Empress Dowager Wang (Xianzong)
Encyclopedia
Empress Dowager Wang (763
– April 5, 816), formally Empress Zhuangxian (莊憲皇后, "the mighty and knowledgeable empress"), was an empress dowager
of the Chinese
Tang Dynasty
. She was the mother of Emperor Xianzong
.
, during the reign of Emperor Daizong
. Her family was from Langye (琅邪, in modern Linyi
, Shandong
). Her grandfather Wang Nande (王難得) was said to have had well-known accomplishments. Her father was named Wang Yan (王顏).
When she was young, she was selected to be an imperial consort with the rank of Cairen (才人). However, because she was very young, in 775
, Emperor Daizong gave her to his grandson Li Song
, who had not yet been given a princely title and who was 14 at the time.
, the future Empress Dowager Wang gave birth to Li Song's oldest son Li Chun
, and in 779
, when Li Song was created the Prince of Xuan, she was given the rank of Ruren (孺人) as a princely consort. When, later in the year, he was created Crown Prince
(with Emperor Daizong's son and Li Song's father Emperor Dezong
being emperor at that point), she was given the rank of Liangdi (良娣). It was said that she was respectful and careful, and the people in the palace praised her for her virtues.
, Emperor Dezong died, and Li Song became emperor (as Emperor Shunzong). Just prior to Emperor Dezong's death, Emperor Shunzong himself had suffered a debilitating stroke
, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. It was said that Consort Wang carefully attended to his medical needs and rarely left his presence. It was also said that he wanted to create her empress, but because he was unable to speak, the creation never took place.
(retired emperor), and Consort Wang as Taishang Huanghou (太上皇后, "retired empress").
, and Emperor Xianzong thereafter honored Retired Empress Wang as Empress Dowager
. She took up residence at Xingqing Palace (興慶宮). It was said that she had a kind, peaceful, respectful, and humble disposition, and she did not allow her family members to take power. She died in 816 and was buried at the same tomb as Emperor Shunzong.
763
Year 763 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 763 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Ciniod succeeds Bridei V as king of the...
– April 5, 816), formally Empress Zhuangxian (莊憲皇后, "the mighty and knowledgeable empress"), was an 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...
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...
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 mother of Emperor Xianzong
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor Xianzong of Tang , personal name Li Chun , né Li Chun , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
.
Background
The future Empress Dowager Wang was born in 763763
Year 763 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 763 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Ciniod succeeds Bridei V as king of the...
, during the reign of Emperor Daizong
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
. Her family was from Langye (琅邪, in modern Linyi
Linyi
Linyi is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The largest prefecture-level city in Shandong both by area and total population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). Her grandfather Wang Nande (王難得) was said to have had well-known accomplishments. Her father was named Wang Yan (王顏).
When she was young, she was selected to be an imperial consort with the rank of Cairen (才人). However, because she was very young, in 775
775
Year 775 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 775 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.-Africa:* Andalusian merchants set up an emporium on the...
, Emperor Daizong gave her to his grandson Li Song
Emperor Shunzong of Tang
Emperor Shunzong of Tang , personal name Li Song , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was created crown prince in 779 and became emperor in 805 after the death of his father Emperor Dezong, of whom he was the oldest son...
, who had not yet been given a princely title and who was 14 at the time.
As princely consort
In 778778
Year 778 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 778 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* August 15 – Battle of Roncevaux Pass...
, the future Empress Dowager Wang gave birth to Li Song's oldest son Li Chun
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor Xianzong of Tang , personal name Li Chun , né Li Chun , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
, and in 779
779
Year 779 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 779 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Offa of Mercia defeats Cynewulf of Wessex...
, when Li Song was created the Prince of Xuan, she was given the rank of Ruren (孺人) as a princely consort. When, later in the year, he 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....
(with Emperor Daizong's son and Li Song's father Emperor Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
being emperor at that point), she was given the rank of Liangdi (良娣). It was said that she was respectful and careful, and the people in the palace praised her for her virtues.
As imperial consort
In 805805
Year 805 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Emperor Nicephorus I of Byzantium suffers a major defeat against the Saracens at Crasus.- Asia :...
, Emperor Dezong died, and Li Song became emperor (as Emperor Shunzong). Just prior to Emperor Dezong's death, Emperor Shunzong himself had suffered a debilitating stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. It was said that Consort Wang carefully attended to his medical needs and rarely left his presence. It was also said that he wanted to create her empress, but because he was unable to speak, the creation never took place.
As retired empress
Later in 805, Emperor Shunzong yielded the throne to Li Chun, who had been created Crown Prince (as Emperor Xianzong). Emperor Xianzong honored Emperor Shunzong as Taishang HuangTaishang Huang
Retired Emperor, Grand Emperor, or Emperor Emeritus is a title occasionally used throughout East Asian feudal regimes for former emperors who had abdicated voluntarily to their sons. This title appeared in the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam...
(retired emperor), and Consort Wang as Taishang Huanghou (太上皇后, "retired empress").
As empress dowager
Emperor Shunzong died in 806806
Year 806 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Emperor Heizei succeeds Emperor Kammu as Emperor of Japan....
, and Emperor Xianzong thereafter honored Retired Empress Wang 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...
. She took up residence at Xingqing Palace (興慶宮). It was said that she had a kind, peaceful, respectful, and humble disposition, and she did not allow her family members to take power. She died in 816 and was buried at the same tomb as Emperor Shunzong.