Qin and Han · Western Han consort of Emperor Cheng

Zhao Hede 趙合德

First attested BC 33; died BC 7

Passages: 6
Chapters: 5
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhao Hede was a Western Han consort of Emperor Cheng.

Life and dates

Death

BC 7 historical identification
Cause Suicide
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 263

Attested activity

BC 9 元延四年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 12, passages 4, 16
BC 33 to BC 7 孝成帝時
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 130
BC 33 to BC 7 成帝之世
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 91, passage 190
c. BC 16 to c. BC 7 趙昭儀
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passage 263

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Cheng of Han (漢成帝)
honored lady 昭儀 · Concubinage
Concubinage
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 130; Book of Han 91, passage 190

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 12 Volume 11: Annals of Emperor Ai 2 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 11 Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 70 Volume 60: Du Zhou 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 91 Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 98 Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 1 passage

Career and standing

Zhaoyi 昭儀
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 255
Held
Imperial favorite
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 130

Events and relationships

Accompanied emperor to Sweet Springs
Court travel · Escort
Directly stated · Book of Han 98, passage 130
Identified by Du Ye as having killed Emperor Cheng's imperial sons.
Political · Accused consort
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 263
Supported Ai as heir
Succession · Advocate · With Emperor Ai of Han (漢哀帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 91, passage 190
Urged naming King of Dingtao as heir
BC 9 元延四年 · Political · Advisor · With Emperor Ai of Han (漢哀帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 12, passage 17

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 11Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng · 1 passage

是歲，昭儀趙氏害後宮皇子。 In this year, Lady Zhao of the Zhaoyi rank harmed princes of the rear palace.

Book of Han, Chapter 12Volume 11: Annals of Emperor Ai · 2 passages

時王祖母傅太后隨王來朝，私賂遺上所幸趙昭儀及帝舅票騎將軍曲陽侯王根。 Meanwhile, the king's grandmother, Empress Dowager Fu, had accompanied him to court and secretly bribed both the emperor's favorite, Consort Zhao, and the emperor's uncle, General Wang Gen, Marquis of Quyang.

昭儀及根見上亡子，亦欲豫自結為長久計，皆更稱定陶王，勸帝以為嗣。 Consort Zhao and Wang Gen, observing that the emperor had no sons, wanted to secure their own long-term interests. They both spoke highly of the King of Dingtao and urged the emperor to name him as heir.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 1 passage

曲陽侯根前為三公輔政，知趙昭儀殺皇子，不輒白奏，反與趙氏比周，恣意妄行，譖訴故許後，被加以非罪，誅破諸許族，敗元帝外家。 Wang Gen, marquis of Quyang, had served among the Three Excellencies and helped direct the government. He knew that Consort Zhao Hede had killed the imperial sons but failed to report it. Instead he colluded with the Zhao clan, acted without restraint, slandered the deposed Empress Xu, had her falsely condemned, destroyed the Xu clan, and ruined Emperor Yuan's maternal family.

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 1 passage

外家王氏與趙昭儀皆欲用哀帝為太子，故遂立焉。 The Wangs at court and Lady Zhao the brilliant companion both wanted Ai as heir, so he was chosen.

Book of Han, Chapter 98Volume 87a: Yang Xiong 1 · 1 passage

又是時趙昭儀方大幸，每上甘泉，常法從，在屬車間豹尾中。 Lady Zhao then held the emperor's favor; each visit to Sweet Springs she rode in the regulated escort among the leopard-tail guard.