Empress Dowager Zheng

Empress Dowager Zheng (鄭太后, personal name unknown) (died December 26, 865 ), formally Empress Xiaoming (孝明皇后, "the filial and understanding empress"), was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Tang dynasty. She was a concubine to Emperor Xianzong and, after her son Emperor Xuānzong became emperor, she became empress dowager, and, after his death, became the second and last Grand Empress Dowager of the Tang Dynasty during the reign of her grandson Emperor Yizong.

Background It is not known when the future Empress Dowager Zheng was born, and little is known about her family. According to the Old Book of Tang, at the time that that history was compiled, the old records were missing as to her family origins or how she entered the palace. However, according to the New Book of Tang, she was from Danyang (丹楊, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), and her surname might have been originally Erzhu . Further according to the New Book of Tang, early in the Yuanhe era (806–820) of Emperor Xianzong, when her home region was ruled by the military governor (Jiedushi) Li Qi, a fortuneteller prophesied that she would give birth to an emperor. Hearing this, Li Qi decided to take her as a concubine. After Li Qi was defeated and executed in 807, she was confiscated and taken into the imperial palace, where she became a servant girl of Emperor Xianzong's wife Consort Guo. It was implied by the Old Book of Tang that she was then made an imperial consort with the relatively low rank of Yunü . Consort Zheng thus became Consort Dowager of Guang. Her activities during this time were not recorded in history, although it was said that, in 846, her younger brother Zheng Guang dreamed of a wagon bearing the sun and the moon, and six lighted candles uniting into one. A fortune teller informed him that this was a sign of great fortune to come. (There were thus three empresses dowager at that time, with Emperor Muzong's mother Consort Guo then being grand empress dowager, and the mother of Emperor Wuzong's brother and predecessor Emperor Wenzong, Empress Dowager Xiao known as Empress Dowager Jiqing (as she resided at Jiqing Palace ), until her death in 846. ) Zheng Guang, on account of his being Empress Dowager Zheng's brother, was initially made a general, and then the military governor of Pinglu Circuit (平盧, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong).

As grand empress dowager Emperor Xuānzong died in 859 and was succeeded by his son Li Cui (as Emperor Yizong). Emperor Yizong honored Empress Dowager Zheng as grand empress dowager.

Styles Lady Zheng (鄭氏/郑氏; until an unknown date) During the reign of Emperor Xianzong (r. 806-820) Yunu (禦女/御女; from an unknown date), 8th rank consort During the reigns of Emperor Muzong (r. 820-824), Emperor Jingzong (r. 824-827), Emperor Wenzong (r. 827-840) and Emperor Wuzong (r. 840-846) Consort Dowager of Guang (光王太妃; from 820) During the reign of Emperor Xuānzong (r. 846-859) Empress Dowager (皇太后; from 846) During the reign of Emperor Yizong (r. 859-873) Grand Empress Dowager (太皇太后; from 859) Empress Xiaoming (孝明皇后; from 865)

In fiction Played by Mary Hon, a fictionalized version of Empress Dowager Zheng was portrayed in 2009 Hong Kong's TVB television series, Beyond the Realm of Conscience.

Portrayed by Siqin Gaowa in the 2013 film Avalokitesvara

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 52. New Book of Tang, vol. 77. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 248, 249, 250.