Empress Dowager Dong
Encyclopedia
Empress Dowager Dong personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Xiaocheng (孝成皇后), was an empress dowager
of Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. However, she was never empress, because she became mother to an emperor (Emperor Ling
). She was blamed for contributing to her son's decadent rule which contributed much to the Han Dynasty's downfall.
, Hebei
). She was the wife of Liu Chang (劉萇), the hereditary Marquess of Jieduting—who had a small fief that consisted either one or at most a few villages, and therefore, despite her husband's nobility status, she was unlikely to have lived in luxury. She gave birth to his heir, Liu Hong (劉宏) in 156. It is not clear whether she had other children. By 168, Marquess Chang was no longer living, and Hong was Marquess of Jieduting.
died without an heir, Emperor Huan's wife Empress Dowager Dou
selected Marquess Hong to be emperor (as Emperor Ling). He did not honor her as an empress dowager, but rather as an imperial consort. In 169 (after Empress Dowager Dou's clan, including her father Dou Wu
, was slaughtered by eunuchs), Emperor Ling welcomed his mother to the capital Luoyang
and honored her as an empress dowager, although he also continued to honor Empress Dowager Dou (who was put under house arrest by the eunuchs) as empress dowager. Not until Empress Dowager Dou's death in 172 did Empress Dowager Dong appear to be firm in her title and become involved in politics.
Empress Dowager Dong was said to have heavily encouraged Emperor Ling in his sales of offices for money, a system that highly damaged the Han civil service system and caused great corruption throughout the empire.
In 181, after Emperor Ling's second son Liu Xie (劉協) was born to Consort Wang, Emperor Ling's wife Empress He
poisoned Consort Wang. Empress Dowager Dong took Prince Xie and raised him herself, and he was therefore known by the circumspect title "Marquess Dong" (both he and his older brother Liu Bian
(劉辯) were referred to as marquesses due to superstitions that evil spirits were aiming to kill the emperor's sons). Empress Dowager Dong favored Prince Xie and often encouraged Emperor LIng to create him crown prince
over his older brother, which caused great discord between her and her daughter-in-law, Empress He.
to make Prince Xie emperor, Empress He and her brother He Jin
were able to put Prince Bian on the throne. Empress He became empress dowager, and she and He Jin began to control the government. Empress Dowager Dong (now grand empress dowager) and her nephew Dong Chong (董重) formed a rival faction at court, and she often argued with Empress Dowager He, once threatening to have Dong Chong decapitate He Jin. He Jin took preemptive action and had Empress Dowager He issue an edict exiling her mother-in-law back to Hejian (in modern Baoding
, Hebei
), where her husband's fief was and Dong Chong arrested. Dong Chong committed suicide, and Grand Empress Dowager Dong died soon thereafter—with most historical accounts concluding that she died from fear, but some suggested that she committed suicide. Later that year, after Empress Dowager He was overthrown by Dong Zhuo
(no relations to her), her wish of having Prince Xie become emperor did come true, as Dong Zhuo deposed the young emperor and placed Prince Xie on the throne (as Emperor Xian
). However, that only hastened the downfall of the dynasty, as Emperor Xian, through no fault of his own, would never have any real power and would eventually be forced to yield his throne to Cao Pi
in 220.
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...
of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
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...
. However, she was never empress, because she became mother to an emperor (Emperor Ling
Emperor Ling of Han
Emperor Ling of Han, trad. ch. 漢靈帝;, sim. ch. 汉灵帝, py. hàn líng dì, wg. Han Ling-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhang. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out during Emperor Ling's reign.Emperor Ling's reign saw yet another repetition of...
). She was blamed for contributing to her son's decadent rule which contributed much to the Han Dynasty's downfall.
Background
The future Empress Dowager Dong was from Hejian Commandery (roughly modern BaodingBaoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
). She was the wife of Liu Chang (劉萇), the hereditary Marquess of Jieduting—who had a small fief that consisted either one or at most a few villages, and therefore, despite her husband's nobility status, she was unlikely to have lived in luxury. She gave birth to his heir, Liu Hong (劉宏) in 156. It is not clear whether she had other children. By 168, Marquess Chang was no longer living, and Hong was Marquess of Jieduting.
As empress dowager
In 168, for reasons no longer clear, after Emperor HuanEmperor Huan of Han
Emperor Huan of Han, ch. 漢桓帝, py. hàn húan dì, wg. Han Huan-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang....
died without an heir, Emperor Huan's wife Empress Dowager Dou
Empress Dou Miao
Empress Dou Miao , formally Empress Huansi , was an empress during Han Dynasty. She was the third wife of Emperor Huan...
selected Marquess Hong to be emperor (as Emperor Ling). He did not honor her as an empress dowager, but rather as an imperial consort. In 169 (after Empress Dowager Dou's clan, including her father Dou Wu
Dou Wu
Dou Wu , courtesy name Youping , was a Han Dynasty politician who was known as a Confucian scholar and served as a low-level official during the reign of Emperor Huan until his daughter Dou Miao was elevated from imperial consort to empress, which caused him to be promoted, eventually to become...
, was slaughtered by eunuchs), Emperor Ling welcomed his mother to the capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
and honored her as an empress dowager, although he also continued to honor Empress Dowager Dou (who was put under house arrest by the eunuchs) as empress dowager. Not until Empress Dowager Dou's death in 172 did Empress Dowager Dong appear to be firm in her title and become involved in politics.
Empress Dowager Dong was said to have heavily encouraged Emperor Ling in his sales of offices for money, a system that highly damaged the Han civil service system and caused great corruption throughout the empire.
In 181, after Emperor Ling's second son Liu Xie (劉協) was born to Consort Wang, Emperor Ling's wife Empress He
Empress He (Ling)
Empress He , personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Lingsi was an empress of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She was Emperor Ling's second wife...
poisoned Consort Wang. Empress Dowager Dong took Prince Xie and raised him herself, and he was therefore known by the circumspect title "Marquess Dong" (both he and his older brother Liu Bian
Prince of Hongnong
The Prince of Hongnong , was briefly an emperor of China during the Han dynasty. He is also known as "Emperor Han Shao" , a name which he shares with several other emperors with brief reigns...
(劉辯) were referred to as marquesses due to superstitions that evil spirits were aiming to kill the emperor's sons). Empress Dowager Dong favored Prince Xie and often encouraged Emperor LIng to create him 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....
over his older brother, which caused great discord between her and her daughter-in-law, Empress He.
As grand empress dowager and death
In 189, Emperor Ling died without designating an heir. Despite the machinations of his trusted eunuch Jian ShuoJian Shuo
Jian Shuo was the leader of the eunuch faction in the imperial court of the late Eastern Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Along with Zhang Rang, Jian Shuo eventually became a leading member of the Ten Attendants, who became the most powerful eunuchs during the time...
to make Prince Xie emperor, Empress He and her brother He Jin
He Jin
He Jin was the elder half-brother of Empress He, consort to Emperor Ling of the late Eastern Han Dynasty in China. He shared power with his sister as regents in 189, following the death of Emperor Ling. In the ensuing struggle with the influential eunuch faction for power, He Jin was assassinated...
were able to put Prince Bian on the throne. Empress He became empress dowager, and she and He Jin began to control the government. Empress Dowager Dong (now grand empress dowager) and her nephew Dong Chong (董重) formed a rival faction at court, and she often argued with Empress Dowager He, once threatening to have Dong Chong decapitate He Jin. He Jin took preemptive action and had Empress Dowager He issue an edict exiling her mother-in-law back to Hejian (in modern Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
), where her husband's fief was and Dong Chong arrested. Dong Chong committed suicide, and Grand Empress Dowager Dong died soon thereafter—with most historical accounts concluding that she died from fear, but some suggested that she committed suicide. Later that year, after Empress Dowager He was overthrown by Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
(no relations to her), her wish of having Prince Xie become emperor did come true, as Dong Zhuo deposed the young emperor and placed Prince Xie on the throne (as Emperor Xian
Emperor Xian of Han
Emperor Xian of Han , personal name Liu Xie, style name Bohe, was the last emperor of the Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
). However, that only hastened the downfall of the dynasty, as Emperor Xian, through no fault of his own, would never have any real power and would eventually be forced to yield his throne to Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
in 220.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms