Grand Empress Dowager
Encyclopedia
The title Grand Empress Dowager (simplified and traditional Chinese: 太皇太后, pinyin
tài huáng tài hòu, Japanese
: たいこうたいごう) was given to the grandmother or a woman
from the grandmother generation of the Chinese
, Korea
n. Japanese
dynastic ruler. Some grand empress dowagers held regency
within the beginning years of reign of an underage or young emperor. Nevertheless the most prominent and infamous dowagers extended long periods of regency even if the emperor was matured enough to govern alone, which was a source of political turmoil according to traditional view of Chinese history.
Chinese Grand Empresses Dowagers include:
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
tài huáng tài hòu, Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
: たいこうたいごう) was given to the grandmother or a woman
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
from the grandmother generation of the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n. Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
dynastic ruler. Some grand empress dowagers held regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
within the beginning years of reign of an underage or young emperor. Nevertheless the most prominent and infamous dowagers extended long periods of regency even if the emperor was matured enough to govern alone, which was a source of political turmoil according to traditional view of Chinese history.
Chinese Grand Empresses Dowagers include:
- Grand Empress Dowager Lü ZhiEmpress Lü ZhiEmpress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan...
(188 BC–180 BC), during the reign of Emperor QianshaoLiu GongEmperor Qianshao of Han , personal name Liu Gong , was the third emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was a son, likely the oldest son, of Emperor Hui, likely by a concubine -- although there is some controversy on the subject—and adopted by Emperor Hui's wife, Empress Zhang Yan...
and Emperor Houshao - Grand Empress Dowager BoEmpress Dowager BoEmpress Dowager Bo , known as Consort Bo when her husband was alive, and more formally as either Empress Dowager Xiaowen or Empress Gao was an imperial concubine for Emperor Gao of Han who would, unanticipated by her, become the mother of an emperor.-Early years:The future Empress Dowager...
(156 BC-155 BC), during the reign of Emperor JingEmperor Jing of HanEmperor 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... - Grand Empress Dowager DouEmpress Dou (Wen)Empress Dou , formally Empress Xiaowen , was a Chinese empress during the Han Dynasty who greatly influenced the reigns of her husband Emperor Wen and her son Emperor Jing with her adherence of Taoist philosophy...
(141 BC-135 BC), during the reign of Emperor WuEmperor Wu of HanEmperor 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... - Grand Empress Dowager Shangguan (74 BC-37 BC), during the reign of Emperor XuanEmperor Xuan of HanEmperor Xuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu...
and Emperor YuanEmperor Yuan of HanEmperor Yuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan was remembered for the promotion of Confucianism as the official creed of Chinese government. He appointed Confucius adherents to important government posts... - Grand Empress Dowager QiongchengEmpress Wang (Xuan)Empress Wang , formally Empress Xiaoxuan , semi-formally Empress Dowager Qiongcheng was an empress during Han Dynasty...
(33 BC-16 BC), during the reign of Emperor ChengEmperor Cheng of HanEmperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor... - Grand Empress Dowager Wang ZhengjunEmpress Wang ZhengjunEmpress Wang Zhengjun , , official imperial title Empress Xiaoyuan , later and more commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang, born in Yuancheng , was an empress during the Western Han Dynasty of China, who played important roles during the reigns of five successive Han emperors—her...
(7 BC-13 AD), during the reign of Emperor AiEmperor Ai of HanEmperor Ai of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC....
and Emperor PingEmperor Ping of HanEmperor Ping was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 1 BC to AD 5. After Emperor Ai died childless, the throne was passed to his cousin Emperor Ping—then a child of nine years old. Wang Mang was appointed regent by the Grand Empress Dowager Wang... - Grand Empress Dowager FuConsort FuConsort Fu was an imperial consort during Han Dynasty. She was a consort and a favorite of Emperor Yuan. She was known to be a domineering woman who wanted her son on the throne, and, failing that, wanted her grandson on the throne as Emperor Ai...
(帝太太后 instead of 太皇太后) (7 BC-3 BC), during the reign of Emperor AiEmperor Ai of HanEmperor Ai of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC.... - Grand Empress Dowager Bian (226-230), during the reign of Emperor Ming
- Grand Empress Dowager Li LingrongEmpress Dowager Li LingrongEmpress Dowager Li Lingrong , formally Empress Dowager Xiaowuwen was an empress dowager during Jin Dynasty...
(397-400), during the reign of Emperor AnEmperor An of JinEmperor An of Jin , personal name Sima Dezong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was described as so developmentally disabled that he was unable to speak, clothe himself, or be able to express whether he was hungry or full... - Grand Empress Dowager Xiao WenshouEmpress Dowager Xiao WenshouEmpress Dowager Xiao Wenshou , formally Empress Xiaoyi was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. She was the stepmother of the founding emperor, Emperor Wu ....
(422-423), during the reign of Emperor ShaoEmperor Shao of Liu SongEmperor Shao of Song , also known by his post-removal title Prince of Yingyang , personal name Liu Yifu , nickname Chebing , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. He was the oldest son of the founding emperor, Emperor Wu, and became emperor after his father's death in 422... - Grand Empress Dowager Lu HuinanEmpress Dowager Lu HuinanEmpress Dowager Lu Huinan , formally Empress Dowager Zhao , semi-formally Empress Dowager Chongxian , was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song...
(464-466), during the reign of Emperor QianfeiEmperor Qianfei of Liu SongEmperor Qianfei of Liu Song , personal name Liu Ziye , nickname Fashi , was an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Liu Song. His brief reign as a teenager was known for his violent and impulsive acts, including the slaughter of many high level officials and his sexually immoral behavior... - Grand Empress Dowager Zhang Yao'erEmpress Zhang Yao'erEmpress Zhang Yao'er , formally Empress Xuan , was an empress of the Chinese Chen Dynasty. Her husband was the founding emperor Emperor Wu ....
(566-568), during the reign of Emperor FeiEmperor Fei of ChenEmperor Fei of Chen , personal name Chen Bozong , courtesy name Fengye , nickname Yaowang , also known by his post-removal title of Prince of Linhai , was an emperor of the Chinese Chen Dynasty... - Grand Empress Dowager HelianEmpress HelianEmpress Helian , formally Empress Taiwu , was an empress of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. Her husband was Emperor Taiwu.She was a daughter of the Xia's founding emperor Helian Bobo...
(452-453), during the reign of Emperor WenchengEmperor Wencheng of Northern WeiEmperor Wencheng of Northern Wei , personal name Tuoba Jun , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei... - Grand Empress Dowager FengEmpress Feng (Wencheng)Empress Feng , formally Empress Wenming was an empress of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei. Her husband was Emperor Wencheng...
(471-490), during the reign of Emperor XiaowenEmperor Xiaowen of Northern WeiEmperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei , personal name né Tuoba Hong , later Yuan Hong , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei.... - Grand Empress Dowager Lou ZhaojunEmpress Dowager Lou ZhaojunEmpress Dowager Lou Zhaojun , formally Empress Ming , was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. She was the wife of Gao Huan, the paramount general of Northern Wei and its branch successor state Eastern Wei, and during Gao Huan's lifetime was already influential on the political...
(559-560), during the reign of Emperor FeiEmperor Fei of Northern QiEmperor Fei of Northern Qi , personal name Gao Fei , courtesy name Zhengdao , posthumously Prince Mindao of Ji'nan , was briefly an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. He was the oldest son of the first emperor, Emperor Wenxuan , and he became emperor after Emperor Wenxuan's death in 559... - Grand Empress Dowager HuEmpress Hu (Wucheng)Empress Hu was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. Her husband was Emperor Wucheng .- Background :Her father was the Northern Wei official Hu Yanzhi , and her mother was the daughter of Lu Daoyue...
(577), during the reign of Emperor YouzhuGao HengGao Heng , often known in history as the Youzhu of Northern Qi , was briefly an emperor of the Chinese dynasty Northern Qi. In 577, with Northern Qi under a major attack by rival Northern Zhou, Gao Heng's father Gao Wei, then emperor, wanted to try to deflect ill omens that portended a change in... - Grand Empress Dowager AshinaEmpress AshinaEmpress Ashina was an empress of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. She was the daughter of Göktürk's Muqan Qaghan, and her husband was Emperor Wu....
(579—581), during the reign of Emperor JingEmperor Jing of Northern ZhouEmperor Jing of Northern Zhou , personally name né Yuwen Yan , later Yuwen Chan , was the last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou. He became emperor at the age of six, after his father Emperor Xuan formally passed the throne to him, but Emperor Xuan retained the imperial powers... - Grand Empress Dowager GuoEmpress Dowager Guo (Muzong)Empress Dowager Guo , formally Empress Yi'an , was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
(824-848), during the reign of Emperor JingzongEmperor Jingzong of TangEmperor Jingzong of Tang , personal name Li Zhan , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 824 to 827...
, Emperor WenzongEmperor Wenzong of TangEmperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
, Emperor WuzongEmperor Wuzong of TangEmperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
, and Emperor XuānzongEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty... - Grand Empress Dowager ZhengEmpress Dowager Zheng (Xuanzong)Empress Dowager Zheng , formally Empress Xiaoming , was an empress dowager of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
(859-865), during the reign of Emperor YizongEmperor Yizong of TangEmperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong... - Grand Empress Dowager Cao (1067-1085), during the reign of Emperor ShenzongEmperor Shenzong of SongEmperor Shenzong of Song was the sixth emperor of the Chinese Song Dynasty. His personal name was Zhao Xu...
- Grand Empress Dowager Gao Taotao (1085-1093), during the reign of Emperor ZhezongEmperor Zhezong of SongEmperor Zhezong was the seventh emperor of the Song Dynasty of China. His personal name was Zhao4 Xu1. He reigned from 1085 to 1100....
- Grand Empress Dowager Wu (1189-1197), during the reign of Emperor GuangzongEmperor Guangzong of SongEmperor Guangzong 宋光宗 was the 12th Emperor of Song China. He was born with the name Zhao Dun 趙惇. His temple name means "Bright Ancestor"....
- Grand Empress Dowager Xie (1194-1203), during the reign of Emperor NingzongEmperor Ningzong of SongEmperor Ningzong 寧宗 was the 13th emperor of the Song dynasty who reigned from 1194 to 1224. His temple name means "Tranquil Ancestor". His reign was noted for the cultural and intellectual achievements...
- Grand Empress Dowager Xie Daoqing (1274–1276), during the reign of Emperor GongEmperor Gong of SongEmperor Gong of Song Emperor Gong of Song Emperor Gong of Song (1271- unknown (possibly 1323), born Zhào Xiǎn (趙顯), was the 7th Emperor of the Chinese Southern Song Dynasty. He reigned from 1274 until his abdication in 1276 CE when he was succeeded by his elder brother, Emperor Duanzong of Song....
; the proceeding two emperors were her grandsons but they were fleeing from the Mongols - Grand Empress Dowager Xiao Noujin (1055–1057), during the reign of Emperor DaozongEmperor Daozong of LiaoEmperor Daozong of Liao , born Yelü Hongji or Yehlu Hongji , was an emperor of the Liao dynasty, a kingdom of the Khitan people in what is now northeastern China. Succeeding his father, Xingzong, in 1055, Daozong ruled until he was murdered in 1101. He was succeeded by his grandson, Tianzuodi...
- Grand Empress Dowager Xiao Tansi (1101–1118), during the reign of Emperor Tianzuo
- Tangkuo, Grand Empress Dowager of Qingyuan Palace (1135-1136), during the reign of Emperor XizongEmperor Xizong of JinEmperor Xizong of Jin reigned from February 10, 1135 to January 9, 1150 as an emperor of the Jin Dynasty which controlled northern China from 1115 to 1234. His birth name was Wányán Hélá . His Han Chinese name was Wányán Dǎn .Wanyan Dan was the first son of the founder of the Jin Dynasty Wanyan...
- Heshilie, Grand Empress Dowager of Mingde Palace (1135–1143), during the reign of Emperor XizongEmperor Xizong of JinEmperor Xizong of Jin reigned from February 10, 1135 to January 9, 1150 as an emperor of the Jin Dynasty which controlled northern China from 1115 to 1234. His birth name was Wányán Hélá . His Han Chinese name was Wányán Dǎn .Wanyan Dan was the first son of the founder of the Jin Dynasty Wanyan...
- Grand Empress Dowager of Dagi (1321–?), during the reign of Gegeen Khan, Emperor Yingzong
- Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri (1333–1338), during the reign of Ukhaantu Khan, Emperor Huizong
- Grand Empress Dowager Zhang (1435-1442), during the reign of Emperor ZhengtongZhengtong EmperorZhu Qizhen was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emperor from 1457 to 1464....
- Grand Empress Dowager Zhou (1487–1504), during the reign of Emperor HongzhiHongzhi EmperorThe Hongzhi Emperor was emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1487 and 1505. Born Zhu Youcheng , he was the son of the Chenghua Emperor and his reign as emperor of China is called the Hongzhi...
- Grand Empress Dowager Wang (1505-1518), during the reign of Emperor ZhengdeZhengde EmperorThe Zhengde Emperor was emperor of China between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son...
- Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang (1661—1688), during the reign of Emperor KangxiKangxi EmperorThe Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
- Grand Empress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager CixiEmpress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
(1908), during the reign of Xuantong Emperor (Puyi)