1
《易》曰：「有天地然後有萬物，有萬物然後有男女，有男女然後有夫婦。」 夫婦之義尚矣哉！ 周禮，王者立后六宮，三夫人、九嬪、二十七世婦、八十一御妻，以聽天下之內治。 故《昏義》云：「天子之與后，猶日之與月，陰之與陽，相須而成者也。」 漢初因秦稱號，帝母稱皇太后，后稱皇后，而加以美人、良人、八子、七子之屬。 至孝武制婕妤之徒凡十四等。 降及魏、晉，母后之號，皆因漢法； 自夫人以下，世有增損焉。 高祖撥亂反正，深鑒奢逸，惡衣菲食，務先節儉。 配德早終，長秋曠位，嬪嬙之數，無所改作。 太宗、世祖出自儲藩，而妃並先殂，又不建椒閫。 今之撰錄，止備闕云。
The Book of Changes says: "Once heaven and earth exist, the myriad things follow; once the myriad things exist, male and female follow; once male and female exist, husband and wife follow." How exalted is the meaning of husband and wife! The Rites of Zhou say the king set up an empress and six inner palaces—three consorts, nine concubines, twenty-seven palace ladies, and eighty-one attendants—to govern affairs within the realm. So the "Meaning of Marriage" says the Son of Heaven and the empress are like sun and moon, yin and yang, completing one another. Early Han kept Qin titles: the emperor's mother was empress dowager, his consort empress, with further ranks of beauty, good person, eighth son, seventh son, and the like. Under Emperor Xiaowu the ranks from talented attendant onward reached fourteen grades in all. Through Wei and Jin, titles for imperial mothers all followed Han precedent; below the rank of consort, each age revised the roster. Gaozu ended chaos and restored rule, deeply wary of extravagance, preferring coarse dress and plain fare and putting thrift first. His worthy partner died young; the empress's seat stayed vacant; the roster of palace women was not revised. Taizong and Shizu rose from the heir's household, but their consorts died first and neither raised an empress. This record therefore fills only the gaps.
2
太祖張皇后
Empress Zhang of Taizu
3
太祖獻皇后張氏，諱尚柔，范陽方城人也。 祖次惠，宋濮陽太守。 后母蕭氏，卽文帝從姑。 后，宋元嘉中嬪於文帝，生長沙宣武王懿、永陽昭王敷，次生高祖。
Taizu's Honored Empress Zhang, taboo name Shangrou, came from Fangcheng in Fanyang. Her grandfather Cihui served Song as Administrator of Puyang. The empress's mother was a Xiao, a cousin of Emperor Wen on the paternal line. In Song's Yuanjia era she entered Emperor Wen's harem and bore Prince Yi of Changsha, King of Xuanwu, Prince Fu of Yongyang, King of Zhao, and later Gaozu.
4
父穆之，字思靜，晉司空華六世孫。 曾祖輿坐華誅，徙興古，未至召還。 及過江，爲丞相掾，太子舍人。 穆之少方雅，有識鑒。 宋元嘉中，爲員外散騎侍郎。 與吏部尚書江湛、太子左率袁淑善，淑薦之於始興王濬，濬深引納焉。 穆之鑒其禍萌，思違其難，言於湛求外出。 湛將用爲東縣，固乞遠郡，久之，得爲寧遠將軍、交阯太守。 治有異績。 會刺史死，交土大亂，穆之威懷循拊，境內以寧。 宋文帝聞之嘉焉，將以爲交州刺史，會病卒。 子弘籍，字真藝，齊初爲鎮西參軍，卒於官。 高祖踐阼，追贈穆之光祿大夫，加金章。 又詔曰：「亡舅齊鎮西參軍，素風雅猷，夙肩名輩，降年不永，早世潛輝。 朕少離苦辛，情地彌切，雖宅相克成，輅車靡贈，興言永往，觸目慟心。 可追贈廷尉卿。」 弘籍無子，從父弟弘策以第三子纘爲嗣，別有傳。
Her father Muzhi, styled Sijing, was a sixth-generation descendant of Jin's Minister of Works Hua. Her great-grandfather Yu was condemned in Hua's case, exiled toward Xinggu, and recalled before he arrived. After crossing south he was a chancellor's aide and a crown prince attendant. Muzhi in youth was upright and elegant, with keen judgment. In Song's Yuanjia era he became an outer member of the Scattered Cavalry. He was close to Minister of the Civil Service Jiang Zhan and the heir's left leader Yuan Shu; Shu recommended him to Prince Jun of Shixing, and Jun took him in warmly. Muzhi saw trouble brewing and sought a way out; he asked Zhan to post him away. Zhan meant to place him in an eastern county, but he begged for a distant commandery and, after long delay, became General Pacifying the Distance and Administrator of Jiaozhi. He governed with outstanding results. When the inspector died, Jiaozhi erupted in chaos; Muzhi won men by authority and kindness, and the region grew calm. Emperor Wen of Song heard and praised him and was about to make him Inspector of Jiaozhi, but Muzhi fell ill and died. His son Hongji, styled Zhenyi, in early Qi served as staff officer to the Pacify West army and died in office. When Gaozu took the throne, Muzhi was posthumously made Glory Grand Master with a gold seal. Another edict said: "My late uncle, Qi's Pacify West staff officer, bore pure taste and fine counsel and long stood among eminent men; his years were short and his light went under early. I knew bitter separation in youth and feel the bond all the more; though tombs were raised, no carriage of gifts went forth, and every thought of his going wrings the heart. Let him be posthumously made Minister of Justice." Hongji had no son; his cousin Hongce made his third son Zuan the heir—see the separate biography.
5
高祖郗皇后
Empress Xi of Gaozu
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高祖德皇后郗氏，諱徽，高平金鄉人也。 祖紹，國子祭酒，領東海王師。 父燁，太子舍人，早卒。
Gaozu's Virtuous Empress Xi, taboo name Hui, came from Jinxiang in Gaoping. Her grandfather Shao was Sacrificer of the Imperial Academy and tutor to the Prince of Donghai. Her father Ye was a crown prince attendant and died young.
7
初，后母尋陽公主方娠，夢當生貴子。 及生后，有赤光照于室內，器物盡明，家人皆怪之。 巫言此女光採異常，將有所妨，乃於水濱祓除之。
Before the empress was born, her mother the Princess of Xunyang dreamed she would bear a child of rank. At her birth red light filled the room and every object shone bright; the household marveled. A shaman said the girl's brilliance was abnormal and would bring harm, so they purified her by the water.
8
后幼而明慧，善隸書，讀史傳。 女工之事，無不閑習。 宋後廢帝將納爲后； 齊初，安陸王緬又欲婚：郗氏並辭以女疾，乃止。 建元未，高祖始娉焉。 生永興公主玉姚，永世公主玉婉，永康公主玉嬛。
From childhood she was clever and bright, skilled at clerical script, and read histories. Of women's crafts there was none she had not mastered. The deposed emperor of Later Song meant to make her empress; in early Qi Prince Mian of Anlu also sought her hand; the Xi clan pleaded illness both times, and the matches ended. Near the end of Jianyuan Gaozu first took her as his wife. She bore Princess Yuyao of Yongxing, Princess Yuwan of Yongshi, and Princess Yuhuan of Yongkang.
9
后父燁，詔贈金紫光祿大夫。 燁尚宋文帝女尋陽公主，齊初降封松滋縣君。 燁子泛，中軍臨川王記室參軍。
The empress's father Ye was posthumously made Glory Grand Master with purple insignia by edict. Ye had married Emperor Wen of Song's daughter, the Princess of Xunyang; in early Qi he was reduced to Lady of Songzi county. Ye's son Fan was secretary to the Central Army's Prince of Linchuan.
10
太宗王皇后
Empress Wang of Taizong
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太宗簡皇后王氏，諱靈賓，琅邪臨沂人也。 祖儉，太尉、南昌文憲公。
Taizong's Honored Empress Wang, taboo name Lingbin, came from Linyi in Langye. Her grandfather Jian was Grand Commandant and Duke of Nanchang, posthumous name Wenhian.
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父騫，字思寂，本名玄成，與齊高帝偏諱同，故改焉。 以公子起家員外郎，遷太子洗馬，襲封南昌縣公，出爲義興太守。 還爲驃騎諮議，累遷黃門郎，司徒右長史。 性凝簡，不狎當世。 嘗從容謂諸子曰：「吾家門戶，所謂素族，自可隨流平進，不須苟求也。」 永元末，遷侍中，不拜。 高祖霸府建，引爲大司馬諮議參軍，俄遷侍中，領越騎校尉。
Her father Qian, styled Siji, was originally named Xuancheng; because the name clashed with Qi Gaozu's partial taboo, he changed it. He entered office as a noble's son, became an outer member, then attendant for the heir's wash horses, succeeded as Marquis of Nanchang county, and went out as Administrator of Yixing. On return he advised the Rapid Cavalry general, then rose through Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate to Right Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education. By nature he was austere and plain and kept aloof from his times. Once he told his sons at ease: "Our house is a plain clan; one may drift with the current and advance evenly—there is no need to scramble for rank." At the end of Yongyuan he was offered Palace Attendant but refused the post. When Gaozu set up his hegemony office, Qian was called in as Grand Marshal adviser, soon made Palace Attendant and Colonel of the Yue Cavalry.
13
高祖受禪，詔曰：「庭堅世祀，靡輟於宗周，樂毅錫壤，乃昭於洪漢。 齊故太尉南昌公，含章履道，草昧興齊，謨明翊贊，同符在昔。 雖子房之蔚爲帝師，文若之隆比王佐，無以尚也。 朕膺歷受圖，惟新寶命，莘莘玉帛，升降有典。 永言前代，敬惟徽烈，匪直懋勳，義兼懷樹。 可降封南昌公爲侯，食邑千戶。」 騫襲爵，遷度支尚書。 天監四年，出爲東陽太守，尋徙吳郡。 八年，入爲太府卿，領后軍將軍，遷太常卿。 十一年，遷中書令，加員外散騎常侍。
When Gaozu took the throne, an edict said: "Jianting's line was never cut off in the Zhou royal house; Yue Yi received a fief and shone in great Han. Qi's former Grand Commandant, Duke of Nanchang, bore talent and walked the Way, helped raise Qi from the wilds, and counseled with bright support like men of old. Though Zifang became the emperor's teacher and Wenruo rose as the king's right hand, none surpass him. I have received the mandate and renewed the imperial charge; gifts of silk now rise and fall by fixed ritual. Speaking always of former times, I revere his great glory—not for merit alone, but also in gratitude, as one cherishes a tree. Let Duke of Nanchang be reduced to marquis with a fief of one thousand households." Qian inherited the title and was made Minister of Revenue. In Tianjian year 4 he went out as Administrator of Dongyang, then was moved to Wu commandery. In year 8 he entered as Minister of the Palace Treasury and Rear Army General, then became Minister of Ceremonies. In year 11 he became Palace Scribe with added outer membership in the Scattered Cavalry.
14
時高祖於鐘山造大愛敬寺，騫舊墅在寺側，有良田八十餘頃，卽晉丞相王導賜田也。 高祖遣主書宣旨就騫求市，欲以施寺。 騫答旨云：「此田不賣； 若是敕取，所不敢言。」 酬對又脫略。 高祖怒，遂付市評田價，以直逼還之。 由是忤旨，出爲吳興太守。 在郡臥疾不視事。 徵還，復爲度支尚書，加給事中，領射聲校尉。 以母憂去職。
Gaozu was building the Great Temple of Filial Reverence on Zhong Mountain; Qian's old villa lay beside it, with more than eighty qing of fine fields—the very grant of Jin chancellor Wang Dao. Gaozu sent a palace clerk with an imperial message to buy the land for the temple. Qian answered: "This land is not for sale; if Your Majesty takes it by command, I dare not object." His replies were curt and careless besides. Gaozu grew angry, had the market price assessed, and seized the land outright in return. For this he lost favor and was sent out as Administrator of Wuxing. In the commandery he took to his bed and left affairs unattended. Recalled, he again became Minister of Revenue, with added Supervising Censor and Colonel of the Archer Sound. He left office to mourn his mother.
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普通三年十月卒，時年四十九。 詔贈侍中、金紫光祿大夫，諡曰安。 子規襲爵，別有傳。
In the tenth month of Putong year 3 he died at forty-nine. By edict he was posthumously made Palace Attendant and Glory Grand Master with purple insignia, posthumous name An. His son Gui inherited the title—see the separate biography.
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高祖丁貴嬪
Noble Consort Ding of Gaozu
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高祖丁貴嬪，諱令光，譙國人也，世居襄陽。 貴嬪生于樊城，有神光之異，紫煙滿室，故以「光」爲名。 相者云：「此女當大貴。」 高祖臨州，丁氏因人以聞。 貴嬪時年十四，高祖納焉。 初，貴嬪生而有赤痣在左臂，治之不滅，至是無何忽失所在。 事德皇后小心祗敬，嘗於供養經案之側，彷彿若見神人，心獨異之。
Gaozu's Noble Consort Ding, taboo name Lingguang, came from Qiao and had long lived at Xiangyang. She was born at Fancheng amid a marvel of divine light and purple mist filling the room, and so "Guang" was placed in her name. A physiognomist said, "This girl will rise to great honor." When Gaozu held the province, the Ding clan sent word through others. The Noble Consort was then fourteen, and Gaozu took her in. At birth she had a red mole on her left arm that medicine could not erase; now, without cause, it suddenly vanished. Serving the Virtuous Empress, she was careful and reverent; once beside the sutra offerings she seemed to see a spirit, and her heart alone was struck.
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高祖義師起，昭明太子始誕育，貴嬪與太子留在州城。 京邑平，乃還京都。 天監元年五月，有司奏爲貴人，未拜； 其年八月，又爲貴嬪，位在三夫人上，居于顯陽殿。 及太子定位，有司奏曰：
When Gaozu's righteous army rose and Crown Prince Zhaoming was newly born, the Noble Consort stayed in the provincial city with the heir. When the capital was pacified, she returned to the capital. In the fifth month of Tianjian year 1 the relevant office memorialized to make her Honored Person, but the investiture had not yet been performed; that same year in the eighth month she became Noble Consort, ranking above the Three Consorts and dwelling in Xianyang Palace. When the crown prince's place was settled, the relevant office memorialized:
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禮，母以子貴。 皇儲所生，不容無敬。 宋泰豫元年六月，議百官以吏敬敬帝所生陳太妃，則宋明帝在時，百官未有敬。 臣竊謂「母以子貴」，義著《春秋》。 皇太子副貳宸極，率土咸執吏禮，旣盡禮皇儲，則所生不容無敬。 但帝王妃嬪，義與外隔，以理以例，無致敬之道也。 今皇太子聖睿在躬，儲禮夙備，子貴之道，抑有舊章。 王侯妃主常得通信問者，及六宮三夫人雖與貴嬪同列，並應以敬皇太子之禮敬貴嬪。 宋元嘉中，始興、武陵國臣並以吏敬敬所生潘淑妃、路淑媛。 貴嬪于宮臣雖非小君，其義不異，與宋泰豫朝議百官以吏敬敬帝所生，事義正同。 謂宮閹施敬宜同吏禮，詣神虎門奉牋致謁； 年節稱慶，亦同如此。 婦人無閫外之事，賀及問訊牋什，所由官報聞而已。 夫婦人之道，義無自專，若不仰繫於夫，則當俯繫於子。 榮親之道，應極其所榮，未有子所行而所從不足者也。 故《春秋》凡王命爲夫人，則禮秩與子等。 列國雖異於儲貳，而從尊之義不殊。 前代依准，布在舊事。 貴嬪載誕元良，克固大業，禮同儲君，實惟舊典。 尋前代始置貴嬪，位次皇后，爵無所視； 其次職者，位視相國，爵比諸侯王。 此貴嬪之禮，已高朝列； 況母儀春宮，義絕常算。 且儲妃作配，率由盛則； 以婦逾姑，彌乖從序。 謂貴嬪典章，一與太子不異。
Ritual says the mother is honored through the son. The mother of the royal heir cannot go without respect. In the sixth month of Song's Taiyu year 1, officials debated showing clerkly respect to Emperor Chen's mother, the Honored Consort—yet while Emperor Ming of Song lived, no official had shown such respect. Your servant holds that "the mother is honored through the son" is a principle set forth in the Spring and Autumn Annals. The crown prince stands second only to the throne; all the realm performs the rites of subordinate officials. Once the heir is fully honored, his mother cannot go without honor. Yet imperial consorts are cut off by principle from the outer court; by reason and precedent there is no way to show formal reverence. Now the crown prince's wisdom is manifest and his heir's rites long in place—the way of exalting the mother through the son has old statutes after all. Princesses and feudal ladies who may ordinarily exchange messages, and the six palaces' three ladies of rank though equal to the honored consort—all should honor her with the same rites used for the crown prince. In Song Yuanjia, ministers of Shixing and Wuling both used subordinate-official reverence toward their lords' mothers, Consort Pan and Lady Lu. To palace officials the honored consort is not a lesser lord, yet the principle is the same; it matches the Song Taizong deliberation that all officials use subordinate reverence toward the emperor's mother. Palace eunuchs who show reverence should follow subordinate protocol, going to the Spirit Tiger Gate with memorial tablets to pay audience; New Year felicitations should follow the same rule. Women have no affairs outside the inner quarter; congratulatory and inquiry memorials need only be reported by the responsible office. The way of wifehood allows no self-direction; if one does not look up to one's husband, one must look down to one's son. The way of honoring kin should reach the fullest honor due; never has the son's observance been matched by insufficient observance from those who follow him. Hence in the Spring and Autumn Annals, whenever the king appointed someone as lady, ritual rank equaled that of her sons. Among feudal states it differed from the heir apparent, yet the principle of following the honored was the same. Former generations' precedents are set forth in old records. The honored consort bore the primary heir and secured the great enterprise; ritual equal to the heir is indeed the old canon. Searching former ages, when the honored consort was first instituted, her place was second to the empress, with no comparable title; the next office below ranked with the chancellor of state, titles compared to feudal kings. Even this ritual for the honored consort already stood above the court ranks; how much more when she is mother-exemplar of the eastern palace—the reckoning breaks ordinary measure. Moreover the heir's consort is paired by the grandest norms; for a daughter-in-law to outrank her husband's mother only further violates the order of submission. It is proposed that the honored consort's statutes and insignia be wholly without difference from the crown prince.
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於是貴嬪備典章禮數，同于太子，言則稱令。
Thereupon the honored consort was equipped with statutes and ritual numbers identical to the crown prince; in speech she was addressed as "Command."
21
貴嬪性仁恕，及居宮內，接馭自下，皆得其歡心。 不好華飾，器服無珍麗，未嘗爲親戚私謁。 及高祖弘佛教，貴嬪奉而行之，屏絕滋腴，長進蔬膳。 受戒日，甘露降于殿前，方一丈五尺。 高祖所立經義，皆得其指歸。 尤精《淨名經》。 所受供賜，悉以充法事。
The honored consort was by nature kind and forgiving; once she dwelt within the palace, she received and guided those below and won all their hearts. She did not care for ornate dress; utensils and garments had no lavish gems; she never received private audiences for kin. When Gaozu spread Buddhism, the honored consort followed it, banishing rich foods and keeping to vegetables long term. On the day she received the precepts, sweet dew fell before the hall, a square of one zhang and five chi. Of the sutra meanings Gaozu established, she grasped every import. She was especially versed in the Vimalakirti Sutra. All stipends and gifts she received went entirely to Buddhist rites.
22
普通七年十一月庚辰薨，殯於東宮臨雲殿，年四十二。 詔吏部郎張纘爲哀策文曰：
In the eleventh month, gengchen, year 7 of Putong, she died; her bier lay in the Eastern Palace's Cloud-Approach Hall; age forty-two. An edict ordered Minister of Personnel Zhang Zuan to compose the lament-seal text, saying:
23
菆塗旣啓，桂樽虛凝，龍帷已薦，象服將升。 皇帝傷璧台之永颭，悼曾城之不踐，罷鄉歌乎燕樂，廢徹齊於祀典。 《風》有《采蘩》，化行南國，爰命史臣，俾流嬪德。 其辭曰：
The funeral road opens; the cassia coffin waits empty and still. Dragon curtains are laid in offering; court robes are ready to be raised. The emperor mourns the jade terrace's banners drifting on, the high citadel he cannot climb; village songs of feast music cease, and sacrificial vessels go uncleared from the canon. The Odes have "Gathering Eulalia," virtue spreading through the southern realm—so he charges the historiographer to carry her consort's virtue abroad. The text says:
24
軒緯之精，江漢之英； 歸于君袂，生此離明。 誕自厥初，時維載育； 樞電繞郊，神光照屋。 爰及待年，含章早穆； 聲被洽陽，譽宣中谷。 龍德在田，聿恭茲祀； 陰化代終，王風攸始。 動容諮式，出言顧史； 宜其家人，刑于國紀。 膺斯眷命，從此宅心； 狄綴采珩，珮動雅音。 日中思戒，月滿懷箴； 如何不跼，天高照臨。 玄紞莫脩，褘章早缺； 成物誰能，芳猷有烈。 素魄貞明，紫宮照晰； 逮下靡傷，思賢罔蔽。 躬儉則節，昭事惟虔； 金玉無玩，筐筥不捐。 祥流德化，慶表親賢； 甄昌軼啓，孕魯陶燕。 方論婦教，明章閫席； 玄池早扃，湘沅已穸。 展衣委華，朱幩寢迹； 慕結儲闈，哀深蕃辟。 嗚呼哀哉！
Essence of the pole star, splendor of the great rivers; she entered the ruler's embrace and bore this departing light. From the first, her season was ripe with nurture; lightning coiled the suburbs; divine radiance filled the house. When she reached the age to wait upon marriage, grace was already complete; her fame reached the sunlit lands, her reputation spread through the central valley. Dragon virtue lay in the fields; she reverently attended this sacrifice; feminine transformation succeeded the end, royal wind began. bearing and expression followed the patterns, words departed to consult the histories; "Harmonize his household," she modeled the state's discipline. She received this charge of favor, from this took her dwelling of the heart; Di bells strung colored studs, girdle-pendants moved with elegant sound. At noon she pondered warnings, at the full moon she cherished admonitions; how could she not be cramped? Heaven's height looked down. The dark sash was not repaired, ceremonial robes early torn; who can complete the world's work? fragrant plans had blaze. plain moon faithful and bright, purple palace clearly lit; reaching down without harm, thinking on worth without blindness. personal thrift was her rule, solemn service wholly devout; gold and jade held no play, baskets and bamboo were never cast aside. auspicious virtue flowed, celebration appeared for kin; excellence ever opened, she nurtured Lu, molded Yan. just as they discussed women's teaching, bright statutes for the inner seat— the dark pool was barred early, Xiang and Yuan already silent. unfolding robes laid aside splendor, vermilion curtains covered her traces; longing knotted the heir's quarters, grief deep for the feudal ramparts. Alas—how mournful!
25
令龜兆良，葆引遷祖； 具僚次列，承華接武。 日杳杳以霾春，風凄凄而結緒； 去曾掖以依遲，飾新宮而延佇。 嗚呼哀哉！
Order the tortoise augury for a lucky day, lead the soul to move the ancestors; all officials ranked in order, Succession Flourishing lined shoulder to shoulder. The sun dim and misted over spring, wind bleak and knotting grief; leaving the former side-wing she lingered in delay, adorning the new palace she prolonged her stay. Alas—how mournful!
26
啓丹旗之星旆，振容車之黼裳； 擬靈金而鬱楚，泛凄管而凝傷。 遺備物乎營寢，掩重閽於窒皇； 椒風暖兮猶昔，蘭殿幽而不陽。 嗚呼哀哉！
Raise the scarlet banner's star pennant, shake the carriage's brocade hangings; imitate the spirit bronze's Chu gloom, float the chill pipe's congealed sorrow. remaining things left in the encampment hall, covering the heavy inner gates in silent dark; pepper breeze warm as of old, orchid hall dim without sun. Alas—how mournful!
27
側闈高義，彤管有懌； 道變虞風，功參唐跡。 婉如之人，休光赤舄； 施諸天地，而無朝夕。 嗚呼哀哉！
the side gate's lofty righteousness, red tube had joy; the Way changed Yu's wind, merit joined Tang's tracks. a yielding such person, resting light on red slippers; spread through heaven and earth, without morning or evening. Alas—how mournful!
28
有司奏諡曰穆。 太宗卽位，追崇曰穆太后。
The responsible offices memorialized posthumous title: Mu. When Emperor Taizong took the throne, she was posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Mu.
29
太后父仲遷，天監初，官至兗州刺史。
The empress dowager's father Zhongqian, in early Tianjian, reached office as inspector of Yan province.
30
高祖阮脩容
Gaozu's Ruan Xiurong
31
高祖阮脩容諱令嬴，本姓石，會稽餘姚人也。 齊始安王遙光納焉。 遙光敗，入東昏宮。 建康城平，高祖納爲彩女。 天監七年八月，生世祖。 尋拜爲脩容，常隨世祖出蕃。
Gaozu's Ruan Xiurong, taboo name Lingying, born a Shi of Yuyao in Kuaiji. Qi's Prince of Shi'an, Yaoguang, took her to wife. When Yaoguang fell, she was taken into the Depraved Emperor's palace. When Jiankang fell, Gaozu took her as a painted attendant. In the eighth month, year 7 of Tianjian, she bore Shizu. Soon she was appointed Xiurong, and often followed Shizu when he went out to his fief.
32
大同六年六月，薨于江州內寢，時年六十七。 其年十一月，歸葬江寧縣通望山。 諡曰宣。 世祖卽位，有司奏追崇爲文宣太后。
In the sixth month, year 6 of Datong, she died in the inner chamber at Jiang Province; age sixty-seven. That year in the eleventh month she was returned for burial at Tongwang Mountain in Jiangning county. Posthumous title: Xuan. When Shizu took the throne, the responsible offices memorialized to posthumously honor her as Empress Dowager Wenxuan.
33
承聖二年，追贈太后父齊故奉朝請靈寶散騎常侍、左衛將軍，封武康縣侯，邑五百戶； 母陳氏，武康侯夫人。
In year 2 of Chengsheng, her father was posthumously given Qi former court gentleman Lingbao, Staff Officer for the Fast Cavalry, Left Guard General, enfeoffed Marquis of Wukang with five hundred households; mother née Chen, Lady of the Marquis of Wukang.
34
世祖徐妃
Shizu's Consort Xu
35
世祖徐妃，諱昭佩，東海郯人也。 祖孝嗣，太尉、枝江文忠公。 父緄，侍中、信武將軍。 天監十六年十二月，拜湘東王妃。 生世子方等、益昌公主含貞。 太清三年五月，被譴死，葬江陵瓦官寺。
Shizu's consort Xu, taboo name Zhaopei, was from Tan in Donghai. grandfather Xiaosi, Grand Commandant, Duke of Zhijiang the Cultured and Loyal. father Chun, Attendant-in-Ordinary, Trustworthy Martial General. In the twelfth month, year 16 of Tianjian, she was appointed consort of the Prince of Xiangdong. She bore the heir Fangdeng and Princess Yichang Hanzhen. In the fifth month of Taiping year 3 she was put to death by imperial reproof and buried at Jiangling's Waguan Temple.
36
史臣曰
The historian says:
37
史臣曰：后妃道贊皇風，化行天下，蓋取《葛覃》、《關雎》之義焉。 至於穆貴嬪，徽華早著，誕育元良，德懋六宮，美矣。 世祖徐妃之無行，自致殲滅，宜哉。 [1]
The historian writes: Empresses and consorts should uphold the court's moral influence and civilize the realm, following the spirit of "Ge Tan" and "Kuan-chiu." Of Consort Mu the Precious: her merit shone early, she bore the heir apparent, and her virtue filled the six palaces—admirable indeed. Shizu's Consort Xu, for her misdeeds, destroyed herself—as was fitting. [1] Editorial footnote marker.
38
全文以中華書局、一九七三年五月版《梁書》爲本校。
The full text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Liang (May 1973).