Empress Yang Yan
Encyclopedia
Empress Yang Yan (238–274), courtesy name Qiongzhi (瓊芝), formally Empress Wuyuan (武元皇后, formally "the martial and discerning empress") was an empress of Jin Dynasty (265-420)
. She was the first wife of Emperor Wu
.
, and his wife Lady Zhao. Her mother died early, probably when she was still in infancy, and she was initially raised by her maternal uncle and aunt—who breastfed her. After she grew older, she became raised by her stepmother Lady Duan; by this point, her father, who said to have died early as well, was probably dead. When she was young, she was described as intelligent, studious, and beautiful. A fortuneteller once foretold that she would have extraordinary honor, and it is said that when the Cao Wei regent Sima Zhao
heard this, he took her and married her to his son Sima Yan. She bore for her husband three sons and three daughters. After Sima Zhao's death in 265, Sima Yan inherited his position and soon forced the Cao Wei emperor Cao Huan
to abdicate in favor of him, ending Cao Wei and establishing Jin Dynasty (as Emperor Wu). In 266, he created her empress.
the legitimate heir, by traditional succession laws. However, Emperor Wu hesitated about selecting him as crown prince
because he was developmentally disabled
. Empress Yang was instrumental in persuading him to have her son designated crown prince anyway, arguing that tradition should not be abandoned easily. She was also instrumental in her son's selection of a wife, as Emperor Wu initially favored Wei Guan
's daughter, but Empress Yang, friendly with Jia Chong
's wife Lady Yang, praised Jia's daughter Jia Nanfeng
greatly, leading to Jia Nanfeng's selection as crown princess.
In 273, when Emperor Wu was undergoing a major selection of beautiful women to serve as his concubines, he initially put Empress Yang in charge of the selection process. She preferred those with slender bodies and fair skin, but did not favor those who have beautiful faces. She also left off a beauty named Bian, whom Emperor Wu favored—stating that since the Bians have served as empresses for three generations during Cao Wei (Cao Cao
's wife Princess Bian
, Cao Mao
's empress
, and Cao Huan
's empress
) that it would be too degrading for her to be a concubine. These caused Emperor Wu to be displeased, and he took over the selection process himself. Despite this and her husband's obsession with accumulating concubines, however, they appeared to continue to have genuine affection for each other.
In 274, Empress Yang grew ill. She became concerned that whoever would be empress next—and she was particularly concerned about Consort Hu Fen (胡芬), whom Emperor Wu greatly favored—would not support her son. She therefore asked Emperor Wu to marry her cousin Yang Zhi
. Emperor Wu, distressed over her illness, agreed. She died soon thereafter and was buried with honors due an empress, at the tomb that her husband was eventually buried at when he died in 290. Concubine Zuo Fen
wrote a long song of mourning in her honour.
In 276, based on his promise to her, the emperor married Yang Zhi and created her empress.
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
. She was the first wife of Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Jìn
Emperor Wu of Jin, , personal name Sima Yan , style name Anshi , was the grandson of Sima Yi and son of Sima Zhao. He became the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty after forcing Cao Huan, last ruler of the state of Cao Wei, to abdicate to him. He reigned from 265 to 290, and after conquering the...
.
Early life and marriage to Sima Yan
Yang Yan was the daughter of Yang Wenzong (楊文宗), a marquess during Cao WeiCao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
, and his wife Lady Zhao. Her mother died early, probably when she was still in infancy, and she was initially raised by her maternal uncle and aunt—who breastfed her. After she grew older, she became raised by her stepmother Lady Duan; by this point, her father, who said to have died early as well, was probably dead. When she was young, she was described as intelligent, studious, and beautiful. A fortuneteller once foretold that she would have extraordinary honor, and it is said that when the Cao Wei regent Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao
Sima Zhao was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
heard this, he took her and married her to his son Sima Yan. She bore for her husband three sons and three daughters. After Sima Zhao's death in 265, Sima Yan inherited his position and soon forced the Cao Wei emperor Cao Huan
Cáo Huàn
Cao Huan , formally known as Emperor Yuan of Wei, was the fifth and last emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
to abdicate in favor of him, ending Cao Wei and establishing Jin Dynasty (as Emperor Wu). In 266, he created her empress.
As empress
Empress Yang's oldest son, Sima Gui (司馬軌), died in childhood, making her second son, Sima ZhongEmperor Hui of Jin
Emperor Hui of Jin, sim. ch. 晋惠帝, trad. ch. 晉惠帝, py. jìn huì dì, wg. Chin Hui-ti , personal name Sima Zhong , courtesy name Zhengdu , was the second emperor of the Jin Dynasty...
the legitimate heir, by traditional succession laws. However, Emperor Wu hesitated about selecting him as 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....
because he was developmentally disabled
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
. Empress Yang was instrumental in persuading him to have her son designated crown prince anyway, arguing that tradition should not be abandoned easily. She was also instrumental in her son's selection of a wife, as Emperor Wu initially favored Wei Guan
Wei Guan
Wei Guan , style name Boyu , formally Duke Cheng of Lanling , was an official of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He served the Jin Dynasty after the end of Cao Wei.-Early life and career:...
's daughter, but Empress Yang, friendly with Jia Chong
Jia Chong
Jia Chong , style name Gonglü , formally known as Duke Wu of Lu , was an official of the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history...
's wife Lady Yang, praised Jia's daughter Jia Nanfeng
Empress Jia Nanfeng
Empress Jia Nanfeng , nickname Shi , of the Jin Dynasty was the daughter of Jia Chong and first wife of Emperor Hui...
greatly, leading to Jia Nanfeng's selection as crown princess.
In 273, when Emperor Wu was undergoing a major selection of beautiful women to serve as his concubines, he initially put Empress Yang in charge of the selection process. She preferred those with slender bodies and fair skin, but did not favor those who have beautiful faces. She also left off a beauty named Bian, whom Emperor Wu favored—stating that since the Bians have served as empresses for three generations during Cao Wei (Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's wife Princess Bian
Empress Dowager Bian
Empress Dowager Bian , personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Wuxuan , was an empress dowager of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, Cao Mao
Cao Mao
Cao Mao , formally known as the Duke of Gaogui, was the fourth emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a grandson of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi. Described as intelligent and studious, Cao Mao made repeated attempts to seize back state power...
's empress
Empress Bian (Cao Mao)
Empress Bian, personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was married to Cao Mao, the fourth emperor of Cao Wei. Her father Bian Long was the grandson of Bian Bing , a brother-in-law of Cao Mao's great-grandfather, Cao Cao and a brother...
, and Cao Huan
Cáo Huàn
Cao Huan , formally known as Emperor Yuan of Wei, was the fifth and last emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
's empress
Empress Bian (Yuan)
Empress Bian, personal name unknown, was an empress of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was married to Cao Huan , the fifth and last emperor of Cao Wei...
) that it would be too degrading for her to be a concubine. These caused Emperor Wu to be displeased, and he took over the selection process himself. Despite this and her husband's obsession with accumulating concubines, however, they appeared to continue to have genuine affection for each other.
In 274, Empress Yang grew ill. She became concerned that whoever would be empress next—and she was particularly concerned about Consort Hu Fen (胡芬), whom Emperor Wu greatly favored—would not support her son. She therefore asked Emperor Wu to marry her cousin Yang Zhi
Empress Yang Zhi
Empress Yang Zhi , courtesy name Jilan , nickname Nanyin , formally Empress Wudao was an empress of Jin Dynasty...
. Emperor Wu, distressed over her illness, agreed. She died soon thereafter and was buried with honors due an empress, at the tomb that her husband was eventually buried at when he died in 290. Concubine Zuo Fen
Zuo Fen
-Life:She was born in Linzi prefecture to a family of Confucian scholars. Her mother died young, but her father, Zuo Yong, became an imperial official in charge of the imperial archives. She got a good literary education and often played word games with her brother, Zuo Si, who would become a...
wrote a long song of mourning in her honour.
In 276, based on his promise to her, the emperor married Yang Zhi and created her empress.