1
齊武明皇后婁氏蠕蠕公主郁久閭氏彭城太妃爾硃氏小爾硃氏上党太妃韓氏馮翊太妃鄭氏高陽太妃游氏馮娘李娘文襄敬皇后元氏琅邪公主文宣皇后李氏段昭儀王嬪薛嬪
Qi Wuming Empress Lou; Princess Rouran Yujiulü; Pengcheng Grand Consort Erzhu; Young Erzhu; Shangdang Grand Consort Han; Fengyi Grand Consort Zheng; Gaoyang Grand Consort You; Lady Feng; Lady Li; Wenxiang Jing Empress Yuan; Princess of Langye; Wenxuan Empress Li; Duan zhaoyi; Lady Wang pin; Lady Xue pin
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孝昭皇后元氏武成皇后胡氏弘德李夫人後主皇后斛律氏後主皇后胡氏後主皇后穆氏馮淑妃周文皇后元氏文宣皇后叱奴氏
Xiaozhao Empress Yuan; Wucheng Empress Hu; Hongde Lady Li; Later Lord Empress Helü; Later Lord Empress Hu; Later Lord Empress Mu; Consort Feng; Zhou Wen Empress Yuan; Wuxuan Empress Chinu
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孝閔皇后元氏明敬皇后獨孤氏武成皇后阿史那氏武皇后李氏宣皇后楊氏宣皇后硃氏宣皇后陳氏宣皇后元氏宣皇后尉遲氏
Xiaomin Empress Yuan; Mingjing Empress Dugu; Wucheng Empress Ashina; Wu Empress Li; Xuan Empress Yang; Xuan Empress Zhu; Xuan Empress Chen; Xuan Empress Yuan; Xuan Empress Yuchi
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靜皇后司馬氏隋文獻皇后獨孤氏宣華夫人陳氏容華夫人蔡氏煬湣皇后蕭氏
Jing Empress Sima; Sui Wenxian Empress Dugu; Xuanhua Lady Chen; Ronghua Lady Cai; Yang Min Empress Xiao
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北朝齊
Northern Qi
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齊武明皇后婁氏，諱昭君，贈司徒內幹之女也。 少明悟，強族多娉之，並不肯行。 及見神武城上執役，驚曰：「此真吾夫也。」 乃使婢通意，又數致私財，使以娉己，父母不得已而許焉。 神武既有澄清之志，傾產以結英豪，密謀秘策，後恆參預。 及拜勃海王妃，閫闈之事悉決焉。
Qi Wuming Empress Lou, taboo name Zhaojun, was daughter of Inner Director of the Masters of Works Lou, posthumously minister of state. In youth she was bright and penetrating; powerful clans many betrothed her—she all refused to go. When she saw Shenwu holding tools on the wall, she was startled, "This is truly my husband. She had a maid convey her intent, and several times sent private wealth to have him betroth her; her parents had no choice but to consent. When Shenwu had the will to clarify the realm, he poured out his estate to bind heroes; secret plots and strategies—she afterward always took part. When he was made Princess of Bohai, inner-gate affairs were all decided by her.
7
後高明嚴斷，雅遵儉約，往來外舍，侍從不過十人。 性寬厚，不妒忌，神武姬侍咸加恩待。 神武嘗將西討出師，後夜孿生一男一女，左右以危急，請追告神武。 後弗聽，曰：「王出統大兵，何得以我故輕離軍幕？ 死生命也，來復何為。」 神武聞之，嗟歎良久。 沙苑敗後，侯景屢言請精騎二萬，必能取之。 神武悅，以告於後。 後曰：「若如其言，豈有還理？ 得獺失景，亦有何利。」 乃止。 神武逼於蠕蠕，欲娶其女而未決。 後曰：「國家大計，願不疑也。」 及蠕蠕公主至，後避正室處之，神武愧而拜謝焉。 曰：「彼將有覺，願絕勿顧。」 慈愛諸子，不異己出，躬自紡績，人賜一袍一褲。 手縫戎服，以帥左右。 弟昭以功名自達，其餘親屬，未嘗為請爵位，每言有材當用，義不以私亂公。
Later Gaoming was stern and decisive, always following frugality; coming and going to outer quarters, attendants did not exceed ten. By nature tolerant and not jealous, all Shenwu's concubines she favored and treated. Shenwu once was about to campaign west; that night the empress bore twin boy and girl; attendants because of danger asked to chase and tell Shenwu. The empress would not listen, saying, "The king goes to command great armies—how can he lightly leave the camp tent for my sake? Death and life are fate—what use to come back? When Shenwu heard, he sighed long. After defeat at Shawei, Hou Jing repeatedly asked for twenty thousand elite cavalry and was sure he could take them. Shenwu was pleased and told the empress. The empress said, "If it were as he says, would there be any return? Gain otter, lose Jing—what profit is there? He stopped. Shenwu, pressed by Rouran, wished to marry their daughter but had not decided. The empress said, "For the state's great plan, I hope you will not doubt. When the Rouran princess arrived, the empress yielded the principal chamber to her; Shenwu was ashamed and bowed in apology. She said, "She will notice—please cut off all regard. She loved all sons as if her own, personally spinning; each person was given one robe and one pair of trousers. She hand-stitched military dress to lead attendants. Younger brother Zhao achieved merit and office himself; other kin never asked for ranks—she always said if there was talent it should be used; righteousness does not let private feeling disorder public affairs.
8
文襄嗣位，進為太妃。 文宣將受魏禪，後固執不許，帝所以中止。 天保初，尊為皇太后，宮曰宣訓。 濟南即位，尊為太皇太后。 尚書令楊愔等受遺詔輔政，疏忌諸王。 太皇太后密與孝昭及諸大將定策誅之，下令廢立。 孝昭即位，復為皇太后。 孝昭崩，太后又下詔立武成帝。 大寧二年春，太后寢疾，衣忽自舉，用巫媼言，改姓石氏。 四月辛丑，崩于北宮，時年六十二。 五月甲申，合葬義平陵。
When Wenxiang succeeded, she was advanced to grand consort. Wenxuan was about to receive Wei abdication; the empress firmly would not permit—therefore the emperor stopped. At the beginning of Tianbao she was honored empress dowager; palace called Xuanyi. When Jinan took the throne, she was honored grand empress dowager. Director of the Masters of Writing Yang Yin and others received the deathbed edict to assist government and were suspicious of the princes. Grand Empress Dowager secretly with Xiaozhao and great generals fixed a plan to execute them and issued orders to depose and establish. When Xiaozhao took the throne, she again became empress dowager. When Xiaozhao died, the empress dowager again issued an edict to establish Wucheng. In the second year of Daning spring, the empress dowager was ill; clothes suddenly lifted themselves; following a witch's words, she changed surname to Shi. On the day xinchou of the fourth month she died in the North Palace, age sixty-two. On the day jiashen of the fifth month she was buried jointly at Yiping Tomb.
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太后凡孕六男二女，皆感夢。 孕文襄則夢一斷龍； 孕文宣則夢大龍，首尾屬天地，張口動目，勢狀驚人； 孕孝昭則夢蠕龍於地； 孕武成則夢龍浴於海； 孕魏二後，並夢月入懷； 孕襄城、博陵二王，夢鼠入衣下。 後未崩，有童謠曰：「九龍母死不作孝。」 及後崩，武成不改服，緋袍如故。 未幾，登三台，置酒作樂； 宮女進白袍，帝怒，投諸台下。 和士開請止樂，帝大怒，撾之。 帝于昆季，次實九，蓋其征驗也。
The empress in all bore six sons and two daughters—all from dreams. When pregnant with Wenxiang she dreamed of a broken dragon; when pregnant with Wenxuan she dreamed of a great dragon, head and tail joining Heaven and Earth, mouth open and eyes moving, form terrifying; when pregnant with Xiaozhao she dreamed of a writhing dragon on the ground; when pregnant with Wucheng she dreamed of a dragon bathing in the sea; when pregnant with the two Wei empresses, both dreamed the moon entered the bosom; when pregnant with the Princes of Xiangcheng and Boling, dreamed a rat entered under the clothes. Before the empress died, a children's song said, "Nine dragons' mother dies—no mourning made. When the empress died, Wucheng did not change dress—crimson robe as before. Before long he ascended the Three Terraces, set wine and made music; a palace woman presented a white robe; the emperor was angry and threw it below the terrace. He Shikai asked to stop the music; the emperor greatly angered and beat him. Among the emperor's brothers he was actually ninth—this was its omen.
10
蠕蠕公主者，蠕蠕主郁久閭阿那瑰女也。 蠕蠕強盛，與西魏通和，欲連兵東伐。 神武病之，令杜弼使蠕蠕，為世子求婚。 阿那瑰曰：「高王自娶則可。」 神武猶豫，尉景與武明皇后及文襄並勸請，乃從之。 武定三年，使慕容儼往娉之，號曰蠕蠕公主。 八月，神武迎於下館，阿那瑰使其弟禿突佳來送女，且報聘，仍戒曰：「待見外孫，然後返國。」 公主性嚴毅，一生不肯華言。 神武嘗有病，不得往公主所，禿突佳怨恚，神武自射堂輿疾就公主。 其見將護如此。 神武崩，文襄從蠕蠕國法，蒸公主，產一女焉。
The Rouran princess was daughter of Rouran lord Yujiulü Anagui. Rouran was strong and made peace with Western Wei, wishing to join forces and campaign east. Shenwu was troubled; he sent Du Bi to Rouran to betroth the heir. Anagui said, "If High King marries her himself, it may be done. Shenwu hesitated; Wei Jing with Wuming Empress and Wenxiang all urged—then he followed. In the third year of Wuding he sent Murong Yan to betroth her; title Princess Rouran. In the eighth month Shenwu welcomed her at the lower lodge; Anagui sent his younger brother Tutuqi to escort the girl and return the betrothal gift, also admonishing, "Wait until you see the grandson, then return home. The princess was stern and resolute; all her life she would not speak Chinese. Shenwu once was ill and could not go to the princess's place; Tutuqi resented it; Shenwu from the archery hall took illness and went to the princess. Such was how he was seen to protect her. When Shenwu died, Wenxiang followed Rouran custom and took the princess in union; she bore a daughter.
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彭城太妃爾硃氏，榮之女，魏孝莊後也。 神武納為別室，敬重逾于婁妃，見必束帶，自稱下官。 神武迎蠕蠕公主還，爾硃氏迎于木井北，與蠕蠕公主前後別行，不相見。 公主引角弓仰射翔鴟，應弦而落； 妃引長弓斜射飛烏，亦一發而中。 神武喜曰：「我此二婦，並堪擊賊。」 後為尼，神武為起佛寺。 天保初，為太妃。 及文宣狂酒，將無禮於太妃，太妃不從，遂遇禍。
Pengcheng Grand Consort Erzhu was Rong's daughter, empress of Wei Xiaozhuang. Shenwu took her as a separate chamber; respect exceeded Consort Lou; on meeting he always girded his belt and called himself subordinate official. When Shenwu welcomed the Rouran princess back, Erzhu met her north of Mujing; with the Rouran princess they traveled one before and one after, not meeting. The princess drew a horn bow and shot upward at a soaring hawk—it fell at the bowstring's release; the consort drew a long bow and shot obliquely at a flying crow—also one shot and hit. Shenwu joyfully said, "My two wives are both fit to strike bandits. Later she became a nun; Shenwu built a Buddhist temple for her. At the beginning of Tianbao she was grand consort. When Wenxuan in mad wine would be without ritual toward the grand consort, she would not yield and met disaster.
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小爾硃者，兆之女也。 初為建明皇后。 神武納之，生任城王。 未幾，與趙郡公琛私通，徙於靈州。 後適范陽盧景璋。
Young Erzhu was Zhao's daughter. At first she was Jianming empress. Shenwu took her in; she bore Prince of Rencheng. Before long she privately communicated with Duke of Zhao Chen and was moved to Lingzhou. Later she married Lu Jingzhang of Fanyang.
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上党太妃韓氏，軌之妹也。 神武微時欲娉之，軌母不許。 及神武貴，韓氏夫已死，乃納之。
Shangdang Grand Consort Han was younger sister of Gui. When Shenwu was slight in status he wished to betroth her; Gui's mother did not permit. When Shenwu was noble, Han's husband had died—then he took her in.
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馮翊太妃鄭氏，名大車，嚴祖妹也。 初為魏廣平王妃。 遷鄴後，神武納之，寵冠後庭，生馮翊王潤。 神武之征劉蠡升，文襄蒸於大車。 神武還，一婢告之，二婢為證。 神武杖文襄一百而幽之，武明後亦見隔絕。 時彭城爾硃太妃有寵，生王子浟，神武將有廢立意。 文襄求救于司馬子如。 子如來朝，偽為不知者，請武明後。 神武告其故。 子如曰：「消難亦奸子如妾，如此事，正可覆蓋。 妃是王結髮婦，常以父母家財奉王，王在懷朔被杖，背無完皮，妃晝夜供給看瘡。 後避葛賊，同走并州。 貧困，然馬屎，自作靴，恩義何可忘？ 夫婦相宜，女配至尊，男承大業，又婁領軍勳，何宜搖動？ 一女子如草芥，況婢言不必信。」 神武因使子如鞫之。 子如見文襄，尤之曰：「男兒何意畏威自誣？」 因教二婢反辭，脅告者自縊，乃啟神武曰：「果虛言。」 神武大悅，召後及文襄。 武明後遙見神武，一步一叩頭。 文襄且拜且進，父子夫妻相泣，乃如初。 神武乃置酒曰：「全我父子者，司馬子如。」 賜之黃金百三十斤，文襄贈良馬五十匹。
Fengyi Grand Consort Zheng, name Dache, was younger sister of Yanzu. At first she was consort of Wei Prince of Guangping. After moving to Ye, Shenwu took her in; favor topped the rear court; she bore Prince of Fengyi Run. When Shenwu campaigned against Liu Liesheng, Wenxiang violated Dache. When Shenwu returned, one maid reported it; two maids were witnesses. Shenwu beat Wenxiang a hundred strokes and confined him; Wuming Empress was also cut off. At the time Pengcheng Erzhu Grand Consort had favor and bore Prince You; Shenwu had intent to depose. Wenxiang sought rescue from Sima Ziru. Ziru came to court, feigning ignorance, and requested Wuming Empress. Shenwu told him the reason. Ziru said, "Xiaonan also violated Ziru's concubine—such matters should simply be covered. The consort is the king's hair-bound wife; she always used her parents' house wealth to serve the king; when the king at Huaishuo was beaten, his back had no whole skin—the consort day and night supplied and tended the sores. Later avoiding Ge bandits, together fleeing to Bingzhou. In poverty they ate horse dung; she made boots herself—how can such grace be forgotten? Husband and wife suit each other; the woman matches supreme honor, the man inherits great enterprise—also Lou the commander-in-chief's merit—why should it be shaken? One woman is like grass; moreover the maids' words need not be believed. Shenwu therefore had Ziru interrogate. Ziru saw Wenxiang and reproached him, "What meaning has a man to fear authority and falsely accuse himself? He taught the two maids to reverse their testimony, coerced the accuser to hang herself, then reported to Shenwu, "It was truly empty words." Shenwu greatly rejoiced and summoned the empress and Wenxiang. Wuming Empress from afar saw Shenwu—one step one knock of the head. Wenxiang both bowed and advanced; father, son, husband and wife wept together—then as at first. Shenwu then set wine, "He who preserved me father and son was Sima Ziru. He granted him one hundred thirty jin of yellow gold; Wenxiang gifted fifty fine horses.
15
高陽太妃游氏，父京之，為相州長史。 神武克鄴，欲納之； 京之不許，遂牽曳取之。 京之尋死。 游氏于諸太妃中最有德訓，諸王、公主婚嫁，常令主之。
Gaoyang Grand Consort You—father Jingzhi was chief clerk of Xiangzhou. When Shenwu took Ye he wished to take her in; Jingzhi did not permit; he was dragged and taken. Jingzhi soon died. Among all grand consorts You had most moral instruction; princes' and princesses' marriages and betrothals were often put in her charge.
16
馮娘者，子昂妹也，初為魏任城王妃，適爾硃世隆。 神武納之，生浮陽公主。 李娘者，延實從妹也。 初為魏城陽王妃。 又王娘生永安王浚，穆娘生平陽王淹。 並早卒，不為太妃。
Lady Feng was Zi'ang's younger sister; at first consort of Wei Prince of Rencheng; she married Erzhu Shilong. Shenwu took her in; she bore Princess of Fuyang. Lady Li was Yanshi's younger cousin. At first consort of Wei Prince of Chengyang. Also Lady Wang bore Prince of Yong'an Jun; Lady Mu bore Prince of Pingyang Yan—both died early and were not grand consorts. Both died early and were not grand consorts.
17
文襄敬皇后元氏，魏孝靜帝之姊也。 孝武帝時，封馮翊公主，而歸於文襄。 容德兼美，曲盡和敬。 初生河間王孝琬，時文襄為世子，三日而孝靜幸世子第，贈錦彩及布帛萬匹。 世子辭，求通受諸貴禮遺，於是十屋皆滿。 次生兩公主。 文宣受禪，尊為文襄皇后，居靜德宮。 及天保六年，文宣漸致昏狂，乃移居于高陽之宅而取其府庫，曰：「吾兄昔奸我婦，我今須報。」 乃淫於後。 其高氏女婦，無親疏皆使左右亂交之於前。 以葛為絙，令魏安德主騎上，使人推引之。 又命胡人苦辱之。 帝又自呈露，以示群下。 武平中，後崩，祔葬義平陵。
Wenxiang Jing Empress Yuan was younger sister of Wei Emperor Xiaojing. Under Emperor Xiaowu she was enfeoffed Princess of Fengyi and returned to Wenxiang. Bearing and virtue both beautiful; harmony and respect fully achieved. First she bore Prince of Hejian Xiaowan; at the time Wenxiang was heir; on the third day Xiaojing visited the heir's residence and gifted ten thousand bolts of brocade and cloth. The heir declined; he asked to receive together the nobles' ritual gifts—then ten rooms were all full. Next she bore two princesses. When Wenxuan received abdication, she was honored Wenxiang Empress and dwelt at Jingde Palace. By the sixth year of Tianbao Wenxuan gradually fell into mad frenzy; he moved her to Gaoyang's residence and took her treasury, saying, "My elder brother once violated my wife—now I must repay. Then he violated the empress. Gao women, consorts—without regard for near or far—all he had attendants disorderly join them before him. With hemp as a rope he ordered Princess of Wei Ande ride atop; men pushed and drew her. Also he ordered barbarians cruelly to humiliate them. The emperor also exposed himself to show the crowd below. Under Wuping the empress died and was attached-buried at Yiping Tomb.
18
琅邪公主名玉儀，魏高陽王斌庶生妹也。 初不見齒，為孫騰妓，騰又放棄。 文襄遇諸途，悅而納之，遂被殊寵，奏魏帝封焉。 文襄謂崔季舒曰：「爾由來為我求色，不如我自得一絕異者。 崔暹必當造直諫，我亦有以待之。」 及暹諮事，文襄不復假以顏色。 居三日，暹懷刺，墜之於前。 文襄問：「何用此為？」 暹悚然曰：「未得通公主。」 文襄大悅，把暹臂入見焉。 季舒語人曰：「崔暹常忿吾佞，在大將軍前，每言叔父合殺。 及自作體佞，乃體過於吾。」 玉儀同產姊靜儀，先適黃門郎崔括，文襄亦幸之，皆封公主。 括父子由是超授，賞賜甚厚焉。
Princess of Langye, name Yuyi, was younger uterine sister of Wei Prince of Gaoyang Bin. At first her teeth were not seen; she was Sun Teng's courtesan; Teng again abandoned her. Wenxiang met her on the road, delighted and took her in; she received exceptional favor; he memorialized the Wei emperor to enfeoff her. Wenxiang told Cui Jishu, "You always sought beauty for me—not as good as my finding one utterly unique. Cui Kui will surely come with straight remonstrance—I also have means to wait for him. When Kui reported affairs, Wenxiang no longer lent him a pleasant face. After three days Kui carried a memorial and dropped it before him. Wenxiang asked, "What use is this? Kui fearfully said, "I have not yet obtained access to the princess." Wenxiang greatly rejoiced, took Kui's arm and entered to see her. Jishu told others, "Cui Kui always resented my flattery; before the grand marshal he always said my uncle ought to be killed. When he himself played the flatterer, his body exceeded mine. Yuyi's uterine elder sister Jingyi had first married Attendant-in-Chief Cui Kuo; Wenxiang also favored her—both were enfeoffed princess. Kuo father and son thereby received extraordinary promotion; rewards were very thick.
19
文宣皇后李氏諱祖娥，趙郡李希宗女也。 容德甚美。 初為太其原公夫人。 及帝將建中宮。 高隆之、高德正言漢婦人不可為天下母，宜更擇美配。 楊愔固請依漢、魏故事，不改元妃。 而德正猶固請廢後而立段昭儀，欲以結勳貴之援。 帝竟不從而立後焉。 帝好捶撻嬪御，乃至有殺戮者，唯後獨家禮敬。 天保十年，改為可賀敦皇后。 孝昭即位，降居昭信宮，號昭信皇后。 武成踐阼，逼後淫亂云：「若不許我，當殺爾兒。」 後懼，從之。 後有娠，太原王紹德至閣，不得見。 慍曰：「兒豈不知邪？ 姊姊腹大，故不見兒。」 後聞之大慚，由是生女不舉。 帝橫刀詬曰：「爾殺我女，我何不殺爾兒？」 對後前築殺紹德。 後大哭，帝愈怒，裸後亂撾撻之，號天不已。 盛以絹囊，流血淋漉，投諸渠水，良久乃蘇，犢車載送妙勝尼寺。 後性愛佛法，因此為尼。 齊亡，入關，隋時得還趙郡。
Wenxuan Empress Li, taboo name Zue, was daughter of Li Xizong of Zhao commandery. Bearing and virtue were very beautiful. At first she was consort of Duke of Taiyuan. When the emperor was about to establish the central palace, Gao Longzhi and Gao Dezheng said Han women could not be mother of the realm—one should again choose a beautiful match. Yang Yin firmly requested following Han and Wei precedent, not changing the original consort. Dezheng still firmly requested deposing the empress and establishing Duan zhaoyi, wishing to bind merit-nobles' support. The emperor ultimately did not follow and established the empress. The emperor liked beating pin and attendants—even to killing; only toward the empress alone was ritual respect kept. In the tenth year of Tianbao she was changed to Kehedun Empress. When Xiaozhao took the throne, she was demoted to Zhaoxin Palace, title Zhaoxin Empress. When Wucheng took the throne, he forced the empress into disorder, saying, "If you do not permit me, I will kill your son. The empress feared and yielded. Later she was pregnant; Prince of Taiyuan Shaode came to the pavilion and could not see her. Angrily he said, "Does the child not know? Elder sister's belly is big—therefore she does not see the child. When the empress heard she was greatly ashamed; from this she bore girls and did not raise them. The emperor with a bare blade cursed, "You killed my daughter—why should I not kill your son? Before the empress he built and killed Shaode. The empress wept greatly; the emperor grew angrier, stripped the empress and beat her disorderly; she cried to Heaven without end. He packed her in a silk bag; blood dripped soaking; he cast her into the canal water; after a long while she revived; an ox-cart carried her to Miaosheng Nunnery. The empress by nature loved Buddhist law; therefore she became a nun. When Qi fell, she entered Guanzhong; under Sui she could return to Zhao commandery.
20
段昭儀，韶妹也。 婚夕，韶妻元氏為俗弄女婿法戲文宣，文宣銜之。 後因發怒，謂韶曰：「我會殺爾婦！」 元氏懼，匿婁太后家，終文宣世不敢出。 昭儀才色兼美，禮遇殆同正嫡。 後主時，改適錄尚書唐邕。
Duan zhaoyi was Shao's younger sister. On the wedding evening Shao's wife Lady Yuan performed vulgar teasing of the son-in-law for Wenxuan; Wenxuan harbored resentment. Later because of anger he told Shao, "I will kill your wife! Lady Yuan feared and hid at Empress Dowager Lou's house; through Wenxuan's age she dared not come out. Zhaoyi had talent and beauty together; courtesy nearly equaled the principal wife. Under the later lord she remarried Director of Records Tang Yong.
21
王嬪者，琅邪人也。 嬪姊先適崔修，文宣並幸之。 數數降其夫家，超用修為尚書郎。
Lady Wang pin was a man of Langye. The pin's elder sister had first married Cui Xiu; Wenxuan favored both. Repeatedly he lowered himself to their husband's house and promoted Xiu to Masters of Writing lang.
22
薛嬪者，本倡家女也。 年十四五時，為清河王嶽所好。 其父求內宮中，大被嬖寵。 其姊亦俱進禦。 文宣後知先與嶽通，又為其父乞司徒公。 帝大怒，先鋸殺其姊。 薛嬪當時有娠，過產亦從戮。
Lady Xue pin was originally a singing-house girl. At fourteen or fifteen she was liked by Prince of Qinghe Yue. Her father asked to enter the inner palace; she was greatly favored. Her elder sister also both entered to attend. Later Wenxuan learned she had earlier communicated with Yue; also her father begged Minister of Works. The emperor greatly angered; first he sawed and killed her elder sister. Lady Xue pin was then pregnant; at delivery she was also executed with the rest.
23
武成皇后胡氏，安定胡延之女。 其母范陽盧道約女。 初懷孕，有胡僧詣門曰：「此宅瓠蘆中有月。」 既而生後。 天保初，選為長廣王妃。 產後主日，有鴞鳴於產帳上。 武成崩，尊為皇太后。 陸媼及和士開密謀殺趙郡王睿，出婁定遠、高文遙為刺史。 和、陸諂事太后，無所不至。 初，武成時，後與諸閹人褻狎。 武成寵倖和士開。 每與後握槊，因此與後奸通。 自武成崩後，數出詣佛寺，又與沙門曇獻通。 布金錢於獻度下，又掛寶裝胡床於獻屋壁，武成平生之所禦也。 乃置百僧於內殿，托以聽講，日夜與曇獻寢處。 以獻為昭玄統。 僧徒遙指太后以弄曇獻，乃至謂之為太上者。 帝聞太后不謹，而未之信。 後朝太后，見二少尼，悅而召之，乃男子也。 於是曇獻事亦發，皆伏法。 並殺元山王三郡君，皆太后之所昵也。 帝自晉陽奉太后還鄴，至紫陌，卒遇大風。 兼舍人魏僧伽明風角。 奏言：「即時當有暴逆事。」 帝詐云鄴中有急，彎弓纏弰，馳入南城。 令鄧長顒幽太后北宮。 仍有敕，內外諸親一不得與太后相見。 久之，帝迎復太后。 太后初聞使者至，大驚，慮有不測。 每太后設食，帝亦不敢嘗。 周使元偉來聘，作《述行賦》，敘鄭莊公克段而遷薑氏。 文雖不工，當時深以為愧。 齊亡，入周，恣行奸穢。 開皇中殂。
Wucheng Empress Hu was daughter of Hu Yan of Anding. Her mother was daughter of Fanyang Lu Daoyue. At first pregnancy a Hu monk came to the door saying, "In this house's bottle-gourd is a moon. Then the empress was born. At the beginning of Tianbao she was chosen as Prince of Changgung's consort. On the day the later lord was born, an owl cried on the birth canopy. When Wucheng died she was honored empress dowager. Lu the wet-nurse and He Shikai secretly plotted to kill Prince of Zhao Chen; they sent out Lou Dingyuan and Gao Wenyao as prefects. He and Lu fawned on the empress dowager to the utmost. At first under Wucheng the empress had indecent dealings with various eunuchs. Wucheng favored He Shikai. Each time with the empress he played spear-game—thereby he communicated in adultery with the empress. From after Wucheng's death she often went out to Buddhist temples; also she communicated with the monk Tanxian. She spread gold money under Tanxian's ordination platform; also hung a treasure-adorned Hu bed on Tanxian's room wall—what Wucheng in life had used. Then she placed a hundred monks in the inner hall, under pretext of hearing lectures—day and night she slept with Tanxian. She made Tanxian Director of Illuminated Mystery. Monks from afar pointed at the empress dowager to tease Tanxian—even calling her the Supreme One. The emperor had heard the empress dowager was behaving improperly, but did not yet believe it. Later, when he went to attend the empress dowager, he saw two young nuns, took a liking to them, and summoned them — only to find they were men in disguise. Thereupon the affair with the monk Tanxian also came to light; all involved were executed. They also executed the three commandery ladies of the Prince of Yuanshan, all favorites of the empress dowager. The emperor escorted the empress dowager back from Jinyang to Ye; at Zimo they were suddenly struck by a violent wind. The attendant-in-ordinary Wei Sengqia was skilled in reading omens from the wind. He reported, "At this very moment there will be violent treason." The emperor pretended there was an emergency in Ye, strung his bow, and galloped into the Southern City. He ordered Deng Changyan to confine the empress dowager in the Northern Palace. An edict followed forbidding all relatives, inside and outside the palace, from seeing the empress dowager. After a long while the emperor brought the empress dowager back. When the empress dowager first heard that envoys had arrived, she was terrified, fearing the worst. Whenever the empress dowager prepared food, the emperor would not dare to taste it. A Zhou envoy, Yuan Wei, came on a diplomatic visit and composed the Narrative of a Journey, recounting how Duke Zhuang of Zheng overcame his brother Duan and banished their mother Lady Jiang. Though the piece was not well written, at the time it caused deep shame. When Northern Qi fell he entered Northern Zhou and gave himself over to lewd and wicked conduct. He died during the Kaihuang reign.
24
弘德夫人李氏，趙郡李叔讓女也。 初為魏靜帝嬪，武成納焉。 生南陽王仁盛，為太妃。 姊為南安王思妃，坐夫反，以燒死。 太妃聞之，發狂而薨。
The Lady of Manifest Virtue, surnamed Li, was the daughter of Li Shurang of Zhao commandery. She had first been a consort of Emperor Jing of Wei; Wucheng took her into the palace. She bore the Prince of Nanyang, Rensheng, and was made grand consort. Her elder sister had been consort to the Prince of Nan'an, Si; when he rebelled she was burned alive. When the grand consort heard of it she went mad and died.
25
文宣王嬪及中人盧勒叉妹，武成並以為嬪。 武成崩後，胡後令二嬪自殺。 二嬪悲哭，後主為之惻愴。 私遺衣物，令出外避焉。 盧養淮南王，後為太妃。
Wenzuan's consort and the younger sister of the inner attendant Lu Lecha — Wucheng took both as his consorts. After Wucheng died, Empress Hu ordered the two consorts to take their own lives. The two consorts wept bitterly; the later lord was moved to pity. He secretly sent them clothing and let them leave the palace to escape. Lu raised the Prince of Huainan and later became grand consort.
26
又有馬嬪，亦得幸，為後所妒，自縊死。
There was also Consort Ma, who likewise won favor; the empress, jealous, drove her to hang herself.
27
彭榮、任祥並有女，因坐父兄事，皆入宮，為文宣所幸。 武成以彭為夫人，養齊安王，任生丹楊王，並為太妃。
Peng Rong and Ren Xiang each had daughters who, implicated in their fathers' and brothers' crimes, were sent into the palace and favored by Wenzuan. Wucheng made Peng a lady and had her raise the Prince of Qi'an; Ren bore the Prince of Danyang — both were made grand consorts.
28
後主皇后斛律氏，左丞相光之女也。 初為皇太子妃，後主受禪，立為皇后。 武平三年正月，生女。 帝欲悅光，詐稱生男，為之大赦。 光誅，後廢在別宮，後令為尼。 齊滅，嫁為開府元仁妻。
The later lord's empress, surnamed Hulu, was the daughter of the Left Chancellor Guang. She had first been crown princess; when the later lord succeeded to the throne she was made empress. In the first month of the third year of Wuping she gave birth to a daughter. The emperor wished to please Guang and falsely announced that a son had been born; a great amnesty was proclaimed. After Guang was executed the empress was deposed to a separate palace and later ordered to become a nun. When Qi fell she was married to Yuan Ren, a commander of the opening-the-government rank.
29
後主皇后胡氏，隴東王長仁女也。 胡太后失母儀之道，深以為愧，欲求悅後主，故飾後於宮中。 令帝見之。 帝果悅，立為弘德夫人，進左昭儀，大被寵愛。 斛律後廢，陸媼欲以穆夫人代之，太后不許。 祖孝征請立胡昭儀，遂登為皇后。 陸媼既非勸立，又意在穆夫人，其後于太后前作色而言曰：「何物親侄女，作如此語言！」 太后問有何言。 曰：「不可道。」 固問之，乃曰：「語大家雲，太后行多非法，不可以訓。」 太后大怒，喚後出，立剃其發，送令還家。 帝思之，每致詩以通意。 後與斛律廢後俱召入內。 數日而鄴不守，後亦改嫁云。
The later lord's empress, surnamed Hu, was the daughter of the Prince of Longdong, Changren. Empress Dowager Hu, having failed in maternal propriety, was deeply ashamed and wished to please the later lord, so she had the empress dressed and adorned within the palace. She arranged for the emperor to see her. The emperor was indeed pleased; she was made Lady of Manifest Virtue, promoted to Left Zhaoyi, and greatly favored. When Empress Hulu was deposed, Lady Lu wanted Lady Mu to replace her; the empress dowager refused. Zu Xiaozheng urged that Hu Zhaoyi be made empress, and she was duly elevated. Lady Lu had not supported the elevation and still favored Lady Mu; later, before the empress dowager, she scowled and said, "What sort of close niece is this, to speak such words!" The empress dowager asked what she had said. She replied, "It cannot be repeated." Pressed again and again, she finally said, "She told everyone that the empress dowager's conduct is largely unlawful and cannot serve as a model." The empress dowager flew into a rage, had the empress brought out, shaved her head, and sent her home. The emperor longed for her and often sent poems to express his feelings. Later she and the deposed Empress Hulu were both summoned back into the palace. Within days Ye fell; the empress is said to have remarried as well.
30
後主皇后穆氏，名邪利，本斛律後從婢也。 母名輕霄，本穆子倫婢也，轉入侍中宋欽道家，奸私而生後，莫知氏族，或云後即欽道女子也。 小字黃花，後字舍利。 欽道婦妒，輕霄面黥為宋字。 欽道伏誅，黃花因此故宮。 有幸于後主，宮內稱為「舍利大監」。 女侍中陸太姬知其寵，養以為女，薦為弘德夫人。 武平元年六月，生皇子恆。 于時後主未有儲嗣，陸陰結待，以臣撫之任不可無主。 時皇后斛律氏，丞相光之女也，慮其懷恨，先令母養之立為皇太子。 陸以國姓之重，穆、陸相對，又奏賜姓穆氏。 胡庶人之廢也，陸有助焉。 故遂立為皇后，大赦。 初，有折沖將軍元正烈，於鄴城東水中得璽以獻，文曰「天皇后璽」，蓋石氏所作。 詔書頒告，以為穆後之瑞焉。 武成為胡後造真珠裙褲，所費不可稱計，被火燒。 後主既立穆皇后，復為營之。 屬周武遭太后喪，詔侍中薛孤、康買等為吊使，又遣商胡齎錦彩三萬疋與吊使同往。 欲市真珠，為皇后造七寶車。 周人不與交易，然而竟造焉。 先是，童謠曰：「黃花勢欲落，清觴滿杯酌。」 言黃花不久也。 後主自立穆後以後，昏飲無度，故云「清觴滿杯酌」。 陸息駱提婆，詔改姓為穆； 陸，太姬。 皆以皇后故也。 後既以陸為母，提婆為家，更不采輕霄。 輕霄後自療面，欲求見，為太姬陸媼使禁掌之，竟不得見。
The later lord's empress Mu, named Xieli, had originally been a attendant maid of Empress Hulu. Her mother Qingxiao had been a maid of Muzilun, then entered the household of the attendant-in-ordinary Song Qindao; an illicit affair produced the future empress, whose lineage was unknown — some said she was Song Qindao's own daughter. Her childhood name was Yellow Flower; her formal name was Sheli. Song Qindao's wife was jealous; Qingxiao's face was branded with the character for Song. When Song Qindao was executed, Yellow Flower entered the palace for that reason. She won the later lord's favor; within the palace she was called "Grand Supervisor Sheli." The female attendant-in-ordinary Lady Lu the Great Matriarch, knowing of her favor, adopted her as a daughter and recommended her as Lady of Manifest Virtue. In the sixth month of the first year of Wuping she bore the prince Heng. At that time the later lord had no heir; Lu cultivated favor in secret, arguing that the duty of raising the child by a subject required a recognized master. Empress Hulu, daughter of Chancellor Guang, fearing resentment, first had the mother raise the child and had him named crown prince. Lu, because the imperial surname carried great weight and the names Mu and Lu paired well, also petitioned that the surname Mu be granted. When the Hu consort was deposed, Lu had assisted. Therefore she was established empress and a great amnesty was proclaimed. Earlier, Quelling-Insurgency General Yuan Zhenglie had found a seal in the eastern waters of Ye and presented it; the inscription read "Heavenly Empress Seal," probably a relic of the Shi clan. An edict proclaimed it far and wide, treating it as a portent for Empress Mu. Wucheng had pearl skirt-trousers made for Empress Hu at incalculable cost; they were destroyed in a fire. After the later lord made Empress Mu, he had them made again for her. It happened that Emperor Wu of Zhou was in mourning for his empress dowager; he sent the attendant-in-ordinary Xue Gu, Kang Mai, and others as condolence envoys, and also dispatched a merchant Hu with thirty thousand bolts of brocade and silk to accompany them. They intended to buy pearls to build a seven-jewel carriage for the empress. The Zhou would not sell; nevertheless the carriage was built in the end. Earlier a children's rhyme had run, "Yellow Flower's force is about to fall; clear goblets fill to the brim and pour." It meant that Yellow Flower would not last long. After the later lord himself established Empress Mu, he drank without measure in a stupor — hence "clear goblets fill to the brim and pour." Lu dismissed Luotipo and ordered his surname changed to Mu; Lu was styled the Great Matriarch. All of this was for the empress's sake. Afterward she took Lu as her mother and Luotipo as her family, and no longer paid heed to Qingxiao. Qingxiao later tried to heal her face and beg for an audience; Lady Lu the Great Matriarch had her confined under guard, and she was never allowed to see her daughter.
31
馮淑妃名小憐，大穆後從婢也。 穆後愛衰，以五月五日進之，號曰「續命」。 慧黠能彈琵琶，工歌舞。 後主惑之，坐則同席，出則並馬，願得生死一處。 命淑妃處隆基堂，淑妃惡曹昭儀所常居也，悉令反換其地。 周師之取平陽，帝獵於三堆，晉州亟告急。 帝將還，淑妃請更殺一圍，帝從其言。 識者以為後主名緯，殺圍言非吉征。 及帝至晉州，城已欲沒矣。 作地道攻之，城陷十餘步，將士乘勢欲入。 帝敕且止，召淑妃共觀之。 淑妃妝點，不獲時至。 周人以木拒塞，城遂不下。 舊俗相傳，晉州城西石上有聖人跡，淑妃欲往觀之。 帝恐弩矢及橋，故抽攻城木造遠橋，監作舍人以不速成受罰。 帝與淑妃度橋，橋壞，至夜乃還。 稱妃有功勳，將立為左皇后，即令使馳取禕翟等皇后服御。 仍與之並騎觀戰，東偏少卻，淑妃怖曰：「軍敗矣！」 帝遂以淑妃奔還。 至洪洞戍，淑妃方以粉鏡自玩，後聲亂唱賊至，於是復走。 內參自晉陽以皇后衣至，帝為按轡，命淑妃著之，然後去。 帝奔鄴，太后後至，帝不出迎； 淑妃將至，鑿城北門出十里迎之。 復以淑妃奔青州。 後主至長安，請周武帝乞淑妃，帝曰：「朕視天下如脫屣，一老嫗豈與公惜也！」 仍以賜之。
Consort Feng Shufei, named Xiaolian, had originally been a attendant maid of the Great Empress Mu. When Great Empress Mu's affection faded, on the fifth day of the fifth month Xiaolian was presented to the emperor under the name "Extending Life." She was clever, played the pipa well, and excelled at song and dance. The later lord was infatuated: when seated they shared one mat; when they went out they rode the same horse — he wished never to be parted from her, in life or death. He installed her in Longji Hall; she disliked the rooms Consort Cao had favored, and had all their furnishings swapped. When Zhou forces took Pingyang the emperor was hunting at Sandui; urgent dispatches arrived from Jinyang. The emperor was about to return, but the consort asked for one more circuit of the hunt and he agreed. Observers noted that the later lord's personal name was Wei — the phrase for "finishing the hunt" also meant "kill the encirclement," an ill omen. By the time the emperor reached Jinyang the city was already on the brink of collapse. They attacked by tunnel; the wall gave way for more than ten paces and the soldiers, seizing the moment, meant to rush in. The emperor ordered them to wait and summoned the consort to watch with him. The consort was still applying her makeup and could not come in time. The Zhou stuffed the breach with timbers; the city was not taken. Tradition held that on the west side of Jinyang's city wall a sage's footprint was carved in stone; the consort wished to go see it. Fearing crossbow fire on the bridge, the emperor had siege timbers torn out to build a long bridge; the supervising craftsman was punished for slow work. The emperor and consort crossed the bridge; it collapsed; they did not return until night. He declared the consort had earned merit and was about to make her Left Empress; messengers were sent at once to fetch feather-embroidered robes and other empress regalia. He still rode with her to watch the battle; when the eastern flank wavered the consort cried in terror, "The army is beaten!" The emperor at once fled back with her. At Hongdong garrison the consort was admiring herself in her mirror when confused shouts rose behind them that enemies had come; they fled again. Inner attendants from Jinyang brought the empress's robes; the emperor held the reins and made the consort dress in them before they rode on. The emperor fled to Ye; the empress dowager arrived afterward — the emperor did not go out to welcome her; but when the consort was about to arrive he had the north gate broken open and rode ten li out to welcome her. He fled again with the consort to Qingzhou. When the later lord reached Chang'an he begged Emperor Wu of Zhou for the consort; the emperor said, "I regard all under Heaven as shoes I have cast off — would I begrudge you one old woman!" He gave her to him nonetheless.
32
及帝遇害，以淑妃賜代王達，甚嬖之。 淑妃彈琵琶，因弦斷，作詩曰：「雖蒙今日寵，猶憶昔時憐。 欲知心斷絕，應看膠上弦。」 達妃為淑妃所譖，幾致於死。 隋文帝將賜達妃兄李詢，令著布裙配舂。 詢母逼令自殺。
When the later lord was killed the consort was given to Prince of Dai, Da, who doted on her greatly. The consort was playing the pipa when a string snapped; she composed a poem: "Though I enjoy today's favor, I still recall former tenderness. If you would know how the heart is severed, look at the glue on the broken string." Prince Da's own consort was slandered by her and nearly died for it. When Emperor Wen of Sui was about to give her to Prince Da's consort's brother Li Xun, he ordered her to wear cloth skirts and be paired with him to pound grain at the mortar. Xun's mother drove her to suicide.
33
後主以李祖欽女為左昭儀，進為左娥英。 裴氏為右娥英。 娥英者，兼取舜妃娥皇、女英名，陽休之所制。
The later lord took Li Zuqin's daughter as Left Zhaoyi and promoted her to Left Eying. Lady Pei was made Right Eying. The title Eying, combining the names of Shun's consorts Ehuang and Nuying, was Yang Xiuzhi's invention.
34
樂人曹僧奴進二女，大者忤旨，剝面皮； 少者彈琵琶，為昭儀。 以僧奴為日南王。 僧奴死後，又貴其兄弟妙達等二人，同日皆為郡王。 為昭儀別起隆基堂，極為綺麗。 陸媼誣以左道，遂殺之。
The musician Cao Sengnu presented two daughters; the elder offended the emperor and had the skin of her face stripped away; the younger played the pipa and was made zhaoyi. Sengnu was enfeoffed as Prince of Rinan. After Sengnu died the emperor again favored his brothers Miaoda and two others; on a single day all three were made princes of commanderies. For the zhaoyi he built a separate Longji Hall, lavish beyond measure. Lady Lu accused her of sorcery and she was executed.
35
又有董昭儀、毛夫人、彭夫人、王夫人、小王夫人、二李夫人，皆嬖寵之。 毛能彈箏，本和士開薦入。 帝所幸彭夫人，亦音妓進； 死于晉陽，造佛寺，與總持相埒。 一李是隸戶女，以五弦進。 一李即孝貞之女也。 小王生一，男，諸閹人在傍，皆蒙賜給。 毛兄思安，超登武衛。 董父賢義，為作軍主，由昭儀亦超登開府。 自餘姻屬，多至大官。
There were also Consort Dong, Lady Mao, Lady Peng, Lady Wang, the Lesser Lady Wang, and two Ladies Li — all were greatly favored. Lady Mao could play the zither; He Shikai had originally recommended her. The emperor favored Lady Peng, who had entered the palace as a musical performer; she died at Jinyang, and a Buddhist temple was built to rival the Zongchi. One Lady Li was the daughter of a bondservant household and was presented for her skill on the five-string. The other Lady Li was Xiaozheng's daughter. The Lesser Lady Wang bore a son; the eunuchs in attendance all received rewards. Lady Mao's elder brother Sian was abruptly promoted to the Martial Guard. Consort Dong's father Xianyi was made an army commander; through his daughter he too was suddenly elevated to opening the government. Other relatives by marriage likewise rose to high office.
36
北朝周
The Northern Dynasties: Zhou
37
周文皇后元氏，魏孝武之妹也。 初封平原公主，適開府張歡。 歡性貪殘，遇後無禮。 帝殺歡，改封後為馮翊公主，以配周文帝。 生孝閔帝。 魏大統十七年，薨。 恭帝三年十二月，合葬成陵。 孝閔踐阼，追尊為王后。 武成初，又追尊為皇后。
Empress Yuan of Zhou Wen was a younger sister of Emperor Xiaowu of Wei. First enfeoffed as Princess of Pingyuan, she was married to Zhang Huan, a commander of the opening-the-government rank. Huan was greedy and cruel and treated the empress without proper respect. The emperor executed Huan, changed her title to Princess of Fengyi, and gave her in marriage to Zhou Wendi. She bore Emperor Xiaomin. In the seventeenth year of Great Unity of Wei she died. In the twelfth month of the third year of the Gongdi era she was buried with him at Chengling. When Xiaomin took the throne he posthumously honored her as queen. At the beginning of Wucheng she was again posthumously honored as empress.
38
文宣皇后叱奴氏，代人也。 周文帝為丞相，納為姬，生武帝。 天和二年六月，尊為皇太后。 建德三年三月，崩。 五月，葬永固陵。
Empress Chinu of Wenzuan was from Dai. When Zhou Wendi was chief minister he took her as a concubine; she bore Wudi. In the sixth month of the second year of Tianhe she was honored as empress dowager. In the third month of the third year of Jiande she died. In the fifth month she was buried at Yonggu Tomb.
39
明敬皇后獨孤氏，太保、衛公信之長女也。 帝之在籓，納為夫人。 二年正月，立為王后。 四月，崩，葬昭陵。 武成初，追崇為皇后。 明帝崩，與後合葬焉。
Empress Dugu of Mingjing was the eldest daughter of the Grand Guardian and Duke of Wei, Xin. When the emperor was still a prince he took her as his lady. In the first month of the second year she was made queen. In the fourth month she died and was buried at Zhaoling. At the beginning of Wucheng she was posthumously honored as empress. When Mingdi died she was buried together with him.
40
武成皇后阿史那氏，突厥木杆可汗俟斤之女也。 突厥滅蠕蠕後，盡有塞表之地，志陵中夏。 周文方與齊人爭衡。 結以為援。 俟斤初欲以女配帝，既而悔之。 武帝即位，前後累遣使焉。 保定五年二月，詔陳公純。 許公于文貴、神武公竇毅、南安公楊薦等，備皇后文物及行殿，並六宮以下一百二十人，至俟斤牙所迎後。 俟斤又許齊婚，將有異志，純等累請，不得反命。 會雷風大起，飄壞其穹廬，俟斤大懼，以為天譴，乃禮送後，純等奉之以歸。 天和三年三月至，武帝接以親迎之禮。 後有姿貌，善容止，帝深敬禮焉。 宣帝即位，尊後為皇太后。 大象元年二月，改為天元皇太后。 二年二月，又尊曰天元上皇太后。 宣帝崩，靜帝尊為太皇太后。 隋開皇二年，殂，年三十二。 隋文詔有司備禮，祔葬後於孝陵。
Empress Ashina of Wucheng was the daughter of the Türk qaghan Muqan. After the Türk destroyed the Rouran they held all the lands beyond the frontier and turned their ambition toward the central plains. Zhou Wen was then locked in rivalry with Northern Qi. He allied with the Türk for support. Qaghan at first intended to give his daughter to the Zhou emperor, then changed his mind. When Wudi took the throne envoys were sent again and again. In the second month of the fifth year of Baoding an edict ordered the Duke of Chen, Chun, the Duke of Xu Yu Wengui, the Duke of Shenwu Dou Yi, the Duke of Nan'an Yang Jian, and others to prepare the empress's ritual regalia and traveling pavilion, together with the full six-palace retinue of one hundred twenty persons, and proceed to Qaghan's camp to welcome the empress. Qaghan also promised his daughter to Qi and was about to shift allegiance; Chun and the others pleaded repeatedly but could not obtain leave to return. Suddenly thunder and wind arose and blew down their yurt; Qaghan was terrified, taking it as heaven's punishment, and then ceremonially sent the empress off; Chun and the others escorted her home. In the third month of the third year of Tianhe she arrived; Wudi received her with the rites of personally greeting the bride. The empress was beautiful and graceful in deportment; the emperor treated her with deep respect and ceremony. When Xuandi took the throne she was honored as empress dowager. In the second month of the first year of Daxiang she was styled Heavenly Yuan Empress Dowager. In the second month of the second year she was further honored as Heavenly Yuan Supreme Empress Dowager. When Xuandi died, Jingdi honored her as grand empress dowager. In the second year of Kaihuang under the Sui she died, aged thirty-two. Emperor Wen ordered the authorities to prepare rites and bury her beside Xiaoling.
41
宣皇后楊氏名麗華，隋文帝之長女也。 帝在東宮，武帝為帝納後為皇太子妃。 宣政元年閏六月，並為皇后。 帝后自稱天元皇帝，號後為天元皇后。 尋又立天皇后及左右皇后，與為四皇后。 二年二月，詔取象四星，於是後及三皇后並加大焉。 冊授後為天元大皇后，又立天中大皇后，與後為五皇后焉。 後性柔婉，不妒忌，四皇后及嬪御等咸愛而仰之。 帝後昏暴滋甚，喜怒乖度。 嘗譴後，欲加之罪，後進止詳閑，辭色不撓。 帝大怒，遂賜後死，逼令自引決。 後母獨孤氏聞之，詣閣陳謝，叩頭流血，然後得免。 帝崩，靜帝尊後為皇太后，居弘聖宮。 初，宣帝不豫，詔隋文帝入禁中侍疾。 及大漸，劉昉、鄭譯等因矯詔以隋文帝受遺輔政。 後初雖不預謀，然以嗣主幼沖，恐權在他族，不利於己，聞昉、譯已行此詔，心甚悅。 後知隋文有異圖，意頗不平。 及行禪代，憤惋愈甚。 隋文內甚愧之。 開皇初，封後為樂平公主。 後又議奪其志，後誓不許，乃止。 大業五年，從煬帝幸張掖，殂於河西。 詔還京，所司備禮，祔葬後於定陵。
Empress Yang of Xuandi, named Lihua, was the eldest daughter of Emperor Wen of Sui. While the emperor was crown prince, Wudi had him take her as crown princess. In the intercalary sixth month of the first year of Xuanzheng she was made empress together with him. The emperor and empress each styled themselves Heavenly Yuan Emperor and Heavenly Yuan Empress. Soon he also established a Heavenly Empress and Left and Right empresses — four empresses in all. In the second month of the second year an edict took the four stars as its model; the empress and the three other empresses all received elevated titles. The empress was invested as Heavenly Yuan Great Empress; a Heavenly Central Great Empress was also established — five empresses in all. The empress was gentle and unjealous; the four empresses and all the consorts loved and revered her. The emperor grew ever more violent and depraved; his moods knew no bounds. Once he reproached the empress and meant to punish her; she remained composed in bearing and unyielding in tone. The emperor flew into a rage and ordered her to die, forcing her to kill herself. Her mother Lady Dugu heard of it, went to the palace gate to plead, knocked her head until it bled, and only then was the empress spared. When the emperor died Jingdi honored her as empress dowager; she lived in Hongsheng Palace. Earlier, when Xuandi fell ill, he had summoned Emperor Wen of Sui into the inner palace to attend him. As death approached, Liu Fang and Zheng Yi forged an edict placing Emperor Wen of Sui in charge as regent. The empress had not plotted at first, but because the heir was young she feared power would pass to another house; when she learned Fang and Yi had already issued the edict she was greatly pleased. Later, when she saw that Emperor Wen harbored designs of his own, she grew uneasy. When the throne was seized her anger and grief only deepened. Emperor Wen felt deep shame toward her in his heart. At the beginning of Kaihuang she was enfeoffed as Princess of Leping. Later there was talk of forcing her to remarry; she swore she would never consent, and the plan was dropped. In the fifth year of Daye she accompanied Emperor Yang to Zhangye and died in Hexi. An edict ordered her remains returned to the capital; the authorities prepared rites and buried her beside Dingling.
42
宣帝后硃氏，名滿月，吳人也。 其家坐事，沒入東宮。 宣帝之為太子，後被選掌衣服，帝召幸之，遂生靜帝。 大象元年四月，立為天元帝后。 七月，改為天皇后。 二年二月，又改為天大皇后。 後本非良家子，又年長於帝十餘歲，疏賤無寵。 以靜帝故，特尊崇之，班亞楊皇后焉。 宣帝崩，靜帝尊後為帝太后。 隋開皇元年二月，出俗為尼，改名法靜。 六年，殂，以尼禮葬於京城西。
Xuandi's empress Zhu, named Manyue, was from Wu. Her family, implicated in a crime, was confiscated and she was sent into the eastern palace. When Xuandi was crown prince she was chosen to manage his wardrobe; he summoned and favored her, and she bore Jingdi. In the fourth month of the first year of Daxiang she was made Heavenly Yuan Imperial Empress. In the seventh month she was restyled Heavenly Empress. In the second month of the second year she was again restyled Heavenly Great Empress. She was not from a respectable family and was more than ten years older than the emperor — kept at a distance, low in rank, without favor. Because of Jingdi she was specially honored; her rank stood just below Empress Yang. When Xuandi died Jingdi honored her as imperial empress dowager. In the second month of the first year of Kaihuang she left secular life and became a nun, taking the name Fajing. In the sixth year she died and was buried west of the capital with the rites of a nun.
43
後父晟，少以元氏宗室，拜開府。 大象元年七月，以後父進位上柱國，封翼國公。
Her father Sheng, as a young man of the Yuan imperial clan, was appointed commander of the opening-the-government rank. In the seventh month of the first year of Daxiang, as the empress's father, he was promoted to supreme pillar of state and enfeoffed as Duke of Yi.
44
宣帝皇后尉遲氏名繁熾，蜀公迥之孫女也。 有美色。 初適杞公亮子西陽公溫，以宗婦例入朝，帝逼幸之。 及亮謀逆，帝誅溫，追後入宮，拜長貴妃。 大象二年三月，立為天左大皇后。 帝崩，後出俗為尼，改名華道。 隋開皇十五年，殂。
Xuandi's empress Yuchi, named Fanchi, was the granddaughter of the Duke of Shu, Jiong. She was renowned for her beauty. She had first been married to Wen, son of Duke of Qi Liang, bearing the title Lady of Xi Yang; as a clan wife she entered court on the usual rounds, where the emperor forced himself on her. When Liang plotted rebellion the emperor executed Wen, brought her into the palace, and made her Senior Noble Consort. In the third month of the second year of Daxiang she was made Heavenly Left Great Empress. When the emperor died she left secular life and became a nun, taking the name Huadao. She died in the fifteenth year of Kaihuang.
45
隋文獻皇后獨孤氏，諱伽羅，河南洛陽人，周大司馬、衛公信之女也。 信見文帝有奇表，故以後妻焉。 時年十四。 帝與後相得，誓無異生之子。 後姊為周明帝后，長女為周宣帝后； 貴戚之盛，莫與為比，而後每謙卑自守。 及周宣帝崩，隋文居禁中，總百揆。 後使李圓通謂文帝曰：「騎獸之勢，必不得下，勉之！」 及帝受禪，立為皇后。
Empress Dugu the Literary of Sui, taboo name Jialuo, was from Luoyang in Henan, daughter of Zhou's Grand Marshal and Duke of Wei, Xin. Xin saw that Wendi bore an extraordinary countenance and gave him Jialuo as his wife. She was fourteen at the time. Emperor and empress were devoted to each other and swore they would have no children by anyone else. Her elder sister became empress to Zhou Mingdi; her eldest daughter became empress to Zhou Xuandi; no family of imperial kin could match their glory — yet the empress always remained humble and restrained. When Zhou Xuandi died Wendi held the inner palace and directed all government. The empress sent Li Yuantong to tell him, "Once you mount the beast you cannot dismount — press on!" When he took the throne she was made empress.
46
突厥嘗與中國交市，有明珠一篋，價直八百萬； 幽州總管陰壽白後市之。 後曰：「當今戎狄屢寇，將士罷勞，未若以八百萬分賞有功者。」 百寮聞而畢賀。 文帝甚寵憚之。 帝每臨朝，後輒與上方輦而進，至閣乃止。 使宮官伺帝，政有所失，隨則匡諫，多所弘益。 候帝退朝而同反宴寢，相顧欣然。 後早失二親，常懷感慕，見公卿有父母者，每為致禮焉。 有司奏曰：「《周禮》，百官之妻，命于王后。 憲章在昔，請依古制。」 後曰：「以婦人與政，或從此漸，不可開其源也。」 不許。 後每謂諸公主曰：「周家公主類無婦德，失禮于舅姑，離薄人骨肉，此不順事，爾等當誡之。」 後姑子都督崔長仁犯法當斬，文帝以後故免之。 後曰：「國家之事，焉可顧私！」 長仁竟坐死。 異母弟陀以貓鬼巫蠱咒詛於後，坐當死。 後三日不食，為之請命曰：「陀若蠹政害民者，不敢言。 今坐為妾身，請其命。」 陀於是減死一等。
The Türk once traded with the central states; a basket of luminous pearls was offered at eight million. The regional commander of Youzhou, Yin Shou, asked the empress to purchase them. The empress said, "The frontier tribes raid again and again and the troops are exhausted — better to divide the eight million among those who have earned merit." All the officials, hearing this, offered their congratulations. Wendi both doted on her and stood in awe of her. Whenever the emperor held court the empress rode with him in the imperial carriage as far as the gate, then stopped. She had palace officers watch him; when his governance went astray she corrected and remonstrated at once — to great benefit. She waited until he left court and they returned together to feast and sleep, regarding each other with quiet joy. Having lost both parents early she always cherished their memory; when she met ministers who still had parents she often showed them special courtesy. The authorities memorialized, "In the Zhou Rites, the wives of the hundred officials receive appointment from the queen. The statutes of old are on record — we ask that the ancient system be followed." The empress said, "To let women share in government may begin with this step — that door must not be opened." She refused. She often told the princesses, "The Zhou princesses mostly lacked wifely virtue, failed in ritual toward their husbands' parents, and drove wedges between kin — you must guard against such conduct. Her cousin by marriage, Colonel Cui Changren, committed a capital crime; Wendi would have pardoned him for the empress's sake. The empress said, "These are affairs of state — how can one favor private ties!" Changren was executed in the end. Her younger half-brother Tuo used cat-demon sorcery to curse her and was sentenced to death. For three days she ate nothing and pleaded for his life: "If Tuo harmed the people or corrupted government I would not speak. But his crime was against me alone — I beg for his life." Tuo's sentence was reduced one degree from death.
47
後雅性儉約。 帝常合止利藥，須胡粉一兩，宮內不用，求之竟不得。 又欲賜柱國劉嵩妻織成衣領，宮內亦無。 上以後不好華麗，時齊七寶車及鏡臺絕巧麗，使毀車而以鏡臺賜後。 後雅好讀書，識達今古，凡言事皆與上意合，宮中稱為二聖。 嘗夢周阿史那後，言受罪辛苦，求營功德。 明日言之，上為立寺追福焉。 後兄女，夫死於并州，後嫂以女有娠，請不赴葬。 後曰：「婦人事夫，何容不往！ 其姑在，宜自諮之。」 姑不許，女遂行。
By nature she was elegant and frugal. The emperor often prepared restorative medicines needing one tael of barbarian powder; the inner palace kept none in stock and none could be found. He also wished to give Pillar of State Liu Song's wife a woven collar — the inner palace had none of those either. Because she disliked luxury, when a supremely fine seven-jewel carriage and mirror stand from Qi arrived, the emperor had the carriage destroyed and gave her only the mirror stand. She loved books and understood present and past; whatever she advised matched the emperor's mind — within the palace they were called the Two Sages. Once she dreamed of Zhou's Empress Ashina, who said she was suffering bitter punishment and begged that merit be performed for her. The next day she told the emperor, who had a temple built to transfer merit on her behalf. Her brother's daughter, whose husband had died at Bingzhou, was pregnant; the girl's mother-in-law asked that she not attend the funeral. The empress said, "A woman's duty is to serve her husband — how can she stay away! If her mother-in-law is there, let her ask her directly." The mother-in-law refused; the girl went anyway.
48
後頗仁愛，每聞大理決囚，未嘗不流涕。 然性尤妒忌，後宮莫敢進禦。 尉遲迥女孫有美色，先在宮中，帝于仁壽宮見而悅之，因得幸。 後伺帝聽朝，陰殺之。 上大怒，單騎從苑中出，不由徑路，入山谷間三十餘里。 高熲、楊素等追及，扣馬諫。 帝太息曰：「吾貴為天子，不得自由！」 高熲曰：「陛下豈以一婦人而輕天下？」 帝意少解，駐馬良久，夜方還宮。 後候上於閣內，及帝至，流涕拜謝。 熲、素等和解之，上置酒極歡。 後自此意頗折。
She was deeply benevolent; whenever she heard the Court of Review pass sentence she wept. Yet she was fiercely jealous; no woman in the rear palace dared approach the emperor. Yuchi Jiong's granddaughter, a great beauty, was already in the palace; the emperor saw her at Renshou Palace, took a liking to her, and favored her. The empress waited until he went to court and had her killed in secret. The emperor was furious, rode alone out of the park by no proper path, and wandered more than thirty li into the hills. Gao Jiong, Yang Su, and others caught up, seized his bridle, and remonstrated. The emperor sighed and said, "I am honored as Son of Heaven yet I am not free!" Gao Jiong said, "Your Majesty — how can you slight the empire for one woman?" The emperor's anger eased somewhat; he halted a long while and returned to the palace only at night. The empress waited inside the gate; when he arrived she wept and bowed in apology. Jiong, Su, and the others mediated; the emperor set out wine and they were merry again. From that time her jealousy was somewhat curbed.
49
仁壽二年八月甲子，日暈四重。 己巳。 太白犯軒轅。 其夜，後崩于永安宮，時年五十九，葬於太陵。 其後宣華夫人陳氏、容華夫人蔡氏俱有寵，帝頗惑之，由是發疾。 及危篤，謂侍者曰「使皇后在，吾不及此」云。
In the eighth month of the second year of Renshou, on the day jiazi, the sun showed halos in four rings. On the day jisi. The planet Venus crossed the Bushel constellation. That night the empress died in Yong'an Palace, aged fifty-nine, and was buried at Tailing. Afterward Lady Xuanhua Chen and Lady Ronghua Cai both won favor; the emperor was deeply infatuated — illness followed. As death approached he told his attendants, "Had the empress still been alive, I would not have come to this."
50
宣華夫人陳氏，陳宣帝女也。 性聰慧，姿貌無雙。 及陳滅，配掖庭，後選入宮為嬪。 時獨孤皇后性妒，後宮罕得進禦，唯陳氏有寵。 煬帝之在籓也，陰有奪宗之計，規為內助，每致禮焉。 進金蛇、金駝等物，以取媚于陳氏。 皇太子廢立之際，頗有力焉。 及文獻皇后崩，進位為貴人。 專房擅寵，主斷內事，六宮莫與為比。 及帝大漸，遺詔拜為宣華夫人。 初，帝寢疾于仁壽宮，夫人與皇太子同侍疾。 平旦更衣，為太子所逼，夫人拒之得免。 歸於上所，上怪其神色有異，問之。 夫人泣以實對。 帝恚曰：「畜生何堪付大事，獨孤誠誤我！」 意謂獻皇后也。 因呼兵部尚書柳述、黃門侍郎元岩曰：「呼我兒！」 述等呼太子。 帝曰：「勇也。」 述、岩出閣為敕書訖，示左僕射楊素。 素以白太子，太子遣張衡入寢殿，遂令夫人及後宮同侍疾者並就別室。 俄聞上崩，而未發喪也。 夫人與諸後宮相顧曰：「事變矣！」 皆色動股粟。 晡後，太子遣使者齎金合，帖紙於際，親署封字，以賜夫人。 夫人見，怕懼，以為鴆毒，不敢發。 使者促之，乃發，見合中有同心結數枚。 諸宮人相謂曰：「得免死矣！」 陳氏恚而卻坐，不肯致謝。 諸宮人共逼之，乃拜使者。 其夜，太子蒸焉。 煬帝即位，出居仙都宮。 尋召入，歲餘而終，時年二十九。 帝深悼之，為制《神傷賦》。
Lady Xuanhua Chen was the daughter of Emperor Xuan of Chen. She was intelligent and without rival in beauty. When Chen fell she was assigned to the palace women; later she was chosen as a consort. At that time Empress Dugu was fiercely jealous; few women in the rear palace could approach the emperor — only Lady Chen had favor. When Emperor Yang was still a prince he secretly plotted to seize the succession and sought allies within the palace, sending gifts often. He presented golden snakes, golden camels, and other curios to win her favor. When the crown prince was deposed and another installed, she had considerable influence. After Empress Dugu died she was promoted to noble lady. She held exclusive favor and controlled inner affairs — none in the six palaces could compare. When the emperor was dying his final edict invested her as Lady Xuanhua. Earlier, when the emperor fell ill at Renshou Palace, Lady Chen and the crown prince attended him together. At dawn, while she was changing clothes, the crown prince forced himself on her; she resisted and escaped. She returned to the emperor's bedside; he noticed her altered expression and asked what had happened. She wept and told him the truth. The emperor raged, "That beast — how can he be entrusted with the realm! Dugu truly misled me!" He meant Empress Dugu. He then called the Minister of War Liu Shu and the attendant-in-ordinary Yuan Yan and said, "Summon my son!" They called for the crown prince. The emperor said, "Yong." Shu and Yan left the gate; when the edict was drafted they showed it to the Left Pushe Yang Su. Su informed the crown prince, who sent Zhang Heng into the sleeping hall and had Lady Chen and all the women attending the sick removed to other chambers. Soon word came that the emperor had died, but the mourning had not yet been announced. Lady Chen and the palace women looked at one another and said, "Everything has changed!" Their faces went pale and their legs shook. That afternoon the crown prince sent an envoy with a gold casket, sealed at the edge in his own hand, and gave it to Lady Chen. She was terrified, thinking it held poison, and dared not open it. The envoy pressed her; at last she opened it and found several lover's knots inside. The palace women said to one another, "We are spared!" Lady Chen, furious, sat back and refused to thank the envoy. The other women pressed her until she bowed to the envoy. That night, the crown prince took her by force. Once Emperor Yang took the throne, she was moved out to Xiandu Palace. Soon she was summoned back in; after more than a year she died, aged twenty-nine, as the text has it. the Son of Heaven mourned her deeply and composed the "Fu on Spirit Wounded."
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容華夫人蔡氏，丹陽人也。 陳滅。 以選入宮，為世婦。 容儀婉嬈，帝甚悅之。 以文獻後故，希得進幸。 後崩後，漸見寵遇，拜為貴人，參斷宮掖，亞于陳氏。 帝寢疾，加號容華夫人。 帝崩後，亦為煬帝所蒸。
Lady Ronghua Cai, a native of Danyang, as the text has it. When Chen fell. Selected into the palace, she became a world wife, as the text has it. Graceful and charming in bearing—the Son of Heaven greatly favored her. As of empress Wenxian, she rarely gained the Son of Heaven's bed. After the empress died, her favor grew; she was made guiren, shared palace affairs, and ranked below Lady Chen alone. Once the Son of Heaven fell gravely ill, she was advanced to Lady Ronghua. After the Son of Heaven died, she too was violated by Emperor Yang.
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煬帝湣皇后蕭氏，梁明帝巋之女也。 江南風俗，二月生子者不舉。 後以二月生，由是季父岌收養之。 未歲，岌夫妻俱死，轉養舅張軻家。 軻甚貧窶，後躬親勞苦。 煬帝為晉王，文帝為選妃于梁，卜諸女皆不吉。 巋乃迎後於舅氏，令使者占之，曰：「吉。」 遂冊為妃。
Emperor Yang's Min empress Xiao was daughter of Liang Mingdi Kui. In Jiangnan custom, children born in the second month were not raised, as the text has it. As she was born in the second month, her younger uncle Ji therefore took her to raise. Within the year Ji and his wife both died; she was transferred to her uncle Zhang Ke's household, as the text has it. Ke was very poor and mean; the empress herself toiled at labor, as the text has it. When Yang Guang was Prince of Jin, Wenxian chose a bride from Liang; every other daughter's omen came back ill-fated. Kui therefore brought the empress from her uncle's house and had the envoy divine for her, saying, "Auspicious, as the text has it." Thereupon she was invested princess consort, as the text has it.
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後性婉順，有智識，好學解屬文，頗知占候，文帝大善之。 煬帝甚寵敬焉。 及帝嗣位，立為皇后。 帝每遊幸，未嘗不隨從。 時後見帝失德，心知不可，不敢措言，因為《述志賦》以自寄焉。 其詞曰：
Gentle and compliant by nature, she was clever, loved books, could write, and knew some divination—Wenxian thought highly of her. Emperor Yang greatly favored and respected her, as the text has it. Once he succeeded to the throne, she was established empress. Whenever the Son of Heaven went on progress, she never failed to follow. Seeing the emperor's virtue fail beyond repair, she dared not speak out and wrote a Fu on Expressing One's Aspirations to hold her grief. Its text runs:
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承積善之余慶，備箕帚於皇庭。 恐修名之不立，將負累於先靈。 乃夙夜而匪懈，實夤懼于玄冥。 雖自強而不息，亮愚蒙之多滯。 思竭節於天衢，才追心而弗逮。 實庸薄之多幸，荷隆寵之嘉惠。 賴天高而地厚，屬王道之升平。 均二儀之覆載，與日月而齊明。 乃春生而夏長，等品物而同榮。 願立志於恭儉，私自兢於誡盈。 孰有念于知足，苟無希於濫名。 惟至德之弘深，情弗邇於聲色。 感懷舊之餘恩，求故劍於宸極。 叨不世之殊眄，謬非才而奉職。 何寵祿之逾分，撫胸襟而未識。 雖沐浴於恩光，內慚惶而累息。 顧微躬之寡昧，思令淑之良難。 實不遑於啟處，將有情而自安！ 若臨深而履薄，心戰粟其如寒。 夫居高而必危，每處滿而防溢。 知恣誇之非道，乃攝生於沖謐。 嗟寵辱之易驚，尚無為而抱一。 履謙光而守志，且願守乎容膝。 珠簾玉箔之奇，金屋瑤台之美； 雖時俗之崇麗，蓋哲人之所鄙。 愧絺綌之不工，豈絲竹而喧耳。 知道德之可尊，明善惡之由己。 蕩囂煩之俗慮，乃伏膺于經史。 綜箴誡以訓心，觀女圖而作軌。 遵古賢之令范，冀福祿之能綏。 時循躬而三省，覺今是而昨非。 嗤黃、老之損思，信為善之可歸。 慕周姒之遺風，美虞妃之聖則。 仰先哲之高才，慕至人之休德。 質非薄而難蹤，心恬愉而去惑。 乃平生之耿介，實禮義之所遵。 雖生知之不敏，庶積行以成仁。 懼達人之蓋寡，謂何求而自陳。 誠素志之難寫，同絕筆於獲麟。
I inherit the store of my family's goodness and take my humble place in the imperial household. I fear my name will never stand firm and will shame the spirits of my ancestors. Day and night I never slacken, in honest dread of Heaven above. Though I strive without rest, dull obscurity still holds me fast. I would give my loyalty on the heavenly road, but talent trails the heart and cannot keep pace. How slight I am, yet how richly favored—I bear your grace and kindness. Heaven is high, earth is broad; I live under a kingly peace that rises. The two poles cover all alike; I share the sun and moon in brightness. Spring begets and summer lengthens; all things rise in one splendor. I set my will on reverence and thrift and guard against fullness. Who keeps the thought of enough and does not chase swollen fame? Only deepest virtue runs wide; feeling does not cling to sound and color. Moved by kindness of old days, I seek the old sword at the imperial pole. Favored beyond this age's measure—unworthy, I still hold my post. How can favor and salary exceed my share? I press my breast and still am unsure. Bathed in gracious light, within I blush and tremble, breath on breath. Looking back on my slight frame, I see how hard the good woman's path is. I have no leisure for rest or rising—what ease can the heart find? Like walking thin ice over deep water—the heart shudders as if struck by cold. To stand high is to stand in danger; when full, guard against the spill. Knowing boast and excess are not the way, I gather life in quiet depth, as the text has it. Favor and shame startle so soon—better to hold stillness and keep to one. I walk in modest light, guard my aim, and wish only a room that fits my knees. Pearl curtains, jade valance, golden chambers, jasper terraces— the age honors such splendor, yet the sage despises it. Ashamed my hemp dress is coarse—how could I let silk and bamboo deafen the ear? I know moral power deserves respect; good and evil spring from oneself. I shake off vulgar cares and bow my heart to the classics and histories. I weave admonitions to train the heart and study women's pictures for a model. I follow ancient sages' patterns, hoping blessings may rest in peace. I turn upon myself in threefold reflection and know today right where yesterday was wrong. I scoff at Yellow and Lao for hampering thought and trust that doing good leads home. I admire the Zhou queen's legacy wind and praise Yu's consort as holy measure. I look up to sages' lofty gifts and prize the utmost man's blessed virtue. My substance is thin and hard to trace, yet a calm heart casts off confusion. Thus my lifelong uprightness—truly what ritual and right demand. Though born knowing is slow in me, heaped conduct may yet shape humanity. I fear the great-minded are few—what is there to seek that I should speak for myself? My plain resolve is hard to write—yet like laying down the brush when the unicorn was taken.
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及帝幸江都，臣下離貳，有宮人白後曰：「外聞人人欲反。」 後曰：「任汝奏之。」 宮人言於帝，帝大怒曰：「非汝宜言！」 乃斬之。 後宮人復白後曰：「宿衛者往往偶語謀反。」 後曰：「天下事一朝至此，勢去已然，無可救也。 何用言，徒令帝憂煩耳！」 自是無復言者。
Once the Son of Heaven reached Jiangdu and retainers wavered in loyalty, a palace woman told the empress, "Outside one hears that everyone wishes to rebel. The empress said, "Report it as you will.", as the text has it. The palace woman told the Son of Heaven; the Son of Heaven was furious and said, "That is not for you to say!" He had her beheaded. Palace women again told the empress, "Among the night guards many whisper in pairs, plotting rebellion.", as the text has it. The empress said, "The realm's affairs have come in a day to this—yet power is gone and the form settled; nothing can save it. What use in speaking?—you would only add worry and vexation to the Son of Heaven! From then on none spoke again, as the text has it.
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及宇文化及之亂，隨軍至聊城。 化及敗，沒于竇建德。 建德妻曹氏妒悍，煬帝妃嬪美人並使出家，並後置於武強縣。 是時突厥處羅可汗方盛，其可賀敦即隋義城公主也，遣使迎後。 建德不敢留，遂攜其孫正道及諸女入於虜庭。 大唐貞觀四年，破突厥，皆以禮致之。 歸於京師，賜宅於興道里。 二十一年，殂。 詔以皇后禮于揚州合葬於煬帝陵，諡曰湣。
At the turmoil of Yuwen Huaji, she followed the army to Liaocheng, as the text has it. Once Huaji was defeated, she fell into the hands of Dou Jiande. Jiande's wife Lady Cao was jealous and fierce; Emperor Yang's consorts and palace beauties were all made to leave household life; the empress was placed in Wuqiang county. At that time the Tujue khan Chuluo was at his height; his great empress was none other than the Sui Princess of Yicheng, who sent envoys to receive the empress, as the text has it. Jiande dared not detain her; he then led his grandson Zhengdao and all his daughters into the barbarians' court, as the text has it. In the fourth year of Zhenguan of Great Tang, the Turks were broken and all were brought in by ceremony, as the text has it. She returned to the capital and was given a residence in Xingdao Lane, as the text has it. In the twenty-first year she died, as the text has it. An edict buried her with empress rites at Yangzhou, interred with Emperor Yang's tomb, posthumous title Min, as the text has it.
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論曰：男女正位，人倫大綱。 三代已還，逮于漢、晉，何嘗不敗於嬌詖而興於聖淑。 至如後稷稟靈巨跡，神元生自天女，克昌來葉，異世同符。 魏諸後婦人之識，無足論者。 文明邪險，幸不墜國。 靈後淫恣，卒亡天下。 傾城之誡，其在茲乎。 乙後迫於畏逼，有足傷矣。 昔鉤弋年少子幼，漢武所以行權，魏世遂為常制，子貴而其母必死。 矯枉之義，不亦過乎！ 孝文終革其失，良有以也。
Appraisal says: Correct position of man and woman is the great bond of human relations, as the text has it. From the Three Dynasties onward down to Han and Jin—yet when was there not ruin through favor and jealousy; rise through sage and worthy women? As when Houji received spirit from a giant footprint and Shendu was born of a heavenly maid—yet the line flourished from afar, different ages, one sign. The Wei empresses' women's foresight—yet none worth discussing. empress Wenming was perverse and dangerous—by good fortune the state did not fall. empress Ling was licentious and willful—at last she lost the realm. The caution of a woman who overturns states—yet is it not here? empress Yi driven by terror and force—there was hurt enough indeed. In old times, when Gouyi was young and her son still a child, Han Wu for this reason acted drastically; Wei age made it routine usage—yet the mother must die when the son is exalted. The righting of excess—yet does it not go too far! Emperor Xiaowen at last reformed that fault—yet he had good cause.
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神武肇興齊業，武明追蹤周亂。 溫公之敗邦家，馮妃比跡褒後。 然則汙隆之義，蓋有系焉。 其餘作孽為眚，外平內蠹，鑒之近代，于齊為甚。
Shenwu first raised Qi enterprise; Wuming followed Zhou's turmoil in her track, as the text has it. Lord Wen's ruin of state and house—yet Consort Feng walked the trail of Bao. Thus whether defilement or ascent has meaning—yet in the main it is bound together. The rest who made calamity and scourge—yet outwardly calm, inwardly wasted—yet in recent times it was severest in Qi.
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周氏粵自文皇，逮乎武帝，年逾二紀，世曆四君。 業非草昧之辰，事殊權宜之日。 乃棄同即異，以夷亂華。 汨婚姻之彝序，求豺狼之外利。 既而報者倦矣，施者無厭。 向之所謂和親，未幾已成仇敵。 奇正之道，有異於斯。 于時武皇雖受制於人，未親庶政，而謀士韞奇，直臣鉗口，過矣哉！ 而曆觀前載，以外戚而居宰輔者多矣； 而傾漢室者王族，喪周家者楊氏，何滅亡之禍，若合契焉。
Zhou lineage from Emperor Wen down to Emperor Wu—yet years over two reigns, the age passed four lords. Enterprise was not the time of founding by the knife; affairs differed from days of expedient measure, as the text has it. Yet they cast aside kin and took alien ways, using barbarians to disorder the Chinese, as the text has it. They fouled marriage's ritual order and sought profit even from wolves. Soon those who had been rewarded grew weary; those who gave knew no limit. What had been called marriage for harmony—in no time had turned to enmity. The way of orthodox and unorthodox differs from this. Then Emperor Wu, though others held him and he did not govern daily affairs, still had schemers hoard plans while upright ministers were silenced—how excessive! Yet in former records, maternal kin as chief ministers are many; yet Wang's clan overturned Han, Yang's house doomed Zhou—why do ruinous fates align like tally marks?
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隋文取鑒於已遠，大革前失，故母后之家不罹禍故。 獨孤權無呂、霍，獲全仁壽之前； 蕭氏勢異梁、竇，不傾大業之後。 至或不隕舊基，或更隆克構，豈非處之以道，其所致然乎？
Wendi took warning from the distant past and greatly reformed old abuses, so empress families escaped ruin. Dugu held power but not like Lü and Huo—she remained whole before Renshou; Xiao's power was not like Liang and Dou—she did not topple the great enterprise after. Some did not fall from the old base, some even raised what was firmly built—is it not because they were governed by the Way?