100 Women Who Influenced Chinese History

Author: Xiao Li et al. / Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-07-01
Features: Deeply loved the Yellow Emperor and Laozi's teachings, opposed Confucianism. Empress Dou, whose name was Ji, was from Qinghe Guanjin (now southeastern Wu Yi, Hebei). She was the empress of Emperor Wen of Han and the mother of Emperor Jing, as well as the grandmother of Emperor Wu. When Ji was very young, her parents passed away, leaving her brother Changjun and younger brother Guanguo to rely on each other. They lived by farming and weaving. Originally just a palace maid, Ji was assigned to the Zhao Prince during the reign of Empress to pacify the princes. However, due to an error by a eunuch, she was instead married far away to the Dai Prince in Daibei (now the area around Yanmenguan in Shanxi). Upon reluctantly arriving at the Dai Prince's palace, she met a kind-hearted husband—Prince Liu Heng. He was the son of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and Empress Bao, and had grown up without much power, developing a gentle and amiable personality. He sympathized with and favored the beautiful Ji, spending time with her constantly. After gaining favor, Ji's mood improved, and soon she gave birth to a daughter, Liu Piao. By the seventh year of Emperor Hui's reign (188 BC), she gave birth to a son, Liu Qi, who would later become Emperor Jing. In the eighth year of Empress's reign (180 BC), Empress fell ill and made arrangements for her succession before passing away. Prime Minister Chen Ping and Grand Tutor Zhou Bo seized the opportunity to seize military power and executed the Lu family. Subsequently, Chen Ping and others held a secret meeting where a minister said, "After Emperor Hui's death, Empress installed the young emperor. However, he is not Emperor Hui's son. He is still young, but he was installed by Empress. When he grows up, will there still be good days for us? It would be better to depose him and choose a capable son of Emperor Gaozu as the next emperor." The ministers agreed and eventually selected Prince Liu Heng of Dai. Grand Tutor Zhou Bo secretly sent messengers to invite Prince Liu Heng to the capital. Upon receiving the secret letter, Liu Heng hesitated but his advisors believed he was the son of Emperor Gaozu, well-known for his kindness and filial piety. They argued that it was only natural for the ministers to welcome Prince Liu Heng as emperor. Thus, Prince Liu Heng immediately packed his belongings and rushed to Chang'an with Ji and others at night. Life is truly unpredictable—ten years ago, Ji left Chang'an in tears, never imagining this day would come. Greater honors awaited Ji. After arriving in Chang'an, Liu Heng was acclaimed as emperor and became Emperor Wen of Han. A few months later, Emperor Wen appointed Liu Qi as crown prince and Ji as empress. Ji's daughter, Liu Piao, was enfeoffed as Princess Guantao. Although Ji's parents had passed away, they were posthumously honored as Ancheng Marquis and Ancheng Lady, truly a case of mutual prosperity. Later, Ji's brother Changjun moved to Chang'an. After some twists and turns, he also found his long-lost younger brother Guanguo, who had been sold into slavery multiple times. When Ji saw her suffering brother, she couldn't help but weep with mixed emotions, and those around her were deeply moved. Unbeknownst to them, in that era, there were countless others like Guanguo sold into slavery. Fortunately, Guanguo had a sister who became empress. Emperor Wen granted Guanguo substantial wealth and purchased a home for him in Chang'an. Learning from past mistakes, the ministers remained wary of the Lu family's monopoly on power. To prevent the Dou family from seizing control, Zhou Bo appointed tutors for Changjun and Guanguo. The two brothers were respectful and did not meddle in politics, nor did they act arrogantly with their newfound wealth. However, tragedy struck—shortly after their reunion, Empress Dou became blind due to illness. In the seventh year of Emperor Wen's posthumous title (157 BC), Emperor Wen passed away, and his eldest son Liu Qi ascended the throne as Emperor Jing, elevating Empress Dou to empress dowager. Empress Dowager Dou's other son, Liu Wu, inherited the title of Dai Prince after Emperor Wen's ascension and was later enfeoffed as Prince of Liang. In the third year of Emperor Jing's reign (154 BC), Prince Liang visited the capital. At that time, Emperor Jing had not yet appointed a crown prince. During a banquet with Prince Liang, Emperor Jing casually said, "After my passing, you will become the emperor." Prince Liang hastily declined, but inwardly felt pleased. Empress Dowager Dou, who greatly favored her younger son, was delighted to hear this. However, a court official named Dou Yao, who served as a steward, raised a cup of wine to Emperor Jing and said sternly, "The empire belongs to Emperor Gaozu. The succession from father to son is the Han dynasty's tradition. How can you arbitrarily pass the throne to Prince Liang?" Dou Yao was the nephew of Empress Dowager Dou and had been trusted by her. However, his words angered the empress dowager, who expelled him from her family register and refused to see him again. Empress Dowager Dou's words deeply influenced Emperor Jing, who soon appointed his son Liu Rong, born to Empress Li, as crown prince. In the seventh year of Emperor Jing's reign (150 BC), due to political struggles within the palace, Crown Prince Liu Rong was deposed and enfeoffed as Prince of Linjiang. Empress Dowager Dou did not give up on the idea of making Prince Liang the heir and, during a banquet, asked Emperor Jing, "Let Prince Liang inherit the throne!" Emperor Jing knelt and said, "I will follow your mother's command." After the banquet, Emperor Jing regretted his decision and consulted with the ministers. Yuan An and others strongly opposed the idea of enfeoffing Prince Liang. Thus, Emperor Jing dropped the matter. Enraged, Prince Liang conspired with advisors Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui to arrange for assassins to kill Yuan An and over a dozen other ministers. When Emperor Jing discovered Prince Liang's involvement, he sent Tian Shu to investigate in Liang. Under pressure, Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui committed suicide. After Tian Shu concluded his investigation, he burned all the case records and reports before meeting Emperor Jing empty-handed. When Emperor Jing reprimanded him, Tian Shu replied, "Now that Prince Liang has committed a crime, if we do not execute him, it would mean the laws of the Han dynasty are ineffective. If we execute Prince Liang according to the law, it would cause Empress Dowager to suffer and lose sleep, which would also trouble you, Your Majesty." He advised Emperor Jing not to pursue the matter further, to which Emperor Jing silently agreed. Tian Shu then reported to Empress Dowager Dou, saying, "Prince Liang was not aware of the assassination plot; it was Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui who did it. They have already been punished, so please rest assured." Empress Dowager Dou had been deeply troubled by Prince Liang's affairs, unable to eat or sleep, and weeping day and night. Upon hearing Tian Shu's report, she immediately sat up and ate, her mood calming. Prince Liang also came to the capital to apologize, and the brothers reconciled, bringing joy to Empress Dowager Dou. However, from then on, Emperor Jing grew more distant from Prince Liang. Dejected, Prince Liang soon passed away. Empress Dowager Dou angrily said, "The emperor has killed my son!" Emperor Jing was deeply saddened and frightened, unsure of what to do. After consulting with the Princess Imperial, he generously enfeoffed Prince Liang's descendants as the Five Princes, which finally brought relief to Empress Dowager Dou. In her later years, Empress Dowager Dou became deeply devoted to Yellow Emperor and Laozi's teachings, advocating for "tranquility and non-action." Unable to see, she had the "Tao Te Ching" read to her repeatedly. Not only did she study it herself, but she also urged Emperor Jing to do the same. She believed that Emperor Wen (the former emperor) had used Yellow Emperor and Laozi's teachings as the foundation for governance, practicing a policy of "non-action" to restore the empire's vitality. By simplifying laws and reducing punishments, the country gradually recovered. She firmly believed that these teachings were the cornerstone of the empire and could not be abandoned. Thus, she consistently upheld Yellow Emperor and Laozi's teachings while opposing Confucianism. However, Emperor Jing, while believing in Yellow Emperor and Laozi, also hired numerous Confucian scholars as doctoral advisors to study and organize Confucian thought. Empress Dowager Dou disapproved of Confucian scholars' excessive ornamentation and lack of substance, and she was dissatisfied with some of Emperor Jing's actions. One day, Empress Dowager Dou summoned a renowned Confucian scholar named Yuan Gusheng and asked him to discuss the essence of the "Tao Te Ching." Yuan Gusheng disdainfully replied, "This is the talk of ordinary people!" meaning it was trivial and unworthy of attention. Born into a humble family, Empress Dowager Dou was furious and retorted, "Do you want to read the 'Books of the Minister of Works and the Evening Gate'?" In the Qin and Han dynasties, laborers were called the Minister of Works and the Evening Gate. Empress Dowager Dou referred to the Confucian classics as the "Books of the Minister of Works and the Evening Gate," showing her contempt for Confucianism. To punish the stubborn scholar, Empress Dowager Dou ordered Yuan Gusheng, "Stop reading. Take you to the pigsty and see if you can tame that wild boar!" At that moment, Emperor Jing quietly handed Yuan Gusheng a sharp knife, which he used to kill the boar. Taking advantage of the situation, Emperor Jing reported to Empress Dowager Dou, "Yuan Gusheng has followed your instructions." Empress Dowager Dou had no choice but to leave in anger. Later, to avoid further angering her, Emperor Jing transferred Yuan Gusheng to a post outside the capital.