Empress Chunqin (淳欽皇后)

Overview

The translated histories identify Empress Chunqin as a consort, royal family member, and ruler. This record brings together 36 passages from 14 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chúnqīn huánghòu
Title	Earth Empress	地皇后	Dì huánghòu
Title	Empress	皇后	Huánghòu
Title	Empress	皇后
Title	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chúnqīn huánghòu
Temple name	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chúnqīn Huánghòu
Title	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后
Temple	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后
Posthumous	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chúnqīn Huánghòu
Temple	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chúnqīn huánghòu
Temple name	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chunqin Huanghou
Title	Empress Chunqin	淳欽皇后	Chunqin Huanghou
Personal	Empress Chunqin of the Xiao clan	淳欽皇后蕭氏
Title	empress dowager	太后	Tàihòu
Title	Empress Dowager	皇太后
Personal name	Empress Shulü	皇后述律氏	Huánghòu Shùlǜ shì
Personal	Empress Shulü	述律後	Shùlǜ hòu
Personal	Empress Shulü	述律皇后	Shulü
Personal	Empress Shulü	述律后
Title	Empress Yingtian	應天皇後	Yingtian
Surname	Shulü	述律	Shùlǜ
Surname	Shulü	述律	Shulü
Surname	Xiao	蕭
Temple name		淳欽

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Female

Sex: female
Explicit · liaoshi:031:s0182, liaoshi:035:s0005, liaoshi:061:s0034, liaoshi:065:s0019, liaoshi:067:s0101, liaoshi:072:s0008, liaoshi:072:s0019, liaoshi:073:s0156, liaoshi:074:s0046, liaoshi:075:s0043, liaoshi:085:s0055, liaoshi:087:s0005, liaoshi:108:s0011, liaoshi:116:s0013
Value: female
Explicit · liaoshi:093:s0008

Roles

Consort
Royal Family Member
Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 開泰二年 · Regnal Year: 2 · Western Year: AD 1013
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:093:s0008, liaoshi:093:s0012
Source Date: Text: 統和二十八年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 28 · Western Year: AD 1010
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:087:s0005, liaoshi:087:s0008
Source Date: Text: 神冊元年春 · Season: spring · Western Year: AD 916
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:072:s0008, liaoshi:072:s0019
Source Date: Text: 剌葛之亂 · Western Interval: Start: AD 916 · End: AD 918
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:073:s0179
Source Date: Text: 太祖 · Western Interval: Start: AD 907 · End: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:065:s0019
Source Date: Text: 太祖朝 · Western Year: AD 916
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:074:s0046
Source Date: Text: 太祖淳欽皇后 · Western Interval: Start: AD 907 · End: AD 926
Explicit · liaoshi:067:s0101, liaoshi:067:s0006
Source Date: Text: 淳欽皇后 · Western Interval: Start: AD 916 · End: AD 953
Explicit · liaoshi:031:s0182
Source Date: Text: 淳欽皇后 · Western Year: AD 916
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0055
Source Date: Text: 淳欽皇后收養之 · Western Interval: Start: AD 916 · End: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:108:s0011
Source Date: Text: 淳欽皇后時 · Western Interval: Start: AD 907 · End: AD 953
Explicit · liaoshi:061:s0034
Source Date: Text: 淳欽皇后稱制 · Western Interval: Start: AD 926 · End: AD 927
Explicit · liaoshi:075:s0043
Source Date: Text: 皇后述律氏 · Western Interval: Start: AD 916 · End: AD 947
Explicit · liaoshi:035:s0005, liaoshi:035:s0009
Source Date: Text: 遼太祖朝 · Western Interval: Start: AD 916 · End: AD 926
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:116:s0013, liaoshi:116:s0086, liaoshi:116:s0254

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Kin of Xiao Han (蕭翰)
Kinship Term: brother's son / nephew / 兄子 · Subject Role: nephew · Object Role: paternal-aunt · Line: paternal · Intermediary Person Ids: Elder brother of Empress Shulü (述律皇后之兄)
Parent of Zhilugu (直魯古)
Kinship Term: adopted and raised / 收養 · Parentage: adoptive · Subject Role: adoptive mother · Object Role: adopted child
Kinship Term: adopted and raised / 收養 · Parentage: adoptive · Subject Role: adopted child · Object Role: adoptive mother
Kin of Pogu Meili (婆姑梅里)
Kinship Term: clansman of / 族 · Subject Role: clansman · Object Role: clanswoman
Kin of Shensi Meili (慎思梅里)
Kinship Term: clansman of / 族 · Subject Role: clansman · Object Role: clanswoman
Descendant of Nusi (糯思)
Kinship Term: descendant of / 之後
Sibling of Yuwen (欲穩)
Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-brother · Object Role: sister
Sibling of Elder brother of Empress Shulü (述律皇后之兄)
Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: sister · Object Role: elder-brother · Shared Parentage: uncertain
Sibling of Xiao Dilu (蕭敵魯)
Kinship Term: elder sister / 女兄 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-sister · Object Role: younger-brother · Shared Parentage: full
Sibling of Agu Zhi (阿古只)
Kinship Term: elder sister / 女兄 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Shared Parentage: full
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-sister · Object Role: younger-brother
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-sister
Sibling of Mother of Laogu (老古母)
Kinship Term: elder sister / 姊 · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-sister · Object Role: younger-sister
Spouse of Taizu (太祖)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: empress · Object Role: emperor
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Parentage: uncertain · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband · Relationship State: active
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: emperor · Object Role: empress
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage
Kinship Term: married / 娶 · Union Category: marriage · Relationship State: formed
Spouse of Liao Taizu (遼太祖)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife · Relationship State: active
Child of Yuewan (月碗)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: daughter
Parent of Yelü Bei (耶律倍)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: mother
Parent of Li Hu (李胡)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: mother
Sibling of Xiao Shilu (蕭室魯)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Shared Parentage: uncertain · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-sister
Sibling of Aguzhi (阿古只)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: younger · Shared Parentage: uncertain

Career and standing

Title: Earth Empress / 地皇后 · Action: held
Explicit · liaoshi:035:s0009
Title: Empress / 皇后 · Action: held
Explicit · liaoshi:035:s0005

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liao · Relation: associated-with
Explicit · liaoshi:072:s0008, liaoshi:072:s0019
Polity Id: liao · Relation: consort-of-ruling-house
Explicit · liaoshi:061:s0034
Polity Id: liao · Relation: consort-of
Explicit · liaoshi:108:s0011, liaoshi:116:s0013, liaoshi:116:s0086, liaoshi:116:s0254
Polity Id: liao · Relation: served
Explicit · liaoshi:031:s0182, liaoshi:035:s0005, liaoshi:073:s0156, liaoshi:074:s0046, liaoshi:075:s0043
Polity Id: liao · Relation: served
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:067:s0101
Polity Id: liao · Relation: subject-of
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:065:s0019
Organization: shushan army / 屬珊軍 · Relation: commander-of
Explicit · liaoshi:035:s0005, liaoshi:035:s0009
Organization: Shushan households / 屬珊 · Relation: controller-of
Explicit · liaoshi:116:s0254

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Mode: quotation
Explicit · liaoshi:072:s0065, liaoshi:072:s0066
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Taizu (太祖) · Quoted: true
Explicit · liaoshi:074:s0046
Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · liaoshi:075:s0108

Events and relationships

Kind: adoption · Role: adoptive-parent · Action: adopted-and-raised · Other Person Id: Zhilugu (直魯古)
Explicit · liaoshi:108:s0011
Kind: military · Role: participant · Action: followed-on-campaign · Other Person Id: Liao Taizu (遼太祖)
Explicit · liaoshi:116:s0254
Kind: political · Role: kingmaker · Action: installed · Other Person Id: Yaogu (堯骨)
Explicit · liaoshi:072:s0019, liaoshi:072:s0020
Kind: administrative · Role: authority · Action: made-registered-household-gentlemen · Label: made them registered-household gentlemen / 以為著帳郎君
Explicit · liaoshi:031:s0182
Kind: military · Role: participant · Action: received-surrender · Other Person Id: Yinzhuan (諲譔)
Explicit · liaoshi:116:s0086
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: selected-shushan-army · Detail: While keeping the capital, selected elite Fan and Han troops for the shushan army / 居守之際，摘蕃漢精銳為屬珊軍
Explicit · liaoshi:035:s0005
Kind: military · Role: commander-authority · Action: sent-army · Other Person Id: Li Hu (李胡)
Explicit · liaoshi:072:s0059
Kind: legal · Role: ruler · Action: set-apart-registered-account-gentlemen
Explicit · liaoshi:061:s0034

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · liaoshi:065:s0019
Statement: The shushan army belonging to the Earth Empress numbered two hundred thousand riders / 屬珊軍：地皇后屬，二十萬騎
Explicit · liaoshi:035:s0009
From: Empress Shulü / 述律皇后 · To: Empress Yingtian / 應天皇後
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:116:s0013, liaoshi:116:s0254

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

History of Liao, Chapter 31Volume 31 Treatises 1: Management of Guards 1 · 1 passage

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淳欽皇后有之，以為著帳郎君。 Empress Chunqin took charge of them and made them registered-household gentlemen.

History of Liao, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 5: Military 2 · 2 passages

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皇后述律氏居守之際，摘蕃漢精銳為屬珊軍。 While Empress Shulü kept guard at the capital she selected elite Fan and Han troops for the shushan army.

屬珊軍：地皇后屬，二十萬騎。 The shushan army belonged to the Earth Empress and numbered two hundred thousand riders.

History of Liao, Chapter 61Volume 61 Treatises 31: Punishment and Law 1 · 1 passage

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及淳欽皇后時析出，以為著帳郎君，至世宗詔免之。 Under Empress Chunqin they were set apart as registered-account gentlemen; Shizong later issued an edict releasing them.

History of Liao, Chapter 65Volume 65 Tables 3: Princesses · 1 passage

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下嫁淳欽皇后弟蕭室魯。 She was given in marriage to Xiao Shilu, younger brother of Empress Chunqin.

History of Liao, Chapter 67Volume 67 Tables 5: Families of Imperial Consorts · 1 passage

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太祖淳欽皇后父月碗 Yuewan, father of Empress Chunqin, consort of Taizu

History of Liao, Chapter 72Volume 72 Biographies 2: Imperial Family: Yi Zongbei, the Foreign Emperor Zhang Su, Shun Zongjun, Jin Wangaoluwo · 11 passages

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義宗，名倍，小字圖欲，太祖長子，母淳欽皇后蕭氏。 Yizong, whose personal name was Bei and childhood name Tuyu, was Taizu's eldest son; his mother was Empress Chunqin of the Xiao clan.

倍知皇太后意欲立德光，乃謂公卿曰：「大元帥功德及人神，中外攸屬，宜主社稷。」 Knowing the Empress Dowager meant to elevate Deguang, Bei told the chief ministers, "The Great Marshal's achievements touch both men and spirits; court and country alike look to him—he ought to rule the realm."

乃與群臣請於太后而讓位焉。 He and the officials petitioned the Empress Dowager, and he yielded the throne.

章肅皇帝，小字李胡，一名洪古，字奚隱，太祖第三子，母淳欽皇后蕭氏。 Emperor Zhangsu, childhood name Li Hu, also called Honggu, style Xiyin, was Taizu's third son; his mother was Empress Chunqin of the Xiao clan.

而母篤愛李胡。 Yet his mother doted on Li Hu.

世宗即位鎮陽，太后怒，遣李胡將兵擊之。 When Shizong assumed the throne at Zhenyang, the Empress Dowager in anger sent Li Hu with an army against him.

太后與世宗隔潢河而陣，各言舉兵意。 The Empress Dowager and Shizong drew up on opposite banks of the Huang River and each explained why he had taken up arms.

耶律屋質入諫太后曰：「主上已立，宜許之。」 Yelü Wuzhi went in and urged the Empress Dowager, "The emperor is already enthroned—you ought to accept him."

太后顧李胡曰：「昔我與太祖愛汝異於諸子，諺云：『偏憐之子不保業，難得之婦不主家。』 The Empress Dowager turned to Li Hu and said, "Taizu and I once loved you more than your brothers. As the proverb runs, 'The child too fondly indulged cannot keep the estate; the wife too hard won cannot keep the house.'

會有告李胡與太后謀廢立者，徙李胡祖州，禁其出入。 When word came that Li Hu and the Empress Dowager were plotting to depose the emperor, Li Hu was exiled to Zuzhou and forbidden to leave.

論曰：李胡殘酷驕盈，太祖知其不才而不能教，太后不知其惡而溺愛之。 Commentary: Li Hu was cruel and arrogant. Taizu knew he lacked talent but could not teach him; the Empress Dowager did not see his wickedness and spoiled him.

History of Liao, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 3: Yelu Helu, Xiao Dilu, Yelu Xieniechi, Yelu Yuwen, Yelu Haili · 3 passages

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蕭敵魯，字敵輦，其母為德祖女弟，而淳欽皇后又其女兄也。 Xiao Dilu, whose style was Dilian, was born to Dezong's younger sister; Empress Chunqin was also his elder sister.

剌葛之亂也，淳欽皇后軍黑山，阻險自固。 During Cige's rebellion, Empress Chunqin encamped at Black Mountain and held the defensible ground to secure herself.

老古，字撒懶，其母淳欽皇后姊也。 Laogu, whose style was Salan, was born to Empress Chunqin's elder sister.

History of Liao, Chapter 74Volume 74 Biographies 4: Yelu Dila, Xiao Hendu, Kang Moji, Han Yanhui, Han Zhigu · 3 passages

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述律後諫曰：「彼秉節弗撓，賢者也，奈何困辱之？」 Empress Shulü urged: "He keeps his integrity and will not yield—a worthy man. Why subject him to hardship and shame?"

太祖平薊時，知古六歲，為淳欽皇后兄欲穩所得。 When Emperor Taizu took Ji, Zhigu was six; he was taken by Yuwen, elder brother of Empress Chunqin.

匡嗣以善醫，直長樂宮，皇后視之猶子。 Skilled in medicine, Kuangsi served at Changle Palace, where the empress treated him like a son.

History of Liao, Chapter 75Volume 75 Biographies 5: Yelu Dilie, Yelu Duozhen, Wang Yu, Yelu Tulujiong · 4 passages

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及淳欽皇后稱制，惡鐸臻，囚之，誓曰：「鐵鎖朽，當釋汝！」 When Empress Chunqin assumed the regency, she took a dislike to Duozhen and imprisoned him, swearing, "When the iron chains rust through, I shall release you!"

淳欽皇后稱制，有飛語中傷者，後怒，突呂不懼而亡。 When Empress Chunqin assumed the regency, slanders reached her ears; enraged, she drove Tulubu to flee in fear.

太祖崩，郁與妻會葬，其妻泣訴於淳欽皇后，求歸鄉國，許之。 When Emperor Taizu died, Yu and his wife attended the funeral; his wife wept before Empress Chunqin and begged to return home, and the empress granted her request.

願常侍太后。」 I beg to remain in constant attendance upon the empress dowager."

History of Liao, Chapter 85Volume 85 Biographies 15: Xiao Talin, Xiao Guanyinnu, Yelu Tizi, Yelu Xieli, Yelu Nugua, Xiao Liu, Gao Xun, Xi Heshuonu, Xiao Taliege, Yelu Sahe · 1 passage

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蕭柳，字徒門，淳欽皇后弟阿古只五世孫。 Xiao Liu, whose style name was Tumen, was a fifth-generation descendant of Aguzhi, younger brother of Empress Chunqin.

History of Liao, Chapter 87Volume 87 Biographies 17: · 1 passage

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蕭孝穆，小字胡獨堇，淳欽皇后弟阿古只五世孫。 Xiao Xiaomu, whose childhood name was Hudujin, was a fifth-generation descendant of Aguzhi, the younger brother of Empress Chunqin.

History of Liao, Chapter 93Volume 93 Biographies 23: Xiao Hui, Xiao Yulu, Xiao Tuyu, Yelu Duozhen · 1 passage

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蕭惠，字伯仁，小字脫古思，淳欽皇后弟阿古只五世孫。 Xiao Hui, whose courtesy name was Boren and childhood name Tuogusi, was a fifth-generation descendant of Aguzhi, younger brother of Empress Chunqin.

History of Liao, Chapter 108Volume 108 Biographies 38: Divination · 1 passage

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由是進於太祖，淳欽皇后收養之。 He was then brought before Taizu, and Empress Chunqin took him in and raised him.

History of Liao, Chapter 116Volume 116: Explanation of State Language · 5 passages