Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Empress Dowager

Empress Dowager Ling 靈太后

Ling taihou

Attested AD 515

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager Ling was an empress Dowager.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 515 肅宗踐祚
Directly stated · Book of Wei 89, passages 120-121

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Hu Guozhen (胡國珍)
father 父
daughter 女
Directly stated · Book of Wei 89, passage 119
Child of Lady Huangfu (皇甫氏)
mother 母
Strongly inferred · Book of Wei 89, passages 119, 122
Parent of Emperor Suzong (肅宗)
son 子
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Wei 89, passage 119

Places and affiliations

Polity Northern Wei 北魏 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Wei 89, passage 121

References in the histories

Book of Wei, Chapter 89Volume 83b: Families of Imperial Consorts 2: Gao Zhao, Yu Jin, Hu Guozhen, Li Yanshi · 4 passages

女以選入掖庭，生肅宗，即靈太后也。 His daughter was selected for the imperial harem, bore Emperor Suzong, and became Empress Dowager Ling.

靈太后臨朝，加侍中，封安定郡公，給甲第，賜帛布綿縠奴婢車馬牛甚厚。 When Empress Dowager Ling assumed regency, he was made Palace Attendant and enfeoffed as Duke of Anding Commandery. She granted him a fine mansion and lavish gifts of silks, cloth, slaves, carriages, horses, and cattle.

靈太后以國珍年老，不欲令其在外，且欲示以方面之榮，竟不行。 Empress Dowager Ling did not wish to send the aged Guozhen away from court, yet wanted to honor him with a regional command. In the end he never took up the post.

靈太后、肅宗率百僚幸其第，宴會極歡。 Empress Dowager Ling and Emperor Suzong led the court to his home for a lavish banquet.