Empress Zhangsun (長孫皇后, personal name unknown) (601-July 28, 636[1]), formally Empress Wendeshunsheng (文德順聖皇后, literally "the civil, virtuous, serene, and holy empress") or, in short, Empress Wende (文德皇后), was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Peter (Byzantine General defeats the Eurasian Avars. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Events By Place Byzantine Empire August 20 — Battle of Yarmuk: Khalid ibn al-Walid 's victory against the An emperor (from the Latin " Imperator " is a (male Monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an Empire or another type of Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by She was the wife of Emperor Taizong and the mother of Emperor Gaozong. Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife She was of Xianbei origin and well educated. The Xianbei ( were a significant nomadic people residing in Manchuria and eastern Mongolia, or Xianbei Shan.
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Background
The future Empress Zhangsun was born in 601. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Peter (Byzantine General defeats the Eurasian Avars. Her father was the Sui Dynasty general Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟), and her mother was Zhangsun Sheng's wife Lady Gao, the daughter of the official Gao Jingde (高敬德). The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. [2] She had at least four older brothers -- Zhangsun Sheng's oldest son Zhangsun Xingbu (長孫行布, who was killed in 604 while resisting the rebellion of Emperor Yang of Sui's brother Yang Liang the Prince of Han), Zhangsun Heng'an (長孫恆安), Zhangsun Anye (長孫安業), and Zhangsun Wuji. Events By Place Ancient Japan Prince Shotoku issues a Seventeen-article constitution. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Yang Liang (楊諒 -- Courtesy name Dezhang (德章 alternative name Jie (傑 nickname Yiqian (益錢 -- was an imperial prince of the Zhangsun Wuji (長孫無忌 (d 659 Courtesy name Fuji (輔機 formally Duke of Zhao (趙公 was a chancellor of the Chinese (Zhangsun Wuji was also born of Lady Gao, while Zhangsun Anye was not; who Zhangsun Xingbu's and Zhangsun Heng'an's mothers were was not recorded in history. ) Zhangsun Sheng died in 609, and Zhangsun Anye, instead of raising his younger brother and sister, expelled them, as well as his stepmother Lady Gao, from the Zhangsun household and sent them back to Lady Gao's brother Gao Shilian, and Gao Shilian raised them. Events By Place Asia Edessa is taken by the Sassanids. The tax Census of the Sui Dynasty Gao Shilian (高士廉 ( 576 - February 14, 647) formal name Gao Jian (高儉 but went by the Courtesy name of Shilian formally The future Empress Zhangsun was said to be studious and proper in her actions. In 613, she married Li Shimin, the second son of the general Li Yuan the Duke of Tang. Events By Place Europe Clotaire II reunites the Frankish kingdoms by ordering the murder of Sigebert II. Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the Background and early career Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. (Li Shimin was 14, and she was 12. )
As Princess of Qin and crown princess
In 617, Li Yuan, aided by Li Shimin and Li Shimin's older brother Li Jiancheng, among others, rebelled at Taiyuan (太原, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), and later that year captured the capital Chang'an, declaring Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai emperor (as Emepror Gong). Events By Place Europe Heathens revolt in Kent under king Eadbald. Li Jiancheng (李建成 ( 589 - July 2, 626) formally Crown Prince Yin (隱太子 literally "the hidden crown prince" nickname Taiyuan ( lit "Great Plains" is a Prefecture-level city and the capital of Shanxi province China. ( Postal map spelling: Shansi) is a province in the northern part of the People's Republic of China. Chang'an ( is an ancient Capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history. During Emperor Yang's reign Yang You was born in 605 as a son of Yang Zhao, the son and Crown prince of Emperor Yang. In 618, after news arrived that Emperor Yang had been killed in a coup at Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) led by the general Yuwen Huaji, Li Yuan had Emperor Gong yield the throne to him, establishing Tang Dynasty as its Emperor Gaozu. Events By Place Asia The Sui Dynasty ends and the Tang Dynasty begins in China. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Yangzhou administers 7 county-level divisions. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country Background It is not known when Yuwen Huaji was born He was the oldest son of the Sui Dynasty official Yuwen Shu, a close associate of Yang Guang The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by He created Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, and she was created the Princess of Qin. She and Li Shimin would eventually have three sons -- Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Zhi -- and at least three daughters, who were later created the Princesses Changle, Jinyang, and Xincheng. Li Chéngqián (李承乾 (619?- January 5, 645) Courtesy name Gaoming (高明 formally Prince Min of Hengshan (恆山愍王 Li Tai (李泰 Pinyin: Lǐ Tài (618- December 15, 652) Courtesy name Huibao (惠褒 nickname Qingque (青雀 formally Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife
Li Shimin was Tang's most capable general in its campaigns to reunite China following Sui's collapse, defeating the major enemies Xue Rengao the Emperor of Qin, Liu Wuzhou the Dingyang Khan, Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, and Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia. Under Xue Ju As of 617 Xue Rengao's father Xue Ju was a commander of the local militia at Jincheng (金城 in modern Lanzhou, Gansu) when Initial establishment of Dingyang Liu Wuzhou's clan was originally from Hejian Commandery (河間 roughly modern Baoding, Hebei) Early career Wang Shichong's ancestors were surnamed Zhi (支 originally from the Xiyu region and were not Han. Initial uprising and service under Gao Shida Dou Jiande was born in 573 when his birth area Zhangnan County (漳南縣 in modern Handan, Hebei) was under In doing so, he overshadowed his older brother Li Jiancheng, who as the oldest son was created crown prince, and the brothers developed an intense rivalry. Crown Princess redirects here for the ship see Crown Princess (ship. Princess Zhangsun was said to serve her father-in-law Emperor Gaozu carefully while trying to reduce the adversarial nature of the brothers' relationship (unsuccessfully).
Sources state that in 626, the crown prince Li Jiancheng and another brother, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, who supported Li Jiancheng, decided to set an ambush for the rising Li Shimin. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines defeat the Avars and Slavs, who were besieging Constantinople Li Jiancheng (李建成 ( 589 - July 2, 626) formally Crown Prince Yin (隱太子 literally "the hidden crown prince" nickname Li Yuanji (李元吉 ( 603 - July 2, 626) formally Prince La of Chao (巢剌王 more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi But Li Shimin heard about this trap, and organize a counter-coup, going to the trap with several of his own most trusted and skilled soldiers. When Li Shimin mobilized his personal troops within his mansion, and as he did so, Princess Zhangsun was said to have personally made an appearance before the troops to encourage them. Her brother Zhangsun Wuji was one of Li Shimin's major strategists in this matter. Zhangsun Wuji (長孫無忌 (d 659 Courtesy name Fuji (輔機 formally Duke of Zhao (趙公 was a chancellor of the Chinese Li Shimin was able to counter Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at Xuanwu Gate and kill them, and then essentially forced Emperor Gaozu to create him crown prince. The Incident at Xuanwu Gate (玄武門之變 refers to an incident on July 2, 626, when Li Shimin the Prince of Qin a son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Princess Zhangsun was accordingly created crown princess. Two months later, Emperor Gaozu yielded the throne to Li Shimin, who took the throne as Emperor Taizong, and he created her empress and their oldest son Li Chengqian crown prince.
As empress
As empress, Empress Zhangsun was said to be frugal and humble, taking only the supplies that she needed without living luxuriously. When Crown Prince Chengqian's wet nurse the Lady Sui'an stated that his palace lacked sufficient goods and requested more, she replied, "All a crown prince should worry about is not having enough virtues or enough fame. A wet nurse is a woman who breast feeds a baby that is not her own Why worry about not having enough goods?" It was also said that she rarely got angry with the ladies in waiting and eunuchs who served her. A lady-in-waiting (also called waiting maid) is a female personal assistant at a Noble court, attending to a queen, a Princess or other A eunuch (ˈjuːnək is a Castrated man in particular one castrated early enough to have major hormonal consequences the term usually refers to those castrated in order to She often gave Emperor Taizong examples from history to inspire him to rule better. At times, if Emperor Taizong got angry at the ladies in waiting or eunuchs for no reason, she would pretend to be angry as well and ask to personally interrogate them and hold them in custody; she would then wait until his anger had subsided, and then begin to plead on their behalf, thus reducing improper punishments within the palace. It was said that whenever Emperor Taizong's concubines or ladies in waiting would be ill, she would personally visit them and reduce her own expenditures to treat them. Concubinage is the state of a woman or youth in an ongoing quasi-matrimonial relationship with a man of higher social status
Emperor Taizong would at times try to discuss with her matters of award and punishment to see what she opined, but each time she refused to do so, stating that it was not her place to do so. As her brother Zhangsun Wuji was a major strategist who contributed much to his victory over Li Jiancheng, he wanted to make Zhangsun Wuji a chancellor, and Empress Zhangsun declined on Zhangsun Wuji's behalf, stating:
- I have the opportunity to be here in the palace, reaching the highest of honors. The chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝宰相 was an office that was semi-formally designated for a number of high level officials at one time during the Chinese I do not wish to see my brothers and nephews wield power. What happened to the households of Han Dynasty's Empress Lü Zhi and Huo Guang are cruel examples of what might happen. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Empress Lü Zhi (呂雉 (died 180 BC commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü (呂太后 Pinyin: Lǚ Tàihòu or formally as Empress Gao (高皇后 Huo Guang (d 68 BC ( Traditional Chinese: 霍光 Courtesy name Zimeng (子孟 was a Western Han Statesman who was a rare example I pray that Your Imperial Majesty will not make my brother chancellor.
Emperor Taizong initially disagreed and made Zhangsun Wuji chancellor anyway in fall 627, but with Zhangsun Wuji himself also repeatedly declining, Emperor Taizong relented in spring 628 and removed Zhangsun Wuji from the chancellor position. Events By Place Byzantine Empire December 12 — Battle of Nineveh: Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians ending Events By Place Europe Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia.
Also in 627, Empress Zhangsun's other brother Zhangsun Anye was implicated in a treasonous plot, along with the generals Li Xiaochang (李孝常), Liu Deyu (劉德裕), and Yuan Hongshan (元弘善). Initially, Zhangsun Anye, like the other conspirators, were to be put to death, but Empress Zhangsun interceded on his behalf, stating that even though Zhangsun Anye deserved death, the people would have thought that she was retaliating for his ill treatment of her and Zhangsun Wuji when they were little. Emperor Taizong agreed and spared Zhangsun Anye, only exiling him to Xi Prefecture (巂州, roughly modern Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan). Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture ( Simplified Chinese: 凉山彝族自治州; Pinyin: Liángshān Yízú Zìzhìzhōu Yi: ꆃꎭ Niep Sha, ( Postal map spelling: Szechwan and Szechuan) is a province in western China with its capital in Chengdu.
In 632, Emperor Taizong was about to marry the Princess Changle to Zhangsun Wuji's son Zhangsun Chong (長孫沖). Events By Place Europe Khan Kubrat starts to rule in Great Bulgaria. As the princess was born of Empress Zhangsun and was his favorite daughter, Emperor Taizong ordered that her dowry had to exceed that for his sister, the Princess Yongjia. A dowry (also known as trousseau or tocher) is the money goods or estate that a woman brings to her soon to be husband in marriage The chancellor Wei Zheng advised against it, pointing out that this was contrary to Emperor Ming of Han's observation that his sons should not be as honored as his brothers. Wei Zheng ( 580-643 Courtesy name Xuancheng (玄成 formally Duke Wenzhen of Zheng (鄭文貞公 was a Chinese politician and the lead editor Family background Then-Liu Yang was born in 28 to Emperor Guangwu and his first love Consort Yin Lihua. Emperor Taizong agreed and also informed Empress Zhangsun, who was greatly impressed with Wei's honest advice, and therefore, after receiving permission from Emperor Taizong, she had her eunuchs send rewards of money and silk to Wei, praising him for his honesty. On another occasion, after Emperor Taizong returned from an imperial gathering, he was angry and yelled, "Let me find a chance to kill this farmer!" Empress Zhangsun asked whom he was referring to, and he replied, "I am referring to Wei Zheng. He always find a way to insult me in front of everyone in the imperial hall!" Empress Zhangsun retreated to her bedchambers and put on the official empress gown; standing solemnly, she prepared to bow to Emperor Taizong. He was surprised, and asked her what the reason was. She responded, "I have heard that only a most able emperor will have subordinates who have integrity. Wei shows this much integrity because you are an able emperor. How can I not congratulate you?" Emperor Taizong's anger turned to happiness, and he did not punish Wei. Later that year, on an occasion when Emperor Taizong and she personally visited Emperor Gaozu (who had then taken the title of Taishang Huang (retired emperor)) at his Da'an Palace (大安宮), they personally served a feast to him. Taishang-huang ( was a Chinese title sometimes translated in English as Retired Emperor, Grand Emperor or Emperor Emeritus used throughout
Emperor Taizong, for several years, had often suffered from severe illnesses, and Empress Zhangsun often attended to him day and night, carrying poison within her belt and resolving to commit suicide if the emperor should die. Empress Zhangsun herself was said to suffer from severe asthma, and her conditions were exacerbated in 634 when she was ill, but nevertheless attended to Emperor Taizong when he was forced to wake up in the middle of the night and put on armor and weapons due to an emergency report by his brother-in-law, Chai Shao (柴紹) the Duke of Qiao. Asthma is a chronic Condition involving the Respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict become inflamed, and are Events By Place Oswald of Northumbria defeats Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd in the Battle of Heavenfield and By 636, her conditions were severe, and Li Chengqian suggested to her that, as the doctors appeared to have done everything they could, Emperor Taizong declare a general pardon and encourage commoners to become Buddhist or Taoist monks, to try to gain divine favor. Events By Place Byzantine Empire August 20 — Battle of Yarmuk: Khalid ibn al-Walid 's victory against the Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions Empress Zhangsun, knowing that Emperor Taizong had long disapproved of Buddhism and Taoism and herself believing over use of pardons to be improper, refused. Li Chengqian instead told the idea to the chancellor Fang Xuanling, who reported it to Emperor Taizong. Fang Xuanling (房玄齡 (579–648 formal name Fang Qiao (房喬 but went by the Courtesy name of Xuanling formally Duke Wenzhao of Liang (梁文昭公 Emperor Taizong considered issuing a general pardon, but Empress Zhangsun again refused. As she came close to death (at a time that Fang had drawn anger from Emperor Taizong and was temporarily relieved of his post and returned to his mansion), she bid Emperor Taizong goodbye with these words;
- Fang Xuanling had served Your Imperial Majesty for a long time. He is careful, and all of his wonderful strategies and secret plans were not revealed to anyone. Unless there is a particularly good reason, I hope that you will not abandon him. As to my Zhangsun clan, many of them enjoy high salaries and high positions on account of our marriage, not because of their great virtues, and therefore they can crumble easily. In order to preserve the Zhangsuns, I hope that you will not put them in powerful positions, and that they would be satisfied with seeing you at imperial gatherings the first and 15th day of each month. During my lifetime, I made no contributions to the people, and I should not harm them in my death. I hope that you will not build a tomb to cause the people to labor and the empire to waste resources. Make a hill my tomb, and only use brick or wooden implements in the tomb. I hope that Your Imperial Majesty will continue to be close to honest men and stay away from those lacking virtues; that you will accept faithful words and reject wicked flattery; that you will decrease labor and stop hunting. Even as I go into the underworld, if these things happen, I will have no regrets. It is not necessary to summon the sons and daughters back here; if I see them mourn and cry, I will only be saddened.
She died in 636. After she died, the palace authorities submitted Empress Zhangsun's writings -- a 30-volume work titled Examples for Women (女則, Nü Ze), and a commentary criticizing Han Dynasty's Empress Ma -- to Emperor Taizong. Empress Ma (馬皇后 personal name unknown (40&ndash August 16, 79) formally Empress Mingde (明德皇后 literally "the understanding and virtuous When Emperor Taizong read her works, he was greatly saddened, and he stated:
- This book, written by the empress, is capable of being an example to generations. It is not that I do not know the will of heaven and mourn uselessly, but now, when I enter the palace, I can no longer hear her corrective words. I have lost a wonderful help, and I cannot forget her.
He summoned Fang back to his chancellor position, and then he buried her with honors due an empress, but reduced the expenditures to the extent possible, as she wished. He himself would eventually be buried at the same tomb, after his death in 649. Events By Place Europe Reccaswinth succeeds his father Chindaswinth as king of the Visigoths.
Notes and references
- ^ 兩千年中西曆轉換
- ^ While historical records clearly state that Lady Gao was Zhangsun Sheng's wife, she might have not been his first wife, as while it was possible that Empress Zhangsun's older brother Zhangsun Anye, who was said to have expelled Zhangsun Wuji and Empress Zhangsun from the Zhangsun household, could have done so merely on pure strength, he might not have otherwise had the authority to do so had his mother not also have been a wife (i. e. , a wife who died prior to Zhangsun Sheng's marriage to Lady Gao) rather than a concubine.
- "Women in power from 500-700" at Guide2womenleaders.com
- Book of Tang, vol. The Book of Tang ( or the Old Book of Tang (舊唐書/旧唐书 is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. 51[1].
- New Book of Tang, vol. The New Book of Tang ( is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi (宋祁 and other official scholars of the 76[2].
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. The Zizhi Tongjian ( was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography. 191, 192, 194.
| Preceded by None (dynasty founded) |
Empress of Tang Dynasty 626-636 |
Succeeded by Empress Wang |
| Preceded by Empress Xiao of Sui Dynasty |
Empress of China (most regions) 626-636 |
|
| Preceded by Empress Cao of Xia |
Empress of China (Hebei) 626-636 |
|
| Preceded by Empress Ju of Dingyang |
Empress of China (Shanxi) 626-636 |
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| Preceded by Empress Ju of Qin |
Empress of China (Eastern Gansu) 626-636 |
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