Volume 52 Biographies 2: Empresses and Consorts 2

玄宗元獻皇后楊氏，弘農華陰人。曾祖士達，隋納言，天授中，以則天母族，追封士達為鄭王，贈太尉。父知慶，左千牛將軍，贈太尉、鄭國公。后景雲元年八月選入太子宮。時太平公主用事，尤忌東宮。宮中左右持兩端，而潛附太平者，必陰伺察，事雖纖芥，皆聞于上，太子心不自安。后時方娠，太子密謂張說曰：「用事者不欲吾多息胤，恐禍及此婦人，其如之何？」密令說懷去胎藥而入。太子于曲室躬自煮藥，醺然似寐，夢神人覆鼎。既寤如夢，如是者三。太子異之，告說。說曰：「天命也，無宜他慮。」既而太平誅，後果生肅宗。太子妃王氏無子，后班在下，后不敢母肅宗。王妃撫鞠，慈甚所生。開元中，肅宗為忠王，后為妃，又生甯親公主。張說以舊恩特承寵異，說亦奇忠王儀錶，心知運曆所鐘，故甯親公主降說子垍。

Empress Yuanxian of Emperor Xuanzong, the Yang clan, came from Huayin in Hongnong Commandery. Her great-grandfather Shida had served the Sui as Director of the Secretariat. In the Tianshou period, as a kinsman on Empress Wu's mother's side, he was posthumously created Prince of Zheng and honored as Grand Commandant. Her father Zhiqing, Left Colonel of the Thousand-Ox Guard, was posthumously honored as Grand Commandant and Duke of Zheng. In the eighth month of Jingyun 1, she was chosen for the crown prince's household. Princess Taiping was then in power and bore special enmity toward the crown prince. Palace attendants hedged their bets, and those who secretly favored Taiping watched in the shadows. Even the smallest matters reached the emperor's ears, and the crown prince lived in constant unease. The empress was pregnant. The crown prince confided to Zhang Yue, "Those in power do not want me to have many sons. I fear harm will reach this woman. What can we do?" He secretly told Zhang Yue to carry abortifacient medicine inside his robes and bring it in. In a side room the crown prince brewed the medicine himself. Growing drowsy as if asleep, he dreamed that a divine being covered the cauldron. When he woke, it was exactly as in the dream—and so three times. The crown prince found it strange and told Zhang Yue. Zhang Yue said, "This is Heaven's decree. Give no thought to anything else." Not long after, Taiping was put to death, and the empress did bear Emperor Suzong. Crown Princess Wang had no son. The empress ranked below her and did not dare claim Suzong as her own child. The princess consort raised him with a tenderness equal to a birth mother's. During Kaiyuan, when Suzong was Prince of Zhong, she became his consort and later bore Princess Ningqin. Zhang Yue, owing to old ties, enjoyed exceptional favor. He also admired Prince Zhong's bearing and sensed that destiny favored him, so Princess Ningqin was married to his son Qi.

開元十七年，后薨，葬細柳原，玄宗命說為志文，其銘云：「石獸澀兮綠苔黏，宿草殘兮白露霑。園寢閉兮脂粉膩，不知何年開鏡奩。」二十四年，忠王立為皇太子。至德元年，肅宗即位于靈武。二載五月，玄宗在蜀，誥曰：「聖人垂范，是推顧復之恩；王者建極，抑有追尊之禮。蓋母以子貴，德以諡尊。故妃弘農楊氏，特稟坤靈，久厘陰教。往以續塗山之慶，降華渚之祥。誕發異圖，載光帝業。而冊命猶闕，幽靈尚牴。夏王繼統，方軫陽城之恩；漢後褒榮，庶協昭靈之稱。宜於彼追冊為元獻太后。」寶應二年正月，祔葬泰陵。

In Kaiyuan 17 the empress died and was buried at Xiliuyuan. Xuanzong had Zhang Yue write the epitaph, which reads, "Stone beasts roughen; green moss clings. The garden tomb is sealed; rouge and powder thicken—who knows what year the mirror case will open again." In the twenty-fourth year, Prince Zhong was made crown prince. In Zhide 1, Suzong took the throne at Lingwu. In the fifth month of the second year, with Xuanzong in Shu, an edict declared, "The sage sets the pattern and extends the grace of nurturing; the ruler who establishes the supreme norm likewise observes rites of posthumous elevation. A mother is honored through her son, and virtue is exalted through the posthumous title. Consort Yang of Hongnong was endowed with Earth's spirit and long upheld the feminine teachings of the inner court. Once she continued the blessing of Tushan and descended with the auspice of Huazhu. She bore an extraordinary heir and brought glory to the imperial enterprise. Yet formal investiture was still lacking, and her spirit remained unreconciled. When the Xia king succeeded to the throne, he mourned the kindness owed to Yangcheng; when the Han empress was honored, it was hoped to accord with the title Zhaoling. Let her there be posthumously enfeoffed as Empress Dowager Yuanxian." In the first month of Baoying 2, she was enshrined and buried at Tailing.

肅宗張皇后，本南陽西鄂人，後徙家昭應。祖母竇氏，玄宗母昭成皇太后之妹也。昭成為天后所殺，玄宗幼失所恃，為竇姨鞠養。景雲中，封鄧國夫人，恩渥甚隆。其子去惑、去疑、去奢、去逸，皇姨弟也，皆至大官。去盈尚玄宗女常芬公主。去逸生后，天寶中，選入太子宮為良娣。后弟清，又尚大寧郡主。

Empress Zhang of Suzong was originally from Xi'e in Nanyang; her family later moved to Zhaoying. Her grandmother Lady Dou was the younger sister of Empress Zhaocheng, Xuanzong's mother. Zhaocheng was killed by Empress Wu. Xuanzong, bereft of his mother in youth, was raised by Aunt Dou. In the Jingyun period she was created Lady of Deng and received lavish favor. Her sons Quhuo, Quyi, Qushe, and Quyi were the emperor's maternal cousins and all rose to high office. Quyi married Xuanzong's daughter, Princess Changfen. Quyi's daughter became the empress. In the Tianbao era she was chosen for the crown prince's palace as Worthy Consort. The empress's younger brother Qing also married Princess Daning.

后辯惠豐碩，巧中上旨。祿山之亂，玄宗幸蜀，太子與良娣俱從，車駕渡渭，百姓遮道請留太子收復長安。肅宗性仁孝，以上皇播越，不欲違離左右。宦者李靖忠啟太子請留，良娣贊成之，白于玄宗。太子如靈武，時賊已陷京師，從官單寮，道路多虞。每太子次舍宿止，良娣必居其前。太子曰：「捍禦非婦人之事，何以居前？」良娣曰：「今大家跋履險難，兵衛非多，恐有倉卒，妾自當之，大家可由後而出，庶幾無患。」及至靈武，產子，三日起，縫戰士衣。太子勞之曰：「產忌作勞，安可容易？」後曰：「此非妾自養之時，須辦大家事。」肅宗即位，冊為淑妃。贈父太僕卿去逸左僕射，母竇氏封義章縣主，姊李曇妻封清河郡夫人，妹師師封郕國夫人。乾元元年四月，冊為皇后。弟駙馬都尉清加特進、太常卿，同正，封范陽郡公。皇后寵遇專房，與中官李輔國持權禁中，干預政事，請謁過當，帝頗不悅，無如之何。後於光順門受外命婦朝，親蠶苑中，內外命婦相見，儀注甚盛。先在靈武時，太子弟建甯王倓為后誣譖而死。自是太子憂懼，常恐后之構禍，乃以恭遜取容，后以建寧之隙，常欲危之。張后生二子：興王佋、定王侗。興王早薨，侗又孩幼，故儲位獲安。

The empress was eloquent, clever, and full-figured, and skillfully matched the sovereign's wishes. When An Lushan's rebellion broke out, Xuanzong fled to Shu. The crown prince and Worthy Consort followed. At the Wei crossing the people blocked the road and begged the crown prince to stay and recover Chang'an. Suzong was naturally filial. With the retired emperor cast into exile, he could not bear to leave his side. The eunuch Li Jingzhong urged the crown prince to stay. Worthy Consort supported him and reported it to Xuanzong. The crown prince went on to Lingwu. The rebels had already taken the capital; his retinue was thin and the roads perilous. Whenever the crown prince stopped to lodge, Worthy Consort always took the place ahead of him. The crown prince said, "Defense is no woman's work. Why go ahead?" Worthy Consort said, "Your Majesty now treads danger with few guards. I fear a sudden attack. Let me meet it first; Your Majesty can leave by the rear. Then we may escape harm." At Lingwu she gave birth. On the third day she rose and sewed clothing for the soldiers. The crown prince urged her, "Childbirth forbids exertion. How can you take this so lightly?" She replied, "This is no time to tend myself. I must see to Your Majesty's affairs." When Suzong took the throne, she was invested as Cultivated Consort. Her father Quyi was posthumously made Vice Director of the Imperial Stud and Left Vice Director; her mother Lady Dou was created Lady of Yizhang; her elder sister, Li Yan's wife, Lady of Qinghe; her younger sister Shishi, Lady of Zheng. In the fourth month of Qianyuan 1 she was invested as empress. Her brother Qing, Chief Commandant of the Empress's Household, was specially advanced to Grand Master of Imperial Entertainments with concurrent rank and enfeoffed Duke of Fanyang. The empress enjoyed exclusive favor. With the eunuch Li Fuguo she wielded power inside the palace, meddled in affairs of state, and petitions and audiences exceeded all bounds. The emperor was deeply displeased but powerless. Later she received outer-court ladies in audience at Guangshun Gate and personally performed the mulberry rite in the garden. Inner and outer ladies met in ceremony of great splendor. Earlier at Lingwu, the crown prince's younger brother Prince Chen of Jianning had died after the empress slandered him. From then on the crown prince lived in fear that the empress would contrive his ruin. He won favor through humble deference, while she, because of the Jianning affair, constantly sought to destroy him. Empress Zhang bore two sons: Prince Zhou of Xing and Prince Tong of Ding. Prince of Xing died young and Tong was still an infant, so the heir's position held firm.

寶應元年四月，肅宗大漸，后與內官朱輝光、馬英俊、啖廷瑤、陳仙甫等謀立越王係，矯詔召太子入侍疾。中官程元振、李輔國知其謀，及太子入，二人以難告，請太子在飛龍廄。元振率禁軍收越王，捕硃輝光等。俄而肅宗崩，太子監國，遂移后於別殿，幽崩。誅馬英俊，女道士許靈素配流，山人申大芝賜死，駙馬都尉清貶硤州司馬，弟延和郡主婿鴻臚卿潛貶郴州司馬，舅鴻臚卿竇履信貶道州刺史。

In the fourth month of Baoying 1, as Suzong lay dying, the empress plotted with the inner officials Zhu Huiguang, Ma Yingjun, Dan Tingyao, and Chen Xianfu to install Prince Xi of Yue. A forged edict summoned the crown prince to the bedside. The eunuchs Cheng Yuanzhen and Li Fuguo learned of the plot. When the crown prince arrived, they warned him and asked him to remain at Feilong Stable. Yuanzhen led the imperial guard to seize Prince of Yue and arrest Zhu Huiguang and the rest. Soon Suzong died. The crown prince took charge of the state, moved the empress to a separate hall, and she died in confinement. Ma Yingjun was executed; the Daoist Xu Lingsu was banished; the recluse Shen Dazhi was put to death; Chief Commandant Qing was demoted to aide in Xia Prefecture; his brother Qian, Director of Imperial Sacrifices and Princess Yanhe's son-in-law, to aide in Chen Prefecture; and their uncle Dou Lüxin, also Director of Imperial Sacrifices, to prefect of Dao Prefecture.

肅宗韋妃。父元珪，兗州都督。肅宗為忠王時，納為孺人，及升儲位，為太子妃，生兗王僴、絳王佺、永和公主、永穆公主。天寶中，宰相李林甫不利於太子，妃兄堅為刑部尚書，林甫羅織，起柳勣之獄，堅連坐得罪，兄弟並賜死。太子懼，上表自理，言與妃情義不睦，請離婚，玄宗慰撫之，聽離。妃遂削髮被尼服，居禁中佛舍。西京失守，妃亦陷賊。至德二年，薨於京城。

Consort Wei of Emperor Suzong. Her father Yuanqi was military governor of Yan Prefecture. When Suzong was Prince of Zhong he took her as a lady; when he became heir apparent she became crown princess and bore Prince Xian of Yan, Prince Quan of Jiang, Princess Yonghe, and Princess Yongmu. In Tianbao, Chancellor Li Linfu was hostile to the crown prince. The consort's brother Jian, Minister of Justice, was framed in the Liu Ji affair; Jian was implicated and the brothers were all put to death. The crown prince, in fear, submitted a memorial clearing himself, saying he and the consort were not close and asking for divorce. Xuanzong comforted him and granted it. The consort shaved her head, put on nun's robes, and lived in a Buddhist hall within the palace. When the Western Capital fell, she too was captured by the rebels. In Zhide 2 she died in the capital.

肅宗章敬皇后吳氏，坐父事沒入掖庭。開元二十三年，玄宗幸忠王邸，見王服御蕭然，傍無媵侍，命將軍高力士選掖庭宮人以賜之，而吳后在籍中。容止端麗，性多謙抑，寵遇益隆。明年，生代宗皇帝。二十八年薨，葬於春明門外。

Empress Zhangjing of Suzong, née Wu, entered the palace women because of her father's offense. In Kaiyuan 23 Xuanzong visited Prince Zhong's residence, found his furnishings sparse and no attendant ladies beside him, and ordered General Gao Lishi to choose palace women from the inner quarters as gifts. Wu was on the register. Her bearing was graceful and her nature deeply modest; favor toward her steadily grew. The next year she bore Emperor Daizong. In the twenty-eighth year she died and was buried outside Chunming Gate.

代宗即位之年十二月，群臣以肅宗山陵有期，准禮以先太后祔陵廟。宰臣郭子儀等上表曰：

In the twelfth month of Daizong's accession year, the ministers, with Suzong's tomb date set, enshrined the former empress dowager at tomb and temple according to rite. Chancellor Guo Ziyi and others submitted a memorial:

「儷宸極者，允歸於淑德；諡徽號者，必副於鴻名。當履運而承天，則因心而追往，此先王之明訓，聖人之茂典也。伏惟先太后圓精挺質，方祗稟秀。禎符協於四星，典禮敦于萬國，得元和之正氣，韞霄漢之清英。顧史求箴，道先於壺則；捴謙率禮，教備於中闈。太陰無昃朓之征，丙殿有祝延之慶。尊敬師傅，佩服禮經，勤於蘋藻之薦，罔貴珩璜之飾。徽音允穆，嘉慶聿彰，憲度輔佐之勞，緝熙玄默之化，足以光昭宗祀，作配紫微。豈《騶虞》之風，行于江、漢之域；《葛覃》之詠，起自岐陽之下。爰膺歷數，作啟聖明，大拯艱難，永清夷夏。雖復文母成周王之業，慶都誕帝堯之聖，異代同符，彼多慚德。昊蒼不吊，聖善長違。當圓魄之成，玉英早落；有坤儀之美，象服未加。悲懷於先遠之辰，感慟于易名之日。伏以山陵貞兆，良吉有期，虞祔之儀，式資配享。率由故實，敬奉嘉名。謹按諡法：『敬慎高明曰章，法度明大曰章，夙興夜寐曰敬，齊莊中正曰敬。』敢遵先典，仰圖懿德，謹上尊諡曰章敬皇后。」

"She who shares the throne belongs by right to virtuous conduct; she who receives a posthumous title must bear a name worthy of it. When one inherits the mandate and receives Heaven, one honors the past from the heart—this is the bright instruction of former kings and the abundant norm of sages. We respectfully consider that the former empress dowager, pure in essence and upright in substance, received Earth's excellence. Auspicious signs matched the four stars; ceremonial norms were honored among all states; she possessed harmony's correct breath and stored the Milky Way's clear brilliance. Looking to history for admonition, the Way came first in inner-court rule; holding humility and leading by rite, her teaching was complete within the inner palace. The great yin showed no sign of waning; in the Bing Hall there were prayers for long life. She revered her teachers, wore the rites upon her person, diligently offered water-cress and duckweed, and did not prize pendant and ring. Her fine reputation was true and solemn, her good fortune brightly manifest; her labor in assisting with statutes and her silent, radiant transformation were enough to glorify the ancestral sacrifices and serve as consort to the Purple Palace. Could the wind of the 'Zou Yu' run in the Yangtze and Han; the song of the 'Ge Tan' rise from below Mount Qi? She received the succession and opened sage clarity, greatly rescued hardship, and forever cleared barbarian and Chinese alike. Though Wen Mu completed the Zhou king's enterprise and Qingdu bore Emperor Yao's sagehood, different ages bore the same sign—yet they would mostly blush before her virtue. Great Heaven did not pity; sage goodness was long lost. When the full orb was complete, the jade blossom fell early; though she had the beauty of the feminine norm, ceremonial robes were not yet conferred. Grief filled the time of the distant past; anguish moved the day of changing the name. We respectfully note that the tomb's auspicious site has a fixed date; the rite of enshrinement requires a consort for joint sacrifice. Following former precedent, we respectfully offer this fine name. We respectfully consult the posthumous-name law: 'Reverent, cautious, and lofty is called Zhang; clear in law and great in measure is called Zhang; rising early and sleeping late is called Jing; even, solemn, and centered is called Jing.' We dare follow the former canon, look up to her excellent virtue, and respectfully submit the honored posthumous title Empress Zhangjing."

二年三月，祔葬建陵。啟春明門外舊壟，后容狀如生，粉黛如故，而衣皆赭黃色，見者駭異，以為聖子符兆之先。

In the third month of the second year she was enshrined and buried at Jianling. They opened the old mound outside Chunming Gate. The empress looked as in life, powder and rouge unchanged, and her garments were all ochre-yellow. Viewers were astonished and took it as an omen of the sage son's mandate.

后父令珪，寶應初贈太尉；母李氏，贈秦國夫人。叔令瑤，拜太子家令，封馮翊郡公；令瑜，太子右諭德，封濟陰郡公。后兄漵，鴻臚少卿，封鄄城縣公；澄，太子賓客，濮陽縣公；湊，太子詹事，臨濮縣公；並加開府儀同三司。漵位終金吾大將軍，湊位終京兆尹，見《外戚傳》。

At the beginning of Baoying her father Linggui was posthumously honored as Grand Commandant; her mother Lady Li as Lady of Qin. Her uncle Lingyao was appointed Tutor to the Crown Prince and enfeoffed Duke of Fenyang; Lingyu was Right Mentor to the Crown Prince and enfeoffed Duke of Jiyin. Her elder brother Su was Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and enfeoffed Duke of Juancheng; Cheng was Companion to the Crown Prince and Duke of Puyang; Cou was Chief Administrator to the Crown Prince and Duke of Linpu; all were given the added title of Grand Master with rank equal to the Three Excellencies. Su ended as General of the Gold Crow Guard; Cou as Intendant of Jingzhao—see the Biographies of Outer Relatives.

代宗睿真皇后沈氏，吳興人，世為冠族。父易直，秘書監。開元末，以良家子選入東宮，賜太子男廣平王。天寶元年，生德宗皇帝。祿山之亂，玄宗幸蜀，諸王、妃、主從幸不及者，多陷於賊，后被拘於東都掖庭。及代宗破賊，收東都，見之，留于宮中，方經略北征，未暇迎歸長安。俄而史思明再陷河洛。及朝義敗，復收東都，失后所在，莫測存亡。代宗遣使求訪，十餘年寂無所聞。德宗即位，下詔曰：「王者事父孝，故事天明；事母孝，故事地察。則事天莫先于嚴父，事地莫盛於尊親。朕恭承天命，以主社稷，執珪璧以事上帝，祖宗克配，園寢永終。而內朝虛位，闕問安之禮，銜悲內惻，憂戀終歲。思欲曆舟車之路，以聽求音問，而主茲重器，莫匪深哀。是用仰稽舊儀，敬崇大號，舉茲禮命，式遵前典。宜令公卿大夫稽度前訓，上皇太后尊號。」

Empress Ruizhen of Daizong, née Shen, came from Wuxing; her family for generations were leading clans. Her father Yizhi was Director of the Secretariat. At the end of Kaiyuan, as a woman of good family she was chosen for the Eastern Palace and given to the crown prince's son, Prince of Guangping. In Tianbao 1 she bore Emperor Dezong. When An Lushan's rebellion broke out, Xuanzong fled to Shu. Princes, consorts, and princesses who could not follow mostly fell to the rebels. The empress was detained in the Eastern Capital's inner quarters. When Daizong defeated the rebels and recovered the Eastern Capital, he saw her and kept her in the palace. He was then planning the northern campaign and had no leisure to bring her back to Chang'an. Soon Shi Siming again took Henei and Luoyang. When Chaoyi was defeated and the Eastern Capital was recovered again, the empress's whereabouts were lost and none could tell whether she lived or died. Daizong sent envoys to seek her; for more than ten years there was no word. When Dezong ascended the throne, an edict proclaimed, "When a king serves his father with filial piety, he thereby illuminates Heaven; when he serves his mother with filial piety, he thereby illuminates Earth. Thus in serving Heaven nothing comes before honoring the father; in serving Earth nothing surpasses honoring the parent. We respectfully receive Heaven's mandate and preside over the altars of soil and grain; we hold jade scepter and disk in serving the Supreme Lord; the ancestors are properly matched, and the garden tomb is forever complete. Yet the inner court's place stands empty, the rite of inquiring after well-being is lacking, grief fills the heart, and longing endures through the year. We wish to traverse roads by boat and carriage to seek word of her, yet in holding this heavy vessel none is free of deep sorrow. Therefore we respectfully look to former rites, reverently raise a great title, offer this ceremonial command, and follow the former canon. Let the high ministers and grandees examine former instruction and submit the honored title of empress dowager."

建中元年十一月，遙尊聖母沈氏為皇太后，陳禮於含元殿庭，如正至之儀。上袞冕出自東序門，立於東方，朝臣班於位，冊曰：「嗣皇帝臣名言：恩莫重于顧復，禮莫貴於徽號，上以展愛敬之道，下以正《春秋》之義，則祖宗之所稟命，臣子之所盡心，尊尊親親，此焉而在。兩漢而下，帝王嗣位，崇奉尊稱，厥有舊章。永惟丕烈，敢墜前典，臣名謹上尊號曰皇太后。」帝再拜，歔唏不自勝，左右皆泣下。仍以睦王述為奉迎皇太后使，工部尚書喬琳副之，候太后問至，升平公主宜備起居。於是分命使臣，周行天下。明年二月，吉問至，群臣稱賀，既而詐妄。自是詐稱太后者數四，皆不之罪，終貞元之世無聞焉。

In the eleventh month of Jianzhong 1, the sacred mother Lady Shen was honored from afar as empress dowager; ceremony was performed in the court of Hanyuan Hall as at the winter solstice rite. Wearing imperial robe and cap, the emperor came out from the east side gate and stood in the east; court ministers took their ranks; the investiture text read, "The succeeding emperor, your subject [Name], says: No grace is heavier than nurturing; no rite is more precious than the honored title. Above, to extend the Way of love and reverence; below, to set right the meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals—then the mandate received from the ancestors and the utmost heart of subject and son, honoring the honored and cherishing the near, reside herein. From the Two Han dynasties downward, when emperors succeeded they honored and elevated titles; there are old statutes for this. Ever contemplating the great achievement, we dare not fall from the former canon; your subject [Name] respectfully submits the honored title Empress Dowager." The emperor bowed twice, sobbing beyond control; those at his side all wept. Prince of Mu Shu was also appointed envoy to welcome the empress dowager, with Minister of Works Qiao Lin as deputy; when word of the empress dowager arrived, Princess Shengping was to attend to her daily needs. Thereupon separate envoys were dispatched to search throughout the realm. In the second month of the next year auspicious word arrived and the ministers offered congratulations—yet it proved false. From then on four persons falsely claimed to be the empress dowager; none was punished, and through the Zhenyuan reign there was no further word.

德宗敦崇外族，贈太后父易直太師，易直子庫部員外郎介福贈太傅，介福子德州刺史士衡贈太保，易直第二子秘書少監震贈太尉；時沈氏封贈拜爵者百餘人。貞元七年，詔外曾祖隋陝令沈琳贈司徒，追封徐國公，與外祖贈太師易直等立五廟，以琳為始，緣祠廟所須，官給。後無近屬，惟族子房為近，德宗用為金吾將軍，主沈氏之祀。

Dezong honored the maternal clan. The empress dowager's father Yizhi was posthumously made Grand Preceptor; his son Jiefu, Outer Court Official of the Treasury, Grand Tutor; Jiefu's son Shiheng, prefect of De Prefecture, Grand Protector; Yizhi's second son Zhen, Vice Director of the Secretariat, Grand Commandant; At that time more than a hundred persons of the Shen clan received enfeoffment and posthumous honors. In Zhenyuan 7 an edict posthumously honored the empress dowager's maternal great-grandfather Shen Lin, Sui magistrate of Shan, as Minister of Education and Duke of Xu; with her maternal grandfather Yizhi, posthumously Grand Preceptor, five temples were established with Lin as founder; whatever the ancestral temples required was supplied by the state. The empress had no close relatives; only clansman Fang was near, and Dezong employed him as General of the Gold Crow Guard to preside over Shen sacrifices.

憲宗即位之年九月，禮儀使奏：「太后沈氏厭代登真，於今二十七載，大行皇帝至孝惟深，哀思罔極。建中之初，已發明詔，舟車所至，靡不周遍，歲月滋深，迎訪理絕。按晉庾蔚之議，尋求三年之後，又俟中壽而服之。今參詳禮例，伏請以大行皇帝啟攢宮日，百官舉哀于肅章門內之正殿，先令有司造禕衣一副，發哀日令內官以禕衣置於幄。自後宮人朝夕上食，先啟告元陵，次告天地宗廟、昭德皇后廟。太皇太后諡冊，造神主，擇日祔於代宗廟。其禕衣備法駕奉迎於元陵祠，復置於代宗皇帝袞衣之右。便以發哀日為國忌。」詔如奏。其年十一月，冊諡曰睿真皇后，奉神主祔于代宗之室。

In the ninth month of Xianzong's accession year, the Commissioner of Ceremonies memorialized, "Empress Dowager Lady Shen has departed this life and ascended to truth; it is now twenty-seven years. The late emperor's filial piety was deep and his grief boundless. At the beginning of Jianzhong an edict had already been issued; wherever boat and carriage reached, none was left unsearched; as months and years deepened, the search for welcome was logically exhausted. According to Yu Wei's discussion in Jin, after three years of searching one waits for middle longevity before putting on mourning. Now examining rites and precedents, we respectfully ask that on the day the late emperor's coffin is placed in the temporary palace, all officials mourn in the main hall inside Suzhang Gate; first let the relevant offices prepare one set of burial garments; on the day mourning begins let inner officials place the burial garments in the canopy. From then on palace women morning and evening offered food; first report to Yuanling, then to Heaven, Earth, the ancestral temple, and Empress Zhaode's temple. Prepare the posthumous investiture and spirit tablet for the Grand Empress Dowager, choose a day, and enshrine her in Daizong's temple. Prepare the burial garments with the full imperial escort to welcome them at Yuanling Shrine, then place them to the right of Daizong's imperial robe. Let the day mourning begins serve as the national day of remembrance." An edict followed the memorial. In the eleventh month of that year she was invested with the posthumous title Empress Ruizhen, and her spirit tablet was enshrined in Daizong's chamber.

代宗崔妃，博陵安平人。父峋，秘書少監。母楊氏，韓國夫人。天寶中，楊貴妃寵倖，即妃之姨母也。時韓國、虢國之寵，冠于戚里。時代宗為廣平王，故玄宗選韓國之女，嬪于廣平邸，禮儀甚盛。生召王偲。初，妃挾母氏之勢，性頗妒悍，及西京陷賊，母黨皆誅，妃從王至靈武，恩顧漸薄，達京而薨。

Consort Cui of Daizong came from Anping in Boling. Her father Xun was Vice Director of the Secretariat. Her mother was Lady Yang, Lady of Han. In the Tianbao era Consort Yang received favor; she was the consort's maternal aunt. At that time the favor shown Lady of Han and Lady of Guo topped all the imperial kin. Daizong was then Prince of Guangping; Xuanzong chose Lady of Han's daughter as consort in his residence, and the ceremonial was very grand. She bore Prince Si of Shao. At first the consort relied on her mother's clan and was jealous and fierce. When the Western Capital fell her mother's faction was executed. She followed the prince to Lingwu; favor gradually thinned, and she died after reaching the capital.

代宗貞懿皇后獨孤氏，父穎，左威衛錄事參軍，以后貴，贈工部尚書。后以美麗入宮，嬖幸專房，故長秋虛位，諸姬罕所進御。後始冊為貴妃，生韓王迥、華陽公主。華陽聰悟過人，能候上顏色，發言必隨喜慍。上之所賞，則因而美之；上之所惡，則曲以全之，由是鍾愛特異。大曆九年，公主薨，上嗟悼過深，數日不視朝。宰臣等因中使吳承倩附奏，言修短常理，以社稷之重，宜節哀視事。初，公主疾，上令宗師道教，名曰瓊華真人。及疾亟，上親自臨視，屬纊之際，齧傷上指，其愛念如此。上既未聽朝，宰臣等諫曰：「公主夙成神悟，仁眷特鐘，嘗禱必親，已承減膳，幽明遽間，倍軫慈衷。臣等微誠，無由感達。伏惟陛下守累聖之公器，禦群生之重畜，夷百戰之艱患，撫四海之傷殘。虜候為虞，戎師近警，一言萬務，裁成聖心，得失謬於毫釐，安危存於晷刻。伏慮顧懷猶切，神志未和，眾情以之不甯，臣子以之兢悸。伏願抑周喪之私痛，均品物於至公，下慰黔黎，上安宗社。」上始聽朝。

Empress Zhenyi of Daizong, née Dugu; her father Ying was Recorder of the Left Weiwu Guard; because of her honor he was posthumously made Minister of Works. The empress entered the palace for her beauty and received exclusive favor. The position of Chief of the Long Autumn stood empty, and the other ladies were rarely admitted. Later she was invested as Noble Consort and bore Prince Jiong of Han and Princess Huayang. Huayang was clever beyond others; she could read the emperor's countenance, and whatever she said always followed his mood. What the emperor favored, she then praised; what he disliked, she tactfully spared—therefore love and favor were exceptionally concentrated on her. In Dali 9 the princess died; the emperor's grief was excessive, and for several days he did not hold court. The chancellors, through the inner envoy Wu Chengqian, appended a memorial saying that length and brevity are fate's constant and that, for the weight of the altars, he should restrain grief and attend to affairs. When the princess first fell ill, the emperor ordered the Director of the Imperial Clan to perform Daoist teaching and gave her the name Qionghua the Perfected One. When her illness grew critical the emperor personally visited her; at the moment of placing the silk in her mouth he bit and injured his finger—such was his love. The emperor had not yet resumed court when the chancellors remonstrated, saying, "The princess from youth attained divine understanding; benevolent favor was especially concentrated on her. When she prayed she always did so in person; she had already accepted reduced meals. The hidden and manifest were suddenly parted, doubling the wound to your compassionate heart. Our slight sincerity could not reach you. We respectfully consider that Your Majesty holds the public vessel accumulated by successive sages, governs the heavy charge of all living beings, smoothed the hardship of a hundred battles, and comforted the wounded of the four seas. Barbarian scouts cause alarm; border troops are near warning; in a word lie ten thousand affairs, all shaped by the sage heart; gain and loss err by a hair's breadth, and safety and peril hang on a moment's measure. We fear your lingering care is still deep and spirit and harmony not yet restored; the multitude is thereby unsettled, and subjects and sons are thereby fearful. We respectfully wish that you restrain the private grief of the Zhou mourning, equalize all things in utmost fairness, comfort the common people below, and settle the altars above." The emperor then resumed court.

大曆十年五月，貴妃薨，追諡曰貞懿皇后，殯于內殿，累年不忍出宮。十三年十月方葬，命宰臣常袞為哀冊曰：

In the fifth month of Dali 10 the Noble Consort died; she was posthumously titled Empress Zhenyi and lay in state in the inner hall; for years the emperor could not bear to remove her from the palace. In the tenth month of the thirteenth year she was finally buried; the emperor ordered Chancellor Chang Gun to compose the lamentation text:

「維大曆十年，歲在辛卯，十月辛酉朔。六日丙寅，貴妃獨孤氏薨。粵明日，追諡曰貞懿皇后，殯于內殿之西階。十三年十月癸酉，乃命門下侍郎、同平章事常袞持節冊命。以其月二十五日丁酉，遷座于莊陵，禮也。素紗列位，黼奕周庭，輅升玉綴，軒楹珠欞。皇帝悼鸞掖以追懷，感麟跡而增慟，備百禮以殷遣，命六宮而哀送。宗祝薦告，司儀降收，爰詔侍臣，紀垂鴻休。其辭曰：

"In the tenth year of Dali, the year xinmao, the first day of the tenth month, xinyou. On the sixth day, bingyin, Noble Consort Lady Dugu died. On the following day she was posthumously titled Empress Zhenyi and lay in state on the western steps of the inner hall. In the tenth month of the thirteenth year, on the day guiyou, the emperor ordered Vice Director of the Secretariat and Concurrent Chief Councillor Chang Gun to bear the staff of command and perform the investiture. On the twenty-fifth day of that month, dingyou, the seat was moved to Zhuangling—by rite. Plain gauze ranks were arrayed; embroidered splendor filled the court; the carriage rose with jade trappings; the carriage curtains with pearl lattices. The emperor mourned the phoenix chamber in remembrance and was moved by the unicorn's trace to deeper grief; a hundred rites were prepared for a solemn send-off, and the six palaces were ordered to lament and escort. The ancestral priest offered report; the master of ceremony descended to receive; then attendant ministers were commanded to record and leave this great blessing. The text reads:

『祚祉悠久，寵靈誕受，元魏戚籓，周、隋帝后。五侯迭興，七貴居右，肇啟皇運，光膺文母。纘女是因，以綱大倫，生知陰教，育我蒸人。瑞雲呈彩，瑤星降神，聰明睿智，婉麗貞仁。惟昔天監，搜求才淑，龍德在田，葛覃于穀。周薑胥宇，漢後推轂，王業惟艱，嬪風已穆。繼文傳聖，嗣徽克令，不曜其光，乃終有慶。祗奉園寢，肅恭靈命，越在哀煢，聿追孝敬。文織絲組，硃綠玄黃，上供祭服，以祀明堂。法度有節，不待珩璜，篇訓之制，自盈縑緗。敘我邦族，風於天下，始於憂勤，協成王化。慈厚諸女，寵臨下嫁，登進賢才，勞謙日夜。服繒示儉，脫簪申誡，訪問後言，宴遊夙退。內加群娣，動有矜誨；外睦諸親，泣辭封拜。闕翟有日，親蠶俟時，忽歸清漢，言復方祗。萬乘悼懷，群臣慕思，玉衣追慶，金鈿同儀。嗚呼哀哉！去昭陽兮窅然，乘雲駕兮何在？人代宛兮如舊，炎涼倏兮已改。翠葆森以成列，素旗儼而相待。言從玉兆之貞，永牴瑤華之彩。別長秋之西苑，過望春兮南登，招帝子於北渚，從母后於東陵。下土清兮動金翠，外無像兮中有馮，合簫挽以攢咽，結雲雨之淒凝。吾君感於幽期，俯層亭而望思，慘嬪媛以延踔，極容衛以盡時。搖巾袂兮遠訣，隔軒檻兮群悲，不復見兮回禦輦，傷如何兮軫睿慈。下蘭皋兮背芷陽，旌悠悠兮野蒼蒼，帶白花兮掩淚，衣玄帉兮斷腸。當盛明兮共樂，忽幽處兮獨傷，去故廷兮日遠，即新宮兮夜長。襚無文繡之飾，器無珠貝之藏，蓋自我之立制，刑有國之大方。嗚呼哀哉！見送往之空歸，歎終焉之如此，方士神兮是與非，甘泉畫兮疑復似。遺音在於玉瑱，陳跡留于金所，獻萬壽兮無期，存《二南》之餘美。』」

'Blessing and fortune long endure; favor and spirit received at birth; a kinsman prince of Northern Wei; empress of Zhou and Sui. Five marquises rose in succession; seven nobles stood at the right; they opened the imperial fortune and received the civil mother of culture. Continuing through daughters, they bound the great human relations; born knowing the feminine teaching, they nurtured our people. Auspicious clouds showed color; a jade star descended as spirit; intelligent, wise, and discerning; graceful, lovely, chaste, and benevolent. In former times Heaven watched; talent and virtue were sought; the dragon's virtue was in the field; the 'Ge Tan' in the valley. Jiang of Zhou chose her dwelling; the Han empress pushed the carriage; royal enterprise was hard; consortly wind was already solemn. Continuing culture and transmitting sagehood, inheriting brilliance and fulfilling command; not displaying her light, yet in the end there was blessing. Reverently serving the garden tomb, solemnly honoring the spirit's command; in orphaned grief, pursuing filial reverence. Embroidered silk and thread, vermilion, green, black, and yellow; above, supplying sacrificial garments to serve the Bright Hall. Statutes had measure and did not wait on pendant and ring; the pattern of admonition was itself full in fine silk. Ordering our clan and kin, the wind reached all under Heaven; beginning in care and diligence, it harmonized with royal transformation. Kind to all daughters, favoring them in marriage below; advancing worthy talent, laboring humbly day and night. Wearing plain silk to show thrift, removing hairpins to give admonition; seeking counsel afterward, retiring early from feasts and outings. Within, she added to the consorts; in movement there was compassionate instruction; without, she harmonized with kin; weeping, she declined enfeoffment. The pheasant banner had its day; the mulberry rite awaited its time; suddenly she returned to the clear Han; words again to the square Earth. The ten thousand chariots mourned; ministers and officials yearned in thought; jade garments pursued blessing; gold hairpins shared the rite. Alas, alas, grief! Departing Zhaoyang—how distant; riding clouds—where is she? Generations pass as if unchanged; heat and cold suddenly alter. Green canopies dense in ranks; plain banners solemnly waiting. Words follow the jade omen's constancy; forever resisting the jade blossom's color. Leaving the western garden of Long Autumn, passing Wangchun and ascending south; summoning the emperor's child at the northern islet, following the empress dowager at the eastern mound. Below, earth cleared; gold and emerald moved; without, no image; within, there was presence; joining pipes and pallbearers in choked sobs; gathering cloud-rain in bitter congealing. Our lord was moved by the hidden term; he leaned from the layered pavilion in longing; consorts and ladies grieved in lingering steps; guard and escort exhausted the time. Waving sleeve and hem in distant parting; separated by balcony rails—the crowd grieved; no longer seeing the returning imperial carriage—how it wounded sage compassion. Descending the orchid bank, turning from Zhiyang; banners distant over the wild expanse; wearing white flowers to cover tears; garments of dark border to break the heart. Once in bright splendor sharing joy; suddenly in hidden place alone grieving; leaving the old court—the days distant; entering the new palace—the nights long. The burial gifts had no embroidered ornament; the vessels no pearl and shell store; this was the self-established regulation; punishment for the state's great norm. Alas, alas, grief! Seeing the send-off return empty; sighing that the end was thus; was the fangshi divine—or not? did the Ganquan portrait seem so again? Her lingering voice remained in the jade earplugs; her traces stayed in the gold place; offering ten thousand years of longevity without end; preserving the remaining beauty of the Two South.'"

帝追思不已，每事欲極哀情。常袞當代才臣，詔為哀詞，文旨淒悼，覽之者惻然。華陽公主先葬于城東，地卑濕，至是徙葬，祔于莊陵之園，故哀詞云：「招帝子於北渚，從母后於東陵。」乃詔常參官為輓歌，上自選其傷切者，令挽士歌之。大曆初，后寵遇無雙，以恩澤官其宗屬，叔太常少卿卓為少府監，后兄良佐太子中允。

The emperor's longing did not cease; in every matter he wished to express the utmost grief. Chang Gun was a leading talent of the age; the emperor ordered him to compose the lamentation text; the wording was mournful, and those who read it were deeply moved. Princess Huayang had first been buried east of the city on low, damp ground; at this time she was moved and enshrined in Zhuangling's garden—hence the lamentation text says, "Summoning the emperor's child at the northern islet, following the empress dowager at the eastern mound." Thereupon he ordered regular officials to compose dirges; he personally chose those most piercing in grief and had the pallbearers sing them. At the beginning of Dali the empress's favor was without rival; by grace and favor offices were given to her clan; her uncle Zhuo, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was made Director of the Palace Workshops; her elder brother Liangzuo was Crown Prince's Companion.

德宗昭德皇后王氏，父遇，官至秘書監。德宗為魯王時，納后為嬪。上元二年，生順宗皇帝，特承寵異。德宗即位，冊為淑妃。貞元二年，妃病。十一月甲午，冊為皇后，是日崩於兩儀殿。臨畢，素服視事。既大殮成服，百僚服三日而釋，用晉文明后崩天下發哀三日止之義，上服凡七日而釋。諡曰昭德。初，令兵部侍郎李紓撰諡冊，文既進，帝以紓文謂皇后曰「大行皇后」非禮，留中不出。詔翰林學士吳通玄為之，通玄又雲「咨後王氏」，議者亦以為非。知禮者以貞觀中岑文本撰文德皇后諡冊曰「皇后長孫氏」，斯得之矣。五月，葬於靖陵。后母郕國夫人鄭氏請設祭，詔曰：「祭筵不可用假花果，欲祭者從之。」自是宗室諸親，及李晟、渾瑊、神策六軍大將皆設祭。自啟攢後，日數祭，至發引方止。宰臣韓滉為哀冊。又命宰相張延賞、柳渾撰《昭德皇后廟樂章》，既進，上以詞句非工，留中不下，令學士吳通玄別撰進。初，后為淑妃，德宗贈后父遇揚州大都督，遇子果眉州司馬，甥侄拜官者二十餘人。永貞元年十一月，徙靖陵，祔葬於崇陵。

Empress Zhaode of Dezong; her father Yu reached the post of Director of the Secretariat. When Dezong was Prince of Lu he took her as a consort. In Shangyuan 2 she bore Emperor Shunzong and received special favor. When Dezong ascended the throne she was invested as Cultivated Consort. In Zhenyuan 2 the consort fell ill. On the day jiawu in the eleventh month she was invested as empress; that same day she died in Liangyi Hall. When the rites were complete he attended to affairs in plain robes. After the great encoffining and mourning garments were complete, the hundred officials mourned three days and then were released; following Jin's Empress Wenming, when the empress died the realm mourned three days and stopped; the emperor mourned seven days in all and then was released. Her posthumous title was Zhaode. At first the emperor ordered Vice Minister of War Li Shu to compose the posthumous investiture text; when the text was submitted, the emperor considered that Shu's text calling the empress 'the late empress' was contrary to rite and kept it within the palace without issuing it. An edict ordered Hanlin Academician Wu Tongxuan to compose it; Tongxuan again wrote 'Consult Empress Wang,' and critics also considered this wrong. Those who knew rites cited that in Zhenguan Cen Wenben composed Empress Wende's posthumous investiture as 'Empress Lady Changsun'—that was correct. In the fifth month she was buried at Jingling. The empress's mother, Lady of Zheng, requested to set up sacrifices; an edict proclaimed, "Sacrificial tables may not use artificial flowers and fruit; those who wish to sacrifice may do so." From then on the imperial clan and kin, and Li Sheng, Hun Jian, and the great generals of the six armies of the Divine Strategy Army all set up sacrifices. From the time the temporary coffin was opened, sacrifices were offered daily until the procession departed and only then stopped. Chancellor Han Huang composed the lamentation investiture. The emperor also ordered Chancellors Zhang Yanshang and Liu Hun to compose the 'Hymns of Empress Zhaode's Temple'; when submitted, the emperor considered the wording not skilled and kept them within the palace without issuing them, ordering Academician Wu Tongxuan to compose and submit another version. At first, when she was Cultivated Consort, Dezong posthumously honored her father Yu as Grand Protector of Yangzhou; Yu's son Guo, prefectural aide in Meizhou, and nephews and nieces received office—more than twenty persons. In the eleventh month of Yongzhen 1, Jingling was moved and she was enshrined and buried at Chongling.

德宗韋賢妃，不知氏族所出，初為良娣，貞元二年，冊為賢妃。性敏惠，言無苟容，動必由禮，德宗深重之，六宮師其德行。及德宗崩，請於崇陵終喪紀，因侍於寢園。元和四年薨。

Virtuous Consort Wei of Dezong; her clan and surname are unknown; at first she was Worthy Consort; in Zhenyuan 2 she was invested as Virtuous Consort. Her nature was keen and gracious; her words were never careless; her movements always followed rite; Dezong valued her deeply, and the six palaces took her conduct as model. When Dezong died she requested to complete mourning at Chongling and therefore attended the tomb garden. In Yuanhe 4 she died.

順宗莊憲皇后王氏，琅邪人。曾祖思敬，試太子賓客；祖難得，贈潞州都督，封琅邪郡公；父顏，金紫光祿大夫、衛尉卿。后幼以良家子選入宮為才人，順宗在籓時，代宗以才人賜之，時年十三。大曆十三年，生憲宗皇帝，立為宣王孺人。順宗升儲，冊為良娣。后言容恭謹，宮中稱其德行。順宗即位，疾恙未平，后供侍醫藥，不離左右。屬帝不能言，冊禮將行復止。及永貞內禪，冊為太上皇后。元和元年正月，順宗晏駕，五月，尊太上皇后為皇太后，冊禮畢，憲宗御紫宸殿宣赦。太后居興慶宮。后性仁和恭遜，深抑外戚，無絲毫假貸，訓厲內職，有母儀之風焉。元和十一年三月，崩于南內之咸寧殿，諡曰莊憲皇后。

Empress Zhuangxian of Shunzong, née Wang, came from Langya. Her great-grandfather Sijing was Acting Companion to the Crown Prince; her grandfather Nande was posthumously honored as military governor of Luz Prefecture and enfeoffed Duke of Langya; her father Yan was Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Cord and Commandant of the Imperial Guard. In youth, as a woman of good family she was chosen into the palace as a talented lady; when Shunzong was in his fief Daizong gave her as a talented lady; she was then thirteen. In Dali 13 she bore Emperor Xianzong and was established as Lady of the Prince of Xuan. When Shunzong was elevated as heir apparent she was invested as Worthy Consort. The empress's words and bearing were respectful and careful; within the palace they praised her conduct. When Shunzong ascended the throne his illness was not yet settled; the empress attended and supplied medicine and did not leave his side. Since the emperor could not speak, the investiture rite was about to proceed but was again halted. At the inner abdication of Yongzhen she was invested as Grand Empress. In the first month of Yuanhe 1 Shunzong died; in the fifth month the Grand Empress was honored as empress dowager; when the investiture rite was complete Xianzong proclaimed amnesty from the Zichen Hall. The empress dowager resided at Xingqing Palace. The empress's nature was benevolent, harmonious, and deferential; she deeply restrained the maternal kin and granted not the slightest indulgence; she instructed inner offices and had the bearing of a mother to the realm. In the third month of Yuanhe 11 she died in Xianning Hall of the Southern Inner Palace; her posthumous title was Empress Zhuangxian.

初，太常少卿韋纁進諡議，公卿署定，欲告天地宗廟。禮院奏議曰：「謹按《曾子問》：『賤不誄貴，幼不誄長，禮也。』古者天子稱天以誄之，皇后之諡，則讀於廟。《江都集禮》引《白虎通》曰：『皇后何所諡之，以為於廟。』又曰：『皇后無外事，無為於郊。』《傳》曰：『故雖天子，必有尊也。』准禮，賤不得誄貴，子不得爵母。所以必諡於廟者，諡宜受成於祖宗；故天子諡成于郊，后妃諡成於廟。今請准禮，集百官連署諡狀訖，讀於太廟，然後上諡於兩儀殿。既符故事，允合禮經。」從之。初稱諡並雲莊憲皇太后，禮儀使鄭絪奏議：「奏、漢已來，天子之后稱皇后，母稱皇太后，祖母稱太皇太后，崩亦如之。加『太』字者，所以別尊稱也。國朝典禮，皆依舊制。開元六年正月，太常奏昭成皇太后諡號，以牒禮部，禮部非之。太常報曰：『入廟稱后，義系於夫；在朝稱太后，義系於子。』此載於史冊，垂之不刊。今百司移牒及奏狀，參詳典故，恐不合除『太』字；如諡冊入陵，神主入廟，即當去之。」其年八月，祔葬于豐陵。后生福王綰，漢陽、雲安、遂安三公主。后之祖、父、母、弟見《外戚傳》。

At first Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Wei Xi submitted the posthumous deliberation; the high ministers signed and fixed it, intending to report to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temple. The Office of Rites memorialized, "We respectfully consult the Zengzi Questions: 'The base do not eulogize the noble; the young do not eulogize the elder—this is rite.' In antiquity the Son of Heaven proclaimed Heaven to eulogize; the empress's posthumous title was then read in the temple. The Collected Rites of Jiangdu cites the White Tiger Discourse: 'Where is the empress eulogized? It is considered to be in the temple.' It also says: 'The empress has no outer affairs and does not act at the suburban altars.' The Commentary says: 'Therefore even the Son of Heaven must have one he honors.' According to rite, the base may not eulogize the noble; the son may not ennoble the mother. The reason the eulogy must be in the temple is that the posthumous title should receive completion from the ancestors; therefore the Son of Heaven's posthumous title is completed at the suburban altar, and the consort's posthumous title is completed in the temple. Now we respectfully ask, according to rite, to gather all officials in joint signature on the posthumous document, read it in the Grand Temple, and then submit the posthumous title in Liangyi Hall. This accords with former precedent and conforms to the ritual canon." The request was granted. At first the posthumous title was all called Grand Empress Dowager Zhuangxian; Commissioner of Ceremonies Zheng Yin memorialized, "From Qin and Han onward, the Son of Heaven's consort is called empress, the mother empress dowager, the grandmother grand empress dowager—so too when they die. Adding the character 'Grand' distinguishes the honored title. Our dynasty's ceremonial norms all follow the old system. In the first month of Kaiyuan 6 the Court of Imperial Sacrifices memorialized Empress Zhaocheng's posthumous title and sent a dispatch to the Ministry of Rites; the Ministry of Rites objected. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices replied, 'Entering the temple she is called empress—the meaning attaches to the husband; in court she is called empress dowager—the meaning attaches to the son.' This is recorded in the histories and handed down without alteration. Now in the hundred offices' dispatches and memorials, examining former precedents, we fear it would not be proper to remove the character 'Grand'; when the posthumous investiture enters the tomb and the spirit tablet enters the temple, then it should be removed." In the eighth month of that year she was enshrined and buried at Fengling. The empress bore Prince Wan of Fu and the three princesses Hanyang, Yun'an, and Suian. The empress's grandfather, father, mother, and younger brother appear in the Biographies of Outer Relatives.

憲宗懿安皇后郭氏，尚父子儀之孫，贈左僕射、駙馬都尉曖之女。母代宗長女升平公主。憲宗為廣陵王時，納后為妃。以母貴，父、祖有大勳於王室，順宗深寵異之。貞元十一年，生穆宗皇帝。元和元年八月，冊為貴妃。八年十二月，百僚拜表請立貴妃為皇后，凡三上章。上以歲暮，來年有子午之忌，且止。帝後庭多私愛，以后門族華盛，慮正位之後，不容嬖幸，以是冊拜後時。元和十五年正月，穆宗嗣位，閏正月，冊為皇太后，陳儀宣政殿庭，冊曰：

Empress Yian of Xianzong was the granddaughter of Guo Ziyi, the honored son-in-law; daughter of the posthumously honored Left Vice Director and Chief Commandant of the Empress's Household Ai. Her mother was Princess Shengping, Daizong's eldest daughter. When Xianzong was Prince of Guangling he took her as consort. Because her mother was honored and her father and grandfather had great merit for the royal house, Shunzong deeply favored her. In Zhenyuan 11 she bore Emperor Muzong. In the eighth month of Yuanhe 1 she was invested as Noble Consort. In the twelfth month of Yuanhe 8 the hundred officials submitted memorials requesting that the Noble Consort be established as empress; altogether three memorials were submitted. The emperor, because the year was ending, stopped for the taboo of the zi and wu years in the coming year. The emperor's rear palace had many private favorites; because her clan was flourishing, he feared that after the formal position was established there would be no room for favored consorts—therefore investiture came late. In the first month of Yuanhe 15 Muzong succeeded to the throne; in the intercalary first month she was invested as empress dowager; ceremony was performed in the court of Xuanzheng Hall; the investiture text read:

「嗣皇帝臣名再拜言：伏以正坤元，母天下，符至德以升大號，因晉運而飾鴻徽，煥乎前聞，焯彼古訓，以極尊尊親親之義，明因天事地之經，有自來矣。伏惟大行皇帝貴妃，大虹毓慶，霽月披祥，導靈派於昭回，揖殊仁於氣母，範圍百行，表飭六宮，粵在中闈，流宣陰教，輔佐先聖，勤勞庶工。顧以沖眇，遭罹閔凶，荷成命於守器之時，奉寶圖於鑄鼎之日，哀纏易月，痛钜終天。而四海無虞，萬邦有截，仰惟顧復之德，敢揚聖善之風，謹上尊號曰皇太后。」

"The succeeding emperor, your subject [Name], bowing twice, says: We respectfully consider that to set right the feminine norm and be mother to all under Heaven, to accord with utmost virtue in raising a great title and, through Jin's fortune, to adorn a splendid emblem—how it shines in former reports and illuminates those ancient instructions, to the utmost of honoring the honored and cherishing the near, and to clarify the canon of serving Heaven and honoring Earth—has been so from of old. We respectfully consider that the late emperor's Noble Consort, the great rainbow gathered blessing, the clearing moon spread auspice, drew the numinous line from the circling heavens and received extraordinary benevolence from the mother of qi; her pattern encompassed the hundred conduct and displayed adornment to the six palaces; within the inner quarters she spread the feminine teaching, assisted the former sage, and labored diligently among the multitude. We, small and unworthy, encountered grievous bereavement, received the completed mandate in the time of guarding the vessel, and received the precious chart on the day of casting the tripod; grief wound through the month of changing garments, pain filled the end of Heaven. Yet the four seas were without alarm and the ten thousand states were ordered; looking up to the grace of nurturing, we dare raise the wind of sage goodness, and respectfully submit the honored title Empress Dowager."

是日，百僚稱慶，外命婦奉賀光順門。詔皇太后曾祖贈太保，追封岐國公敬之，贈太傅，太后父駙馬都尉曖贈太尉，母虢國大長公主贈齊國大長公主，后兄司農卿釗為刑部尚書、鏦為金吾大將軍。

That day the hundred officials offered congratulations; outer-court ladies offered felicitations at Guangshun Gate. An edict posthumously honored the empress dowager's great-grandfather as Grand Tutor and Duke of Qi as Jing, and as Grand Preceptor; her father Chief Commandant Ai as Grand Commandant; her mother Grand Princess of Guo as Grand Princess of Qi; her elder brothers Zhao, Director of the Court of Imperial Granaries, as Minister of Justice, and Cong as General of the Gold Crow Guard.

太后居興慶宮，帝每月朔望參拜，三朝慶賀，帝自率百官詣門上壽。或遇良辰美景，六宮命婦，戚里親屬，車騎駢噎于南內，鑾佩之音，鏘如九奏。穆宗意頗奢縱，朝夕供御，尤為華侈。太后嘗幸驪山，登石甕寺，上命景王率禁軍侍從，帝自于昭應奉迎，游豫行樂，數日方還。敬宗即位，尊為太皇太后。

The empress dowager resided at Xingqing Palace; the emperor on the first and fifteenth of each month paid respects; on the three festival celebrations of court he personally led the hundred officials to the gate to offer longevity wishes. When fine days and beautiful scenes arrived, the six palaces' ladies, kin of the imperial consorts, and relatives—the chariots and horses crowded the Southern Inner Palace, and the sound of carriage bells and pendants rang like the ninefold performance. Muzong's intent was quite extravagant and unrestrained; morning and evening supplies were especially lavish and splendid. The empress dowager once visited Mount Li and ascended Shiweng Temple; the emperor ordered Prince of Jing to lead the imperial guard in attendance; the emperor himself went from Zhaoying to welcome her; they traveled for pleasure several days before returning. When Jingzong ascended the throne she was honored as grand empress dowager.

及寶曆季年，凶徒竊發，昭湣暴殞，內外震駭。宦官迎絳王監國，尋又加害。太皇太后下令曰：「大行皇帝睿哲多能，對越天命，宜荷九廟之重，永享億年之祚。豈謂奸妖竊發，矯專神器，蠱惑中外，扇誘群情，駭動神人，釁深梟鏡。咨爾江王，聰哲精粹，清明在躬，智算機閑，玄謀雷發，躬率義勇，大清丑類，允膺當璧之符，爰攄枕戈之憤，既殲巨逆，當享豐福。是命爾陟於元後，宜令司空、平章事、晉國公度奉冊即皇帝位。」文宗孝而謙謹，奉祖母有禮。膳羞珍果，蠻夷奇貢，獻郊廟之後，及三宮而後進禦。武宗即位，以后祖母之尊，門地素貴，奉之益隆。既而宣宗繼統，即后之諸子也，恩禮愈異於前朝。大中年崩于興慶宮，諡曰懿安皇太后，祔葬于景陵。后歷位七朝，五居太母之尊，人君行子孫之禮，福壽隆貴，四十餘年，雖漢之馬、鄧，無以加焉。識者以為汾陽社稷之功未泯，復鐘慶于懿安焉。

In the last year of Baoli, wicked men secretly rose; Emperor Zhaomin died violently; inner and outer were shaken. The eunuchs welcomed Prince of Jiang to supervise the state; soon they added injury. The Grand Empress Dowager issued an order, "The late emperor was wise and capable in many ways, responding to Heaven's mandate; he should have borne the weight of the nine temples and forever enjoyed the throne of ten thousand years. Who would have thought treacherous villains would secretly rise, falsely seizing the sacred vessel, deluding inner and outer, inciting the feelings of the multitude, shocking gods and men, and offense deep as the owl mirror. Consult Prince of Jiang: refined in wisdom and essence, clear and bright in person, clever in calculation and free in strategy, mysterious plans like thunder unleashed; he personally led the righteous and brave and greatly cleared the wicked kind; he truly received the tally of the jade disk and thereby released the fury of sleeping on weapons; having slain the great rebel, he should enjoy abundant blessing. We therefore command you to ascend to the primal empress; let Minister of Works, Chief Councillor, and Duke of Jin Du bear the investiture and immediately ascend the imperial throne." Wenzong was filial and modestly careful, serving his grandmother with rite. Fine foods, precious fruits, and exotic tribute from barbarian lands—after presentation at the suburban altars and temples, they were then sent to the three palaces before being forwarded for the emperor's table. When Wuzong ascended the throne, because of the empress dowager's rank as grandmother and her family's long-standing nobility, she was served with ever greater honor. Soon Xuanzong succeeded to the line; he was the empress dowager's own son; grace and rite were ever more unlike the former court. In the Dazhong era she died at Xingqing Palace; her posthumous title was Grand Empress Dowager Yian; she was enshrined and buried at Jingling. The empress dowager passed through seven reigns and five times held the honor of great mother; emperors performed the rites of sons and grandsons; fortune, longevity, eminence, and honor—for more than forty years—even the Ma and Deng of Han could not surpass her. Those who understood the times thought that Fenyang's merit for the altars had not yet faded, and blessing again gathered on Yian.

憲宗孝明皇后鄭氏，宣宗之母也。蓋內職禦女之列，舊史殘缺，未見族姓所出、入宮之由。宣宗為光王時，后為王太妃。既即位，尊為皇太后。會昌六年，后弟光夢車中載日月，光芒燭六合，占者曰：「必暴貴。」月余，武宗崩，宣宗即位，光以元舅之尊，檢校戶部尚書、諸衛將軍，出為平盧節度使。后大中末崩，諡曰孝明。

Empress Xiaoming of Xianzong, née Zheng, was Xuanzong's mother. She was among the inner offices' imperial women; the old histories are fragmentary and do not show her clan's surname or the reason for entering the palace. When Xuanzong was Prince of Guang he was the prince's grand consort. When he ascended the throne she was honored as empress dowager. In Huichang 6 the empress dowager's younger brother Guang dreamed that a carriage carried the sun and moon, their light illuminating the six directions; the diviner said, "He will suddenly rise to high rank." After a little more than a month Wuzong died and Xuanzong ascended the throne; Guang, by rank as maternal uncle, was made Acting Minister of Revenue and General of the Guards, and sent out as military governor of Pinglu. The empress dowager died at the end of Dazhong; her posthumous title was Xiaoming.

女學士、尚宮宋氏者，名若昭，貝州清陽人。父庭芬，世為儒學，至庭芬有詞藻。生五女，皆聰惠，庭芬始教以經藝，既而課為詩賦，年未及笄，皆能屬文。長曰若莘，次曰若昭、若倫、若憲、若荀。若莘、若昭文尤淡麗，性復貞素閒雅，不尚紛華之飾。嘗白父母，誓不從人，願以藝學揚名顯親。若莘教誨四妹，有如嚴師。著《女論語》十篇，其言模仿《論語》，以韋逞母宣文君宋氏代仲尼，以曹大家等代顏、閔，其間問答，悉以婦道所尚。若昭注解，皆有理致。貞元四年，昭義節度使李抱真表薦以聞。德宗俱召入宮，試以詩賦，兼問經史中大義，深加賞歎。德宗能詩，與侍臣唱和相屬，亦令若莘姊妹應制。每進禦，無不稱善。嘉其節概不群，不以宮妾遇之，呼為學士先生。庭芬起家受饒州司馬，習藝館內，敕賜第一區，給俸料。

The female academician and Chief of the Inner Palace, Lady Song, named Ruozhao, came from Qingyang in Beizhou. Her father Tingfen's family for generations studied Confucian learning; by Tingfen's time he had literary talent. He had five daughters, all clever; Tingfen first taught them the classics and rites, then set them to compose poetry and rhapsodies; before they reached hairpin age all could write prose. The eldest was Ruoxin; next Ruozhao, Ruolun, Ruoxian, and Ruoxun. Ruoxin and Ruozhao were especially refined and elegant in writing, and by nature chaste, plain, and graceful, not fond of ornate adornment. They once told their parents they vowed never to marry and wished through artistic learning to make their names known and honor their kin. Ruoxin instructed and taught her four younger sisters like a strict teacher. She composed the 'Women's Analects' in ten chapters; its words imitate the Analects, taking Lady Song Xuanwen of Wei in place of Zhongni, and Cao the Great Elder and others in place of Yan and Min; the questions and answers between them all take what the woman's Way esteems. Ruozhao annotated it; all had logical coherence. In Zhenyuan 4 Military Governor Li Baozhen of Zhaoyi memorialized recommending them to the throne. Dezong summoned them all into the palace, tested them with poetry and rhapsody, and also questioned them on great themes in the classics and histories; he deeply praised and admired them. Dezong could compose poetry and exchanged verses with attendant ministers; he also ordered the Ruoxin sisters to respond to imperial composition. Whenever they were presented at court none failed to be praised. He admired their integrity and distinction and did not treat them as palace concubines; he called them Academician and Teacher. Tingfen began his career as Prefectural Aide of Raozhou; within the Arts Practice Hall an edict bestowed the first residence and granted salary.

元和末，若莘卒，贈河內郡君。自貞元七年已後，宮中記注簿籍，若莘掌其事。穆宗復令若昭代司其職，拜尚宮。姊妹中，若昭尤通曉人事，自憲、穆、敬三帝，皆呼為先生，六宮嬪媛、諸王、公主、駙馬皆師之，為之致敬。進封梁國夫人。寶曆初卒，將葬，詔所司供鹵簿。敬宗復令若憲代司宮籍。文宗好文，以若憲善屬文，能論議奏對，尤重之。

At the end of Yuanhe Ruoxin died and was posthumously created Lady of Henei. From Zhenyuan 7 onward, the palace's record books and registers were managed by Ruoxin. Muzong again ordered Ruozhao to take over those duties in her stead and appointed her Chief of the Inner Palace. Among the sisters Ruozhao was especially versed in human affairs; from Xianzong, Muzong, and Jingzong all called her Teacher; consorts and ladies of the six palaces, princes, princesses, and chief commandants all took her as teacher and showed her reverence. She was advanced and enfeoffed as Lady of Liang. At the beginning of Baoli she died; when she was to be buried an edict ordered the relevant offices to supply the imperial escort. Jingzong again ordered Ruoxian to take over the palace registers in her stead. Wenzong loved literature; because Ruoxian was skilled at writing prose and could debate and respond in memorials, he especially valued her.

大和中，神策中尉王守澄用事，委信翼城醫人鄭注、賊臣李訓，幹竊時權。訓、注惡宰相李宗閔、李德裕，構宗閔憸邪，為吏部侍郎時，令駙馬都尉沈㺹通賂於若憲，求為宰相。文宗怒，貶宗閔為潮州司戶，㺹柳州司馬，幽若憲於外第，賜死。若憲弟侄女婿等連坐者十三人，皆流嶺表。李訓敗，文宗悟其誣構，深惜其才。若倫、若荀早卒。

In the Dahe era Lieutenant of the Divine Strategy Army Wang Shoucheng held power and entrusted Yicheng physician Zheng Zhu and the wicked minister Li Xun, who usurped the power of the time. Xun and Zhu hated Chancellors Li Zongmin and Li Deyu; they framed Zongmin as treacherous and wicked, saying that when he was Vice Minister of Personnel he had Commandant-escort Shen Pian send bribes to Ruoxian to seek the chancellorship. Wenzong was angry; Zongmin was demoted to Registrar of Chaozhou, Pian to Prefectural Aide of Liuzhou, and Ruoxian was confined in an outer residence and given death. Ruoxian's younger brothers, nephews, sons-in-law, and others implicated numbered thirteen persons; all were banished to the region beyond the ranges. When Li Xun was defeated Wenzong realized the frame and deeply regretted her talent. Ruolun and Ruoxun died early.

穆宗恭僖皇后王氏，越人。父紹卿，婺州金華令。後少入太子宮，元和四年生敬宗。穆宗皇帝立為妃。長慶四年二月，尊為皇太后。昭湣崇重母族，贈紹卿司空，後母張氏贈趙國夫人。文宗即位之初，號寶曆太后。大和八年詔：「伏以皇太后與寶曆太后，每有司行遣，稱號未分，禮式非便，稽諸前代，詔令所施，不斥言太后，以宮名為稱。今寶曆太后居義安殿，宜准故事稱義安太后。」

Empress Gongxi of Muzong, née Wang, came from Yue. Her father Shaoqing was magistrate of Jinhua in Wu Prefecture. The empress entered the crown prince's palace in youth; in Yuanhe 4 she bore Jingzong. Emperor Muzong established her as consort. In the second month of Changqing 4 she was honored as empress dowager. Emperor Zhaomin honored the maternal clan; Shaoqing was posthumously made Minister of Works; the empress dowager's mother Lady Zhang was posthumously created Lady of Zhao. At the beginning of Wenzong's reign she was titled Empress Dowager of Baoli. An edict of Dahe 8 proclaimed, "We respectfully consider that the empress dowager and the Empress Dowager of Baoli, whenever offices acted, their titles were not distinguished and ceremonial was inconvenient; examining former ages, in edicts and commands issued, they did not explicitly say 'empress dowager' but used the palace name as title. Now the Empress Dowager of Baoli resides at Yi'an Hall; she should according to precedent be called Empress Dowager of Yi'an."

敬宗郭貴妃，父義，右威衛將軍。長慶末，以姿貌選入太子宮。敬宗即位，為才人，生晉王普。帝以少年有子，復以才人容德冠絕，特寵異之。贈其父禮部尚書，又以兄環為少府少監，賜第一區。俄冊為貴妃。及昭湣遇盜，宮闈變起，文宗即位，尤憐晉王，有若己子，故貴妃禮遇不衰。大和二年晉王薨，帝深嗟惜，贈曰悼懷太子。

Noble Consort Guo of Jingzong; her father Yi was General of the Right Weiwu Guard. At the end of Changqing she was chosen into the crown prince's palace for her beauty. When Jingzong ascended the throne she was a talented lady and bore Prince Pu of Jin. Because the emperor was young and had a son, and because the talented lady's bearing and virtue topped all others, she received special favor. Her father was posthumously made Minister of Rites; her elder brother Huan was made Vice Director of the Palace Workshops and granted a first residence. Soon she was invested as Noble Consort. When Zhaomin met with assassins and turmoil rose in the palace inner quarters, Wenzong ascended the throne and especially cherished Prince of Jin as if he were his own son; therefore the Noble Consort's honor and treatment did not decline. In Dahe 2 Prince of Jin died; the emperor deeply lamented and posthumously titled him Crown Prince Daohuai.

穆宗貞獻皇后蕭氏，福建人。初，入十六宅為建安王侍者，元和四年十月，生文宗皇帝。寶曆三年正月，敬宗遇弑，中尉王守澄率兵討賊，迎江王即位。文宗踐祚之日，奉冊曰：「嗣皇帝臣名言：古先哲王之有天下也，必以孝敬奉於上，慈惠浹於下，極誠意以厚人倫，思由近以及遠，故自家而刑國。以臣奉嚴慈之訓，承教撫之仁，而長樂尚鬱其鴻名，內朝未崇於正位，則率土臣子，勤勤懇懇，延頸企踵，曷以塞其心乎！是用特舉彝章，式遵舊典，稽首再拜，謹上穆宗睿文惠孝皇帝妃尊號曰皇太后。伏惟與天合德，義申錫慶，允厘陰教，祗修內則。廣六宮之教，參十亂之功，頤神保和，弘覆萬有。」

Empress Zhenxian of Muzong, née Xiao, came from Fujian. At first she entered the Sixteen Residences as attendant to Prince of Jian'an; in the tenth month of Yuanhe 4 she bore Emperor Wenzong. In the first month of Baoli 3 Jingzong was assassinated; Lieutenant Wang Shoucheng of the Central Army led troops to punish the villains and welcomed Prince of Jiang to ascend the throne. On the day Wenzong ascended the throne the investiture text read, "The succeeding emperor, your subject [Name], says: When the ancient sage kings possessed all under Heaven, they surely served those above with filial reverence and spread benevolence below, extending utmost sincerity to thicken human relations, thinking from the near to reach the far—therefore from the family they modeled the state. Your subject received stern and compassionate instruction and inherited the grace of nurturing and cherishing; yet Everlasting Joy still lacked its great name and the inner court had not yet honored the formal position—then subjects and sons throughout the realm, earnest and eager, craned their necks and stood on tiptoe; how could that fill their hearts! Therefore we specially raise the canonical statute and follow the old canon; bowing the head twice, we respectfully submit the honored title of consort of Emperor Muzong the Sage, Cultured, Gracious, and Filial: Empress Dowager. We respectfully consider that you accord with Heaven in virtue, righteousness extending granted blessing, truly ordering the feminine teaching and reverently cultivating inner norms. Broaden the teaching of the six palaces, share in the merit of the ten disordered, nourish spirit and preserve harmony, and broadly cover the ten thousand beings."

后因亂去鄉里，自入王邸，不通家問，別時父母已喪，有母弟一人。文宗以母族鮮親，惟舅獨存，詔閩、越連率於故里求訪。有戶部茶綱役人蕭洪，自言有姊流落。估人趙縝引洪見後姊徐國夫人女婿呂璋，夫人亦不能省認，俱見太后，嗚咽不自勝。上以為復得元舅，遂拜金吾將軍、檢校戶部尚書、河陽懷節度使，遷檢校左僕射、鄜坊節度使。先是，有自神策兩軍出為方鎮者，軍中多資其行裝，至鎮三倍償之。時有自左軍出為鄜坊者，資錢未償而卒於鎮，乃征錢于洪。宰相李訓雅知洪詐稱國舅，洪懼，請訓兄仲京為鄜坊從事以彌縫之。洪恃與訓交，不與所償；又征於卒者之子，洪俾其子接訴于宰相，李訓判絕之。左軍中尉仇士良深銜之。時有閩人蕭本者，復稱太后弟，士良以本上聞，發洪詐假，自鄜坊追洪下獄，御史台按鞠，具服其偽，詔長流驩州，賜死于路，趙縝、呂璋亦從坐。洪以偽敗，謂本為真，乃拜贊善大夫，賜緋龜，仍追封其曾祖倰為太保，祖聰為太傅，父俊為太師，賜與钜萬計。本，福建人，太后有真母弟，孱弱不能自達，本就之，得其家代及內外族屬名諱，復士良保任之，上亦不疑詐妄。本曆衛尉少卿、左金吾將軍。開成二年，福建觀察使唐扶奏，得泉州晉江縣令蕭弘狀，自稱是皇太后親弟，送赴闕庭，詔送御史台按問，事皆偽妄，詔逐還本貫。開成四年，昭義節度使劉從諫上章，論蕭本偽稱太后弟，云：「今自上及下，異口同音，皆言蕭弘是真，蕭本是偽。請追蕭弘赴闕，與本證明。若含垢于一時，終取笑於千古。」遂詔御史中丞高元裕、刑部侍郎孫簡、大理卿崔郇三司按弘、本之獄，具，並偽。詔曰：

Because of turmoil the empress dowager left her native place; from entering the princely residence she had no contact with her family; when they parted her parents had already died; she had one younger brother by the same mother. Wenzong, because the maternal clan had few kin and only the maternal uncle remained, ordered the governors of Min and Yue to seek him in their native place. There was Xiao Hong, a tea-transport corvée laborer of the Ministry of Revenue, who said of himself that he had an elder sister who had been lost and scattered. The merchant Zhao Zhen introduced Hong to Lady of Xu, the empress dowager's elder sister's son-in-law Lü Zhang; the lady also could not recognize him with certainty; both saw the empress dowager and sobbed beyond control. The emperor thought he had recovered the true maternal uncle and thereupon appointed him General of the Gold Crow Guard, Acting Minister of Revenue, and Military Governor of Heyang and Huai; he was transferred to Acting Left Vice Director and Military Governor of Fufang. Earlier, when men from the two armies of the Divine Strategy went out as regional commanders, the armies often supplied their travel expenses; at the post they repaid threefold. At that time one who had gone out from the Left Army to Fufang had not yet repaid the borrowed money when he died in the post; they then collected the money from Hong. Chancellor Li Xun had long known Hong falsely claimed to be the imperial maternal uncle; Hong feared this and asked Xun's elder brother Zhongjing to serve as aide in Fufang to cover the matter. Hong relied on his friendship with Xun and did not repay what was owed; they again collected from the dead man's son; Hong had his son petition the chancellor; Li Xun rejected the petition. Lieutenant Qiu Shiliang of the Left Army deeply resented this. At that time Xiao Ben of Min again claimed to be the empress dowager's younger brother; Shiliang reported Ben to the throne and exposed Hong's fraud; Hong was pursued from Fufang and imprisoned; the Censorate investigated and he fully confessed the falsehood; an edict banished him far to Huan Prefecture and he was sentenced to death on the road; Zhao Zhen and Lü Zhang were also implicated. Because Hong failed through fraud, they considered Ben true and thereupon appointed him Grand Master of Counselling, granted red robe and turtle insignia, and posthumously enfeoffed his great-grandfather Jun as Grand Tutor, grandfather Cong as Grand Preceptor, and father Jun as Grand Preceptor, with gifts totaling tens of thousands. Ben was a native of Fujian; the empress dowager had a true younger brother by the same mother who was frail and could not make himself known; Ben went to him and obtained his family generations and the names and taboo names of inner and outer kin; Shiliang again vouched for him, and the emperor also did not doubt the fraud. Ben served as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Left General of the Gold Crow Guard. In Kaicheng 2 Military Governor Tang Fu of Fujian Circuit memorialized that he had obtained the petition of Xiao Hong, magistrate of Jinjiang County in Quan Prefecture, who claimed of himself to be the empress dowager's own younger brother; he was sent to the capital court; an edict sent him to the Censorate for investigation; the matter was entirely false; an edict expelled him back to his native district. In Kaicheng 4 Military Governor Liu Congjian of Zhaoyi Circuit submitted a memorial discussing Xiao Ben's false claim to be the empress dowager's younger brother, saying, "Now from above to below, with one mouth and one voice, all say Xiao Hong is true and Xiao Ben is false. We request that Xiao Hong be summoned to court to prove it against Ben. If we cover the stain for a time, in the end we will be laughed at for a thousand ages." Thereupon an edict ordered the three offices of Censor-in-Chief Gao Yuanyu, Vice Minister of Justice Sun Jian, and Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review Cui Xing to investigate the cases of Hong and Ben; when complete, both were false. An edict proclaimed:

「恭以皇太后族望，承齊、梁之後，僑寓流滯，久在閩中。慶靈鐘集，早歸椒掖，終鮮兄弟，常所咨嗟。朕自臨禦已來，便遣尋訪，冀得諸舅，以慰慈顏。而奸濫之徒，探我情抱，因緣州裏之近，附會祖先之名，覬幸我國恩，假託我外族。蕭洪之惡跡未遠，蕭本之覆轍相尋，弘之本末，尤更乖戾。三司推鞫，曾無似是之蹤；宰臣參驗，見其難容之狀。文款繼入，留中久之。朕于視膳之時，頻有咨稟，恭聞處分，惟在真實。丐沐墮桑，既無可驗；鑿空作偽，豈得更容？據其罪狀，合當極法，尚為含忍，投之荒裔。蕭本除名，長流愛州；蕭弘配流儋州。」

"We respectfully consider that the empress dowager's clan standing, inheriting from Qi and Liang, sojourned and drifted, long in Min. Blessing and spirit gathered early; she returned early to the pepper quarters; she ultimately had few brothers and often sighed over this. Since We personally assumed rule We have sent to seek, hoping to obtain the maternal uncles and comfort the compassionate countenance. Yet treacherous and base men probed Our feelings, using nearness to the prefecture as opportunity and attaching themselves to ancestral names, coveting Our state's grace and falsely borrowing Our outer kin. Xiao Hong's wicked traces are not yet distant; Xiao Ben's overturned cart follows in succession; Hong's and Ben's origins and ends are even more perverse. The three offices pushed and interrogated and found not the slightest similar trace; the chancellors jointly examined and saw their unbearable condition. Written documents entered in succession and were kept within the palace for a long time. We at the time of attending to meals repeatedly consulted and reported; We respectfully heard the disposition and that only truth mattered. Begging to wash hair and falling mulberry—there was nothing to verify; carving emptiness to make falsehood—how could it be further tolerated? According to their crimes they should receive the utmost law; still We showed forbearance and sent them to the wild frontier. Xiao Ben was removed from the registers and banished far to Ai Prefecture; Xiao Hong was assigned to banishment in Dan Prefecture."

初，蕭洪詐稱國舅十數年，兩授旄鉞，寵貴崇於天下。蕭本因士良鄉導，發洪之詐，聯曆顯榮。及從諫奏論，偽跡難掩，而太后終不獲真弟。

At first Xiao Hong falsely claimed to be the imperial maternal uncle for more than ten years, twice received the commander's banner and axe, and was honored and exalted throughout the realm. Xiao Ben, through Shiliang's guidance from his home district, exposed Hong's fraud and in succession attained conspicuous glory. When Congjian's memorial was submitted the fraud could not be concealed, and yet the empress dowager ultimately did not recover her true younger brother.

文宗孝義天然，大和中，太皇太后居興慶宮，寶曆太后居義安殿，皇太后居大內，時號「三宮太后」。上五日參拜，四節獻賀，皆由復道幸南內，朝臣命婦詣宮門起居，上尤執禮，造次不失。有司嘗獻新瓜、櫻桃，命獻陵寢宗廟之後，中使分送三宮、十宅。初，有司送三宮物，一例稱賜。帝曰：「物上三宮，安得名賜？」遽取筆塗籍，改「賜」為「奉」。開成中正月望夜，帝於咸泰殿陳燈燭，奏《仙韶樂》，三宮太后俱集，奉觴獻壽，如家人禮，諸親王、公主、駙馬、戚屬皆侍宴。上性恭儉，延安公主衣裾寬大，即時遣還，罰駙馬竇浣兩月賜錢。武宗即位，供養彌謹。蕭太后徙居積慶殿，號積慶太后。會昌中崩，諡曰貞獻。

Wenzong's filial piety was innate; in the Dahe era the Grand Empress Dowager resided at Xingqing Palace, the Empress Dowager of Baoli at Yi'an Hall, and the empress dowager in the Great Inner Palace; at the time they were called the 'Three-Palace Empresses Dowager.' On the fifth day of each month he paid respects; on the four seasonal celebrations he offered congratulations—all by covered passage to the Southern Inner Palace; court ministers and ladies went to the palace gate to inquire after their well-being; the emperor was especially observant of rite and never failed in haste. When offices once presented new melons and cherries, he ordered that after presentation at the tomb shrines and ancestral temples, inner envoys should separately deliver them to the three palaces and the ten residences. At first when offices sent goods to the three palaces they uniformly called it 'bestowal.' The emperor said, "Goods sent up to the three palaces—how can they be named 'bestowal'?" He immediately took a brush and crossed out the register, changing 'bestowal' to 'presentation.' In Kaicheng, on the fifteenth night of the first month, the emperor at Xiantai Hall arrayed lamps and candles and performed the 'Immortal Splendor' music; the three empresses dowager all gathered; they presented cups and offered longevity wishes in the manner of a family; princes, princesses, chief commandants, and kin all attended the feast. The emperor's nature was respectful and frugal; Princess Yan'an's skirt hem was too wide and he immediately sent her back, fining Chief Commandant Dou Huan two months' granted money. When Wuzong ascended the throne his support was ever more careful. Empress Dowager Xiao moved to Jiqing Hall and was titled Empress Dowager of Jiqing. In Huichang she died; her posthumous title was Zhenxian.

穆宗宣懿皇后韋氏，武宗昭肅皇帝之母也。事闕

Empress Xuanyi of Muzong, née Wei, was Emperor Wuzong's mother. The account is missing from the record.

武宗王賢妃。事闕

Virtuous Consort Wang of Emperor Wuzong. The account is missing from the record.

宣宗元昭皇后晁氏，懿宗皇帝之母也。事闕

Empress Yuanzhao of Xuanzong, née Chao, was Emperor Yizong's mother. The account is missing from the record.

懿宗惠安皇后王氏，僖宗皇帝之母也。事闕

Empress Huian of Yizong, née Wang, was Emperor Xizong's mother. The account is missing from the record.

昭宗積善皇后何氏，東蜀人。入侍壽王邸，婉麗多智，特承恩顧，生德王、輝王。昭宗即位，立為淑妃。乾甯中，車駕在華州，冊為皇后。國家自乾符已後，盜滿天下，妖生九重，宮廟榛蕪，奔播不暇。景福之際，奸臣內侮，后於蒙塵薄狩之中，嘗膳禦侮，不離左右。左關、右輔之幸，時事危迫，後消息撫禦，終獲保全。自岐下還京，崔胤盡誅黃門宦官，每宣諭宰臣，但令宮嬪來往。是時國命奪於朱氏，左右前後，皆是汴人，宮中動息，雖纖芥必聞于朱全忠。宮人常懷惴怵，帝后垂泣相視。天祐初，全忠逼遷輿駕，東幸洛陽。其年八月，昭宗遇弑。翌日，宰相柳璨、獨孤損等詐宣皇后令云：「帝為宮人害，輝王祚宜升帝位。」仍尊后為皇太后。遭罹變故，迫以凶威，宮中哭泣，不敢聲聞於外。明年十二月，全忠將僭位，先行九錫，然後受禪。全忠牙將蔣玄暉在洛陽宮知樞密，與太常卿張廷範私議云：「山西、河北未平，禪代無利，請俟蕩定。」欲有咨諫。宣徽副使趙殷衡素與張、蔣不協，且欲代知樞密事，因使于梁，誣告云：「玄暉私于何太后，相與盟詛，誓復唐室，不欲王受九錫。」全忠大怒，即日遣使至洛陽，誅玄暉、廷范、柳璨等，太后亦被害于積善宮，又殺宮人阿秋、阿虔，仍廢太后為庶人。

Empress Jishan of Zhaozong, née He, came from Eastern Shu. She entered service in Prince of Shou's residence; graceful and lovely and very clever, she received special favor and bore Prince of De and Prince of Hui. When Zhaozong ascended the throne she was established as Cultivated Consort. In Qianning the imperial carriage was at Hua Prefecture and she was invested as empress. From Qianfu onward bandits filled all under Heaven; calamity arose within the nine layers; palace temples were overgrown with weeds and there was no leisure even for flight. In the Jingfu period wicked ministers insulted within; amid dust and exile on thin hunts she prepared meals and attended to insult without leaving his side. When fortune favored the left and right wings the times were urgently perilous; the empress sent word and comforted him and in the end he was preserved whole. After returning to the capital from below Qi the court was entirely executed by Cui Yin, who killed the yellow-gate eunuchs; whenever he announced instructions to the chancellors he only had palace women come and go. At that time the nation's mandate was seized by the Zhu clan; those before and behind and at his sides were all men of Bian; within the palace every movement, though fine as a mustard seed, was heard by Zhu Quanzhong. Palace women constantly lived in fear; emperor and empress wept as they looked at each other. At the beginning of Tianyou Quanzhong forced the imperial carriage to move east to Luoyang. In the eighth month of that year Zhaozong was assassinated. The next day Chancellors Liu Can and Dugu Sun and others falsely announced the empress's order, saying, "The emperor was harmed by palace women; Prince of Hui's destiny should ascend the imperial throne." She was still honored as empress dowager. Having encountered sudden calamity and forced by violent power, within the palace they wept but dared not let the sound be heard outside. In the twelfth month of the next year Quanzhong was about to usurp the throne; first he received the nine bestowals, then accepted the abdication. Quanzhong's bridle-guard officer Jiang Xuanhui, knowing palace secrets in Luoyang, privately discussed with Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Zhang Tingfan, saying, "Shanxi and Hebei are not yet pacified; usurpation would not be profitable—please wait until all is settled." They wished to offer remonstrance and counsel. Deputy Commissioner of the Palace Regalia Zhao Yinheng had long been at odds with Zhang and Jiang and also wished to replace them in knowing palace secrets; he therefore sent an envoy to Liang and falsely reported, saying, "Xuanhui had a private affair with Empress Dowager He, together swore oaths and curses, vowing to restore the Tang house, and did not wish the king to receive the nine bestowals." Quanzhong was greatly enraged; that very day he sent an envoy to Luoyang and executed Xuanhui, Tingfan, Liu Can, and others; the empress dowager was also killed at Jishan Palace; palace women Aqiu and Aqian were also killed; the empress dowager was still demoted to commoner.

贊曰：坤德既軌，彤管有煒。韋、武喪邦，毒侔蛇虺。陰教斯僻，嬪風浸毀。賢哉長孫，母儀何偉。

The eulogist says: Once the feminine virtue is aligned, the red record shines bright. Wei and Wu ruined the state; their poison matched serpents. The feminine teaching turned perverse; consortly wind gradually decayed. How worthy was Lady Changsun; what a grand motherly model!

Cite this Chapter