Song, Liao, and Jin · Consort and Royal Family Member

Empress Dowager 皇太后

Attested AD 1022

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager was a consort and Royal Family Member.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1022 乾興元年
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passages 181-182

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Zhenzong (真宗)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage · Widowed · Until Source Date: Text: 乾興元年 · Western Year: AD 1022
empress dowager 皇太后 · Primary marriage · Widowed
Strongly inferred · History of Song 117, passage 182
Parent of Young Emperor (皇帝)
empress dowager 皇太后 · Uncertain parentage
Strongly inferred · History of Song 117, passage 182

Career and standing

Held
AD 1022 乾興元年 · Regent
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passages 181-182

Places and affiliations

Polity Song 宋 · Relation Regent
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passages 181-182
At Chenming Hall 承明殿 · Relation Held court at
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passage 187

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passage 187
Rescript · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passage 185

Events and relationships

Held court behind curtain
AD 1022 乾興元年 · Regency · Regent
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passages 181-182
Received condolences before curtain
Ritual · Recipient
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passage 183
Restricted self designation to wu
Court protocol · Sovereign · At Chenming Hall 承明殿
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passage 187

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Song 117, passage 181

References in the histories

History of Song, Chapter 117Volume 117 Treatises 70: Rites 20 · 6 passages

皇太后臨朝聽政。 The Empress Dowager held court behind the curtain and governed.

乾興元年，真宗崩，遺旨以皇帝尚幼，軍國事兼權取皇太后處分。 In the first year of Qianxing, Zhenzong died; his final testament said that because the emperor was still young, military and state affairs were jointly entrusted to the Empress Dowager for disposition.

宰相率百官稱賀，復前奉慰，又慰皇太后於簾前。 The chief minister led the hundred officials in offering congratulations; they again advanced to offer condolences; and again offered condolences to the Empress Dowager before the curtain.

皇太后所降批答，首書“覽表具之”，末云“所請宜許”或“不許”。 In rescript replies issued by the Empress Dowager, the opening read "I have read your memorial and noted its particulars," and the closing read "Your request should be granted" or "not granted."

初，丁謂定皇太后稱 “予”，中書與禮院參議，每下制令稱“予”，便殿處分稱“吾”。 At first Ding Wei fixed the Empress Dowager's self-designation as yu ("I"); the Secretariat and Ritual Academy debated the matter: in formal edicts and commands she was to use yu, but in informal dispositions from the convenience hall she was to use wu.

皇太后詔：“止稱‘吾’，與皇帝並御承明殿垂簾決事。” The Empress Dowager decreed: "Use only wu ('I'); together with the emperor hold court at the Chenming Hall behind the curtain to decide affairs."