Overview
Empress Dowager Ling was an empress Dowager.
IdentityHistorical · Female · Title only
Life and dates
Attested activity
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
Places and affiliations
- Polity Northern Wei 北魏 · Relation Ruled
References in the histories
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Book of Wei, Chapter 89Volume 83b: Families of Imperial Consorts 2: Gao Zhao, Yu Jin, Hu Guozhen, Li Yanshi · 13 passages
太后以太上君墳瘞卑局，更增廣，為起塋域門闕碑表。
The empress dowager found the Grand Supreme Lady's tomb too modest and had the burial mound enlarged, with gates, towers, and steles erected.
太后從之。
The empress dowager approved.
靈太后親侍藥膳。
Empress Dowager Ling personally tended his medicines and meals.
太后還宮，成服於九龍殿，遂居九龍寢室。
The empress dowager returned to the palace, donned mourning dress in the Hall of Nine Dragons, and took up residence in the Nine Dragons chamber.
臨死與太后訣云：「母子善治天下，以萬人之心，勿視大臣面也。」
On his deathbed he bade the empress dowager farewell: "Mother and son must govern the realm well. Rule with the hearts of the people in mind—do not defer to the faces of great ministers."
靈太后以其好戲，時加威訓。
Empress Dowager Ling had often scolded Xiang for his love of play.
崔光嘗對太后前問國珍：「公萬年後為在此安厝，為歸長安？」
Cui Guang once asked Guozhen before the empress dowager: "After your ten thousand years, will you be laid to rest here, or return to Chang'an?"
及病危，太后請以後事，竟言還安定，語遂昏忽。
When he fell critically ill, the empress dowager asked his wishes. He finally said he wished to return to Anding, then lapsed into delirium.
太后問清河王懌與崔光等，議去留。
The empress dowager consulted Prince of Qinghe Yi, Cui Guang, and others on whether to bury him at Luoyang or Anding.
太后猶記崔光昔與國珍言，遂營墓於洛陽。
The empress dowager recalled Cui Guang's earlier conversation with Guozhen and had a tomb prepared at Luoyang.
太后雖外從眾議，而深追臨終之語，云：「我公之遠慕二親，亦吾之思父母也。」
Though she outwardly followed the court's advice, she deeply mourned his dying wish, saying, "My lord's longing for his parents in the west is like my own longing for my parents."
[6]靈太后迎太上君神柩還第，與國珍俱葬，贈襚一與國珍同。
[6] Empress Dowager Ling brought the Grand Supreme Lady's coffin home and buried her with Guozhen, with funeral gifts equal to his.
靈太后服齊衰期。
Empress Dowager Ling wore one-year mourning.