Empress Zhu (Jing)
Encyclopedia
Empress Zhu formally known as Empress Jing (景皇后), was an empress of Eastern Wu
during the Three Kingdoms period. Her husband was Sun Xiu (Emperor Jing), the third emperor of Eastern Wu.
Empress Zhu was the daughter of Zhu Ju (朱據) and Sun Xiaohu (孫小虎), a daughter of Eastern Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan
. Even though this makes her Sun Xiu's niece, Sun Quan married her to Sun Xiu around 250. In 250, she lost her father, as Zhu Ju, after unsuccessfully trying to persuade Sun Quan not to depose the crown prince
Sun He
, was exiled to Xindu (新都, in modern Hangzhou
, Zhejiang
) -- and was executed on the way there. After Sun Xiu was created the Prince of Langye in 252, she became princess. She accompanied him, as his fief was initially established at Hulin (虎林, in modern Chizhou
, Anhui
) but subsequently moved twice to Danyang (丹陽, in modern Xuancheng
, Anhui
) then finally to Kuaiji (會稽, in modern Shaoxing
, Zhejiang
).
In 255, Princess Zhu would lose her mother as well. At the instigation of her aunt Sun Dahu (孫大虎), the regent Sun Jun believed that Princess Xiaohu was part of a plot to assassinate him, and so had Princess Xiaohu executed. Sun Xiu became fearful, and sent his wife Princess Zhu back to the capital Jianye
, effectively offering to divorce her, but Sun Jun declined by sending Princess Zhu back to Sun Xiu.
In 258, the emperor Sun Liang
(Sun Xiu's brother), after a failed attempt to remove Sun Jun's cousin and successor Sun Lin
, was himself removed from the throne by Sun Lin. Sun Lin made Sun Xiu emperor. However, Sun Xiu, despite urging from officials, did not immediately create her empress. Rather, he waited until 262 to do so. He also created his son Sun Wan crown prince, although it is not clear whether Sun Wan was her son or not. (Indeed, it is not clear whether she bore any of Sun Xiu's four sons.)
In 264, Sun Xiu died, after entrusting Crown Prince Wan to the prime minister Puyang Xing (濮陽興). However, Puyang and the other key official in charge, Zhang Bu (張布), in light of the destruction of Eastern Wu's ally Shu Han
in 263, decided that the people were yearning for an older emperor. (It is not known how old Crown Prince Wan was at this point, but Sun Xiu himself died at age 29, so it was unlikely that Crown Prince Wan was even a teenager.) At the recommendation of the general Wan Yu (萬彧), who was friendly with former crown prince Sun He's son Sun Hao
the Marquess of Wucheng, Puyang and Zhang wanted declare Sun Hao emperor instead. When they reported this to Empress Dowager Zhu, she said:
Puyang and Zhang then declared Sun Hao emperor. However, it soon became clear that Sun Hao was the wrong choice, as he quickly demonstrated his cruel and superstitious tendencies. Puyang and Zhang would indeed become his first victims, as their regret in selecting Sun Hao was quickly reported to him, who had them arrested and executed. Later that year, he would also demote Empress Dowager Zhu to the title Empress Jing, making his own mother Consort He
empress dowager
instead. In 265, Sun Hao would further force her to commit suicide and kill Sun Xiu's two oldest sons -- the former crown prince Sun Wan and Sun Gong the Prince of Ru'nan. Empress Zhu was given a substandard funeral (for an empress), although she was buried with an empress' honor with her husband Sun Xiu.
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...
during the Three Kingdoms period. Her husband was Sun Xiu (Emperor Jing), the third emperor of Eastern Wu.
Empress Zhu was the daughter of Zhu Ju (朱據) and Sun Xiaohu (孫小虎), a daughter of Eastern Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
. Even though this makes her Sun Xiu's niece, Sun Quan married her to Sun Xiu around 250. In 250, she lost her father, as Zhu Ju, after unsuccessfully trying to persuade Sun Quan not to depose 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....
Sun He
Sun He
Sun He , style name Zixiao , formally known as Emperor Wen , was a son and crown prince of Eastern Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, was exiled to Xindu (新都, in modern Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
) -- and was executed on the way there. After Sun Xiu was created the Prince of Langye in 252, she became princess. She accompanied him, as his fief was initially established at Hulin (虎林, in modern Chizhou
Chizhou
Chizhou is a prefecture-level city in Anhui province, People's Republic of China. It borders Anqing to the northwest, Tongling and Wuhu to the northeast, Xuancheng to the east, Huangshan to the southeast, and the province of Jiangxi to the southwest....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) but subsequently moved twice to Danyang (丹陽, in modern Xuancheng
Xuancheng
Xuancheng is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Anhui province of Eastern China. It borders Wuhu to the northwest, Chizhou to the west, Huangshan to the southwest, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu to the southeast and northeast respectively....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) then finally to Kuaiji (會稽, in modern Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
).
In 255, Princess Zhu would lose her mother as well. At the instigation of her aunt Sun Dahu (孫大虎), the regent Sun Jun believed that Princess Xiaohu was part of a plot to assassinate him, and so had Princess Xiaohu executed. Sun Xiu became fearful, and sent his wife Princess Zhu back to the capital Jianye
Jianye
Jianye may refer to:*Jianye District, in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China*Jiankang, also known as Jianye, ancient city in China*Henan Jianye, Chinese football club...
, effectively offering to divorce her, but Sun Jun declined by sending Princess Zhu back to Sun Xiu.
In 258, the emperor Sun Liang
Sun Liang
Sun Liang was the second emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the founding emperor Sun Quan's youngest son and heir...
(Sun Xiu's brother), after a failed attempt to remove Sun Jun's cousin and successor Sun Lin
Sun Lin
Sun Lin , style name Zitong , was a regent of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled as regent during the reigns of the emperors Sun Liang and Sun Xiu. His conflict with Sun Liang eventually led him to depose the emperor in favor of Sun Xiu...
, was himself removed from the throne by Sun Lin. Sun Lin made Sun Xiu emperor. However, Sun Xiu, despite urging from officials, did not immediately create her empress. Rather, he waited until 262 to do so. He also created his son Sun Wan crown prince, although it is not clear whether Sun Wan was her son or not. (Indeed, it is not clear whether she bore any of Sun Xiu's four sons.)
In 264, Sun Xiu died, after entrusting Crown Prince Wan to the prime minister Puyang Xing (濮陽興). However, Puyang and the other key official in charge, Zhang Bu (張布), in light of the destruction of Eastern Wu's ally Shu Han
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...
in 263, decided that the people were yearning for an older emperor. (It is not known how old Crown Prince Wan was at this point, but Sun Xiu himself died at age 29, so it was unlikely that Crown Prince Wan was even a teenager.) At the recommendation of the general Wan Yu (萬彧), who was friendly with former crown prince Sun He's son Sun Hao
Sun Hao
Sun Hao , style name Yuanzong , originally named Sun Pengzu with the style name Yuanzong , was the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. He was the son of Sun He, a one-time crown prince of the founding emperor Sun Quan...
the Marquess of Wucheng, Puyang and Zhang wanted declare Sun Hao emperor instead. When they reported this to Empress Dowager Zhu, she said:
- I am just a widow. What do I know about the important affairs of state? As long as the empire is not harmed, and the emperors continue to be properly worshipped, I am satisfied.
Puyang and Zhang then declared Sun Hao emperor. However, it soon became clear that Sun Hao was the wrong choice, as he quickly demonstrated his cruel and superstitious tendencies. Puyang and Zhang would indeed become his first victims, as their regret in selecting Sun Hao was quickly reported to him, who had them arrested and executed. Later that year, he would also demote Empress Dowager Zhu to the title Empress Jing, making his own mother Consort He
Empress Dowager He (Sun Hao)
Empress Dowager He, personal name unknown, was an empress dowager during the reign of her son Sun Hao, the fourth and last emperor of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history....
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...
instead. In 265, Sun Hao would further force her to commit suicide and kill Sun Xiu's two oldest sons -- the former crown prince Sun Wan and Sun Gong the Prince of Ru'nan. Empress Zhu was given a substandard funeral (for an empress), although she was buried with an empress' honor with her husband Sun Xiu.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms