Consort Song
Encyclopedia
Consort Song (d. 82), posthumous title Empress Jingyin (敬隱后, literally "the respectful and hidden empress"), was an imperial consort for Emperor Zhang of Han
who was the victim of palace intrigue at the hands of Emperor Zhang's wife Empress Dou
.
Consort Song was the older daughter of Song Yang (宋楊), a seventh-generation descendant of Song Chang (宋昌), an important official during the reign of Emperor Wen
. Song Yang was famed for his filial piety. His aunt was the maternal grandmother of Emperor Ming
's wife Empress Ma
, and Empress Ma, upon hearing that his two daughters were both intelligent and beautiful, selected them as consorts for her adopted son, Crown Prince Liu Da. After Crown Prince Da became emperor in 75 (as Emperor Zhang), both of them became imperial consorts. The elder Consort Song gave birth to a son, Liu Qing, in 78, and because Empress Dou did not have a son, Prince Qing was created crown prince
in 79.
Empress Dou was not satisfied with the situation, however, and in 79, after another imperial consort, Consort Liang
, gave birth to a son named Liu Zhao
, she adopted Prince Zhao and intended to make him crown prince instead. After Empress Dowager Ma died later that year, Consort Song was left without anyone to protect her, and Empress Dou began to plot her destruction.
In 82, an opportunity came for Empress Dou. Consort Song had become ill, and in her illness, she craved raw cuscuta
, and she requested that her family bring them. Empress Dou seized the cuscuta and falsely accused Consort Song of using it for witchcraft. Emperor Zhang was enraged and expelled Crown Prince Qing from the palace. He had Consort Song and her sister arrested and interrogated by the eunuch
Cai Lun
. Consort Song and her sister saw that they were in deep straits, and they committed suicide by poison in June of 82 (according to the Zizhi tongjian
). Her son Crown Prince Qing would be deposed and replaced by Prince Zhao, who later became Emperor He
. After the destruction of the Dous in 92 (in which her son Prince Qing had a hand) and Empress Dowager Dou's death in 97, she was posthumously honored.
In 121, with her grandson Liu Hu
having ascended the throne (as Emperor An), Consort Song was posthumously honored with the title Empress Jingyin.
Emperor Zhang of Han
Emperor Zhang of Han, ch. 漢章帝, py. hàn zhāng dì, wg. Han Chang-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 75 to 88. He was the third emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty....
who was the victim of palace intrigue at the hands of Emperor Zhang's wife Empress Dou
Empress Dou (Zhang)
Empress Dou , formally Empress Zhangde , was an empress during Han Dynasty. Her husband was Emperor Zhang. She was already influential during her husband's reign, but became particularly powerful as empress dowager regent for her adoptive son Emperor He after Emperor Zhang's death...
.
Consort Song was the older daughter of Song Yang (宋楊), a seventh-generation descendant of Song Chang (宋昌), an important official during the reign of Emperor Wen
Emperor Wen of Han
Emperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager...
. Song Yang was famed for his filial piety. His aunt was the maternal grandmother of Emperor Ming
Emperor Ming of Han
Emperor Ming of Han, , was second emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.He was the second son of Emperor Guangwu. It was during Emperor Ming's reign that Buddhism began to spread into China. One night, he is said to have dreamed of a golden man or golden men...
's wife Empress Ma
Empress Ma (Ming)
Empress Ma , formally Empress Mingde , was an empress during Han Dynasty from the year 60 until her death...
, and Empress Ma, upon hearing that his two daughters were both intelligent and beautiful, selected them as consorts for her adopted son, Crown Prince Liu Da. After Crown Prince Da became emperor in 75 (as Emperor Zhang), both of them became imperial consorts. The elder Consort Song gave birth to a son, Liu Qing, in 78, and because Empress Dou did not have a son, Prince Qing was created 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 79.
Empress Dou was not satisfied with the situation, however, and in 79, after another imperial consort, Consort Liang
Consort Liang
Consort Liang , posthumous title Empress Gonghuai , was an imperial consort to Emperor Zhang of Han...
, gave birth to a son named Liu Zhao
Emperor He of Han
Emperor He of Han, ch. 漢和帝, py. hàn hé dì, wg. Han Ho-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty who ruled from 88 to 105. He was the 4th emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty....
, she adopted Prince Zhao and intended to make him crown prince instead. After Empress Dowager Ma died later that year, Consort Song was left without anyone to protect her, and Empress Dou began to plot her destruction.
In 82, an opportunity came for Empress Dou. Consort Song had become ill, and in her illness, she craved raw cuscuta
Cuscuta
Cuscuta is a genus of about 100-170 species of yellow, orange or red parasitic plants. Formerly treated as the only genus in the family Cuscutaceae, recent genetic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has shown that it is correctly placed in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae...
, and she requested that her family bring them. Empress Dou seized the cuscuta and falsely accused Consort Song of using it for witchcraft. Emperor Zhang was enraged and expelled Crown Prince Qing from the palace. He had Consort Song and her sister arrested and interrogated by the eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
Cai Lun
Cai Lun
Cai Lun , courtesy name Jingzhong , was a Chinese eunuch. He is traditionally regarded as the inventor of paper and the papermaking process, in forms recognizable in modern times as paper...
. Consort Song and her sister saw that they were in deep straits, and they committed suicide by poison in June of 82 (according to the Zizhi tongjian
Zizhi Tongjian
The Zizhi Tongjian was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084, under the form of a chronicles. In 1065 CE, Emperor Yingzong of Song ordered the great historian Sima Guang to lead with other scholars such as his chief assistants Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, the...
). Her son Crown Prince Qing would be deposed and replaced by Prince Zhao, who later became Emperor He
Emperor He of Han
Emperor He of Han, ch. 漢和帝, py. hàn hé dì, wg. Han Ho-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty who ruled from 88 to 105. He was the 4th emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty....
. After the destruction of the Dous in 92 (in which her son Prince Qing had a hand) and Empress Dowager Dou's death in 97, she was posthumously honored.
In 121, with her grandson Liu Hu
Emperor An of Han
Emperor Ān of Hàn, ch. 漢安帝, py. hàn ān dì, wg. Han An-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Hàn Dynasty and the sixth emperor of the Eastern Hàn period ruling from 106 to 125...
having ascended the throne (as Emperor An), Consort Song was posthumously honored with the title Empress Jingyin.