Consort Chen Miaodeng
Encyclopedia
Consort Chen Miaodeng was an imperial consort during the Chinese
dynasty Liu Song. She was a concubine of Emperor Ming
(Liu Yu), and during his reign, she carried the rank of Guifei (貴妃), which was not a regular rank for Liu Song imperial consorts but a title that Emperor Ming created to honor her.
Chen Miaodeng was from a household that was viewed lowly by the society at the time—a butchers' household—at the Liu Song capital Jiankang
. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu
, he often had his attendants seek out beautiful women to be added to the rank of his concubines. On one occasion, when he saw the Chens' house, which was made of hay, from a distance, he sent an attendant to deliver money to the house, so that the people in the household could build a brick house. When the attendant arrived at the house, only Chen Miaodeng was home. The attendant saw that she was beautiful and informed Emperor Xiaowu about her. He therefore took her into the palace, and she resided with his mother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan
. After a while, however, she lost his favor, and Empress Dowager Lu decided to instead give her to Emperor Xiaowu's younger brother Liu Yu the Prince of Xiangdong, who initially greatly favored her. After more than a year, however, she lost his favor as well, and he gave her to his attendant Li Dao'er (李道兒). He, however, later took her back, and she gave birth to his oldest son Liu Yu
(different character than Emperor Ming) in 463
. It is because she spent time as Li's concubine that there later were rumors, which her son apparently gave some credence to, that it was actually Li, and not the Prince of Xiangdong, who was her son's biological father. Indeed, historical accounts, written during the succeeding Southern Qi
Dynasty indicate that Liu Yu was impotent
, and that although he had 12 sons, those were the results of his having seized his brothers' pregnant concubines and kept the children if they bore males, or his having had his concubines have sexual relations with others. (However, the fact that his wife Princess Wang Zhenfeng
had two daughters, although no sons, may argue against such allegations, because it appeared rather unlikely that Liu Yu would do this over female children—indeed, the allegations stated that he would only do this if his brothers' concubines bore males—or that the morally upright Princess Wang would engage in sexual relations with others, thus suggesting that the allegations were made to delegitimize Emperor Ming's sons Liu Yu and Emperor Shun
(Liu Zhun) vis-à-vis Southern Qi.) After Liu Yu became emperor (as Emperor Ming) in 465
following the assassination of his nephew Emperor Qianfei
(Emperor Xiaowu's son), he created her son crown prince
in 466 and gave her the title of Guifei, designating the rank as equally honorable as a crown princess. Crown Prince Yu was an impulsive child who appeared to be hyperactive and emotional, often putting himself into physical danger. At Emperor Ming's orders, Consort Chen often gave him beatings.
After Emperor Ming died in 472
, Crown Prince Yu took the throne as Emperor Houfei. Consort Chen was honored as "Consort Dowager" (皇太妃), but not as empress dowager
-- that title was given to Emperor Ming's wife Empress Wang. Initially, both Empress Dowager Wang and Consort Dowager Chen were able to somewhat rein the young emperor in, but by 477
, they had nearly lost all control over him, who spent day and night outside the palace with his attendants, killing anyone or anything that came near them. When he considered killing his general Xiao Daocheng
, Consort Chen rebuked him and persuaded him not to—stating to him that Xiao had greatly contributed to his reign (by having suppressed the rebellion of his uncle Liu Xiufan (劉休範) the Prince of Guiyang in 473
) and that if he killed Xiao, no one would again be loyal to him. Xiao, in fear, nevertheless persuaded Emperor Houfan's attendant Yang Yufu (楊玉夫) to assassinate him in fall 477, making Emperor Houfan's brother Liu Zhun the Prince of Ancheng emperor. Emperor Houfan was posthumously demoted to the title of Prince of Cangwu, and Consort Dowager Chen was accordingly demoted to the title of Princess Dowager of Cangwu. Nothing further is known about her, and it is not known when she died.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Liu Song. She was a concubine of Emperor Ming
Emperor Ming of Liu Song
Emperor Ming of Liu Song , personal name Liu Yu , courtesy name Xiubing , nickname Rongqi , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song...
(Liu Yu), and during his reign, she carried the rank of Guifei (貴妃), which was not a regular rank for Liu Song imperial consorts but a title that Emperor Ming created to honor her.
Chen Miaodeng was from a household that was viewed lowly by the society at the time—a butchers' household—at the Liu Song capital Jiankang
Jiankang
Jiankang was the capital city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties. Its walls are extant ruins in the modern municipal region of Nanjing.-History:...
. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu
Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song
Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song , personal name Liu Jun , courtesy name Xiulong , nickname Daomin , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He was a son of Emperor Wen. After his older brother Liu Shao assassinated their father in 453 and took the throne, he rose in rebellion and overthrew Liu...
, he often had his attendants seek out beautiful women to be added to the rank of his concubines. On one occasion, when he saw the Chens' house, which was made of hay, from a distance, he sent an attendant to deliver money to the house, so that the people in the household could build a brick house. When the attendant arrived at the house, only Chen Miaodeng was home. The attendant saw that she was beautiful and informed Emperor Xiaowu about her. He therefore took her into the palace, and she resided with his mother Empress Dowager Lu Huinan
Empress Dowager Lu Huinan
Empress Dowager Lu Huinan , formally Empress Dowager Zhao , semi-formally Empress Dowager Chongxian , was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song...
. After a while, however, she lost his favor, and Empress Dowager Lu decided to instead give her to Emperor Xiaowu's younger brother Liu Yu the Prince of Xiangdong, who initially greatly favored her. After more than a year, however, she lost his favor as well, and he gave her to his attendant Li Dao'er (李道兒). He, however, later took her back, and she gave birth to his oldest son Liu Yu
Emperor Houfei of Liu Song
Emperor Houfei of Liu Song , also known by posthumous demoted title of Prince of Cangwu , personal name Liu Yu , courtesy name Derong , nickname Huizhen , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song...
(different character than Emperor Ming) in 463
463
Year 463 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Basilius and Vivianus...
. It is because she spent time as Li's concubine that there later were rumors, which her son apparently gave some credence to, that it was actually Li, and not the Prince of Xiangdong, who was her son's biological father. Indeed, historical accounts, written during the succeeding Southern Qi
Southern Qi
The Southern Qi Dynasty was the second of the Southern dynasties in China, followed by the Liang Dynasty. During its 23-year history, the dynasty was largely filled with instability, as after the death of the capable Emperor Gao and Emperor Wu, Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Zhaoye was assassinated...
Dynasty indicate that Liu Yu was impotent
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
, and that although he had 12 sons, those were the results of his having seized his brothers' pregnant concubines and kept the children if they bore males, or his having had his concubines have sexual relations with others. (However, the fact that his wife Princess Wang Zhenfeng
Empress Wang Zhenfeng
Empress Wang Zhenfeng , formally Empress Gong , was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. Her husband was Emperor Ming .-Background:...
had two daughters, although no sons, may argue against such allegations, because it appeared rather unlikely that Liu Yu would do this over female children—indeed, the allegations stated that he would only do this if his brothers' concubines bore males—or that the morally upright Princess Wang would engage in sexual relations with others, thus suggesting that the allegations were made to delegitimize Emperor Ming's sons Liu Yu and Emperor Shun
Emperor Shun of Liu Song
Emperor Shun of Liu Song , personal name Liu Zhun , courtesy name Zhongmou , nickname Zhiguan , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song...
(Liu Zhun) vis-à-vis Southern Qi.) After Liu Yu became emperor (as Emperor Ming) in 465
465
Year 465 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Hermenericus and Basiliscus...
following the assassination of his nephew Emperor Qianfei
Emperor Qianfei of Liu Song
Emperor Qianfei of Liu Song , personal name Liu Ziye , nickname Fashi , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. His brief reign as a teenager was known for his violent and impulsive acts, including the slaughter of many high level officials and his sexually immoral behavior...
(Emperor Xiaowu's son), he created her son crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
in 466 and gave her the title of Guifei, designating the rank as equally honorable as a crown princess. Crown Prince Yu was an impulsive child who appeared to be hyperactive and emotional, often putting himself into physical danger. At Emperor Ming's orders, Consort Chen often gave him beatings.
After Emperor Ming died in 472
472
Year 472 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Festus and Marcianus...
, Crown Prince Yu took the throne as Emperor Houfei. Consort Chen was honored as "Consort Dowager" (皇太妃), but not as empress dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
-- that title was given to Emperor Ming's wife Empress Wang. Initially, both Empress Dowager Wang and Consort Dowager Chen were able to somewhat rein the young emperor in, but by 477
477
Year 477 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year after the Consulship of Basiliscus and Armatus...
, they had nearly lost all control over him, who spent day and night outside the palace with his attendants, killing anyone or anything that came near them. When he considered killing his general Xiao Daocheng
Emperor Gao of Southern Qi
Emperor Gao of Southern Qi , personal name Xiao Daocheng , courtesy name Shaobo , nickname Doujiang , was the founding emperor of the Chinese dynasty Southern Qi...
, Consort Chen rebuked him and persuaded him not to—stating to him that Xiao had greatly contributed to his reign (by having suppressed the rebellion of his uncle Liu Xiufan (劉休範) the Prince of Guiyang in 473
473
Year 473 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Leo without colleague...
) and that if he killed Xiao, no one would again be loyal to him. Xiao, in fear, nevertheless persuaded Emperor Houfan's attendant Yang Yufu (楊玉夫) to assassinate him in fall 477, making Emperor Houfan's brother Liu Zhun the Prince of Ancheng emperor. Emperor Houfan was posthumously demoted to the title of Prince of Cangwu, and Consort Dowager Chen was accordingly demoted to the title of Princess Dowager of Cangwu. Nothing further is known about her, and it is not known when she died.