Consort Wang (Wuzong)
Encyclopedia
Consort Wang imperial consort rank Cairen (王才人) (died 846
), posthumously honored Xianfei (賢妃), was an imperial consort of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
. She was the favorite concubine of Emperor Wuzong
(Li Chan).
to Li Chan, and as Emperor Muzong reigned from 820
to 824
, that placed a timeframe as to her birth. She was from Handan
, and was taken into the palace because of her talent in singing and dancing, and she was also said to be alert and intelligent. Li Chan was then the Prince of Ying under his father Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Muzong gave her to Li Chan. Toward the end of the reign of Li Chan's older brother Emperor Wenzong
(r. 827
-840
), when Li Chan tried to maneuver to become Emperor Wenzong's heir, it was said that Consort Wang assisted him in the maneuvers.
(as Emperor Wuzong), he gave her the imperial consort rank of Cairen, the 16th highest rank for imperial consorts, and favored her greatly. It was said that her body frame was similar to Emperor Wuzong's, and whenever Emperor Wuzong rode in the imperial garden, she would as well, and the onlookers were unable to tell which one was the emperor and which one was the consort.
In 845
, Emperor Wuzong wanted to create Consort Wang empress. The lead chancellor Li Deyu
, however, opposed on the grounds that Consort Wang was of low birth and did not have a son. Emperor Wuzong therefore did not do so. It was said that late in Emperor Wuzong's reign, he came to believe in alchemists
who claimed to be able to achieve immorality for him, and he was taking pills they made, causing him to become progressively unhealthy. Consort Wang noticed this and counseled him against doing so, but he did not listen to her.
When Emperor Wuzong subsequently became seriously ill, he asked Consort Wang what she would do if he died. She responded that she would like to follow him in death. He thus gave her a scarf. After Emperor Wuzong died in spring 846
, she hanged herself with the scarf. It was said that while the other consorts had long been jealous of her because of the favor Empress Wuzong had for her, they all were touched by her righteousness. Emperor Wuzong's uncle and successor Emperor Xuānzong
, hearing this, was also saddened, and he posthumously honored her Xianfei, the second highest rank for imperial consorts, and buried her in the perimeter of Emperor Wuzong's tomb.
846
Year 846 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nominoe occupies Nantes and Rennes, he makes raids in Anjou and threatens Bayeux...
), posthumously honored Xianfei (賢妃), 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 Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
(Li Chan).
Early life
It is not known when the future Consort Wang was born, but it is known that she was 12 when she entered the palace and was given by Emperor MuzongEmperor Muzong of Tang
Emperor Muzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li You , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 821 to 824. Emperor Muzong was the son of Emperor Xianzong...
to Li Chan, and as Emperor Muzong reigned from 820
820
Year 820 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Tahir, the son of a slave, is rewarded with the governorship of Khurasan for supporting the caliphate...
to 824
824
Year 824 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Third Battle of Roncevaux Pass: The Basques and Banu Qasi defeat counts Eblo and Aznar, Frankish vassals....
, that placed a timeframe as to her birth. She was from Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, and was taken into the palace because of her talent in singing and dancing, and she was also said to be alert and intelligent. Li Chan was then the Prince of Ying under his father Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Muzong gave her to Li Chan. Toward the end of the reign of Li Chan's older brother Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
(r. 827
827
Year 827 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Beginning of the invasion of Sicily by the Aghlabid dynasty of Ifriqiya . The campaign in the island against Byzantium will take 51 years...
-840
840
Year 840 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.-Europe:* After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the Holy Roman Empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor.-Asia:* Tang Wu Zong succeeds Tang Wen Zong...
), when Li Chan tried to maneuver to become Emperor Wenzong's heir, it was said that Consort Wang assisted him in the maneuvers.
Imperial consort
Because of Consort Wang's contributions, after Li Chan was able to succeed Emperor Wenzong in 840840
Year 840 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.-Europe:* After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the Holy Roman Empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor.-Asia:* Tang Wu Zong succeeds Tang Wen Zong...
(as Emperor Wuzong), he gave her the imperial consort rank of Cairen, the 16th highest rank for imperial consorts, and favored her greatly. It was said that her body frame was similar to Emperor Wuzong's, and whenever Emperor Wuzong rode in the imperial garden, she would as well, and the onlookers were unable to tell which one was the emperor and which one was the consort.
In 845
845
Year 845 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* March 28 – Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving.* The Vikings also sack Hamburg and Melun.* November 22 – Count of Vannes,...
, Emperor Wuzong wanted to create Consort Wang empress. The lead chancellor Li Deyu
Li Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
, however, opposed on the grounds that Consort Wang was of low birth and did not have a son. Emperor Wuzong therefore did not do so. It was said that late in Emperor Wuzong's reign, he came to believe in alchemists
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
who claimed to be able to achieve immorality for him, and he was taking pills they made, causing him to become progressively unhealthy. Consort Wang noticed this and counseled him against doing so, but he did not listen to her.
When Emperor Wuzong subsequently became seriously ill, he asked Consort Wang what she would do if he died. She responded that she would like to follow him in death. He thus gave her a scarf. After Emperor Wuzong died in spring 846
846
Year 846 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nominoe occupies Nantes and Rennes, he makes raids in Anjou and threatens Bayeux...
, she hanged herself with the scarf. It was said that while the other consorts had long been jealous of her because of the favor Empress Wuzong had for her, they all were touched by her righteousness. Emperor Wuzong's uncle and successor Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor 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...
, hearing this, was also saddened, and he posthumously honored her Xianfei, the second highest rank for imperial consorts, and buried her in the perimeter of Emperor Wuzong's tomb.