The "Book of Changes" says: "A man's rightful place is outside, while a woman's is at home; each should maintain their respective position. This is a great principle between heaven and earth." In ancient times, wise monarchs all understood the importance of the institution of concubinage, in accordance with the natural order. Therefore, concubines like Lady Gui and Lady Yu were able to help the monarch achieve greatness. The union of Lady Yi and Lady Ji contributed to the prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty, and the rise and fall of dynasties were all related to this. In the "Spring and Autumn Annals," it is recorded that the emperor had twelve daughters and the feudal lords had nine daughters, which was a well-established system that was hard to alter. However, later on, people became increasingly extravagant and indulgent, pursuing pleasure recklessly, resulting in growing resentment between the sexes, which disrupted social harmony. They prioritized beauty over virtue, causing the decline of social morals and the collapse of order. This is truly a lamentable situation! Ah, those who have a nation and a family should heed this lesson!
The system of the Han Dynasty was that the emperor's paternal grandmother was called the Grand Empress Dowager, the emperor's mother was called the Empress Dowager, the emperor's wife was called the Empress, and the harem concubines were categorized into fourteen different ranks. The Wei Dynasty followed the system of the Han Dynasty, with titles like Empress Dowager and others remaining unchanged, and the ranks below Lady undergoing changes throughout the generations. After the founding of the country by the Taizu Emperor, the title of Queen was introduced, with five ranks below it:
- Lady
- Consort
- Concubine
- Lady of Grace
- Beauty
The Wen Emperor added Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, Graceful Lady, Obedient Lady, and Virtuous Lady. The Ming Emperor added Virtuous Concubine, Consort of Honor, Graceful Consort, and removed the position of Obedient Lady. During the Taihe era, the position of Lady was restored, and her status was elevated above that of Virtuous Consort. Below Lady, there were a total of twelve ranks: Noble Consort and Lady, with a status just below the Empress and no specific title; the status of Virtuous Consort was equivalent to that of a prime minister, holding a rank equivalent to that of a marquis; the status of Concubine was equivalent to that of a Grand Master of Records, ranked as a county duke; Consort was equivalent to a county marquis; Consort of Honor was equivalent to a marquis of a district; Lady of Grace was equivalent to a marquis of a commandery; Graceful Consort was equivalent to a marquis within the passes; Concubine was equivalent to a junior second-rank official; Lady of Beauty was equivalent to a senior second-rank official; Beauty was equivalent to a junior second-rank official; and Lady was equivalent to a first-rank official.
Speaking of Empress Bian, her hometown is Langya Kaiyang, who is the mother of Emperor Wen of Wei. She originally was an actress. When she was twenty, Cao Cao took her as a concubine in Qiao County. Later, she followed Cao Cao to Luoyang. During the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao disguised himself and secretly made his way east to escape the chaos. Yuan Shu even sent people to check on Cao Cao’s well-being. At that time, those around Cao Cao who had followed him to Luoyang wanted to return home. But Empress Bian intervened and said, "We still don't know whether Cao Cao is alive or dead. If we go home today and something happens tomorrow, how will we face him again? Even if trouble comes, we will face it together. What is there to be afraid of?" After hearing her words, everyone stayed. Cao Cao later found out about this and was very pleased. During the Jian'an period, after Lady Ding was deposed, Cao Cao made Empress Bian his official wife. Cao Cao allowed Empress Bian to care for the motherless children. When Emperor Wen became the Crown Prince, the palace attendants came to congratulate Empress Bian, saying, "The General has become the Crown Prince, and everyone is celebrating. You must reward everyone well!" Empress Bian said, "The Emperor chose Pi as the Crown Prince because he is older and suitable as the heir. As long as I can teach him well and he stays out of trouble, that’s all that matters. There's no need for any rewards!" They went back and told Cao Cao, who was very pleased to hear this, saying, "Keeping a straight face when you're angry and staying composed when you're happy is truly admirable!"
After twenty-four years, Lady Bian was elevated to the rank of Queen. The edict read: "Lady Bian has raised her children with the virtues of a good mother. Now being promoted to Queen, the Crown Prince and various nobles attended the ceremony with her, all the courtiers came to pay their respects, and all death row prisoners in the country had their sentences reduced by one degree." The following year, Cao Cao passed away, and Emperor Wen succeeded to the throne, honoring Lady Bian as Queen Dowager. Once he became Emperor, she was further honored as Empress Dowager and lived in Yongshou Palace. Later, Emperor Ming ascended the throne and honored her as Grand Empress Dowager.
During the Huangchu era, Emperor Wen wished to posthumously honor the Queen Dowager's parents. Minister Chen Qun submitted a memorial: "Your Majesty, your virtues are in harmony with heaven, you have received the Mandate of Heaven, have established a foundation, and reformed the system. You should be a role model for future generations. Upon reviewing historical records, there is no system for granting land and titles to women independently. According to ritual and law, a woman's title is dependent on her husband's. The Qin Dynasty violated ancient traditions, and the Han Dynasty followed suit in this regard; these were not the rituals established by the ancient kings!" Emperor Wen said: "This argument is valid, let's not go ahead with the posthumous honors. Instead, draft a decree to be kept as a model for future generations." It was not until the spring of the fourth year of the Taihe era that Emperor Ming posthumously honored the Queen Dowager's grandfather as the Marquis of Kaiyang, her father as the Marquis of Jing, and her grandmother Lady Zhou as the Lady of Yangdu. The Marquis of Jing's wife was also posthumously honored, and all were bestowed with seals and ribbons. In May of that year, Queen Dowager Bian died. In July, she was buried at Gaoling alongside Cao Cao.
At the beginning, the younger brother of the Empress, Zhen Bing, was granted the title of Duke of Duxiang County for his achievements. In the seventh year of Huangchu, he was promoted to Marquis of Kaiyang, with a fief of 1,200 households, and also became General Zhao Lie. After Zhen Bing passed away, his son Zhen Lan inherited the title. Zhen Lan was talented and knowledgeable from a young age, serving as the Imperial Carriage Minister and General of the Guards, and also held the position of Cavalry Attendant. After Zhen Lan's death, his son Zhen Hui inherited the title. Later, a portion of Zhen Bing's title was granted to Zhen Lan's younger brother Zhen Lin, who was made a Marquis and appointed as a Colonel of Foot. Zhen Long's daughter became the Empress of Gaoguang, and Zhen Long was granted the title of Grand Minister of Splendor and promoted, also becoming the Marquis of Suiyang. His wife, Lady Wang, was also granted the title of Lady of Xianyang County. Zhen Lin's daughter became the Empress of Chenliu after Zhen Lin had passed away, and his wife, Lady Liu, was granted the title of Lady of Guangyang.
Empress Zhen, from the Wujie people of Zhongshan, was the mother of Ming Emperor and a descendant of Han Dynasty's Grand Tutor Zhen Han. Their family had been officials of the Second Rank for generations. Her father, Zhen Yi, served as the Magistrate of Shangcai County. Empress Zhen lost her father at the age of three. During a time of great chaos and famine, the common people sold valuable items like gold and silver, while Empress Zhen's family had stored a lot of grain, which they used to buy these items. When Empress Zhen was in her teens, she said to her mother, "The world is in chaos, everyone is buying treasures, but the innocent are unjustly accused of possessing them! And people around us are starving; it's better to share this grain with our relatives and neighbors and accumulate virtue!" The whole family agreed with her and decided to follow her advice.
During the Jian'an era, Yuan Shao's son Yuan Xi married Empress Zhen. Yuan Xi was later assigned to Youzhou, leaving Empress Zhen at home to look after her mother-in-law. After the pacification of Jizhou, Emperor Wen lavished affection on Empress Zhen in Ye City, and they had Emperor Ming and Princess Dongxiang. In January of the first year of Yankang, Emperor Wen became King of Wei, and in June, he went on a southern campaign, leaving Empress Zhen in Ye City. In the tenth month of the first year of Huangchu, Emperor Wen ascended the throne as Emperor. After Emperor Wen ascended the throne, Shan Yang Gong sent his two daughters to the palace to become concubines, and Empress Guo, Lady Li, and Lady Yin were also favored by the Emperor. Empress Zhen increasingly fell out of favor and often voiced her grievances. The Emperor was furious, and in the sixth month of the second year of Huangchu, he ordered her to be put to death and buried in Ye City.
When Emperor Ming ascended the throne, the relevant officials suggested bestowing a posthumous title on the Empress. The Minister of Works, Wang Lang, executed the Emperor's decree to perform sacrifices at the Empress's tomb using the Imperial Sacrificial Offering and built a temple for her.
In the third month of the first year of Taihe, the Empress's brother Wei Yi was posthumously appointed as the respectful marquis, with a fiefdom of one thousand households, and his grandson, Wei Xiang, inherited the title. In the fourth month, work began on the ancestral temple, and a jade seal was unearthed during excavation. The jade seal was one inch and nine fen long, with the inscription "The Emperor yearns for his kindred" on it. Emperor Ming's expression shifted when he saw it, and he quickly offered sacrifices at the ancestral temple. He even dreamt of the Empress, and considering the relationships of her maternal relatives, he appointed them to official positions and rewarded them generously; he also promoted Wei Xiang to the rank of Tiger Elite General. In the same month, the Empress's mother passed away, and Emperor Ming personally attended the funeral in mourning attire, accompanied by members of the court.
In November of the fourth year, due to the low-lying location of the Empress's old tomb, Wei Xiang was dispatched with the Emperor's decree to the city of Ye to report to the Earth God. Then, in December, the Empress's tomb was relocated to Chaoyang Ling. Upon his return, Wei Xiang was promoted to Cavalier in Regular Attendance. In the spring of the second year of Qinglong, the Empress's brother Wei Yan was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Mu of Ancheng Township. In the summer, the Wu army launched an attack on Yangzhou, and Wei Xiang was appointed General of Fubo, leading various generals eastward on an expedition with the Emperor's decree. Upon his return, he was appointed Commandant of Archery. In the third year, Wei Xiang passed away and was posthumously promoted to General of the Guards; the title was changed to Wei Chang County, and he was given the posthumous title of Marquis Zhen. His son Wei Chang inherited his title. He also granted titles to Wei Chang's brothers Wen, Gewei, and Yan as Marquises. In the fourth year, Wei Yi and Wei Yan's original fiefdoms were renamed Wei Chang Marquis, retaining the posthumous title. Wei Yan's wife, Lady Liu, was granted the title of Lady Dongxiang, and Wei Yi's wife, Lady Zhang, was posthumously granted the title of Lady Anxi.
In the summer of the first year of Jingchu, the relevant authorities discussed establishing the sacrificial system for the Seven Temples.
In winter, there were reports submitted that said: "Generally speaking, for an emperor to prosper, in addition to a monarch who is divinely appointed, there also needs to be a wise empress to assist, utilizing the power of the gods, in order for the country to prosper and for the emperor to achieve greatness. In the past, Emperor Ku of the Gaoxin clan was able to govern the world with all four sons of his concubines, which enabled the dynasties of Emperor Zhi, Taotang (Yao), Shang, and Zhou to flourish. The people of the Zhou dynasty traced their lineage back to Houji, offering sacrifices to the Supreme Emperor, which traced back to the dynasty's origins, and tracing their roots back to Jiang Yuan, specifically establishing temples for her, where generations offered sacrifices and enjoyed the offerings, as mentioned in the 'Rites of Zhou': 'Zou Yi Ze, Ge Zhong Lü, Wu Da Huo, Yi Xiang Xian Bi.' The Book of Songs also states: 'In the beginning, there was Jiang Yuan.' This signifies the foundation of royal governance and the origin of the people. The Book of Songs also says: 'The inner palace is full, the outer palace is grand; Jiang Yuan is magnificent, her virtues unwavering.' The Book of Songs and the Rites of Zhou record the prosperity of the Ji clan; their splendor is unparalleled. The prosperity of the Great Wei dynasty inherited the imperial way of Yao and Shun, with three generations being very prosperous, the number of temples was as plentiful as those in the Zhou dynasty. Empress Wu Xuan and Empress Wen De have assisted the emperor in ushering in an era of endless prosperity, while Empress Wen Zhao was truly fulfilling the heavenly mandate, giving birth to a wise and virtuous ruler, benefiting the people, with her virtues spreading throughout the cosmos, establishing a prosperous age for future generations, all thanks to her moral influence. Her temple should be venerated for generations, just like the ancestral temple, establishing a system for its eternal preservation, thereby spreading the virtues of the wise." Therefore, this matter was inscribed on a golden decree alongside the agreement regarding the seven temples, and kept in a golden coffer.
The emperor had always missed his uncle. Chang Shang was young when he was promoted to the position of Captain of the Imperial Guards by the emperor at the end of the Jingchu period. He was also appointed as Cavalier Attendant, and a grand mansion was built specifically for him, which the emperor personally oversaw. Later, a temple was built for his mother in the garden of Chang Shang, named Wei Yang Li to honor his mother. In the third year of Jiaping, Chang Shang died, and the emperor posthumously granted him the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the posthumous title of Duke Gong of Pingyuan; his son Shao inherited his title.
In the sixth year of Taihe, Princess Shu, the most beloved daughter of Emperor Ming, passed away. She was posthumously titled Princess Yi of Pingyuan, and a temple was built for her. Her husband Huang's coffin was moved to be buried with her, and he was posthumously titled Marquis. Princess Shu's husband's cousin, De, inherited the Zhen clan name and was titled Marquis of Pingyuan, inheriting the princess's title. During the Qinglong period, the emperor also granted titles of Marquis to Princess Shu's cousin Yi and his three brothers. Yi repeatedly presented his views on current affairs and rose to the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards. During the Jiaping period, the emperor once again granted titles of Marquis to Chang Shang's other two sons. Later, the emperor's sister's granddaughter became the Queen of Qi. Since her father had passed away, the emperor granted her mother the title of Lady Guangle.
Empress Guo, from Guangzong in Anping, had been local officials for several generations. Her father, Guo Yongqi, used to say when she was a child, "This is the queen among my daughters!" So, she was given the courtesy name "Nü Wang" (Queen). Unfortunately, she lost her parents at a young age and later faced upheaval and displacement during chaotic times, eventually finding herself in the household of the Marquis of Tongdi. When Duke Wei, who would later become Emperor Wen, was the King of Wei, Empress Guo entered the Eastern Palace. She was very intelligent, often offering advice and strategies to Emperor Wen. Later, when Emperor Wen decided on his heir to the throne, Empress Guo also participated in the planning. After Emperor Wen ascended to the throne, Empress Guo was first titled Lady and later promoted to Noble Consort. Empress Guo's rise in favor was linked to the death of Empress Zhen. In the third year of the Huangchu era, Emperor Wen wanted to proclaim Empress Guo as Empress. At this time, General Zhang Qian of the Guards submitted a memorial opposing this decision, saying, "In ancient times, the governance of an empire relies not only on external advisers but also on internal support. The rise and fall of a nation is closely tied to this. Look at the Yellow Emperor and Leizu of the Western Han Dynasty, as well as Ying'e and Guirui, all of whom were wise women and left a lasting legacy. In contrast, Xia Jie indulged in pleasures in Nanchao and eventually perished; King Zhou of Shang engaged in cruel pastimes, favoring Daji, and ultimately perished as well. Thus, a wise monarch must select an empress from a noble and virtuous family to oversee the harem and diligently serve the ancestors, setting a good example and educating the harem. The Book of Changes says, 'When the family is in order, the world is in order.' This is a rule passed down by the ancients! The Spring and Autumn Annals record the murder of King Xia by a concubine, showing that concubines cannot be made legitimate wives. Duke Huan of Qi swore at the Kuiqiu Alliance that 'concubines cannot be made wives.' In the current harem, Noble Consort Guo is favored and her position is second only to the emperor. If she is made empress due to favoritism, allowing a lowly person to suddenly rise to power, I fear this will lead to chaos in the hierarchy, the breakdown of rituals and music, and widespread turmoil!" However, Emperor Wen disregarded his advice and went ahead to proclaim Empress Guo as Empress.
Empress Guo lost her brother at a young age, so she appointed her cousin Guo Yongji to manage her late brother Guo Yong's affairs, and he was granted the title of Attendant Censor. Later, Empress Guo's in-law Liu Fei wanted to marry her daughter to someone from another country. Upon learning this, Empress Guo declared, "All marriages among relatives must be on par with local families and should not exploit power to marry daughters off to people from other countries!" Empress Guo's nephew Meng Wu returned to his hometown wanting to take a concubine, but Empress Guo intervened to stop him. She also instructed all families, "Given the current scarcity of women, they should be married to soldiers, rather than simply seeking any woman as a concubine. Everyone must be careful not to violate the law!"
It is said that when Emperor Xian of Han went on an eastern expedition, the Empress stayed at Yongshi Terrace in Xuchang. During that time, it rained incessantly for over a hundred days, causing significant damage to many buildings. The ministers suggested the Empress move away. The Empress said, "In the past, when King Zhao of Chu went on a trip, Zhen Jiang stayed at Jiandai Terrace. Consequently, the river rose dramatically. When messengers were sent to retrieve her, they failed to bring any token. Zhen Jiang refused to leave and ended up drowning. Now that the Emperor is on a distant expedition, fortunately we have not encountered such a situation. Should we really move just for that? What kind of reasoning is that?" After hearing this, the ministers dared not say anything further.
A few years later, the Emperor went on another eastern expedition to the state of Wu, and the Empress stayed at Qiao Palace. At that time, her father wanted to catch fish by damming the water in the palace. The Empress said, "This water is used to transport food, and there is a shortage of wood nearby. The household servants are absent. If he were to use the official bamboo and wood to build a dam for fishing without permission, that would be unacceptable. With the Emperor away on a military campaign and many shortages arising, do we really need to worry about lacking fish to eat?"
After Emperor Ming ascended to the throne, the Empress was honored as the Empress Dowager and resided in the Yong'an Palace. In the fourth year of Taihe, the Emperor conferred the title of Lord of Anyang Pavilion on Dong, and later elevated his title to Marquis of Xiang, with an additional five hundred households of fiefdom, bringing the total to one thousand households, and appointed him as the General of the Central Leagues. The Empress Dowager's son Dong Xiang was appointed as the Cavalry Captain. That year, the Emperor posthumously honored the Empress Dowager's father as the Respectful Marquis of Anyang Xiang forever, and her mother Dong as the Marquis of Duxiang. The Emperor also promoted him to the General of Zhaode, bestowed upon him the official attire of the Grand Master of the Golden Purple, with a special advancement in rank. His second son Dong Xun was also appointed as the Cavalry Captain. Later, when his mother-in-law passed away, he wished to hold a grand funeral for her and build a shrine, but the Empress Dowager intervened, saying, "Since the great chaos in the world, which tomb has not been dug? It is all because of extravagant burials that lead to misfortune. The tomb of Shouyang can serve as a lesson." In the spring of the third year of Qinglong, the Empress Dowager passed away in Xuchang, and a mausoleum was built according to the standards befitting an Empress. On the day of Gengyin in the third month, she was buried on the west side of Shouyang Mausoleum. The Emperor further elevated his title to the Respectful Marquis of Guanzhen, adding five hundred households of fiefdom, totaling one thousand households. Dong Xiang was also promoted to the Commander of the Cavalry. Four years later, the Emperor posthumously honored Dong as the Respectful Marquis of Guanzhen, and Dong's wife as the Marquis of Tangyang. The Emperor also posthumously honored the Empress Dowager's brother Dong Fu with the title of Marquis of Liangli Pavilion, her younger brother Dong Du as the Marquis of Wucheng Pavilion, and another younger brother Dong Cheng as the Marquis of Xinle Pavilion, sending envoys with imperial edicts and performing sacrifices with the Grand Offering. After the Marquis passed away, his son Dong Xiang succeeded him, and a portion of the Marquis's title was split and granted to Dong Xiang's brother Dong Shu as a Marquis. After Dong Xiang passed away, his son Dong Zhao inherited the title.
Speaking of Empress Dowager Mao, she was from Hanoi. During the Huangchu era, she was selected into the Eastern Palace when Emperor Ming was still the Prince of Pingyuan. She was greatly favored, and she rode in the same carriage as Emperor Ming. After Emperor Ming ascended the throne, she was granted the title of noble consort. In the first year of the Taihe reign, she was made Empress. Her father Dong Jia was appointed Cavalry Commandant, and her brother Dong Zeng became a Junior Official.
Initially, while Emperor Ming was still a prince, he married Lady Yu from Hanoi. After Emperor Ming became Emperor, Lady Yu was not named Empress, and Empress Dowager Bian offered her comfort. Lady Yu said, "The Cao family cannot even stand on their own, and I have never heard of anyone achieving success by taking the righteous path. Therefore, the harem manages internal affairs, while the monarch deals with external matters; this is a complementary principle. If one cannot do well from the beginning, there will be no favorable outcome. I fear that the country will fall, and our ancestral line will be extinguished!" Lady Yu eventually fell out of favor and was sent back to Ye Palace.
Then, her brother Yu Xu rose through the ranks, first becoming the Attendant of Carriages, then the Cavalry Commandant, and Emperor Ming showed him great favor. Before long, Yu Xu was made the Marquis of Boping Township, promoted to Grand Master of Splendor, and eventually became the Commandant of the Imperial Guards. Yu Xu was originally just a carriage and horse worker but suddenly rose to great wealth and nobility. Emperor Ming even had court officials attend banquets at his home. However, he acted quite rudely and foolishly, constantly referring to himself as "the marquis," which was a source of mockery among people at the time. Later, Yu Xu was promoted to the rank of Special Advanced and served as the Supervisor of the Cavalry. In the third year of the Qinglong reign, Yu Xu passed away. Posthumously, he was honored with the title of Grand Master of Splendor, granted the title of Marquis of Anguo, with an additional five hundred households added to his domain, bringing his total to one thousand households. He was posthumously conferred the title "Jiehou." Four years later, his stepmother Xia Shi was posthumously granted the title of Lady of Yewang.
Emperor Ming favored Empress Guo, but over time, his affection for her waned. In the first year of the Jingchu era, Emperor Ming played in the back garden, inviting concubines of talent to sing and dance together, enjoying himself immensely. Empress Guo said, "The empress should also be invited," but Emperor Ming refused. He also prohibited his attendants from spreading the news. Knowing this, Empress Guo asked Emperor Ming the next day if he enjoyed himself in the northern garden the day before. Emperor Ming, realizing that his attendants had leaked the information, executed more than ten people. Finally, Empress Guo was executed, but she was nonetheless granted a posthumous title and buried in Minling. Yu Xu's brother, Yu Zeng, also rose through the ranks, first as a cavalier attendant, then as a commander of the Feathered Forest Tiger Guards and the original Military Agricultural Officer.
Empress Guo of the Ming Dynasty was from Xiping, and her family was among the most distinguished in the Hedong region. In the Huangchu era, her hometown of Xiping experienced a rebellion, which resulted in her being brought into the palace. Later, when Emperor Ming ascended the throne, he favored her greatly and took her as his consort. Her uncle was appointed as a Cavalry Commandant, and her father (maternal uncle) Guo Zhi was appointed as a commander of the Feathered Forest Tiger Guards, reaching high ranks. Emperor Ming was in poor health, and before his death, he designated her as empress.
After Prince Qi ascended the throne, he bestowed the title of Empress Dowager upon Empress Guo and gave her the palace named Yongning Palace to reside in. He also posthumously honored Empress Dowager's father, Man, as the Marquis of Xidu, and allowed her son Guo Jian to inherit the title. Empress Dowager's mother, Du, was also honored as Lady Heyang, showing the elevation of the mother and son. Guo Zhi was promoted to a cavalier attendant and Chief Water Marshal; Guo Li also rose to General of Xuande, and they were both rewarded with titles. Guo De, the older brother of Guo Jian, was raised by Lady Zhen in his childhood. Both Guo De and Guo Jian later became Generals of Peacekeeping, were both ennobled, and were tasked with guarding the imperial palace.
At that time, the three emperors of the Wei Kingdom were still young, and political power was in the hands of the ministers. If those ministers wanted to undertake any significant actions, they had to first ask the Empress Dowager for permission before they could carry it out. Rebels like Guanqiu Jian and Zhong Hui used the name of the Empress Dowager to cover up their crimes. In December of the fourth year of Jingyuan, the Empress Dowager died, and in the second month of the following year, she was buried on the west side of Gaoping Mausoleum.
In summary, while the empress's family in the Wei Kingdom was affluent, they lacked the political influence that the relatives of the Western Han Dynasty wielded in its waning years. It is essential to learn from past experiences and change this situation. Considering the opinions of Chen Qun and Zhang Qian, their insights serve as a model for future emperors and establish sound principles for future generations.
