Empress Dowager Xiao

Empress Dowager Xiao (died June 1, 847 ), formally Empress Zhenxian (貞獻皇后, "the virtuous and wise empress"), known at times in her life as Empress Dowager Jiqing , was an empress dowager of the Chinese Tang dynasty. She was the mother of Emperor Wenzong and a concubine of Emperor Muzong.

Background It is not known when the future Empress Dowager Xiao was born, but it is known that she was from Fujian Circuit (福建, headquartered in modern Fuzhou, Fujian). She became a concubine of Li You, a son of Emperor Xianzong, while Li You was the Prince of Jian'an. At the time she left home, her parents had already died, and the only family member remaining at her home was a younger brother. She bore Li You a son, Li Han, in 809, when he was the Prince of Sui.

As empress dowager

During Emperor Wenzong's reign In 826, Emperor Jingzong was assassinated, purportedly by his polo players, led by Su Zuoming . The eunuch Liu Keming initially supported Emperor Muzong's younger brother, Li Wu, the Prince of Jiàng (note different tone) to succeed Emperor Jingzong, but soon the eunuch army commanders Wang Shoucheng, Yang Chenghe , Wei Congjian , and Liang Shouqian killed Liu and Li Wu, supporting Li Han instead (as Emperor Wenzong, with his name changed from Li Han to Li Ang). Emperor Wenzong honored his mother as empress dowager while honoring Emperor Jingzong's mother as Empress Dowager Wang "Empress Dowager Baoli" ("Baoli" being Emperor Jingzong's era name). There were thus three empresses dowager in the palace at the time (along with Emperor Muzong's mother and Emperor Wenzong's grandmother Grand Empress Dowager Guo). It was said that Emperor Wenzong was filially pious and honored the three empresses dowager properly. Whenever he received valuable food items, he would first submit them to the ancestral temples, then the empresses dowager, before receiving them himself.

Emperor Wenzong made Empress Dowager Xiao's older sister the Lady of Xu. He also ordered that the governor of Fujian Circuit carry out a search for Empress Dowager Xiao's younger brother, whom she had not seen since her departure from home. The governor, however, could not locate her younger brother. There happened to be a worker at a tea shop, Xiao Hong , who claimed to have a lost sister. The merchant Zhao Zhen introduced Xiao Hong to the Lady of Xu's son-in-law Lü Zhang and through him, Xiao Hong met the Lady of Xu. The Lady of Xu could not tell whether he was their brother or not, and further introduced him to Empress Dowager Xiao. Emperor Wenzong came to believe that Xiao Hong was in fact his uncle, and therefore made him a member of the staff of the Crown Prince in 828. Xiao Hong later served as a general of the imperial guards, then as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Jiaozuo, Henan) and then of Fufang Circuit (鄜坊, headquartered in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi).

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Xiao's real brother remained at Fujian Circuit, but was said to be so weak in personality that he did not dare to assert himself as her brother. One of his acquaintances, Xiao Ben , through conversations with him, came to know details about the names of his family members. Xiao Ben informed Qiu and accused Xiao Hong of falsely claiming to be Empress Dowager Xiao's brother. In 836, Xiao Hong was thus exiled to Huan Prefecture (驩州, in modern Nghệ An Province, Vietnam), but before he could reach Huan Prefecture, he was ordered to commit suicide. Emperor Wenzong, believing Xiao Ben to be his real uncle, made Xiao Ben a member of the staff of his son and crown prince, Li Yong.

During Emperor Wuzong's and Emperor Xuānzong's reigns In 840, Emperor Wenzong died and was succeeded by his brother, Emperor Wuzong. Empress Dowager Xiao moved to Jiqing Hall and thereafter became known as Empress Dowager Jiqing. She died in 847, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong's successor (a younger brother of Emperor Muzong's), Emperor Xuānzong.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 52. New Book of Tang, vol. 77. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 243, 244, 245, 246, 248.