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Empress Chu Lingyuan – The Last Empress of the Jin Dynasty

Empress Chu Lingyuan was the last Empress of the Jin Dynasty. She was Empress to Emperor Gong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. However, her life was very turbulent.[1] Her husband was forced to abdicate. She was betrayed by her own brothers, who killed her son and husband.[2] Therefore, Empress Chu Lingyuan was a tragic figure.[3]

In 343 C.E., Empress Chu Lingyuan was born in Yangzhai (modern-day Yuzhou) in Henan Province.[4] She was the grand-niece of Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi. Her father was Chu Shuang (the prefect of Yixing).[5] She had three brothers named Chu Xiuzhi, Chu Danzhi, and Chu Yuzhi.[6] She eventually married Sima Dewen (the Prince of Langya). Princess Chu Lingyuan gave birth to two daughters named Sima Maoying (the Princess of Haiyan) and Princess Fuyang. Other than her name, nothing else is recorded of Princess Fuyang.[7]

On 28 January 419 C.E., Liu Yu (the Duke of Song and Counsellor-In-Chief) murdered Prince Sima Dewen’s brother, Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[8] Duke Liu Yu installed Sima Dewen as Emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. On 12 February 419 C.E., Chu Lingyuan was invested as empress. Emperor Sima Dewen’s reign was short-lived because Duke Liu Yu wanted to make himself emperor.[9] In 420 C.E., Duke Liu Yu appointed Fu Liang to draft an edict for Emperor Sima Dewen to abdicate.[10] It was said that Emperor Sima Dewen was happy to abdicate because he found reigning to be burdensome.[11] He signed his abdication on red paper to show that it was a joyful event. Emperor Sima Dewen’s abdication marked the end of the Jin Dynasty.[12] Liu Yu ascended the throne as Emperor of the new Liu-Song Dynasty.[13] The Liu Song Dynasty only lasted fifty-nine years, which was from 420 to 479 C.E..[14]

After the abdication, Emperor Sima Dewen was given the title of Prince of Lingling.[15] The former Empress Chu Lingyuan was made Princess of Lingling. They resided in Moling (near modern-day Nanjing in Jiangsu Province).[16] They were given the privilege of using the imperial coaches and robes.[17]

Princess Chu Lingyuan’s brothers were greedy and ambitious.[18] They eagerly served Emperor Liu Yu of the Liu-Song Dynasty.[19] They constantly monitored Prince Sima Dewen.[20] When Princess Chu Lingyuan gave birth to a son, her brothers killed him under Emperor Liu Yu’s orders.[21] Emperor Liu Yu also made no secret of wanting Prince Sima Dewen’s death.[22] Therefore, Prince Sima Dewen and Princess Chu Lingyuan were so frightened that they stayed in one room and did not leave it.[23] Prince Sima Dewen spent his days studying Buddhism.[24]

In 421 C.E., Emperor Liu Yu decided it was time for Prince Sima Dewen to die.[25] He ordered Princess Chu’s brother, Chu Danzhi. to give Prince Sima Dewan poisoned wine.[26] Chu Danzhi took his personal soldiers, arrived at Prince Sima Dewen’s mansion, and demanded that he drink the poisoned wine.[27] Prince Sima Dewen refused to drink the poison.[28] Prince Sima Dewen said, “Buddhist teachings say that if a person commits suicide, he cannot be reincarnated again.”[29] Realising that they could not force Prince Sima Dewen to drink the poison, Chu Danzhi’s soldiers strangled him.[30] After Prince Sima Dewen’s assassination, he was made the posthumous Emperor Gong, which means “the Respectful.”[31] He was buried with the rites of an emperor in Chongqing Mausoleum.[32]

Little is known about Princess Chu Lingyuan after Emperor Gong’s death.[33] Her elder daughter, Princess Sima Maoying of Haiyan, married Emperor Liu Yu’s son, Prince Liu Yifu.[34] In 422 C.E., Emperor Liu Yu died, and Liu Yifu became Emperor of the Liu-Song Dynasty. Sima Maoying was invested as empress.[35] In 422 C.E., Emperor Liu Yifu was assassinated. Empress Sima Maoying of Haiyan was given the title of Princess of Yingyang and then was made the Princess of Nanfeng.[36] On 7 August 436 C.E., Princess Chu Lingyuan died at the age of fifty-three.[37] Princess Chu Lingyuan was buried beside her husband, Emperor Gong. She was buried with the rites of an empress. She was given the posthumous name of Empress Gongsi.

Empress Chu Lingyuan could barely control the tragic events in her life.[38] Her life after being an empress was filled with tragedy.[39] Empress Chu Lingyuan lived in fear and rarely left her own room.[40] She lost both her son and husband.[41] Therefore, Empress Chu Lingyuan witnessed the fall of her dynasty and the beginning of a brand new dynasty.[42]

Sources:

iNews. (n.d.). “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”. Retrieved on 25 November 2024 from https://inf.news/en/history/6fcd788fe....

Theobald, U. (16 June 2018). “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”. Chinaknowledge.de- An Encyclopedia on Chinese History, Literature, and Art. Retrieved on 25 November 2024 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/....

[1] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[2] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[3] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[4] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[5] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[6] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[7] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”

[8] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”

[9] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”

[10] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”

[11] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”

[12] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”