Empress Chen Jiao
Encyclopedia
Empress Chen Jiao was an empress during Han Dynasty
. She was the first wife of Emperor Wu of Han
, but was deposed in 130 BC
. Her father was Chen Wu (陳午), the Marquess of Tangyi. Her mother was Emperor Wu's aunt Princess Liu Piao (劉嫖), making her and her husband cousins. They married when he was still the Prince of Jiaodong under his father Emperor Jing
, and the marriage did much to enhance his political position, to allow him to later become crown prince over his older brother Liu Rong. When he became emperor in 141 BC
, she was created empress.
Initially, Emperor Wu's love for her was so great that he bragged that he would build a golden house for her, inspiring the Chinese idiom "putting Jiao in a golden house" (金屋藏嬌), which, however, later became a term for keeping a mistress rather than a wife. She eventually lost favor because she did not bear a son, despite spending over 90 million currency coins in seeking treatment for her infertility
. Jealous of Consort Wei Zifu
, who gave birth to a princess within one year, Empress Chen eventually retained witches, in the attempt to restore her husband's love to her and curse other concubines (Consort Wei in particular). After this was discovered, she was deposed according to imperial laws and put under house arrest
(although, at least according to Emperor Wu, supplied with all the daily living necessities that an empress would receive). Nearly three hundred of her servants, all accused of witchcraft, were executed.
Consort Wei was made empress several years later when she bore Emperor Wu his first son, after giving birth to three princesses. The former Empress Chen, now living in the cheerless, lonely Long Gate Palace (長門宮), attempted to regain Emperor Wu's sympathy by hiring the famous poet Sima Xiangru
to compose a song, which is later known as The Ode of Long Gate (長門賦). Although some later scholars claimed that Emperor Wu was so touched by the poetic words that he revisited (ex-)Empress Chen and loved her again, these claims are likely to be just historically inaccurate fantasies—as historical records indicate that all attempts by Chen Jiao to recapture Emperor Wu's heart were unsuccessful. She died about 20 years after she was deposed, but the exact year is not known. Her family, plagued by scandal, also suffered downfall soon after she was deposed.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. She was the first wife of Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
, but was deposed in 130 BC
130 BC
Year 130 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus/Pulcher and Perperna . The denomination 130 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in...
. Her father was Chen Wu (陳午), the Marquess of Tangyi. Her mother was Emperor Wu's aunt Princess Liu Piao (劉嫖), making her and her husband cousins. They married when he was still the Prince of Jiaodong under his father Emperor Jing
Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
, and the marriage did much to enhance his political position, to allow him to later become crown prince over his older brother Liu Rong. When he became emperor in 141 BC
141 BC
Year 141 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caepio and Pompeius...
, she was created empress.
Initially, Emperor Wu's love for her was so great that he bragged that he would build a golden house for her, inspiring the Chinese idiom "putting Jiao in a golden house" (金屋藏嬌), which, however, later became a term for keeping a mistress rather than a wife. She eventually lost favor because she did not bear a son, despite spending over 90 million currency coins in seeking treatment for her infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
. Jealous of Consort Wei Zifu
Empress Wei Zifu
Empress Wei Zifu , formally Wei Sihou , was an empress during Han Dynasty. She was Emperor Wu's second wife, and stayed as his empress for 38 years, the second longest in Chinese history...
, who gave birth to a princess within one year, Empress Chen eventually retained witches, in the attempt to restore her husband's love to her and curse other concubines (Consort Wei in particular). After this was discovered, she was deposed according to imperial laws and put under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
(although, at least according to Emperor Wu, supplied with all the daily living necessities that an empress would receive). Nearly three hundred of her servants, all accused of witchcraft, were executed.
Consort Wei was made empress several years later when she bore Emperor Wu his first son, after giving birth to three princesses. The former Empress Chen, now living in the cheerless, lonely Long Gate Palace (長門宮), attempted to regain Emperor Wu's sympathy by hiring the famous poet Sima Xiangru
Sima Xiangru
Sima Xiangru, also known as Ssu-ma Hsiang-ju was a Chinese writer. He was a minor official of the Western Han Dynasty, but was better known for his poetic skills, jiu business, and controversial marriage to the widow Zhuo Wenjun after both eloped...
to compose a song, which is later known as The Ode of Long Gate (長門賦). Although some later scholars claimed that Emperor Wu was so touched by the poetic words that he revisited (ex-)Empress Chen and loved her again, these claims are likely to be just historically inaccurate fantasies—as historical records indicate that all attempts by Chen Jiao to recapture Emperor Wu's heart were unsuccessful. She died about 20 years after she was deposed, but the exact year is not known. Her family, plagued by scandal, also suffered downfall soon after she was deposed.