Wang Shi

Empress Rensheng of the Wang clan, also known simply as Empress Wang, was the wife of the eighth emperor of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty of China, Emperor Xuanzong. She was captured and taken north by Mongol forces during the siege of Bianjing.

Background Lady Wang was born in Zhongdu to the commoner Wang Yanchang and a lady of the Ma clan. The History of Jin records that, before the birth of Lady Wang and her elder sister, her father dreamt of two jade combs that turned into the moon. After he died, lingzhi grew all over his coffin.

In 1196, Wudubu of the imperial clan was bestowed the title of Prince of Yi , and Emperor Zhangzong, his half-brother, instructed all princes to choose women from commoner families for their harems. Wudubu thus selected Lady Wang and a Lady Pang for his harem, and, on seeing that Lady Wang's elder sister was very beautiful, he selected her as well. The empress thus ordered porridge and medicine to be distributed in the capital. rensheng . Her sister was also elevated to Empress Dowager with the residence name cisheng . Empress Dowager Cisheng died in 1231.

Fall of Jin

As the Jin lost ground to the Mongols, there was a famine in Henan in 1232. Subutai's forces surrounded Bianjing, and plague broke out. The empress dowager personally witnessed people starving and dying of plague, with the number of dead reaching more than a million. In late 1232, Aizong planned to escape the capital for Guide (, modern Shangqiu). Empress Dowager Rensheng gathered gold ingots and precious objects, which she gave to the loyal soldiers of the emperor's escort. The same night, the emperor, empress, and Consort Rou of the Peiman clan left the palace on horseback. When they reached Chenliu, it was already in flames, and as it was suspected that Mongol soldiers were nearby, the party did not dare enter the city. When Bianjing fell in the middle of 1233, Empress Dowager Rensheng and all imperial concubines were imprisoned and taken north. It is not known what became of her after this.

Family Father: Wang Yanchang (王彦昌) Mother: Lady Bianguo of the Ma clan (汴国夫人马氏) Elder sister: Empress Dowager Cisheng (d. 1231), posthumous name Empress Minghui Nephew: Emperor Aizong of Jin (25 September 1198 – 9 February 1234)