Lu (鲁宣公) and Mu Jiang and the 21st ruler of the state of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period
The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately ...
(r. 590–573 BC).
Both her spouse and her son were passive rulers, and Mu Jiang had great influence over the affairs of state during their rule, supported by her status as a member of the ruling family of Qi, on which Lu was dependent. She influenced the decisions of war and peace and participated in negotiations with foreign states.
Her main focus was to crush the powerful Ji (季) and Meng (孟) clans. In 575, she finally convinced her son to have them punished on the excuse of treason.
He promised to do so on return from the war, but in his absence, she had her lover Shusun Qiao act against them.
Their action failed and ended in a coup, during which her lover was forced to flee while she was placed in house arrest in the Eastern Hall by the Ji and Meng clans.
She remained in house arrest until she died on 6 May 564 BC. According to the ''
Zuo Zhuan,'' when she first moved to the Eastern Hall, she divined by
dried yarrow to see if she would leave someday. While the diviner provided a positive answer, she disputed the interpretation, claiming that it did not apply to her, who "
adtaken up evil."
She was laid to rest on 27 July.
She is included in the "Biographies of Pernicious and Depraved Women" of the ''Biographies of Eminent women'' (''Lienü Zhuan'').
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mu Jiang
7th-century BC births
564 BC deaths
6th-century BC Chinese people
7th-century BC Chinese people
6th-century BC Chinese women
7th-century BC Chinese women
Duchesses