1
武皇帝貞簡皇后曹氏，莊宗之母也，太原人，以良家子嬪於武皇。 姿質閑麗，性謙退而明辨，雅為秦國夫人所重。 常從容謂武皇曰：「妾觀曹姬非常婦人，王其厚待之。」 武皇多內寵，乾寧初，平燕薊，得李匡儔妻張氏，姿色絕代，嬖幸無雙。 時姬侍盈室，罕得進禦，唯太后恩顧不衰。 武皇性嚴急，左右有過，必峻於譴罰，無敢言者，唯太后從容救諫，即為解顏。 及莊宗載誕，體貌奇傑，武皇異而憐之，太后益寵貴，諸夫人鹹出其下，後亦恭勤內助，左右稱之。
Empress Zhenjian, née Cao, consort of Emperor Wu and mother of Emperor Zhuangzong, was a native of Taiyuan who entered Li Keyong's harem as a woman of respectable family. Graceful and beautiful in appearance, modest and clear-minded by nature, she was held in high regard by the Lady of Qin. She would often say to Li Keyong in an easy tone, "I can see that Lady Cao is no ordinary woman. You would do well to treat her generously." Li Keyong kept many favorites in the inner palace. In the early Qianning era, after he pacified Yan and Ji, he took Li Kuangchou's wife Zhang into his household. Her beauty was unrivaled in her day, and no other consort enjoyed such exclusive favor. Consorts and attendants now filled the palace, and Lady Cao seldom gained access to the emperor's bedchamber, yet the empress dowager's favor toward her never diminished. Li Keyong was stern and quick to punish. When those around him transgressed, he dealt out harsh penalties and no one dared speak up—only the empress dowager, by calmly interceding and remonstrating, could soften his anger. When Zhuangzong was born, his bearing and appearance were remarkable. Li Keyong was struck by the child and doted on him. Lady Cao grew ever more favored and honored; the other consorts all ranked below her. She was also respectful and diligent in managing the household, and those around her praised her.
2
武皇薨，莊宗嗣晉王位，時李克寧、李存顥謀變，人情危懼。 太后召監軍張承業，指莊宗謂之曰：「先人把臂授公此兒，如聞外謀，欲孤付托，公等但置予母子有地，毋令乞食於汴，幸矣。」 承業因誅存顥、克寧，以清內難。 莊宗善音律，喜伶人謔浪，太后常提耳誨之。 天祐七年，鎮、定求援，莊宗促命治兵，太后曰：「予齒漸衰，兒但不墜先人之業為幸矣，何事櫛風沐雨，離我晨昏！」 莊宗曰：「稟先王遺旨，須滅仇讎。 山東之事，機不可失。」 及發，太后餞於汾橋，悲不自勝。 莊宗平定趙、魏，駐於鄴城，每一歲之內，馳駕歸寧者數四，民士服其仁孝。 太后初封晉國夫人，莊宗即位，命宰臣盧損奉冊書上皇太后尊號。 其年平定河南，西幸洛陽，令皇弟存渥、皇子繼岌就太原迎奉。 莊宗親至懷州，迎歸長壽宮，太后素與劉太妃善，分訣之後，悒然不樂。 俄聞太妃寢疾，尚醫中使，問訊結轍。 既而謂莊宗曰：「吾與太妃恩如伯仲，彼經年抱疾，但見吾麵，差足慰心，吾暫至晉陽，旬朔與之俱來。」 莊宗曰：「時方暑毒，山路崎嶇，無煩往復，可令存渥輩迎侍太妃。」 乃止。 及凶問至，太后慟哭累旬，由是不豫，尋崩於長壽宮。 同光三年冬十月，上諡曰貞簡皇太后，葬於壽安陵。
When Li Keyong died, Zhuangzong succeeded as Prince of Jin. Li Kening and Li Cunhao then plotted rebellion, and the court was gripped by fear. The empress dowager summoned army supervisor Zhang Chengye, pointed to Zhuangzong, and said, "Our forebear clasped your arm and entrusted this boy to you. If outsiders plot and I must rely on you alone, see only that my son and I have somewhere to live and are not reduced to begging at Bian—that will be fortune enough." Chengye executed Cunhao and Kening, clearing the internal threat. Zhuangzong was skilled in music and loved the coarse jesting of actors. The empress dowager often pulled his ear to warn him. In Tianyou 7 Zhen and Ding sought help, and Zhuangzong urgently ordered mobilization. The empress dowager said, "I am growing old. If my son only keeps our forebears' enterprise from falling, that is fortune enough. Why must he brave wind and rain and leave my side morning and evening!" Zhuangzong said, "Following my late father's final charge, I must destroy our enemy. As for Shandong, the opportunity must not be lost." When he set out, the empress dowager saw him off at Fen Bridge, overcome with grief. After Zhuangzong pacified Zhao and Wei and encamped at Ye, he raced home to pay his respects several times each year, and the people admired his benevolence and filial piety. The empress dowager had first been enfeoffed as Lady of Jin. When Zhuangzong took the throne, he ordered chief minister Lu Sun to present the patent and bestow on her the title of empress dowager. That year he pacified Henan and went west to Luoyang, sending his younger brother Cunwo and Prince Jiji to Taiyuan to escort her. Zhuangzong went in person as far as Huaizhou to welcome her to Changshou Palace. The empress dowager had long been close to Grand Consort Liu, and after their parting she was despondent. Soon word came that the grand consort had fallen ill. Imperial physicians and inner envoys followed one another with inquiries. She then told Zhuangzong, "The grand consort and I are as close as sisters. She has been ill for years; seeing my face would comfort her. I shall go briefly to Jinyang and return with her within a month." Zhuangzong said, "The heat is fierce and the mountain roads are rugged. Do not trouble yourself with the journey. Let Cunwo and the others go to attend the grand consort." She desisted. When news of the death arrived, the empress dowager mourned for many days, fell ill, and soon died in Changshou Palace. In the tenth month of winter in Tongguang 3 she was posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Zhenjian and buried at Shou'an Mausoleum.
3
太妃劉氏，武皇之正室也。 〈（案：《劉太妃傳》，原本闕佚。 考《北夢瑣言》云：晉王李克用妻劉夫人，常隨軍行，至於軍機，多所宏益。 先是，汴州上源驛有變，晉王憤恨，欲回軍攻之。 夫人曰：「公為國討賊，而以杯酒私忿，必若攻城，即曲在於我。 不如回師，自有朝廷可以論列。」 於是班退。 天復中，周德威為汴軍所敗，三軍潰散，汴軍乘我，晉王危懼，與李存信議，欲出保雲州。 夫人曰：「存信本北方牧羊兒也，焉顧成敗！ 王常笑王行瑜棄城失勢，被人屠割，今復欲效之，何也？ 王頃歲避難塞外，幾遭陷害，賴遇朝廷多事，方得復歸。 今一旦出城，便有不測之變，焉能遠及！」 晉王止行。 居數日，亡散之士復集，軍城安定，夫人之力也。 《五代會要》云：同光元年四月，冊為皇太妃。 《歐陽史》云：莊宗即位，冊尊曹氏為皇太后，而以嫡母劉氏為皇太妃。 太妃往謝太后，太后有慚色。 太妃曰：「願吾兒享國無窮，使吾獲沒於地以從先君幸矣。 復何言哉！」 莊宗滅梁入洛，使人迎太后歸洛，居長壽宮，而太妃獨留晉陽。 同光三年五月，太妃薨。）〉
Imperial Grand Consort Liu was Li Keyong's principal wife. (Note: The biography of Grand Consort Liu is missing from the original text. According to the 《Miscellaneous Notes from Northern Dreams》, Liu, wife of Li Keyong, Prince of Jin, often accompanied the army on campaign and contributed greatly to military affairs. Earlier, after the incident at Shangyuan Post Station in Bianzhou, Li Keyong, filled with anger, wanted to turn the army around and attack the city. Lady Liu said, "You are campaigning on behalf of the state to suppress rebels. To turn back over a private grudge about a cup of wine—if you insist on attacking the city, the wrong will be on our side. Better to withdraw the army. The court still exists, and the matter can be laid before it." The army thereupon withdrew in formation. During the Tianfu era, Zhou Dewei was defeated by the Bian army and the three armies broke and scattered. As the Bian forces pressed their advantage, Li Keyong was alarmed and, together with Li Cunxin, discussed abandoning their position and retreating to Yunzhou. Lady Liu said, "Cunxin was originally a shepherd boy from the northern frontier. What does he care whether we succeed or fail! You often mocked Wang Xingyu for abandoning his city, losing his power, and being cut down by others. Why do you now want to do the same? Only a few years ago you took refuge beyond the frontier and nearly came to harm. You were able to return only because the court was beset by turmoil. If you leave the city now, unforeseen disaster will follow at once. You would never get far!" Li Keyong abandoned the plan. Within a few days the scattered troops reassembled and the garrison city was stabilized—thanks to Lady Liu. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 records that in the fourth month of the first year of Tongguang she was enfeoffed as imperial grand consort. The 《History of Ouyang》 records that when Zhuangzong took the throne, he enfeoffed Lady Cao as empress dowager and made his principal mother Lady Liu imperial grand consort. The grand consort went to thank the empress dowager, who looked ashamed. The grand consort said, "I only wish that my son may reign forever. If I can die and follow my late lord, that will be fortune enough for me. What more is there to say!" After Zhuangzong destroyed Liang and entered Luoyang, he sent men to bring the empress dowager to Luoyang, where she took up residence in Changshou Palace, while the grand consort alone remained in Jinyang. In the fifth month of the third year of Tongguang, the grand consort died.)〉
4
魏國夫人陳氏，襄州人，本昭宗之宮嬪也。 乾寧二年，武皇奉詔討王行瑜，駐軍於渭北，昭宗降朱書御劄，出陳氏及內妓四人以賜武皇。 陳氏素知書，有才貌，武皇深加寵重。 及光化之後，時事多難，武皇常獨居深念，嬪媵鮮得侍謁，唯陳氏得召見。 陳氏性既靜退，不以寵侍自侈，武皇常呼為阿者。 及武皇大漸之際，陳氏侍醫藥，垂泣言：「妾為王執掃除之役，十有四年矣，王萬一不幸，妾將何托！ 既不能以身為殉，願落發為尼，為王讀一藏佛經，以報平昔。」 武皇為之流涕。 及武皇薨，陳氏果落發持經，法名智願，後居於洛陽佛寺，莊宗賜號建法大師。 天成中，明帝幸其院，改賜圓惠大師。 晉天福中，卒於太原。 追諡光國大師，塔以惠寂為名也。
Lady Chen, Lady of Wei, was a native of Xiangzhou and had originally been a palace consort of Emperor Zhaozong. In Qianning 2 Li Keyong received orders to campaign against Wang Xingyu and encamped north of the Wei. Emperor Zhaozong issued an imperial letter in vermilion and sent Lady Chen and four inner courtesans to bestow upon him. Lady Chen was literate and gifted in talent and beauty. Li Keyong greatly favored her. After the Guanghua era, when the times were troubled, Li Keyong often sat alone in deep thought. Consorts and attendants rarely saw him; only Lady Chen was summoned. Calm and retiring by nature, Lady Chen did not grow arrogant from favor. Li Keyong often called her A-Zhe. As Li Keyong lay dying, Lady Chen attended his medicines and wept, "I have served you in sweeping and cleaning for fourteen years. If misfortune should befall you, whom shall I rely upon! Since I cannot die with you, I wish to shave my head and become a nun and read the complete Buddhist canon for you, to repay our former days." Li Keyong wept at her words. When Li Keyong died, Lady Chen shaved her head and took up the sutras under the dharma name Zhiyuan. She later lived in a Luoyang monastery, and Zhuangzong granted her the title Great Master Jianfa. During the Tiancheng era Mingzong visited her monastery and changed her title to Great Master Yuanhui. She died at Taiyuan during the Jin Tianfu era. She was posthumously honored as Great Master Guangguo, and her pagoda was named Huiji.
5
莊宗神閔敬皇后劉氏。 〈（案：《劉後傳》，原本闕佚。 考《北夢瑣言》云：莊宗劉皇后，魏州成安人，家世寒微。 太祖攻魏州，取成安，得後，時年五六歲。 歸晉陽宮，為太后侍者，教吹笙。 及笄，姿色絕眾，聲伎亦所長。 太后賜莊宗，為韓國夫人侍者。 後誕皇子繼岌，寵待日隆。 他日，成安人劉叟詣鄴宮見上，稱夫人之父。 有內臣劉建豐認之，即昔日黃須丈人，後之父也。 劉氏方與嫡夫人爭寵，皆以門族誇尚，劉氏恥為寒家，白莊宗曰：「妾去鄉之時，妾父死於亂兵，是時環屍而哭。 妾固無父，是何田舍翁詐偽及此！」 乃於宮門笞之，其實後即叟之長女也。 莊宗好俳優，宮中暇日，自負蓍囊藥篋，令繼岌相隨，以後父劉叟以醫卜為業也。 後方晝眠，及造其臥內，自稱劉衙推訪女，後大恚，笞繼岌。 然為太后不禮，復以韓夫人居正，無以發明。 大臣希旨請冊劉氏為皇后，議者以後出於寒賤，好興利聚財，初在鄴都，令人設法稗販，所鬻樵蘇果茹亦以皇后為名。 正位之後，凡貢奉先入後宮，惟寫佛經施尼師，他無所賜，闕下諸軍困乏，以至妻子饑殍，宰相請出內庫俵給，後將出妝具銀盆兩口、皇子滿喜等三人，令鬻以贍軍。 一旦作亂，亡國滅族，與夫褒姒、妲己無異也。 先是，莊宗自為俳優，名曰李天下，雜於塗粉優雜之間，時為諸優撲扶摑搭，竟為嚚婦惡伶之傾玷，有國者得不以為前鑒！ 劉氏以囊盛金合犀帶四，欲於太原造寺為尼，沿路復通皇弟存渥，同簀而寢，明宗聞其穢，即令自殺。 考《歐陽史》，作裨將袁建豐得後，納之晉宮，而《北夢瑣言》作內臣劉建豐，亦傳聞之異辭也。）〉
Empress Shenminjing Liu, consort of Emperor Zhuangzong. (Note: The biography of Empress Liu is missing from the original text. According to the 《Miscellaneous Notes from Northern Dreams》, Empress Liu of Zhuangzong was a native of Cheng'an in Weizhou from a humble family. When Li Keyong attacked Weizhou and took Cheng'an, he obtained the future empress, who was then five or six years old. She was brought to the Jinyang palace, where she served the empress dowager and was taught to play the sheng. When she came of age, her beauty surpassed all others, and she was also accomplished in music and performance. The empress dowager gave her to Zhuangzong as an attendant to the Lady of Han. Later she bore the prince Li Jiji, and her favor grew day by day. One day a man of Cheng'an named Liu Sou came to the Ye palace to see the emperor and claimed to be the empress's father. The inner attendant Liu Jianfeng recognized him as the yellow-bearded old man of former days—he was indeed the empress's father. The empress was then contending for favor with the principal wife, each boasting of her family status. Ashamed of her humble origins, she told Zhuangzong, "When I left my home district, my father was killed by disorderly soldiers. I wept over his body where it lay. I truly have no father. What rustic old man is this, to deceive us so brazenly!" She then had him flogged at the palace gate. In truth the empress was the old man's eldest daughter. Zhuangzong loved actors. On idle days in the palace he would carry a diviner's bag and medicine case on his back, with Jiji following along, impersonating the empress's father Liu Sou, who made his living as a physician and diviner. The empress was napping when he entered her bedchamber, calling himself Magistrate Liu come to visit his daughter. She was furious and had Jiji flogged. Yet because the empress dowager showed her no courtesy, and because the Lady of Han held the position of principal wife, there was no way to make the matter public. Ministers, seeking to please him, requested that Lady Liu be enfeoffed as empress. Critics noted that she came from humble origins and loved to pursue profit and amass wealth. When she was first at Ye, she had people set up petty trading schemes, and even the firewood, kindling, fruit, and vegetables they sold were marketed under the empress's name. After she took the throne as empress, all tribute first entered the inner palace. She gave only copied Buddhist scriptures to Buddhist nuns and bestowed nothing else. The armies at the capital were destitute, and wives and children starved to death. The chief ministers requested that the inner treasury be opened for distribution, but the empress produced only two silver basins from her toilet set and the three princes Manxi and others, ordering them sold to supply the army. In the end she brought rebellion, the destruction of the state, and the extinction of her clan—no different from Baosi and Daji. Earlier Zhuangzong himself performed as an actor under the name Li Tianxia, mingling among painted players and variety performers. At times the other actors would wrestle with him, support him, slap him, and strike him. In the end he was brought down by a wicked woman and vile actors—should not rulers take this as a warning! Lady Liu, carrying a bag with four gold boxes and rhinoceros-horn belts, planned to build a temple at Taiyuan and become a nun. Along the way she again took up with the emperor's younger brother Cunwo and slept with him under one mat. When Mingzong heard of her debauchery, he ordered her to kill herself. The 《History of Ouyang》 names the adjutant Yuan Jianfeng as the one who obtained the future empress and brought her into the Jin palace, while the 《Miscellaneous Notes from Northern Dreams》 names the inner attendant Liu Jianfeng—these are differing hearsay accounts.)〉
6
淑妃韓氏，莊宗正室。 〈（案：《韓淑妃傳》，原本闕佚。 考《五代會要》云：同光二年十二月冊，以宰臣豆盧革、韋說為冊使，出應天門，登路車，鹵簿鼓吹前導，至於永福門降車，入右銀台門，至淑妃宮，受冊於內，文武百官立班稱賀。）〉
Pure Consort Han was Zhuangzong's principal wife. (Note: The biography of Pure Consort Han is missing from the original text. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 records that in the twelfth month of Tongguang 2 she was enfeoffed, with chief ministers Dou Luge and Wei Shuo as commissioners. They went out Yingtian Gate, mounted the road chariot with guards and musicians leading, descended at Yongfu Gate, entered through the Right Yintai Gate, proceeded to Pure Consort Han's palace, and received the patent within while civil and military officials stood in formation to congratulate her.)〉
7
德妃伊氏，莊宗次室。 〈（案：《伊德妃傳》，原本闕佚。 考《北夢瑣言》云：莊宗皇帝嫡夫人韓氏，後為淑妃，伊氏為德妃。 又言夫人夏氏，後嫁李讚華，所謂東丹王，即阿保機長子，性酷毒，侍婢微過，即以刀刲火灼。 夏氏少長宮掖，不忍其凶，求離婚，歸河陽節度使夏魯奇家，後為尼也。 《歐陽史·家人傳》：明宗立，悉放莊宗時宮人。 虢國夫人夏氏，歸夏魯奇家，後賜李讚華。 與《北夢瑣言》微異。 《遼史》又以夏氏為莊宗皇后，疑誤。 又案《五代會要》：莊宗朝內職，又有昭儀侯氏封汧國夫人，昭媛白氏封沂國夫人，出使美宣鄧氏封珝國夫人，禦正楚真張氏封涼國夫人，司簿德美周氏封宋國夫人，侍真吳氏封延陵郡夫人，懿才王氏封太原郡夫人，鹹一韓氏封昌黎郡夫人，瑤芳張氏封清河郡夫人，懿德王氏封琅琊郡夫人，宣一馬氏封扶風郡夫人，並同光二年十一月敕。）〉
Virtuous Consort Yi was Zhuangzong's second wife. (Note: The biography of Virtuous Consort Yi is missing from the original text. According to the 《Miscellaneous Notes from Northern Dreams》, Zhuangzong's principal wife Lady Han later became pure consort, and Lady Yi became virtuous consort. It also mentions Lady Xia, who later married Li Zanhua—the so-called Prince of Dongdan, eldest son of Abaoji—who was cruel and vicious; for the slightest fault of a serving maid he would cut her with a knife or burn her with fire. Lady Xia had grown up in the palace and could not bear his cruelty. She sought a divorce and returned to the household of Xia Luqi, military governor of Heyang, and later became a nun. The 《History of Ouyang》, Biographies of the Imperial Family, records that when Mingzong took the throne, he released all the palace women from Zhuangzong's reign. Lady Xia, Lady of the State of Guo, returned to Xia Luqi's household and was later bestowed upon Li Zanhua. This differs slightly from the 《Miscellaneous Notes from Northern Dreams》. The 《History of Liao》 also treats Lady Xia as Zhuangzong's empress, which is probably an error. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 also lists inner palace offices under Zhuangzong: Palace Lady of Bright Deportment Hou as Lady of Qian; Palace Lady of Bright Charm Bai as Lady of Yi; Palace Lady of Envoy Beauty Xuan Deng as Lady of Xu; Palace Lady of Correct Deportment Chuzhen Zhang as Lady of Liang; Palace Secretary Demei Zhou as Lady of Song; Attendant Zhen Wu as Lady of Yanling Commandery; Talented Lady Yi Wang as Lady of Taiyuan Commandery; Xianyi Han as Lady of Changli Commandery; Yaofang Zhang as Lady of Qinghe Commandery; Virtuous Lady Yi Wang as Lady of Langya Commandery; Xuanyi Ma as Lady of Fufeng Commandery—all by edict in the eleventh month of Tongguang 2.)〉
8
明宗昭懿皇后夏氏，生秦王從榮及閔帝。 同光初，後以疾崩，明宗即位，追封為晉國夫人。 長興中，明宗以秦、宋二王位望既隆，因思從貴之義，乃下製曰：「故晉國夫人夏氏，素推仁德，久睦宗親，嘗施內助之方，不見中興之盛，予當御極，子並為王，有鵲巢之高，無翬衣之貴，貞魂永逝，懿範常存，考本朝之文，沿追冊之制，將慰懷於九族，冀葉慶於四星。 宜追冊為皇后，兼定懿號。」 既而有司上諡曰昭懿。 和武顯皇后曹氏。 （案：《曹後傳》，原本闕佚。 考《五代會要》云：天成三年正月，冊為淑妃，長興元年五月十四日，冊為皇后； 應順元年閏正月，冊為皇太后。 至清泰三年閏十一月，隨末帝崩於後樓。 晉高祖使人護葬，至天福五年正月二十八日，追冊曰和武顯皇后。
Empress Zhaoyi Xia, consort of Mingzong, bore the Prince of Qin Congrong and the Min Emperor. In the early Tongguang era she died of illness. When Mingzong took the throne, she was posthumously enfeoffed as Lady of Jin. In the Changxing era, as the Princes of Qin and Song had risen in rank and prestige, Mingzong, reflecting on the duty of honoring one's mother, issued an edict: "The late Lady of Jin, Lady Xia, always promoted benevolence and long kept kin harmonious. She aided from within yet did not live to see restoration. When I took the throne and my sons were made princes, she had the magpie's nest yet not the pheasant robe. Her chaste soul has passed, but her excellent example endures. Following our dynasty's texts and the institutions of posthumous enfeoffment, I shall comfort the nine clans and hope to bring blessing to the four stars. She should be posthumously enfeoffed as empress, and her excellent honorific title should be fixed." The responsible offices thereupon submitted the posthumous title Zhaoyi. Empress Hewuxian Cao. (Note: The biography of Empress Cao is missing from the original text. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 records that in the first month of Tiancheng 3 she was enfeoffed as pure consort, and on the fourteenth day of the fifth month of Changxing 1 as empress; In the intercalary first month of Yingshun 1 she was enfeoffed as empress dowager. In the intercalary eleventh month of Qingtai 3 she perished with the Last Emperor at the Rear Tower. Gaozu of Jin sent men to escort the burial. On the twenty-eighth day of the first month of Tianfu 5 she was posthumously enfeoffed as Empress Hewuxian.
9
宣憲皇后魏氏。 〈（案：《魏後傳》原本闕佚。 據《通鑒考異》引《唐廢帝實錄》云：宣憲皇后魏氏，鎮州平山人。 中和末，明宗徇地山東，留戍平山，得魏後。 又云：明宗為裨將，性闊達，不能治生，曹後亦疏於畫略，生計所資，惟宣憲而已。 《五代會要》云：初封魯國太夫人，清泰二年二月，中書門下奏：「臣聞漢昭帝承祚禦曆，奉尊諡於雲陽； 魏明帝繼體守文，思外家於甄館，而皆追崇微號，祔饗廟庭，克隆敬本之文，式葉愛親之道。 臣等又覽國史，竊見宗皇帝母曰昭成皇后竇氏，代宗皇帝母曰章敬太后吳氏，始嬪朱邸，俄幽宮，鴻圖既屬於明君，尊號鹹追於聖母。 伏以魯國夫人發祥沙麓，貽慶河洲。 三後最賢，周母允成於天統； 四妃有子，唐宮先啟於帝基，仰惟當寧之情，彌軫寒泉之思。 久虛殷薦，慮損皇猷。 臣等謹上尊諡曰宣憲皇太后，請依昭成皇太后故事，擇日備禮冊命。 又，臣等伏聞先太后舊陵未祔先祠，則都下難崇別廟，既追尊諡，合創宮。 按漢朝故事，園寢不在王畿，或就陵所便立寢祠。 今商量上諡後，權立同廟，以申告獻，配祠之禮，請俟他年。」 從之。 據《歐陽史》云：議建陵寢，而太原石敬瑭反，乃於京師河南府東立寢宮。 又案：《五代會要》所載明宗時內職，德妃王氏，天成三年正月冊立，長興二年四月進號淑妃，應順元年閏正月十三日冊為太妃，至周廣順元年四月追諡賢妃。 昭儀王氏封齊國夫人，昭容葛氏封周國夫人，昭媛劉氏封趙國夫人，孫氏封楚國夫人，禦正張氏封曹國夫人，司寶郭氏封魏國夫人，司讚於氏封鄭國夫人，尚服王氏封衛國夫人，司記崔氏封蔡國夫人，司膳翟氏封滕國夫人，司醞吳氏封莒國夫人，婕妤高氏封渤海郡夫人，美人沈氏封太原郡夫人，順禦朱氏封吳郡夫人，司飾聊氏封潁川郡夫人，司衣劉氏封彭城郡夫人，司藥孟氏封咸陽郡夫人，梳篦張氏封清河郡夫人，司服王氏封太原郡夫人，櫛篦傅氏封潁川郡夫人，知客張氏賜號尚書，故江氏追封濟陽郡夫人。 以上皆長興三年九月敕。 其名號皆中書門下按《六典》內職仿而行之。 內人李氏封隴西縣君，崔氏封清河縣君，李氏封成紀縣君，田氏封咸陽縣君，白氏封南陽縣君，並長興四年二月敕。 前代內職，皆無封君之禮，此一時之制。）〉
Empress Xuanxian Wei. (Note: The biography of Empress Wei is missing from the original text. The 《Examination of Differences in the Comprehensive Mirror》, citing the 《Veritable Records of the Deposed Emperor of Tang》, records that Empress Xuanxian Wei was a native of Pingshan in Zhenzhou. At the end of the Zhonghe era, Mingzong campaigned in Shandong, garrisoned Pingshan, and obtained the future Empress Wei. It also says that when Mingzong was a junior officer, he was open and easygoing and could not manage the household economy; Empress Cao was also negligent in such matters. Their livelihood depended solely on Xuanxian. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 records that she was first enfeoffed as grand lady of the state of Lu. In the second month of Qingtai 2, the Secretariat and Chancellery memorialized: "We have heard that when Emperor Zhao of Han succeeded to the throne, he honored his mother with a posthumous title at Yunyang; Emperor Ming of Wei succeeded and maintained the institutions, honoring his mother's family at the Zhen Pavilion; both pursued posthumous titles and enshrined them in the ancestral temple, emulating the principle of revering one's roots and fulfilling the duty of loving one's kin. We have also reviewed the national histories and observe that the mother of Emperor Xuanzong was Empress Zhaocheng Dou, and the mother of Emperor Daizong was Empress Dowager Zhangjing Wu. They first entered the princely household as consorts and were soon confined in the inner palace. Once enlightened rulers succeeded to the throne, honored titles were posthumously conferred upon them. We respectfully note that the Lady of Lu received her auspicious origin at Shalu and bequeathed her blessing at Hezhou. Of the three queens, the most worthy—the mother of Zhou—fulfilled the mandate of heaven; Of the four consorts who bore sons, the Tang palace first laid the imperial foundation. Reflecting the ruler's feelings on the throne, we feel ever more deeply the longing expressed in the Cold Spring. For long the solemn offerings have been neglected, and we fear this damages the imperial design. We respectfully submit the posthumous honorific title Empress Dowager Xuanxian and request that, following the precedent of Empress Dowager Zhaocheng, a day be chosen and the full rites of enfeoffment be prepared. Furthermore, we have heard that the former empress dowager's tomb has not been enshrined with the ancestral temple, so at the capital it would be difficult to establish a separate temple. Since a posthumous title is being pursued, a memorial palace should be established. According to Han dynasty precedent, park-tombs were not in the royal domain, or a tomb-shrine might conveniently be established at the burial site. After deliberation, we propose that following the posthumous enfeoffment a shared temple be provisionally established to perform the rites of announcement and offering, while the rites of joint enshrinement should be deferred to a later year." The request was approved. The 《History of Ouyang》 records that they deliberated on building a tomb-palace, but when Shi Jingtang rebelled at Taiyuan, they instead established a tomb-palace east of the capital in Henan Prefecture. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 also lists inner palace offices under Mingzong: Virtuous Consort Wang, enfeoffed in the first month of Tiancheng 3, advanced to pure consort in the fourth month of Changxing 2, enfeoffed as grand consort on the thirteenth day of the intercalary first month of Yingshun 1, and posthumously honored as worthy consort in the fourth month of Guangshun 1 under Zhou. Palace Lady of Bright Deportment Wang was enfeoffed as Lady of Qi; Palace Lady of Bright Countenance Ge as Lady of Zhou; Palace Lady of Bright Charm Liu as Lady of Zhao; Sun as Lady of Chu; Palace Lady of Correct Deportment Zhang as Lady of Cao; Palace Keeper Guo as Lady of Wei; Palace Commendation Yu as Lady of Zheng; Director of Imperial Garments Wang as Lady of Wei; Palace Recorder Cui as Lady of Cai; Palace Provisioner Zhai as Lady of Teng; Palace Brewer Wu as Lady of Ju; Talented Lady Gao as Lady of Bohai Commandery; Beautiful Lady Shen as Lady of Taiyuan Commandery; Palace Lady of Correct Attendance Zhu as Lady of Wu Commandery; Palace Lady of Adornment Liao as Lady of Yingchuan Commandery; Palace Lady of Garments Liu as Lady of Pengcheng Commandery; Palace Lady of Medicine Meng as Lady of Xianyang Commandery; Palace Lady of Combs and Mirrors Zhang as Lady of Qinghe Commandery; Palace Lady of Garments Wang as Lady of Taiyuan Commandery; Palace Lady of Combs and Mirrors Fu as Lady of Yingchuan Commandery; Palace Hostess Zhang was granted the title Director; the late Lady Jiang was posthumously enfeoffed as Lady of Jiyang Commandery. All of the above were by edict in the ninth month of Changxing 3. Their titles were all modeled by the Secretariat and Chancellery after the inner palace offices in the 《Six Canons》. Inner palace woman Li was enfeoffed as Lady of Longxi County; Cui as Lady of Qinghe County; Li as Lady of Chengji County; Tian as Lady of Xianyang County; Bai as Lady of Nanyang County—all by edict in the second month of Changxing 4. Inner palace offices of former ages had no rite of enfeoffing ladies as county mistresses. This was an institution of the moment.)〉
10
閔帝哀皇后孔氏。 （案：《孔後傳》，原本闕佚。 據《通鑒》云：孔循陰遣人結王德妃，求納其女； 德妃請娶循女為從厚妃，帝許之。 庚寅，皇子從厚納孔循女為妃。 《五代會要》云：初封魯國夫人，應順元年四月，為末帝所害。 晉天福五年正月二十八日，追諡為哀皇后。
Empress Ai Kong, consort of the Min Emperor. (Note: The biography of Empress Kong is missing from the original text. The 《Comprehensive Mirror》 records that Kong Xun secretly sent men to ally with Virtuous Consort Wang, seeking to have his daughter received; Virtuous Consort Wang asked that Xun's daughter be taken as Conghou's consort, and the emperor approved. On gengyin Prince Conghou received Kong Xun's daughter as his consort. The 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 records that she was first enfeoffed as Lady of Lu and was killed by the Last Emperor in the fourth month of Yingshun 1. On the twenty-eighth day of the first month of Tianfu 5 she was posthumously honored as Empress Ai.
11
末帝劉皇后，應州人也。 天成中，封為沛國夫人。 清泰初，百官三上表，請立中宮，遂立為皇后。 後性強戾，末帝甚憚之，故其弟延皓，自鳳翔牙校環歲之間曆樞密使，出為鄴都留守，皆由後內政之力也。 及延皓為張令昭所逐，執政請行朝典，後力製之，止從罷免而已。 晉高祖入洛。 後與末帝俱就燔焉。
Empress Liu of the Last Emperor was a native of Yingzhou. During the Tiancheng era, she was enfeoffed as Lady of the State of Pei. At the beginning of Qingtai, officials submitted memorials three times requesting that an empress be installed, and she was thereupon made empress. The empress was fierce and obstinate, and the Last Emperor greatly feared her. Her younger brother Yanhao rose from a garrison officer at Fengxiang to commissioner of palace affairs and then military governor of Ye within a single year—all through the empress's influence at court. When Yanhao was driven out by Zhang Lingzhao, the chief ministers requested that court law be applied. The empress forcibly blocked it, and he was merely dismissed from office. Gaozu of Jin entered Luoyang. The empress and the Last Emperor both perished by fire.
12
史臣曰：昔三代之興亡，雖由於帝王，亦係於妃後。 故夏之興也以塗山，及其亡也以妹嬉； 商之興也以簡狄，及其亡民以妲己； 周之興也以文母，及其亡也以褒姒。 觀夫貞簡之為人也，雖未偕於前代，亦無虧於懿範。 而劉後以牝雞之晨，皇業斯墜，則與夫三代之興亡同矣。 餘無進賢輔佐之德，又何足以道哉！ 〈（案：《五代史》無《外戚傳》。 據《五代會要》，武皇長女瓊華長公主，降孟知祥，同光三年十二月封。 第二女瑤英長公主，降張延釗，同光三年十二月封。 明宗長女永寧公主，降晉高祖。 第十三女興平公主，降趙延壽，天成三年四月封，至長興四年九月改封齊國公主，至清泰三年二月進封燕國長公主。 第十四女壽安公主，長興四年六月封。 第十五女永樂公主，長興四年六月封。 今考《會要》所載，亦多舛互，如瓊華公主，《十國春秋》諸書作太祖弟克讓之女，《會要》以為武皇長女，此傳聞之異辭也。 莊宗女義寧公主，降宋廷浩。 廷浩仕至房州刺史，晉初為汜水關使，張從賓之叛，戰死。 見《東都事略》及《宋史》。 又，王禹偁《小畜集》有《宋渥神道碑》云：母義寧公主，天福中，晉祖以嘗事莊宗，有舊君之禮，每貴主入見，聽其不拜。 時兵戎方熾，經費不充，惟公主之家，賜予甚厚，盡而復取，亦無倦色。 一日，晉祖從容謂貴主曰：「朕於主家無所愛惜，但朝廷多事，府庫甚虛，主所知矣。 今輦轂之下，桂玉為憂，可命渥分司西京，以豐就養。」 因厚遣之，且敕留使具晨昏伏臘之用，至於醯醢，率有備焉。 《會要》不載莊宗女，是其闕略也。 惟明宗諸女記之，稍詳，然考薛史《趙延壽傳》，其娶明宗小女為繼室。 《歐陽史》亦云有耶律德光為延壽娶從益妹，是為永安公主。 而《五代會要》不載，則其闕漏者亦多矣。）〉
The historiographer says: In antiquity the rise and fall of the Three Dynasties, though owing to the emperors, were also tied to consorts and empresses. Thus Xia rose because of Tushan, and when it fell, because of Moxi; Shang rose because of Jiandi, and when it fell, because of Daji; Zhou rose because of Queen Wen, and when it fell, because of Baosi. As for Lady Zhenjian, though she cannot be ranked with the great consorts of antiquity, she in no way fell short of exemplary virtue. But Empress Liu, like a hen crowing at dawn, brought down the imperial enterprise—and in this she resembled the rise and fall of the Three Dynasties. The rest had no virtue of advancing the worthy and assisting the ruler. What more is there to say of them! (Note: The 《History of the Five Dynasties》 has no Biographies of Imperial Relatives. According to the 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》, the Martial Emperor's eldest daughter, Princess Chang of Qionghua, was married to Meng Zhixiang and enfeoffed in the twelfth month of Tongguang 3. The second daughter, Princess Chang of Yaoying, was married to Zhang Yanzhao and enfeoffed in the twelfth month of Tongguang 3. Mingzong's eldest daughter, Princess Yongning, was married to Gaozu of Jin. The thirteenth daughter, Princess Xingping, was married to Zhao Yanshou, enfeoffed in the fourth month of Tiancheng 3, changed to Princess of Qi in the ninth month of Changxing 4, and advanced to Princess Chang of Yan in the second month of Qingtai 3. The fourteenth daughter, Princess Shou'an, was enfeoffed in the sixth month of Changxing 4. The fifteenth daughter, Princess Yongle, was enfeoffed in the sixth month of Changxing 4. Examining what the 《Institutional Essentials》 records, there are also many discrepancies. For example, Princess Qionghua—in various books of the 《Spring and Autumn of the Ten States》 she is treated as the daughter of the Founding Emperor's younger brother Ke Rang, while the 《Institutional Essentials》 treats her as the Martial Emperor's eldest daughter. These are differing hearsay accounts. Zhuangzong's daughter, Princess Yining, was married to Song Tinghao. Tinghao served as prefect of Fangzhou; in the early Jin era he was commissioner of Sishui Pass; when Zhang Congbin rebelled, he died in battle. See the 《Outline History of the Eastern Capital》 and the 《History of Song》. Further, Wang Yucheng's 《Collected Writings of Lesser Livestock》 contains the 《Spirit Way Stele of Song Wo》, which says that his mother was Princess Yining. During the Tianfu era, Gaozu of Jin, because he had once served Zhuangzong, accorded her the courtesy due a former lord's consort; whenever the honored princess came for audience, she was permitted not to bow. At that time warfare was raging and funds were insufficient; only the princess's household received lavish grants, and when they were exhausted they were replenished again—yet she showed no weariness. One day Gaozu of Jin said calmly to the honored princess, "I hold nothing back from Your Highness's household, but the court has many affairs and the treasury is very depleted, as Your Highness knows. Now in the capital, the cost of living is a burden. You may have Wo take a separate post in the Western Capital, so that he may live comfortably while supporting you." He thereupon sent them off with generous gifts and ordered the resident commissioner to supply everything needed for daily life and seasonal festivals—even pickles and sauces were all provided. The 《Institutional Essentials》 does not record Zhuangzong's daughters; this is one of its omissions. Only Mingzong's daughters are recorded there, with some detail; yet examining the 《Biography of Zhao Yanshou》 in Xue's History, he married Mingzong's youngest daughter as his second wife. The 《History of Ouyang》 also says that Yelu Deguang had Yanshou marry Congyi's younger sister, who was Princess Yong'an. But the 《Institutional Essentials of the Five Dynasties》 does not record this; its omissions are indeed many.)〉