Sui and Tang · Consort and Royal Family Member

Empress Zhenyi, née Dugu 貞懿皇后獨孤氏

Zhenyi Huanghou Dugu shi

Died AD 778

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Zhenyi, née Dugu was a consort and Royal Family Member.

Life and dates

Death

AD 778 大歷十三年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 4

Attested activity

AD 778 大歷十三年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 4

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Daizong (代宗)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage · Widowed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 4

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Consort of ruler
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 4
At north of Zhangjing Temple, east of the city 城東章敬寺北 · Relation Planned burial
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 6

Assessments and attributes

Assessment united earth virtue with Heaven; motherly kindness reaching those below · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Yao Nanzhong (姚南仲)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 24

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 4

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 157Volume 153 Biographies 103: Yao Nanzhong, Liu Nai, Yuan Gao, Duan Pingzhong, Xue Cuncheng, Lu Tan · 7 passages

大歷十三年，貞懿皇后獨孤氏崩，代宗悼惜不已，令於近城為陵墓，冀朝夕臨望於目前。 In Dali 13 the Virtuous and Gracious Empress, née Dugu, died. Emperor Daizong grieved deeply and ordered a mausoleum built close to the capital so he could look upon it at every hour of the day.

伏聞貞懿皇后今於城東章敬寺北以起陵廟，臣不知有司之請乎，陛下之意乎，陰陽家流希旨乎？ I have heard that a mausoleum and temple for the Virtuous and Gracious Empress are being built north of Zhangjing Temple, east of the city. I do not know whether this came from the responsible offices, from Your Majesty's own wish, or from geomancers currying favor.

伏以貞懿皇后，坤德合天，母慈逮下，陛下以切軫旒扆，久俟蓍龜。 The Virtuous and Gracious Empress united earth virtue with Heaven and extended motherly kindness to all below. Your Majesty, stricken at the throne, has long awaited the diviners' verdict on the burial site.

始謚之以貞懿，終待之以褻近，臣竊惑焉，非所以稱述後德，光被下泉也。 You first gave her the posthumous name Virtuous and Gracious, yet would end by treating her with familiar closeness. I am perplexed: this is not how to proclaim an empress's virtue and let its light reach the underworld.

今國人皆曰：「貞懿皇后之陵邇於城下者，主上將日省而時望焉。」 The people already say, 'The Virtuous and Gracious Empress's tomb beside the city means the sovereign will visit every day and look upon it at every hour.'

斯有損於聖德，無益於貞懿。 That harms your sagely virtue and does the empress no good.

抑皇情之殊眷，成貞懿之美號。 Restrain private affection and fulfill the beautiful name Virtuous and Gracious.