Empress Ren
Cheng Han empress
About Empress Ren
Lived 201 – 301 (aged 99–100).
Empress Ren (; personal name unknown; 315 - 338) was an empress of the Di-led Cheng-Han dynasty of China during the Sixteen Kingdoms era. Her husband was the founding emperor Li Xiong (Emperor Wu).
She was created empress by Li Xiong in February or March 315. She had no sons of her own, although Li Xiong had sons by concubines. Despite this, he chose his nephew Li Ban (Emperor Ai) as his heir.
During Li Qi's reign, she continued as empress dowager. When Li Qi was overthrown by Li Shou (Emperor Zhaowen) in May 338, Li Shou forged an edict from Empress Dowager Ren as well to legitimize his actions, implying that she was still alive at that point. There was no further records of her in history from that point on; her younger brother Ren Yan was accused of treason and executed in October that year. It is not known when she died.
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Important facts
People in Empress Ren's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Empress Ren's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Empress Ren?
Cheng Han empress
When was Empress Ren born?
Empress Ren was born in 201.
When did Empress Ren die?
Empress Ren died in 301.
What nationality was Empress Ren?
Empress Ren's recorded nationality: Cheng Han.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Empress Ren. https://biography.guide/empress-ren/
MLA: "Empress Ren." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/empress-ren/.
Chicago: "Empress Ren." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/empress-ren/.
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