Empress Zhang (Liu Shan, former)
Encyclopedia
Empress Zhang personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Jing'ai (敬哀皇后; literally: "The Respectful and Lamentable Empress") was an empress of Shu Han
during the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. She was the daughter of Zhang Fei and his wife Lady Xiahou, and the first wife of Liu Shan
, the second emperor of Shu Han. She married Liu Shan in 221, after Liu Shan's father Liu Bei
had declared himself the emperor of Han. As Liu Shan was the crown prince
, she was given the title of crown princess. She lost her father later that year, as he was assassinated by one of his subordinates just as he was about to join Liu Bei on his campaign against Eastern Wu
to avenge their sworn brother, Guan Yu
. When Liu Bei died in 223, Liu Shan became emperor and created her empress.
Empress Zhang appeared to have had no children. She died in 237.
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
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...
. She was the daughter of Zhang Fei and his wife Lady Xiahou, and the first wife of Liu Shan
Liu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
, the second emperor of Shu Han. She married Liu Shan in 221, after Liu Shan's father Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
had declared himself the emperor of Han. As Liu Shan was the 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....
, she was given the title of crown princess. She lost her father later that year, as he was assassinated by one of his subordinates just as he was about to join Liu Bei on his campaign against Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
to avenge their sworn brother, Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
. When Liu Bei died in 223, Liu Shan became emperor and created her empress.
Empress Zhang appeared to have had no children. She died in 237.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms