Consort Guo (Yizong)
Encyclopedia
Consort Guo, imperial consort rank Shufei (郭淑妃) (disappeared 880
), was an imperial consort of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
. She was the favorite concubine of Emperor Yizong
(Li Wen/Li Cui) and the mother of his favorite daughter, Princess Tongchang.
, was not favored by Emperor Xuānzong, and he lived with other more distantly-related imperial princes at the princely residences known as the 16 Mansions, while the other sons of Emperor Xuānzong lived inside the palace. Emperor Xuānzong also despised it when people raised the issue that he should create a Crown Prince
. Li Wen thus was often fearful of his father's wrath. It was said that Consort Guo tended to him carefully and comforted him.
. Initially, three high-ranking eunuchs that Emperor Xuānzong favored, Wang Guizhang (王歸長), Ma Gongru (馬公儒), and Wang Jufang (王居方), were set to have Li Wen's younger brother, Emperor Xuānzong's favorite son Li Zi (李滋) the Prince of Kui, declared emperor, but another eunuch who opposed them, Wang Zongshi (王宗實), arrested and executed them. Wang Zongshi issued an edict in Emperor Xuānzong's name, creating Li Wen Crown Prince (and changing his name to Li Cui). The next day, Li Cui was declared emperor (as Emperor Yizong).
Emperor Yizong created Consort Guo Shufei (淑妃), the second highest rank for imperial consorts. Her daughter was created the Princess Tongchang, and became Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter. When Princess Tongchang married the official Wei Baoheng
in 869
, Emperor Yizong spent immense amounts of gold and silver, as well as many other treasures, as her dowry
, and also gave her a mansion. Because of Wei's marriage with Princess Tongchang, he was allowed to enter the palace at will and often feasted with Consort Guo, leading to rumors that he was having an affair with Consort Guo.
In 870
, Princess Tongchang died. Emperor Yizong was so shocked by her death that he, in anger, killed more than 20 imperial physicians, who were not able to save her. He further imprisoned some 300 relatives of those physicians. When the chancellor Liu Zhan
and the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the capital Chang'an
) Wen Zhang (溫璋) tried to speak against these actions, both of them offended Emperor Yizong and were demoted; Wen committed suicide. Princess Tongchang was buried in a grand ceremony with much treasure, such that the servants of the Wei household were gathering up the ashes of the items burned at the funeral in order to screen out the gold and silver in the ashes. Even after the burial, Emperor Yizong and Consort Guo missed her greatly, and they commissioned the musician Li Keji (李可及) to write a musical piece known as the Sigh of a Hundred Years (歎百年曲). Several hundred dancers danced to the music. Immense amounts of jewelry from the imperial storage were used to dress the dancers up, and a large amount of silk was used to cover the ground that they danced on.
In 872
, when the deputy principal of the imperial university, Wei Yinyu (韋殷裕), submitted a petition accusing Consort Guo's brother, Guo Jingshu (郭敬述), who was then the administrator of the imperial armory, of various immoralities, Emperor Yizong was so incensed at the accusation that he arrested Wei and put him to death by caning, and further confiscated his household to be servants. Emperor Yizong also exiled many officials accused of being Wei's associates.
, Emperor Yizong died, and Li Yan
, his son by the deceased imperial consort, Consort Wang, became emperor (as Emperor Xizong). Subsequently, Wei Baoheng, who was a chancellor by that point, was accused of various improprieties. Wei was exiled and subsequently ordered to commit suicide. However, Consort Guo appeared to escape reprisals and remained in the palace.
In 880
, the Tang realm was in upheaval over various rebellions, when the strongest of those rebels, Huang Chao
, captured Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee. Consort Guo was unable to accompany Emperor Xizong in flight. It was said that after this, her whereabouts became unknown, and it was not known what happened to her.
880
Year 880 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* Pope John VIII issues the bull Industriae Tuae, creating an independent ecclesiastical province in Great Moravia with Archbishop Saint Methodius as its head...
), was an imperial consort of the Chinese
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 Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. She was the favorite concubine of Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
(Li Wen/Li Cui) and the mother of his favorite daughter, Princess Tongchang.
Background
It is not known when the future Consort Guo was born. When she was young, she entered the mansion of Li Wen, who was then the Prince of Yun, and became his concubine. At that time, Li Wen, who was the oldest son of then-reigning Emperor XuānzongEmperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
, was not favored by Emperor Xuānzong, and he lived with other more distantly-related imperial princes at the princely residences known as the 16 Mansions, while the other sons of Emperor Xuānzong lived inside the palace. Emperor Xuānzong also despised it when people raised the issue that he should create a 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....
. Li Wen thus was often fearful of his father's wrath. It was said that Consort Guo tended to him carefully and comforted him.
As imperial consort
Emperor Xuānzong died in 859859
Year 859 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* January 15 – Battle of Saint-Quentin, Aisne: Humfrid defeats Louis the German....
. Initially, three high-ranking eunuchs that Emperor Xuānzong favored, Wang Guizhang (王歸長), Ma Gongru (馬公儒), and Wang Jufang (王居方), were set to have Li Wen's younger brother, Emperor Xuānzong's favorite son Li Zi (李滋) the Prince of Kui, declared emperor, but another eunuch who opposed them, Wang Zongshi (王宗實), arrested and executed them. Wang Zongshi issued an edict in Emperor Xuānzong's name, creating Li Wen Crown Prince (and changing his name to Li Cui). The next day, Li Cui was declared emperor (as Emperor Yizong).
Emperor Yizong created Consort Guo Shufei (淑妃), the second highest rank for imperial consorts. Her daughter was created the Princess Tongchang, and became Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter. When Princess Tongchang married the official Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng , courtesy name Yunyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became extremely powerful late in the reign of his father-in-law Emperor Yizong, rising to the post of chancellor and becoming the most powerful official at court, but after Emperor Yizong's death was...
in 869
869
Year 869 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* May 26 – An earthquake and tsunami devastate a large part of the Sanriku coast near Sendai, Japan....
, Emperor Yizong spent immense amounts of gold and silver, as well as many other treasures, as her dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
, and also gave her a mansion. Because of Wei's marriage with Princess Tongchang, he was allowed to enter the palace at will and often feasted with Consort Guo, leading to rumors that he was having an affair with Consort Guo.
In 870
870
Year 870 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Prague Castle is founded....
, Princess Tongchang died. Emperor Yizong was so shocked by her death that he, in anger, killed more than 20 imperial physicians, who were not able to save her. He further imprisoned some 300 relatives of those physicians. When the chancellor Liu Zhan
Liu Zhan
Liu Zhan , courtesy name Jizhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
and the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the region of the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
) Wen Zhang (溫璋) tried to speak against these actions, both of them offended Emperor Yizong and were demoted; Wen committed suicide. Princess Tongchang was buried in a grand ceremony with much treasure, such that the servants of the Wei household were gathering up the ashes of the items burned at the funeral in order to screen out the gold and silver in the ashes. Even after the burial, Emperor Yizong and Consort Guo missed her greatly, and they commissioned the musician Li Keji (李可及) to write a musical piece known as the Sigh of a Hundred Years (歎百年曲). Several hundred dancers danced to the music. Immense amounts of jewelry from the imperial storage were used to dress the dancers up, and a large amount of silk was used to cover the ground that they danced on.
In 872
872
Year 872 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Hafrsfjord: Harald Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway....
, when the deputy principal of the imperial university, Wei Yinyu (韋殷裕), submitted a petition accusing Consort Guo's brother, Guo Jingshu (郭敬述), who was then the administrator of the imperial armory, of various immoralities, Emperor Yizong was so incensed at the accusation that he arrested Wei and put him to death by caning, and further confiscated his household to be servants. Emperor Yizong also exiled many officials accused of being Wei's associates.
After Emperor Yizong's death
In 873873
Year 873 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings raid Dorestad.* Al-Andalus: Second uprising of Toledo due to ethnic tensions in two years.- Asia :...
, Emperor Yizong died, and Li Yan
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
, his son by the deceased imperial consort, Consort Wang, became emperor (as Emperor Xizong). Subsequently, Wei Baoheng, who was a chancellor by that point, was accused of various improprieties. Wei was exiled and subsequently ordered to commit suicide. However, Consort Guo appeared to escape reprisals and remained in the palace.
In 880
880
Year 880 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* Pope John VIII issues the bull Industriae Tuae, creating an independent ecclesiastical province in Great Moravia with Archbishop Saint Methodius as its head...
, the Tang realm was in upheaval over various rebellions, when the strongest of those rebels, Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
, captured Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee. Consort Guo was unable to accompany Emperor Xizong in flight. It was said that after this, her whereabouts became unknown, and it was not known what happened to her.