Queen Zheng Mao of Chu – The Sensible Queen of Chu
Queen Zheng Mao of Chu (also known as Queen Zi Mao) was originally a Princess of the State of Zheng.[1] She was originally sent to be an Imperial Consort to King Cheng of Chu.[2] Because of her “steadfastness to principle”[3], King Cheng of Chu was deeply impressed with her and made her his queen.[4] Queen Zheng Mao of Chu has been known for her wisdom.[5] However, King Cheng of Chu did not listen to her.[6] His unwillingness to follow her advice led him to have disastrous consequences.[7] It caused his downfall and created political turmoil in Chu.[8]
Queen Zheng Mao of Chu was born in the seventh century B.C.E.[9] She lived during the Spring and Autumn era (which lasted from 771 to 453 B.C.E).[10] During this period, Chinese states were declaring their own independence from the ruling Zhou Dynasty to form their own dynasties.[11] Her origins are still disputed.[12] According to the Chinese historian Constance Cook, she was a woman from the Ying clan of the State of Zheng (modern-day Henan Province).[13] However, it is most likely that Queen Zheng Mao was a Princess of Zheng.[14] She was most likely from the ruling Ji clan of the State of Zheng.[15] She was sent to accompany a Princess from the Ying clan of the more powerful State of Qin.[16] The Princess of the Ying clan of Qin was supposed to be the Queen of King Cheng of Chu (who reigned from 671-626 B.C.E.).[17] Princess Zheng Mao was supposed to be an Imperial Consort of King Cheng of Chu.[18]
Once Princess Zheng Mao arrived in Chu, King Cheng of Chu looked down on the women’s quarters.[19] He noticed all the palace women looked up at him, except for Princess Zheng Mao.[20] This intrigued him, and he decided to test Princess Zheng Mao to make her look up at him.[21] He told her that he would make her his queen if she would look at him.[22] Princess Zheng Mao still refused to look up at him.[23] He then offered her 1,000 pieces of gold and to ennoble her father and brothers.[24] Princess Zheng Mao again refused.[25] She said that if she agreed to look up at him, she would be found “guilty of covetousness.”[26] King Cheng of Chu was delighted with her response.[27] He also praised her for her “steadfastness to principle.”[28] He made Princess Zheng Mao his queen.[29]
A year later, King Cheng of Chu contemplated making his son, Shangchen, the Crown Prince.[30] He consulted with his chief minister on whether he should make Shangchen the Crown Prince.[31] However, his chief minister told him not to make Shangchen the Crown Prince because he feared Shangchen was capable of ruthlessness.[32] King Cheng of Chu then asked for Queen Zheng Mao of Chu’s advice.[33] She agreed with his chief minister.[34] However, King Cheng of Chu refused their advice and made Shangchen the Crown Prince.[35] Crown Prince Shangchen eventually slandered King Cheng of Chu’s chief minister by blaming him for a military failure and had him executed.[36]
King Cheng of Chu gradually decided to replace Shangchen as the Crown Prince and make Prince Zhi (one of his younger sons by an imperial concubine) instead.[37] However, Queen Zheng Mao of Chu was against the replacement of Shangchen because she feared it would lead to disastrous consequences for Chu.[38] However, King Cheng of Chu refused to listen to her advice.[39] Instead, King Cheng of Chu suspected Queen Zheng Mao of jealousy because Prince Zhi was not her biological son.[40] Because King Cheng of Chu suspected her of “living without righteousness”[41], Queen Zheng Mao of Chu committed suicide.[42] Shortly after her suicide, Crown Prince Shangchen started a coup d’etat against his father.[43] This led to King Cheng of Chu committing suicide by hanging himself in 626 B.C.E.[44] Crown Prince Shangchen ascended to the Chu throne as King Mu.[45]
Queen Zheng Mao of Chu was blessed with political acumen.[46] She was intelligent and righteous.[47] However, her husband did not listen to her.[48] By refusing her advice, it had drastic consequences for both him and his kingdom.[49] If King Cheng of Chu had listened to Queen Zheng Mao of Chu’s advice, his ending would have been very different.[50] In Biographies of Eminent Women, Queen Zheng Mao of Chu is categorized under “Biographies of the Chaste and Righteous.”[51].
Sources:
Cook, C. A. (2015). “Zheng Mao, Wife of the King of Cheng of Chu”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 93-94.
Eno, R. (2010). 1.7. Spring and Autumn China (771-453). Indiana University, PDF.
Liu, X., Kinney, A. B. (2014). Exemplary Women of Early China: The Lienü Zhuan of Liu Xiang. United Kingdom: Columbia University Press.
[1] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[2] Cook, 2015
[3] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[4] Cook, 2015
[5] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[6] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[7] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[8] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[9] Cook, 2015
[10] Eno, 2010
[11] Eno, 2010
[12] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[13] Cook, 2015
[14] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[15] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[16] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[17] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[18] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[19] Cook, 2015
[20] Cook, 2015
[21] Cook, 2015
[22] Cook, 2015
[23] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[24] Cook, 2015
[25] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[26] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[27] Cook, 2015
[28] Cook, 2015, p. 93
[29] Cook, 2015
[30] Cook, 2015
[31] Cook, 2015
[32] Cook, 2015
[33] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[34] Cook, 2015
[35] Cook, 2015
[36] Cook, 2015
[37] Cook, 2015
[38] Cook, 2015
[39] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[40] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[41] Cook, 2015, p. 94
[42] Cook, 2015
[43] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[44] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[45] Liu and Kinney, 2014
[46] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[47] Liu and Kinney; Cook, 2015
[48] Cook, 2015
[49] Liu and Kinney; 2014; Cook, 2015
[50] Liu and Kinney, 2014; Cook, 2015
[51] Cook, 2015, p. 94
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