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Volume 5: Book of Wei 5: Biographies of Empresses and Concubines

Chapter 5 of 三國志 · Records of the Three Kingdoms
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Chapter 5
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1
使
The Changes says, "The man takes the correct position outside, the woman takes the correct position inside; when each stands in the right relation, that is the great moral order of heaven and earth." Every wise king of antiquity made clear the rules governing empresses and concubines and aligned them with the moral pattern of heaven and earth. Hence the two royal brides who joined the Gui line made Yao’s line thrive, while Ren and Si, wed into the Ji clan, brought radiance to Zhou. Whether a state flourishes or fails has almost always turned on this. Exegetical tradition on the Spring and Autumn Annals assigns twelve consorts to the Son of Heaven and nine to a feudal lord; weighed by common sense, that norm has not changed. In later ages, however, rulers gave themselves to excess and appetite until men and women languished apart in bitterness, unsettling the harmonious air of the realm. They exalted mere loveliness instead of grounding choice in true goodness, until morals frayed and the fundamental ties of society collapsed. What a waste. Alas: any who would hold a realm or a household ought to keep this lesson before them always.
2
Han law styled the sovereign’s grandmother Grand Empress Dowager, his mother Empress Dowager, his chief consort Empress, and recognized fourteen grades of inner-court women below them. Wei adopted Han precedent: the titles of the empress’s mother and similar ranks stayed as before, while from Lady downward successive reigns added or pruned offices. When Cao Cao established his kingdom he first set a queen above five grades: Lady, Brilliant Companion, Handmaid of Favor, Graceful Splendor, and Beauty. Wen-di expanded the roster with Honored Concubine, Virtuous Lady, Cultivated Countenance, Accomplished Success, and Good Woman. Ming-di added Virtuous Consort, Splendid Companion, and Cultured Bearing; and he abolished the Accomplished Success post. During Taihe the court restored the title Lady and set it above Virtuous Consort. Below the empress came twelve noble grades. Honored Concubine and Lady stood immediately beneath her, with no exact analogue among outside nobility; Virtuous Consort’s salary matched the Chancellor’s and her fief ranked with a prince of the blood; Virtuous Lady matched the Imperial Counselor and ranked with a county duke; Brilliant Companion matched a county marquis; Splendid Companion matched a village marquis; Cultivated Countenance matched a pavilion marquis; Cultured Bearing matched a marquis-within-the-passes; Handmaid of Favor drew pay like a full two-thousand-shi official; Graceful Splendor drew true two-thousand-shi rank; Beauty compared to two-thousand-shi salary; Good Woman matched one thousand shi.
3
Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan (the martial and manifest empress), surnamed Bian
4
滿 使 忿 使
Lady Bian, posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan, came from Kaiyang in Langye and was Cao Pi’s mother. She was born into a family of performers. 〈The Book of Wei records that she was born on jisi in the twelfth month of Han Yanxi 3 at White Pavilion in Qi, while yellow vapor filled the room for an entire day. Her father, ennobled as the Respectful Marquis, was troubled and questioned the diviner Wang Dan, who answered, “This is a blessed omen.”〉 When she was twenty, Cao Cao took her as a concubine at Qiao. She later accompanied him to Luoyang. When Dong Zhuo’s rebellion convulsed the capital, Cao Cao slipped away in plain clothes toward the east. Yuan Shu circulated a false report of Cao Cao’s death. His followers in Luoyang wanted to flee homeward, but Lady Bian told them, “You cannot know yet whether my lord lives or dies. If you leave today and he proves alive tomorrow, how could you bear to look him in the eye? Even if the worst comes, is dying together so terrible?” They stayed because she said so. Cao Cao heard the story and approved her steadiness. Early in Jian’an, after Lady Ding was cast off, he made Lady Bian his principal wife. He told her to raise every motherless son of his household. 〈The Wei Summary adds that Cao Cao first had Lady Ding, while Lady Liu bore Cao Ang and the Princess of Qinghe. Lady Liu died young, and Lady Ding reared Cao Ang as her own. After Cao Ang died at Rang, Lady Ding cried again and again, “You got my son killed and spare me no thought at all!” and she wept without measure. Enraged, Cao Cao sent her back to her family, expecting her resolve to crumble. Later Cao Cao went to see her. She was at her loom, and when someone outside announced, "The lord has arrived," she remained seated at the loom as before. He stepped in, laid a hand on her back, and said, “Won’t you come home with me in the carriage?” She neither looked at him nor replied. He withdrew to the threshold and called, “Is there still no way to patch this?” Again she was silent, and he said, “Then it is finished between us.” He severed ties and wanted her kin to remarry her, yet they dared not. While Lady Ding was still principal consort and mother to Cao Ang, she looked down on Lady Bian and her sons. Once Lady Bian became principal wife she refused to nurse old grudges. Whenever Cao Cao was away she sent seasonal gifts, received Lady Ding in private, gave her the host’s seat while taking a lower place herself, and saw her off and welcomed her as in earlier times. Lady Ding protested, “I am a discarded woman—why should you honor me like this?” After Lady Ding died, Lady Bian begged Cao Cao to bury her properly; he agreed, and she was interred south of Xu. Later, as Cao Cao lay dying, he sighed, “In everything I have done I do not believe I ever knowingly betrayed another. Yet if the dead have awareness and Cao Ang asks where his mother is, what answer could I give?” The Book of Wei adds that Lady Bian lived plainly—no embroidered silks or jade ornaments, only black-lacquer ware. When Cao Cao offered her a choice of jeweled pins she picked middling ones, explaining, “The finest would show greed, the poorest affectation; the middle course is honest.”〉 When Cao Pi became heir, his senior maids told Lady Bian, “The heir has been named; the whole realm rejoices. You should fling open the treasuries and give largesse.” She answered, “The king chose Pi because he is the elder son. I am lucky enough not to be faulted for poor upbringing—why heap rewards on everyone?” They reported her words to Cao Cao. He said with satisfaction, “To stay calm in anger and measured in joy—that is the rarest thing of all.”
5
使
In the twenty-fourth year of Jian’an she was enfeoffed as queen. The edict read, “Lady Bian has nurtured the princes and embodies a mother’s standard. We therefore raise her to queen; the heir and feudal lords shall attend while ministers toast her long life, and death sentences across the domain are commuted one degree.” The next year Cao Cao died. Cao Pi, now king, styled her Queen Dowager, and as emperor raised her to Empress Dowager of Yongshou Palace. 〈The Book of Wei notes that she cut palace meals when the treasury ran short and stripped the kitchens of gold and silver vessels. Cao Zhi, prince of Dong’e, was her youngest and her favorite. When Cao Zhi broke the law and officials impeached him, Wen-di sent her nephew Lan, commandant of the imperial carriage, with the ministers’ verdict. She said only, “I never thought this boy would go so far. Go back and tell the Son of Heaven not to bend the statutes for my sake.” When she next saw the emperor she never raised the matter. Pei Songzhi remarks: Wen-di dreamed of grinding coins, wanting the characters to fade yet they grew sharper, and asked Zhou Xuan. Zhou Xuan answered, “This concerns your own household: though you wish one outcome, the empress dowager will not consent.” So her attitude cannot have matched what this passage claims. The Book of Wei also says that on campaign she stopped her carriage for white-haired villagers, gave them silk, and wept, “I mourn that my own parents never lived to see days like these.” To kinsmen from outside the palace she showed no easy warmth, warning, “Live modestly; do not look for gifts or live only for comfort. They may think me harsh, but I keep to my rule. I served Emperor Wu forty or fifty years in frugal habit; I will not turn lavish now. Whoever breaks the law gets an extra degree of punishment from me—never expect money or grain favors.” The emperor built a mansion for her brother Bing; when she toured it she feasted the kin with plain fare from the lower kitchen, nothing special. Her own attendants ate vegetables and millet, no meat or fish. Such was her austerity.〉 When Ming-di succeeded he raised her to Grand Empress Dowager.
6
During Huangchu, Wen-di wanted to posthumously ennoble Lady Bian’s parents. Chen Qun objected: “You received the mandate with sage virtue and set new institutions—you must be the pattern for ages to come. The classics nowhere grant women fiefs or noble rank of their own. Ritual gives a wife rank only through her husband. Qin broke the ancient rule and Han followed suit; neither matches the true kings’ code.” The emperor agreed: “Do not enact it. Instead promulgate an edict, file it in the tower archives, and let it stand forever as precedent.” In Taihe 4 Ming-di belatedly ennobled her grandfather Guang as Marquis Gong of Kaiyang, her father Yuan as Marquis Jing, and her grandmother Zhou as lady of Yangdu and consort of Marquis Jing, each with seals and cords. She died that fifth month. In the seventh month she was laid beside Cao Cao in the Gaoling mausoleum.
7
使 祿 彿 便 姿 忿 便 220 使 使 歿 227 使
At first the empress dowager's younger brother Bing was enfeoffed as Marquis of the Capital Village for his service. In Huangchu 7 he was promoted to Marquis of Kaiyang with a fief of twelve hundred households and made General Who Displays Fierce Valor. The Wei Summary says that at first, during Jian'an, Empress Bian's younger brother Bing became a Major of a Separate Unit. The empress often complained about him to the Grand Progenitor, who answered, "Is it not already much that he gets to be my brother-in-law?" Later she also wanted the Grand Progenitor to supply him with money and silks. He replied again, "Is it not enough that you secretly give to him?" So throughout the Grand Progenitor's lifetime Bing's office never changed and his wealth was never increased. When Bing died, his son Lan succeeded. He showed talent and learning from youth. The Wei Summary says Lan presented fu and praise describing the heir apparent's virtues. The heir apparent replied, "The fu states the categories to which affairs attach; the song praises the form of flourishing virtue. The author must not empty his words, and the recipient must match the reality. Is this fu of Lan truly my reality? When Liu Qiu, King Shou of Wu, once presented the precious tripod, He Wu and others merely sang in praise yet still received gold and silks. Lan's matter, though not to be credited, is still worthy of commendation. Now I grant one ox." From this he came to be treated with intimacy and respect. He served as commandant of the imperial carriage and general who attacks independently, with the additional post of regular attendant. When Lan died, his son Hui succeeded. The Wei Summary says that during Emperor Ming's reign, Lan saw two external crises while the emperor focused his attention on palace buildings. He often used occasions of attendance and service to remonstrate sharply and repeatedly. Although the emperor could not follow his advice, he still accepted his sincere devotion. Later Lan suffered from wine-induced thirst. The emperor trusted a shamaness's water prescription and sent water for him, but Lan refused to drink. An edict asked why. Lan said illness should be treated with prescriptions and medicines—why trust in this? The emperor changed countenance, yet Lan to the end would not submit. Later his thirst grew worse until he died. People of the time, seeing Lan's love of blunt speech, said the emperor had shamed him to his face and Lan killed himself—but in fact it was not so. Bing's noble rank was also divided, and Lan's younger brother Lin was enfeoffed as a full marquis and reached the office of colonel of the footsoldiers. Lan's son Long had a daughter who became empress to the Duke of Gaoguixiang. Long, as the empress's father, was made grand master for splendid happiness with the rank of special advance, enfeoffed as Marquis of Suiyang village, and his wife Wang was made lady of Xianyang village. Long's former wife Liu was posthumously enfeoffed as lady of Shunyang village, because she was the empress's birth mother. Lin's daughter also became empress to the Prince of Chenliu. Lin was already dead, so his wife Liu was enfeoffed as lady of Guangyang village. Empress Wen-Zhao of the Zhen clan came from Wuji in Zhongshan. She was Ming-di's mother and a descendant of Han's grand tutor Zhen Han; for generations her family held offices of two thousand shi. Her father Yi was magistrate of Shangcai. The empress lost her father at age three. The Book of Wei says Yi married a woman of the Zhang clan of Changshan and had three sons and five daughters: the eldest son Yu died early; the second, Yan, was recommended as filial and incorrupt, served as aide to the grand general, and was magistrate of Quliang; the third, Yao, was recommended as filial and incorrupt; the eldest daughter Jiang, then Tuo, then Dao, then Rong, and last the empress. The empress was born on dingyou in the twelfth month of Han Guanghe 5. Whenever she slept, the household seemed to see someone holding a jade garment over her, and they all marveled at it. When Yi died, her deep mourning made everyone inside and outside the family find her all the more extraordinary. Later the physiognomist Liu Liang read the empress and all the children. Pointing to her he said, "This girl's nobility is beyond words." From youth to adulthood the empress cared nothing for playful amusement. At age eight, when mounted performers put on a show outside, all her sisters went up to the gallery to watch, but the empress alone would not go. Her sisters wondered and asked her. She answered, "Is this something a woman should watch?" At age nine she loved books; seeing characters she immediately knew them, and often used her elder brothers' brush and inkstone. An elder brother told her, "You should practice women's work. To take books as learning—are you to become a female scholar?" She answered, "I have heard that in antiquity worthy women all studied the successes and failures of former ages and took them as warnings for themselves. Without knowing books, how could one see them?" Later the realm fell into war and famine, and common people sold gold, silver, pearls, jade, and precious goods. The empress's family had great stores of grain and bought such things in considerable quantity. When she was just over ten she told her mother, "In this age of disorder, to buy many precious goods—an ordinary man without guilt becomes guilty for holding a jade disc. Moreover, those around us are all hungry and in want. It would be better to use grain to relieve kin and neighbors and spread kindness broadly." The whole family praised this as good and immediately followed her advice. The Wei Summary says that at age fourteen she mourned her elder brother Yan with grief beyond the prescribed measure. She served her widowed sister-in-law with modest reverence, took on the labor herself, and nurtured Yan's son with deep loving care. The empress's mother was strict by nature and treated the daughters-in-law by fixed rules. The empress repeatedly admonished her: "Elder brother died early; sister-in-law is young and keeps chastity, yet she has left one son. By great principle she should be treated as a daughter-in-law and loved as a daughter." The mother was moved to tears and had the empress lodge with her sister-in-law. In sleeping, rising, sitting, and moving they constantly kept each other company, and their affection grew ever closer. During Jian'an, Yuan Shao had his middle son Xi take her in marriage. Xi went out to You Province, and she remained to care for her mother-in-law. When Ji Province was pacified, Wen-di took her in marriage at Ye. She won favor and bore Ming-di and the Princess of Dongxiang. The Wei Summary says that Xi went out to Youzhou, and the empress remained to attend her mother-in-law. When Ye fell, Yuan Shao's wife and the empress sat together in the main hall. Wen-di entered Yuan Shao's residence and saw Yuan Shao's wife and the empress. She was afraid and laid her head on her mother-in-law's knee, while Yuan Shao's wife beat her own hands together. Wen-di said, "Lady Liu, why are you like this? Have the new bride lift her head!" The mother-in-law lifted her and made her raise her face. Emperor Wen drew near to look, saw that her countenance was extraordinary, and praised her in admiration. The Grand Progenitor heard of his intent and had her welcomed and taken. Accounts of the Age says that when the Grand Progenitor descended on Ye, Wen-di first entered Yuan Shang's mansion. A woman with hair loose and face filthy stood weeping behind Yuan Shao's wife Liu. Wen-di asked about her; Liu answered, "She is Xi's wife." She turned, gathered her hair into a bun, wiped her face with a kerchief, and her bearing and beauty were unmatched. After he had passed, Liu told her, "You need not fear death now!" She was then taken in marriage and won favor. The Book of Wei says that as her favor grew ever greater she all the more restrained herself. To favored women of the inner palace she offered encouragement; to those without favor she gave comfort and instruction. At every idle banquet she often urged the emperor, saying, "In former times the Yellow Emperor's descendants multiplied and flourished—likely because concubines and secondary wives were many, and thereby this blessing was obtained. What I desire is broadly to seek worthy maidens to enrich the succession." The emperor's heart approved this. Afterward the emperor wished to send away Lady Ren. The empress pleaded with him, saying, "Ren is a famous clan of our native district; in virtue and beauty we do not match her—how can you send her away?" The emperor said, "Lady Ren is narrow and quick-tempered, not gentle or compliant. She has been angry with me more than once, and that is why I am sending her away." The empress wept and firmly pleaded, saying, "Your handmaid has received the grace of respectful treatment—this all know. They will surely say Ren's dismissal is because of me. Above I fear the reproach of showing partiality; below I would bear the guilt of monopolizing favor—I beg you to reconsider carefully!" The emperor did not listen and sent her out. In the seventh month of year sixteen the Grand Progenitor campaigned against Guanzhong. Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan followed and remained at Mengjin, while Wen-di stayed to guard Ye. At the time Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan was slightly unwell. The empress could not attend to inquire after her and was anxious and fearful, weeping day and night; attendants suddenly reported that she had improved. The empress still did not believe and said, "When the lady was at home, whenever her old illness stirred it always lasted some time. Now the illness has suddenly improved—how can it be so quick? This is only to comfort my feelings!" Her worry grew all the greater. When she received Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan's reply saying the illness had fully recovered, she rejoiced. In the first month of year seventeen the great army returned to Ye. The empress attended upon Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan, and gazing at the curtained seat felt both grief and joy, moving those around her. Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan, seeing her like this, also wept and said, "Does the new bride think my former illness was like the distress of former times? At the time it was only slight; in little more than ten days it was cured—you should not have looked at my complexion so!" She sighed in admiration and said, "This is truly a filial daughter-in-law." In year twenty-one the Grand Progenitor campaigned east. Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan, Wen-di, Ming-di, and the Princess of Dongxiang all followed, while the empress remained at Ye because of illness. In the ninth month of year twenty-two the great army returned. Attendants around Empress Dowager Wu-Xuan saw the empress's complexion full and flourishing, wondered, and asked, "The empress has been apart from her two sons for long; the feelings of parting should not be forgotten, yet her complexion is even more radiant—why?" The empress laughed and answered: " (tabooed) and the rest follow the lady by themselves—what should I worry about!" Such was the empress's wisdom and restraint in holding herself by ritual. In the first month of Yankang 1 (220 CE) Wen-di took the royal title. In the sixth month he campaigned south, and the empress remained at Ye. In the tenth month of Huangchu 1 the emperor ascended the throne. After ascending the throne, the Duke of Shanyang presented two daughters to become consorts of Wei. Empress Guo and the Honored Ladies Li and Yin were all favored, and the empress grew ever more disappointed and spoke resentfully. The emperor was greatly angered. In the sixth month of year two he sent an envoy to grant death, and she was buried at Ye. The Book of Wei says officials memorialized to establish the Palace of Everlasting Autumn, and the emperor sent an imperial patent to welcome the empress to the traveling residence. She submitted a memorial, saying, "Your handmaid has heard that the rise of former ages, whereby states were nourished long and blessings were handed down to later heirs, was never without empresses and consorts. Therefore one must carefully select the person to raise inner instruction. Now at the beginning of ascending the throne it is truly fitting to advance the worthy and virtuous to govern the six palaces. Your handmaid knows herself to be foolish and lowly, unfit to take charge of the sacrificial grain; moreover I am confined by lingering illness, and so I dare hold to my humble wish." Imperial patents came three times and she yielded three times; her words were very earnest and sincere. It was then the height of summer; the emperor wished to wait until autumn's cool before welcoming her again. But her illness then grew grave. On dingmao in the sixth month of summer she died at Ye. The emperor mourned in grief and lamentation and by patent granted the empress's seal and sash. Pei Songzhi considers that by the meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals, great evils within are tabooed and not written, while small evils are not recorded. Wen-di's not establishing Lady Zhen, and moreover putting her to death—the matter is clearly established. If the Wei historians considered it a great evil, they should have concealed it and not spoken; if they called it a small evil, they should not have fabricated words and exalted empty prose to this extent—this differs from what one hears in the old histories. Extending this to speak, their praise of the good conduct and words of Empresses Bian, Zhen, and the rest are all hard to judge by reality. Chen Shou's deletions were well founded. When Emperor Ming succeeded to the throne, the responsible officials memorialized requesting a posthumous title. They sent Wang Lang, Minister of Works, bearing the staff, to present the patent and announce the rite at the tomb with a grand sacrifice, and they also established a separate sleeping temple. The Book of Wei records the Three Dukes' memorial: "Filial reverence begins in deep devotion to one's kin. Through it the four seas receive moral instruction and heaven and earth gain clear sight. While the living owe full nurture, the dead deserve that their spirits be honored; their virtues should be recounted to the full and their names proclaimed abroad. Your Majesty, with sagely virtue, has inherited the great enterprise. Your filial devotion reaches the spirits, and in deep grief you have repeatedly insisted on modest restraint. The late emperor had been laid in the imperial tomb and the great rites were complete, yet the former empress still lacked an illustrious posthumous title. The former empress showed modest yielding in the smallest matters and supreme conduct in deeds rather than words. Her influence flowed through the realm and her virtue matched the Two Nan odes, so she received heaven's blessing and became Great Wei's consort for the ages. Though she died young, her radiant merit will shine for ages to come; no empress or consort could surpass her. The canon of posthumous titles says, "One whose sagely repute is thorough and far-reaching is called Zhao." One whose virtue is bright and whose merit is established is called Zhao." Zhao means the utmost brightness, flourishing long without fading. We should grant the posthumous title Empress Wen-Zhao." That month the Three Dukes memorialized again: "From antiquity the Zhou people's founding ancestor Hou Ji also had a separate temple set up to honor Jiang Yuan. Empress Wen-Zhao's sagely virtue and transforming power toward all posterity—how could they be measured! Given the imperial house's hereditary (sacrifice) honor, she yet yielded and remained sincerely reverent, firmly declining the exalted position. Her spirit has passed on, yet there is no private temple to receive and offer (rites) —this is not how to repay her manifest virtue or proclaim filial reverence. By ancient precedent and the Rites of Zhou, a separate private temple should be established for the founding mother." Both memorials were approved. In the third month of Taihe 1 (227 CE), Yi was posthumously enfeoffed with the thousand households of Ancheng Township in Weichang, Zhongshan, and given the posthumous title Marquis Jing; his eldest grandson Xiang inherited the title. In the fourth month, while the ancestral temple was first being built, workers unearthed a jade seal one inch and nine tenths square inscribed "The Son of Heaven admires and thinks of his gracious parent." Ming-di changed countenance and announced it to the temple with the grand sacrifice. He also once dreamed of the empress. Thereupon he ranked his maternal kin by closeness and distance, appointing each according to rank and bestowing rewards totaling tens of thousands; Xiang was made Colonel of the Palace Guard. That month the empress's mother died. The emperor wore the coarsest mourning and attended the funeral, with the hundred officials in attendance. In the eleventh month of year four, because the empress's old tomb was too low and small, Xiang was made Acting Grand Commandant and sent with the imperial staff to Ye to announce the rite to Queen Earth. In the twelfth month she was reburied at Chaoyang Tomb. When Xiang returned, he was transferred to Regular Attendant. In the spring of Qinglong 2, the empress's elder brother Yan was posthumously titled Marquis Mu of Ancheng Township. In summer Wu raiders attacked Yangzhou. Xiang was made General Who Calms the Waves and, bearing the staff, supervised the generals in the eastern campaign. On his return he again became Colonel of the Archers Who Shoot at Sound. In the third year he died. He was posthumously made General of the Guard, his fief was changed to Weichang County, and he received the posthumous title Marquis Zhen; his son Chang succeeded. Chang's younger brothers Wen, Wei, and Yan were also all enfeoffed as full marquises. In the fourth year the original fiefs of Yi and Yan were both changed to Marquis of Weichang, their posthumous titles remaining unchanged. Yan's daughter-in-law Liu was enfeoffed as Lady of Dongxiang, and Yi's daughter-in-law Zhang was posthumously enfeoffed as Lady of Anxi.
8
In Jingchu 1 (237 CE) officials debated the arrangement of the seven imperial temples. That winter they memorialized: “Every dynastic founder has both the ruler who receives the mandate and the consort who answers heaven; only then does the house flourish and the great work stand complete. In antiquity, Gaoxin divined that the sons of his four consorts would all possess all under Heaven; Di Zhi, Tao Tang, Shang, and the Zhou dynasty rose in succession. The Zhou looked back to Hou Ji to pair with High Heaven and, tracing their kings to Jiang Yuan, set her a special temple where each generation offered sacrifice—what the Rites of Zhou means by honoring the founding mother with music and dance. The Odes sing, “The birth of the people began from Jiang Yuan.” That is the taproot of royal civilizing power and of the people themselves. They add, “Bi’s shrine stands in awe, firm and ample; august Jiang Yuan’s virtue never falters.” So the canonical texts glorify the Ji house. Wei’s mandate follows Shun’s line, yet across three reigns the imperial way has only deepened; the temple shifts now contemplated mirror Zhou practice. Empresses Dowager Wu-Xuan and Wen-De already receive perpetual pairing rites; Empress Wen-Zhao bore the sage heir, succored the people, and filled heaven and earth with merit—she is the mother in whom the moral order itself is renewed. Her shrine deserves singular rites like Jiang Yuan’s, yet we have not fixed the rule that her temple never be dismantled; I fear posterity might slight the duty to repay her deeds. That would ill serve filial display for generations to come. Wen-Zhao’s temple ought to receive music and offerings in every generation on the same footing as the founding shrines, fixing forever the rule that it never be dismantled so her sanctity may shine for ages.” The court then had this, together with the seven-temples decision, engraved on gold slips and laid them in the golden coffer.
9
251 祿 退 西 輿 使
The emperor could not stop thinking of his maternal kin. Chang was still young. At the end of Jingchu he was made Colonel of the Archers Who Shoot at Sound and Regular Attendant. A great mansion was specially built for him, and the emperor personally visited it. In the empress's rear garden a viewing temple was also built for Xiang's mother. The lane was named Weiyang Lane in remembrance of the maternal clan. In the first month of Jiaping 3 (251 CE), Chang died. He was posthumously made General of Chariots and Cavalry and given the posthumous title Marquis Gong; his son Shao succeeded. In Taihe 6, Ming-di's beloved daughter Shu died. She was posthumously enfeoffed as Princess Yi of Pingyuan, and a temple was built for her. The empress's deceased grandnephew Huang was buried with her and posthumously enfeoffed as a full marquis. Lady Guo's younger cousin De was made his heir, took the Zhen surname, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingyuan, and inherited the princess's title. Sun Sheng said: "By ritual, women have no norm of enfeoffment and titles. How much less an infant child—could one establish a great fief in such a case?" De came from a different clan. To install him as heir without merit or kinship, yet have him inherit a mother's title, violates both feeling and canon—and here the offense was extreme. Although Chen Qun spoke out boldly and Yang Fu cited parallel cases, neither fully set forth the rites of the former kings or clarified the meaning of enfeoffment and succession. Even their most loyal remonstrance left something unsaid! The Odes say, "Splendid is the master minister; the people all look to you." The duty of chief ministers—can it be treated lightly! Accounts of the Lords of Jin says De's style was Yansun. When Sima Jingwang held regency, he gave his daughter to De in marriage. When the wife died early, King Wen again gave a daughter as a successor wife—the Princess Chang of Jingzhao. The two kings Jing and Wen wished to bind themselves to Empress Guo, and therefore repeatedly contracted marriages. Although De had no talent or learning, he was reverent, careful, modest, and compliant. Zhen Wen's style was Zhongshu. He, Guo Jian, De, and the rest were all empress kin and were favored for affairs of state. At the beginning of Xianxi, Guo Jian was enfeoffed as Duke of Linwei County and Guo De as Duke of Guang'an County; each fief comprised eighteen hundred households. Wen was originally a marquis of the founding state. He was advanced to General Who Assists the State, additionally made Palace Attendant, and put in charge as Colonel of the Archers Who Shoot at Sound. De was made General Who Guards the Army. In the first year of Taishi, when Jin received the abdication, Jian, De, and Wen were all advanced to Special Advance. De was upright and plain by nature, and as the brother-in-law of Shizu he came to be honored in his age. In De's later years he was made Director of the Imperial Clan and transferred to Palace Attendant. In Taikang, when Grand Marshal Prince of Qi You was about to go to his fief, De and Left Guard General Wang Ji jointly remonstrated and petitioned, and men of the time praised them. Shizu on this account looked askance at De and sent him out as Grand Herald, additionally making him Palace Attendant and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Soon he died of illness. He was posthumously made General of the Central Army with an office and Palace Attendant as before, given the posthumous title Duke Gong, and his son Xi succeeded. Xi was refined and possessed fine capacity. He served as Palace Secretary, Right Guard General, and Palace Attendant, reaching the rank of General Who Assists the State and Regular Attendant. Xi was related by marriage to the state, yet through the affairs of Prince of Zhao Lun and Prince of Qi Jiong he was able to stay out of those encounters—likely because his talent was limited, but also because retiring into quiet spared him. In Qinglong, the empress's cousin's son Yi and Xiang's three younger brothers were again enfeoffed, all as full marquises. Yi repeatedly submitted memorials on current policy and reached the office of Colonel of the Yue Cavalry. In Jiaping, Chang's two sons were again enfeoffed as full marquises. The empress's elder brother Yan's granddaughter became empress to the Prince of Qi. The empress's father was already dead, so her mother was enfeoffed as Lady of Guangle Township. Empress Wen-De of the Guo clan came from Guangzong in Anping. For generations her forebears had served as chief clerks. The Book of Wei says her father Yong reached the office of Administrator of Nan Commandery and received the posthumous title Marquis Jing. Her mother was of the Dong clan, namely Lady Tangyang. She bore three sons and two daughters: the eldest son Fu, Magistrate of Gaotang; the second daughter Yu; next the empress; and the empress's younger brothers Du and Cheng. The empress was born on the yimao day of the third month of Han Zhongping 1; at birth there were unusual signs. When the empress was young her father Yong marveled at her, saying, "This is the king among my daughters." Thereupon he took Nüwang as her style. She early lost both parents. In the chaos of war and exile she ended up in the household of the Marquis of Tongdi. When the Grand Ancestor became Duke of Wei, she entered the Eastern Palace. The empress was clever and from time to time offered suggestions. When Wen-di was fixed as heir, the empress had a hand in the plan. When the heir apparent took the royal title, she became Lady; when he ascended the throne, she became Honored Consort. Empress Zhen's death came from this empress's favor. In Huangchu 3, as she was about to ascend the empress's seat, Wen-di wished to install her as empress. Palace Gentleman Stack Qian submitted a memorial, saying, "In former times when emperors and kings governed the realm, they relied not only on outer assistance but also on inner support; order and disorder arise from this, and rise and decline follow it. Therefore Xiling was paired with Huang and the heroic maid descended to the Gui clan—all by sage wisdom and clarity, their fame flowed through upper ages. Jie fled to Southern Nest and disaster began with Mo Xi; Zhou used the burning pillar and took delight in Daji. Therefore the sage and wise are careful in establishing the primary consort. They must take a house of hereditary clans of former ages, choose one who is good and virtuous to govern the six palaces, reverently serve the ancestral temple, and fully cultivate inner instruction. The Changes says, "When the way of the family is correct, the realm is settled." From inner to outer—this is the august norm of the former kings. The Spring and Autumn records the clan officer Xin Xia and shows that there is no ritual basis for making a concubine into the principal lady. Duke Huan of Qi swore his command at Kuqiu and likewise said, "Do not take a concubine as wife." Now in the inner palace favored concubines often rank just below the imperial carriage. If through affection one installs her as empress and makes a base person suddenly exalted, I fear that in later ages inferiors will encroach on superiors, irregular practices will be opened wide, and disorder will rise from above." Wen-di did not follow this and installed her as empress. The Book of Wei says the empress submitted a memorial of thanks, saying, "Your handmaid lacks the virtue of Huang and Ying or the descending grace of Li, nor am I of the same order as Jiang and Ren in aspiring to equal virtue. Truly I am not fit to fill the exalted seat of the female sovereign or bear the heavy charge of the inner household." From the Eastern Palace until she reached the honored position, although she had special favor, her heart grew ever more reverent and solemn. She supported Yongshou Palace and was known for filial piety. At that time Honored Lady Chai also had favor, and the empress instructed, exhorted, and guided her. When the various honored ladies of the inner palace at times had faults, she constantly covered them over. When there was reproof or censure, she would explain the whole matter to the emperor. The emperor might become greatly angry, even to the point that she would kowtow and plead guilt—thus the six palaces were without resentment. By nature she was frugal and restrained, disliked music, and constantly admired the conduct of Empress Ma the Bright and Virtuous of Han.
10
After her brothers died young, she had her cousin Guo Biao posthumously continue another brother’s line and appointed him commandant of the imperial carriage. When a relative by marriage, Liu Fei, allied his house with another kingdom, she issued an order: “Our kinsmen’s weddings should pair like with like in their own neighborhoods; no one may use influence to drag in spouses from far away.” She also blocked her sister’s son Meng Wu when he went home looking for a secondary wife. She then warned every branch of the clan: “Women are scarce in wartime; they belong with the troops. Do not invent excuses to press them into concubinage. Watch yourselves—do not be the first to bring down the law.” 〈The Book of Wei adds that she repeatedly cautioned Guo Biao, Meng Wu, and their circle: “Few consort clans under Han survived their own pride and waste—take care.”〉
11
使 便 宿
In the fifth year of an era (Huangchu) the emperor marched east while she stayed at Yongshi Terrace in Xuchang. Rain fell for over a hundred days straight, ruining tower works, so officials begged her to relocate. She answered, “Long ago, when King Zhao of Chu was away, his faithful Jiang stayed on the Gradual Terrace; the river rose, yet without the proper tally she refused to flee and drowned. The sovereign is far off, and I have no such flood at my door—why should I bolt at the first leak?” No minister dared press the point again. The next year he campaigned east against Wu as far as Guangling, leaving her at the Qiao palace. Guo Biao, left on night duty, wanted to block a stream to seine for fish. She reproved him: “That water feeds the supply barges, and lumber is short. Your servants are not here to haul timber—would you raid government bamboo to brace a private weir? Is the commandant of the carriage short of fish?”
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西 使 忿 使 西 使使
When Ming-di succeeded he raised the empress to Empress Dowager of Yong'an Palace. In Taihe 4 an edict made Guo Biao Marquis of Anyang Pavilion, then promoted him to village marquis, added five hundred households to his fief for a total with prior holdings, and appointed him general of the central rampart. He made Biao's son Guo Xiang cavalry commandant. That same year the emperor posthumously ennobled the empress dowager's father Yong as Marquis Jing of Anyang village and her mother Dong as lady of the capital village. Guo Biao was promoted to general who displays virtue, given the gold seal and purple cord and the rank of special advance; Biao's second son Xun became cavalry commandant. When Meng Wu's mother died and he wanted a lavish funeral and an ancestral shrine, the empress dowager forbade it, saying, "Since the age of chaos no tomb has escaped looting, and lavish burial is always the reason; Take Shouyang Mausoleum as your model." In the spring of Qinglong 3 the empress dowager died at Xuchang. A tomb was built according to the prescribed mourning rites, and on gengyin of the third month she was buried west of Shouyang Mausoleum. The Wei Summary says that once Emperor Ming had succeeded to the throne and grieved anew over Empress Zhen's death, the empress dowager therefore died suddenly from distress. As Empress Wen-Zhao lay dying she entrusted the emperor to Lady Li. After the empress dowager died, Lady Li recounted how Empress Wen-Zhao had been slandered to her ruin, denied proper encoffinment, and left with hair loose over her face. The emperor wept in grief and rage and ordered the empress dowager's funeral handled exactly as Empress Wen-Zhao's had been. The Spring and Autumn of Han and Jin says that Empress Zhen's execution originally came from Empress Guo's favor; when she was encoffined, she was made to wear her hair loose over her face, with chaff stuffed in her mouth. Empress Guo was then established and made to raise Emperor Ming. Ming-di knew this and nursed a lasting grievance, weeping repeatedly as he questioned how Empress Wen-Zhao had died. Empress Wen-De answered, "The late emperor took his own life—why blame me? And as his son, would you avenge a dead father by killing your stepmother for your birth mother's sake?" Ming-di flew into a rage, forced her to her death, and ordered the embalmers to treat her exactly as Empress Wen-Zhao had been treated. The Book of Wei preserves the lamentation patent: "In Qinglong 3, on renshen of the third month, the empress dowager's coffin was opened for burial at the western tomb of Shouyang. The grieving son, Emperor Rui, personally bore the patent and ancestral carriage, then offered sacrifice himself—beating his breast, stamping in anguish, wailing heavenward—mourning the spirit's departure, grieving the bier's journey, turning from the sun, moon, and stars now dimmed, and committing her to the yellow earth in peace. Alas, how mournful! Long ago two daughters wed into Yu's line and the imperial way shone forth; three mothers entered Zhou and sanctity grew ever brighter—they received great blessing and their realms endured. Mournful is my gracious mother, who nurtured virtue in the inner chambers, rose to the purple throne beside the sage emperor, and yet, in mid-life, was suddenly struck by disaster. Pity me, a lonely child crushed with grief; though her soul is gone forever, how can I ever again attend her morning and evening? Alas, how mournful!" The emperor promoted Guo Biao to Marquis of Guanjin, added five hundred households to his fief, and brought his total holdings to one thousand households. Guo Xiang was made commandant of the stable for the emperor's son-in-law. In the fourth year Yong was posthumously re-enfeoffed as Marquis Jing of Guanjin and the late wife Dong as lady of Tangyang. The empress dowager's brothers were posthumously ennobled: Fu as Marquis Dai of Liangli pavilion, Du as Marquis Xiao of Wucheng pavilion, and Cheng as Marquis Ding of Xinle pavilion. Envoys were dispatched with patents to sacrifice to each with the grand offering. Guo Xiang died and was succeeded by his son Zhao.
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輿
Lady Mao, honored as Empress Ming-Dao, came from Henei. During Huangchu she was selected into the Eastern Palace; while Emperor Ming was still Prince of Pingyuan, she attended him and won favor, going in and out in the same carriage and palanquin. Once he took the throne he raised her to Honored Concubine. In Taihe 1 she was enthroned as empress. Her father Mao Jia became cavalry commandant; her brother Mao Zeng, a gentleman at court.
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祿 祿
When Ming-di was still a prince he first took Lady Yu of Henei as consort. Once he took the throne she could not be made empress, and Grand Empress Dowager Bian tried to console her. Lady Yu replied, "The Cao clan has always favored elevating the lowborn; none has ever been raised on grounds of righteousness. Yet the empress governs within while the sovereign rules without, and the two must work together. If the beginning is not good, the end is never good. This is surely how a realm loses its altars and its line!" Lady Yu then put on mourning dress and withdrew to the palace at Ye. Mao Jia was promoted to commandant of the imperial carriage and Mao Zeng to cavalry commandant, with lavish favor and gifts. Soon Mao Jia was enfeoffed as Marquis of Boping village and made grand master for splendid happiness; Mao Zeng became commandant of the stable for the son-in-law. Jia had once overseen the Yu family's carriage workshops and suddenly shot to wealth and rank. Ming-di had court ministers feast at his house, where his manners were oafish and he kept calling himself "the marquis's own person"—a laughingstock at the time. Sun Sheng writes: Ancient kings sought worthy consorts to answer and display supreme virtue, spreading royal civilizing power through Guanju and pure custom through Linzhi. By the three later ages that thread was ruined everywhere: duty drowned in passion, rank won through blind favor, noble and base confused, inferiors overrunning superiors—rise and fall alike followed the same pattern. From Cao Cao down to Cao Pi, three empresses were raised from obscure and humble origins. With so low a foundation, how could the house endure for ages? The Odes say, "Fine and coarse linen—how chill it is in the wind." Is this not exactly what is meant! The empress later gave Mao Jia the rank of special advance and moved Mao Zeng to attendant gentleman at court. In Qinglong 3 Mao Jia died. He was posthumously made grand master for splendid happiness, re-enfeoffed as Marquis of Anguo with five hundred added households for a total of one thousand, and given the posthumous title Marquis Jie. In the fourth year the empress's mother Xia was posthumously enfeoffed as lady of Yewang.
15
使
Once Ming-di’s affection shifted to Lady Guo—the future Empress Yuan—Lady Mao’s favor ebbed by the day. In Jingchu 1 he held a private revel in the rear park with every consort from Talent upward. The Yuan empress said, "You ought to invite the empress"; the emperor did not permit it. He ordered his attendants to keep silent so word would not reach her. The next day, when he came to her apartments, she asked calmly, “Was the north-garden party yesterday to your liking?” Enraged that someone had told her, he executed over a dozen people. He then forced her to take her own life, yet still granted a posthumous name and buried her at the Mausoleum of Lament. Mao Zeng was moved up to regular attendant at court, then to colonel of the feathered forest guards and overseer of the Yuanwu agricultural colony.
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西 滿西 宿 西
Empress Ming-Yuan of the Guo clan came from Xiping; her family was a great house west of the Yellow River for generations. During Huangchu her commandery rebelled, and she was taken into the palace. Once Ming-di succeeded she won great favor and was made Lady. Her uncle Li became cavalry commandant and her father's cousin Guo Zhi colonel of the tiger guards. When the emperor fell gravely ill she was enthroned as empress. When Cao Fang succeeded he raised her to Empress Dowager of Yongning Palace, posthumously ennobled her father Man as Marquis Ding of Xidu, and had his son Jian inherit the title. Her mother Du was enfeoffed as lady of Heyang. Guo Zhi was promoted to regular palace attendant and colonel of the Changshui guard. The Wei Summary says that among the Guo clan Zhi was the most forceful and upright. He had earlier been enfeoffed as marquis on other merits. Li was made general who displays virtue; both were enfeoffed as full marquises. Jian's elder brother De had been given in adoption to the Zhen clan. De and Jian both became generals who guard the garrisons, were enfeoffed as full marquises, and jointly commanded the palace guard. With three successive child emperors and regents holding power, every major appointment or dismissal was first reported to the empress dowager before it was enacted. When Guanqiu Jian, Zhong Hui, and others rebelled, they all invoked her authority as their pretext. She died in the twelfth month of Jingyuan 4 and was buried west of Gaoping Mausoleum in the second month of the following year. Commendations of the Lords of Jin records that Jian, styled Shushi, had breadth of vision and forceful judgment; he died of illness during Taishi. His son Gu succeeded him and served as supervisor in attendance.
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Commentary
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The historian’s verdict: Wei’s consort clans grew wealthy, yet none usurped the government the way late Han favorites did. They learned from history and kept to a safer path—that is the virtue here. Seen in hindsight, Chen Qun’s memorial and Zhan Qian’s admonitions are enough to serve as precedent for any line of kings and to hand down a pattern of law for generations yet to come.
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