Virtuous and Gracious Empress Dugu (貞懿皇后獨孤氏)

Overview

Virtuous and Gracious Empress 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 153, passage 4

Attested activity

AD 778 大歷十三年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passages 4, 281

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Daizong (代宗)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage · Widowed · AD 778 大歷十三年
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 4

Origins and identity

Lineage Dugu clan 獨孤氏
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 4

Career and standing

Virtuous and Gracious 貞懿
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 300

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 4

Events and relationships

Mausoleum planned
AD 778 大歷十三年 · Ritual · Deceased · At north of Zhangjing Temple, east of the city 城東章敬寺北
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passages 4, 281

Assessments and attributes

Assessment earthly virtue conformed to Heaven and motherly compassion reached those below · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Yao Nanzhong (姚南仲)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 299

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 153Volume 149 Biographies 99: Yu Xiulie, Ling Huhuan, Gui Chongjing, Xi Zhi, Zhang Jian, Jiang Yi, Liu Deng, Shen Chuanshi · 6 passages

Open chapter

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.

南仲上疏諫曰：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？ Nanzhong submitted a memorial of remonstrance: "I have heard that a mausoleum and temple for the Virtuous and Gracious Empress are now being raised north of Zhangjing Temple, east of the city. I do not know whether this was requested by the responsible offices, reflects Your Majesty's own intent, or flatters geomancers seeking to please?"

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, in earthly virtue conformed to Heaven and motherly compassion reached those below. Your Majesty, deeply grieved at the throne, long awaited the divination of shell and stalks.

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。」 Now the people all say, "The mausoleum of the Virtuous and Gracious Empress near the walls below the city—the sovereign will visit it daily and gaze upon it from time to time."

斯有損於聖德，無益於貞懿。 This damages sagely virtue and does the Virtuous and Gracious Empress no good.

抑皇情之殊眷，成貞懿之美號。 Rather, restrain your special affection and complete the Virtuous and Gracious Empress's beautiful posthumous honor.