It is said that when heaven and earth first came into being, yin and yang were distinct, the cosmos found its order, and the ways of ruler and subject as well as husband and wife were naturally established. Only with harmony between yin and yang can all things be created, and only with harmony in the family can the world be governed. This principle applies from the individual to the nation, aligning with heaven and earth; isn't that remarkable! The rise and fall of a nation all depends on this; isn't it serious! Therefore, ancient wise rulers attached great importance to this, rectifying the fundamentals and taking strict precautions. However, those who later inherited the throne rarely truly achieved personal cultivation and family harmony; they were only concerned with enjoying a life of comfort, without considering the affairs of the state. The prosperity or decline of a nation, and its safety or peril, all hinge on this. Therefore, queens like Queen Huang and Queen Ying, their virtues led to the prosperity of the Yu dynasty; Ren Si, as a wife, brought prosperity to the Ji family of the Zhou dynasty; while the likes of Meixi from the Xia dynasty and Daji from the Shang dynasty led to the downfall of the Xia and Shang dynasties; Bao Si and Zhao Ji brought disasters to the Zhou and Han dynasties. Looking back at history, from the Jin dynasty to the Song dynasty, there are countless examples like this. These queens, due to their noble status, succumbed to luxury and excess, rather than being respected for their virtues. They indulged in their behavior, disregarding etiquette and shame, like predatory hawks, and ultimately failed quickly. The later queens, although in high positions, rarely walked a smooth path, mostly repeating the mistakes of their predecessors. The love of the jujube bird mentioned in the Book of Songs has not been seen for a long time; the phenomenon of the mother hen crowing at dawn is happening in various countries. A truly virtuous woman does not fret over sleep; and those women who wear luxurious jewelry rarely inherit the good reputation of their predecessors. We should always remember the lessons of our ancestors and deeply sigh over the events recorded in history. By carefully studying history and examining the present reality, we can understand the key to the rise and fall of a nation, its success and failure; there are simply too many. Therefore, I write this "Biographies of Queens" to serve as a warning for future generations.
Speaking of the harem system of ancient times, the records of the situation before the Xia and Shang dynasties are brief and unclear. It was only after the Duke of Zhou established the system of rites and music that the positions in the harem were formally established. After the Qin and Han dynasties, each subsequent dynasty saw changes in the ranks and positions within the harem, which were recorded in detail in historical texts. From the Qi dynasty and the Liang dynasty onwards, all the way to the Wei dynasty and the Zhou dynasty, the harem system underwent frequent abolitions and the addition of new positions, with significant changes and a lack of uniformity. During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, the ancestral system was completely disregarded, and the titles of empresses and concubines were in disarray, with five of them simply referred to as "Zhonggong." The number of concubines below the rank of empress was even more uncertain.
Emperor Gaozu wanted to change the previous shortcomings and vigorously reorganized the harem, keeping only one empress in the proper position and not allowing other concubines to be favored. However, at that time, the titles and numbers of harem officials had not yet been clearly defined. It was not until the second year of the Kaihuang era that the harem system was officially established, largely based on the "Rites of Zhou" while reducing certain positions. There were three concubines tasked with teaching the harem's four virtues (virtue, speech, appearance, and domestic skills), holding ranks equivalent to the third rank. There were nine noble consorts responsible for receiving guests and performing rituals, holding ranks equivalent to the fifth rank. There were thirty-eight female attendants responsible for managing the female artisans in the harem, holding ranks equivalent to the seventh rank. In addition, referring to the old practices of the Han and Jin dynasties, six departments, six offices, and six agencies were established to oversee the management of harem affairs.
The six officials are as follows: 1. Chief Palace Lady, responsible for guiding the empress in and out, managing the diet of the concubines in the palace; overseeing three officials responsible for managing records and regulations, tasked with inspection and reporting; three stewards, in charge of managing seals, utensils, and toys. 2. Chief of Ceremonies, responsible for etiquette and education; overseeing three ceremonial attendants, in charge of music; three commendations, responsible for guiding the internal and external ladies to court. 3. Chief of Attire and Accessories, responsible for managing clothing and treasures; overseeing three adorners, in charge of managing headwear, earrings, flowers, etc.; three combers, in charge of managing handkerchiefs, combs, perfumes, etc. 4. Chief of Cuisine, responsible for preparing meals and tasting dishes; overseeing three medical officers responsible for healthcare and divination; three utensil keepers, in charge of managing wine and tableware. 5. Chief of Sleeping Quarters, responsible for managing the bed curtains and bedding in the sleeping palace; overseeing three chamber attendants responsible for setting up and cleaning; three attendants, in charge of managing fans, umbrellas, candles, etc. 6. Chief of Construction, responsible for managing construction and various affairs in the palace; overseeing three seamstresses, in charge of cutting and sewing clothes; three property officers responsible for managing the entry and exit of palace property. Each of the six officials has three people, equivalent to the ninth rank; the six ministries are equivalent to the rank of nobility; the six commendations are equivalent to the rank of second-class nobility. Initially, Empress Wenxian, due to her significant contributions, took part in court affairs and had sole control over the harem. Feeling jealous, she intentionally left the positions of concubines empty, did not establish the three consorts, to prevent them from threatening her own position. At that time, there were only sixty concubines beneath the empress. Moreover, the ranks and quantity of clothing were also diminished, further reducing their status. After the death of Empress Wenxian, three noblewomen were appointed, the number of concubines rose to nine, the number of court ladies increased to twenty-seven, and the number of female attendants increased to eighty-one. The noblewomen were tasked with overseeing the affairs of the harem, and all officials beneath the six chiefs fell under their authority.
During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the concubines in the imperial harem had little to no real responsibilities other than dressing up beautifully and accompanying the emperor in his feasting and revelry. The emperor would reference past stories, come up with pleasing names, and then order their official use.
The Guifei, Shufei, and Defei were the "Three Noble Consorts," the highest-ranking among them. There were nine Shunyi, Shunrong, Shunhua, Xiuyi, Xiurong, Xiuhua, Chongyi, Chongrong, and Chonghua, holding the second highest rank. There were twelve Jieyu, holding the third rank; there were fifteen Meiren and Cairen, holding the fourth rank, all classified as "Concubines." There were twenty-four Baolin, holding the fifth rank; there were twenty-four Yunu, holding the sixth rank; there were thirty-seven Cainu, holding the seventh rank, all referred to as "Female Attendants."
In total, there were one hundred and twenty concubines, tasked with accompanying the emperor in his feasting and revelry. In addition, there were many palace maids responsible for serving, with no specific count, all ranked below the sixth.
It is said that the court had newly established a group of female officials under the authority of the Ministry of Personnel, divided into six bureaus, each bureau overseeing several departments, amounting to a total of twenty-four offices.
The first was the Shanggong Bureau, which oversaw the Siyan (responsible for conveying memorials), Sibu (responsible for personnel registration and statistics), Sizheng (responsible for rules and regulations and punishments), and Siwei (responsible for the palace gates and keys).
The second was the Shangyi Bureau, which oversaw the Siji (responsible for teaching classics and managing stationery), Sile (responsible for music), Sibin (responsible for receiving guests), and Sizan (responsible for etiquette and guidance).
The third was the Shangfu Bureau, which oversaw the Sixi (responsible for jade seals and symbols), Siyi (responsible for clothing), Sishi (responsible for bathing supplies and toys), and Sizhang (responsible for weapons and guards).
The fourth was the Shangshi Bureau, which oversaw the Sishan (responsible for meals), Siniang (responsible for brewing and seasonings), Siyao (responsible for medicine), and Siji (responsible for food and firewood).
The fifth is the Department of Imperial Affairs, which oversees Sishe, responsible for bedding, curtains, and cleaning; Siyu, responsible for carriages, umbrellas, and ceremonial regalia; Siyuan, in charge of gardening, as well as fruits and vegetables; and Siling, which manages lighting. The sixth is the Shanggong Bureau, in charge of Sizhi, responsible for construction and tailoring; Sibao, responsible for gold, silver, jewelry, and finances; Sicai, responsible for silk; and Sizhi, responsible for spinning and dyeing. These six bureaus have a total of twenty-two departments, with each department generally having two people, except for the Sile and Sishan departments, each with four people. Each department also has a head and an assistant to handle affairs. The directors of the six bureaus, also known as the six Shang, have a rank of fifth-grade official; the heads of the twenty-two departments have a rank of sixth-grade official; the heads have a rank of seventh-grade official; the assistants hold a rank of ninth-grade official. Female attendants are not part of the official structure, and the number varies based on departmental workload, typically around ten, but not fixed. In short, everyone performs their duties in an orderly manner.
Empress Du Hu hailed from Luoyang in Henan. Her father was the Grand Marshal of the Zhou Dynasty and Duke Xin of Henan. Her father saw Yang Jian (Emperor Gaozu) as a man of great potential, so he married her off to Yang Jian when she was just fourteen. The empress and Yang Jian shared a strong bond, vowing to have children solely with her. The empress was gentle and obedient from the beginning, respectful to her in-laws, and a good wife. Her sister was the Empress of Emperor Ming of Zhou, and her daughter was the Empress of Emperor Xuan of Zhou. The family's influence was considerable, yet she remained humble and prudent, and everyone thought she was virtuous.
Following the death of Emperor Xuan of Zhou, Yang Jian took control of the government. The empress dispatched a messenger to inform him, "Things have developed to this point, like riding a wild beast; there's no turning back now; you must press on!" Later, Yang Jian became emperor and made her empress.
The Turks once traded with China and possessed a box of pearls valued at eight million. The governor of Youzhou, Yin Shou, wanted to buy this box of pearls for the queen. The queen said, "I don't need this. Now the barbarians often invade, and the soldiers are all very hardworking. It's better to reward these eight million to those soldiers who have made contributions." All the officials came to congratulate her. Yang Jian loved and respected her very much. Every time Yang Jian went to court, the queen would ride with him to the palace, stopping only at the palace gate. She had eunuchs discreetly observe the emperor, and if the emperor made any mistakes in handling political affairs, she would advise him promptly and assist the emperor in many beneficial endeavors. Every night after the emperor left the court, she would return to their chambers with the emperor, and both of them were very happy.
The queen lost her parents at an early age and always missed them. When she noticed ministers with living parents, she would always take the initiative to greet them. According to the rules of the Zhou Dynasty, it was suggested that the queen should confer titles on the wives of the officials, and the ancient system should be followed. The queen said, "Allowing women to engage in politics may gradually set a troubling precedent, and we cannot set this precedent." So she did not agree. The queen often warned the princesses, "Most of the princesses of the Zhou Dynasty lacked proper virtue, were disrespectful to their in-laws, and had poor relationships with their siblings. These are all undesirable traits, and you must take heed of them."
The Grand Commandant Cui Changren was a relative of the queen and committed a crime punishable by death. Yang Jian wanted to spare him because of his relationship with the queen. The queen said, "How can national affairs be considered in light of personal feelings!" Cui Changren was ultimately executed. The queen's half-brother Tuo used witchcraft to curse the queen and was condemned to death. The queen did not eat for three days and pleaded for her brother, saying, "If Tuo has done something harmful to the country and the people, I dare not plead for him. But he is sentenced to death only because of me, so I request mercy for him." As a result, Tuo received a commuted sentence. The queen often discussed political affairs with the emperor, and their opinions were often the same. Those in the palace referred to them as the "Two Saints."
Speaking of the queen, she usually appears quite merciful, and every time she hears about the sentencing in the Dali Temple, she can't help shedding tears. However, she is inherently very jealous! No one in the harem dares to approach the emperor. Later, the exceptionally beautiful granddaughter of Wei Chi Jiong first served in the palace. When the emperor saw her in the Ren Shou Palace, he immediately liked her and permitted her to sleep with him. The queen secretly had Wei Chi Jiong's granddaughter killed while the emperor was in court. The emperor was furious, riding a horse alone, rushing out of the Imperial Garden, avoiding the main road and heading straight into the valley, walking more than twenty miles. Gao Jiong, Yang Su, and others caught up with the emperor, desperately trying to advise him. The emperor sighed and said, "As the emperor, I have no freedom!" The emperor felt a bit better, halted for a long while, and only returned to the palace in the middle of the night. The queen awaited his return in the palace. When the emperor returned, the queen wept and begged for forgiveness, while Gao Jiong, Yang Su, and others advised for reconciliation on the side. The emperor threw a banquet, and everyone drank happily. From then on, the queen's influence gradually diminished.
At first, the queen was quite good to Gao Jiong because he was a friend of her father's, and she respected him. However, this time, when she heard that Gao Jiong said she was just a woman, the queen began to resent him. Furthermore, with Gao Jiong's wife dead and his concubine giving birth to a son, the queen disliked him even more and began to constantly undermine him. The emperor listened to the queen's every word. Whenever the queen noticed a prince or minister's concubine was pregnant, she advised the emperor to drive them away. At that time, the crown prince had many favored concubines, and the crown princess, Yuan Shi, died suddenly. The queen suspected that Yun Shi, the crown prince's favored concubine, was responsible for her death. Therefore, the queen urged the emperor to dismiss Gao Jiong, and ultimately deposed the crown prince and appointed Prince Jin Guang as his replacement, all of which were the queen's ideas.
In the second year of the Renshou era, in the eighth month of the Jiazi cycle, four halos appeared around the moon. On the day of Jisi, Venus was in conjunction with the Xuanyuan star. That night, the Empress passed away at Yong'an Palace at the age of fifty years. She was buried in Tailing. Later, both Lady Xuanhua Chen and Lady Ronghua Cai gained the Emperor's favor, who became infatuated with them, which ultimately led to his illness. On his deathbed, the Emperor said to his attendants, "If the Empress were here, I wouldn't be in this state." Lady Xuanhua Chen, the daughter of Emperor Chen Xuan, was born intelligent and exceptionally beautiful. After the fall of the Chen dynasty, she was placed in the imperial harem and later selected as a concubine. At that time, Empress Dugu was especially jealous, and very few concubines were granted the opportunity to spend the night with the Emperor, with only Lady Chen enjoying his exclusive favor. While in his fiefdom, Prince Jin Yang Guang secretly planned to seize the throne and wanted Lady Chen to act as his informant, frequently sending her gifts to win her favor. Lady Chen played a crucial role during the pivotal moment of the Crown Prince's deposition. After the passing of Empress Wenxian, Lady Chen was elevated to the rank of noblewoman, favored in the harem, overseeing harem affairs, and far surpassing the other concubines. Later, on his deathbed, the Emperor posthumously conferred upon her the title of Lady Xuanhua.
When the emperor fell ill in the Renshou Palace, Lady Chen and the Crown Prince took care of him. One morning, Lady Chen went out to change clothes and was pressured by the Crown Prince, but she firmly resisted and managed to escape, returning to the emperor's side. The emperor noticed her troubled expression and asked her what had happened. Lady Chen cried and said, "The Crown Prince disrespected me." The emperor was furious: "How can I trust such a beast with important matters? Empress Dugu has truly misled me!" He was referring to Empress Dugu. He then summoned Liu Shu, the Minister of War, and Yuan Yan, the Chamberlain for Ceremonial, and said, "Go and summon my son!" Liu Shu and Yuan Yan were about to summon the Crown Prince when the emperor added, "Hurry!" Liu Shu and Yuan Yan left the palace to write an edict, then showed the edict to Yang Su, the Minister of Works. Yang Su told the Crown Prince about this, and the Crown Prince sent Zhang Heng to the sleeping quarters, ordering Lady Chen and the other attendants to move to another room. Not long after, news of the emperor's death spread, but the mourning period had not yet started. Lady Chen and the other palace ladies looked at each other and said, "This is bad!" All of them turned pale and trembled with fear. In the evening, the Crown Prince sent a golden box with a handwritten note attached, as a reward for Lady Chen. Lady Chen was shocked and fearful, suspecting it might be poison, so she did not dare to open it. The messenger urged her, and she finally opened the box to find several interlocking hearts inside. The other palace ladies rejoiced and said to one another, "We have escaped death!" However, Lady Chen sat there in anger, refusing to thank him. The other palace ladies persuaded her together, and she finally thanked the messenger. That night, the Crown Prince forced himself on her. After Yang Guang ascended the throne as Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Lady Chen was assigned to live in Xian Du Palace. More than a year later, she was summoned back to the palace and soon passed away at the age of twenty-nine years. Emperor Yang of Sui was deeply saddened and even composed a eulogy for her.
Lady Cai Ronghua was from Danyang. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, she was selected to enter the palace and became the emperor's consort. Beautiful and gentle, the emperor was very satisfied with her. Due to her connection with Empress Wenxian (referring to the Empress of Sui Wen Emperor), she initially received little favor from the emperor. It was only after Empress Wenxian passed away that she gradually gained favor, was granted the title of noblewoman, and was involved in handling palace affairs, holding a status comparable to that of Consort Chen. When the emperor fell ill, she was subsequently granted the title of "Lady Ronghua." After the emperor's death, she actively requested to participate in politics and was later taken as a concubine by Emperor Yang of Sui...
Empress Xiao was the daughter of Liang Ming Emperor Xiao Kui. According to Jiangnan customs, children born in the second month are considered unlucky and should not be raised. Empress Xiao was born in the second month, so her uncle Xiao Ji adopted her. Not long after, both Xiao Ji and his wife died, and Empress Xiao was transferred to the care of her uncle Zhang Ke. Zhang Ke's family was very poor, and Empress Xiao displayed remarkable diligence from a young age. When Emperor Yang was still the Prince of Jin at that time, Emperor Wen of Sui wanted to choose a consort for the Prince of Jin. There were many young ladies from the Liang Kingdom, all of whom had their fortunes told, but none were deemed suitable. Xiao Kui brought Empress Xiao out from her uncle's house, had her fortune read by a diviner, who deemed it "auspicious." As a result, Empress Xiao became the consort of the Prince of Jin.
Empress Xiao had a gentle and compliant nature, as well as intelligence and insight. She enjoyed learning, could write articles, and even had some knowledge of astronomy and calendars. Emperor Wen of Sui lavished her with love and respect. After becoming emperor, Emperor Wen issued a decree stating, "I have inherited the legacy of my ancestors and must follow their customs. I now wish to appoint an empress to continue the ancestral rites. Empress Xiao, well-educated from a young age and possessing virtue, should be appointed as empress to enhance the moral fabric of the palace." The emperor always brought the empress along on his excursions. Later, the empress noticed the emperor's increasing corruption, and while she recognized this was wrong, she felt too intimidated to speak up. Instead, she penned a piece titled "Description of Aspirations" to convey her innermost feelings. In the piece, she wrote:
Thanks to the accumulated virtues of my ancestors, I have been able to serve in the imperial palace. I worry that I will not be able to establish a name for myself and will disappoint the expectations of my ancestors. Therefore, I work diligently day and night, with utmost dedication, never daring to slack off. Despite my efforts, I still feel my own foolishness and inadequacy. I yearn to serve my country, yet my limited abilities make it difficult to reach my aspirations. I am indeed ordinary and mediocre, yet I have been blessed with such great favor. This is all thanks to heaven's grace and the era of peace we live in. The world revolves, the sun and moon alternate, all things grow, and glory fades. I aspire to be diligent and frugal, constantly on guard against arrogance and extravagance. Who would have thought that contentment leads to happiness? Who does not desire fame and fortune? Only the highest virtues can be profound and broad, not swayed by worldly temptations. I cherish the kindness of the past and hope to be valued once again. Although promoted beyond my abilities by the emperor, I feel inadequate and incapable. The favor and position I hold exceed my capabilities, leaving me anxious and lost. I acutely feel my lack of talent and knowledge, which hinders my ability to be virtuous. I truly do not know what to do or how to find peace. I feel like I'm walking a tightrope, always on edge and chilled to the bone. Holding a high position brings danger, so I must be vigilant. I know boasting and praise are not the way; I must strive to remain calm and composed. Honor and disgrace change easily, so I should be humble and true to my goals, simply wanting to live quietly. The luxury of pearl curtains and golden houses, though worldly pursuits, do not interest me. Ashamed of my mediocrity, how could I indulge in worldly pleasures? I understand the value of virtues and know good and evil come from within. I have set aside worldly distractions to immerse myself in studying history and classics. I look to the examples of virtuous women from ancient times to guide my behavior, hoping to have a long and prosperous life. I often reflect on myself, acknowledging my shortcomings and past mistakes. I do not believe in the passive ideals of the Huang-Lao school; I believe in doing good and accumulating virtues. I study the customs of the Zhou and Xia dynasties, praising the virtue of Yu Fei. I admire the noble talents of the sages, respecting their high moral standards. My abilities are limited, making it hard to follow in their footsteps, yet I remain calm and happy, undisturbed. I have lived with integrity and honor, following the principles of propriety and righteousness. Though I may be dull-witted, I will work hard to accumulate merits and achieve benevolence. I fear there are too few people like me, unsure how to express my thoughts. My aspirations are difficult to articulate, akin to a final masterpiece that remains elusive.
Second paragraph:
I have always been upright, following the principles of propriety and righteousness. Although my natural talents are not exceptional, I hope to cultivate my character through good deeds. I struggle to express my ambitions, and my true thoughts are difficult to convey, as rare as the mythical Qilin.
When the emperor went to Jiangdu, the ministers turned against the emperor. A palace maid told the empress, "Everyone outside is saying that everyone is going to rebel." The empress said, "You can go report it." The palace maid informed the emperor about this, and the emperor was furious, saying, "Those are not words to be spoken!" and had the palace maid executed. Later, another palace maid told the empress, "The guards responsible for protecting the emperor often whisper about rebelling in private." The empress said, "The situation has reached this point; there's no turning back now. What's the point of saying it? It will only make the emperor more worried." After that, no one dared to speak up again.
When Yuwen Shi rebelled, the empress followed the army to Liaocheng. The war failed, and the empress was trapped in Dou Jiande's territory. The Turkic leader Chuluo sent people to welcome the empress in Mingzhou, and Dou Jiande dared not keep her, so the empress sought refuge with the Turks. In the fourth year of the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, Tang defeated the Turks, and the empress was returned with all due honors to the capital.
The historian said: Both empresses married the emperor before he ascended the throne, and their love and harmony never wavered until the end. Empress Wenxian and Empress Xiao had very different intentions. Empress Wenxian was the emperor's favorite and even had the crown prince deposed, which is such a shame! The "Book of Documents" says: "When a hen crows, the family is about to be ruined." There's a reason Gaozu couldn't keep the family together. When Empress Xiao first came to the palace, she had hopes of helping the emperor and doing good. But Emperor Yang ignored all advice, believing that no one could be trusted. If there's distrust between father and son, what can we expect between husband and wife? When the country falls, families are torn apart, and there's nowhere to turn, wandering in a strange land, it's just heartbreaking!
