Empress Dowager Ande – The Mother of the Last Two Emperors of the Jin Dynasty
Empress Dowager Ande was a pivotal figure during the last few decades of the powerful Jin Dynasty. She was the imperial concubine of Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. She was only in the imperial palace for a few short years. Yet, those few years made a lasting impact on the Jin Dynasty.[1] She would give birth to two Jin emperors who would eventually end the Jin Dynasty.[2]
The birthdate of Empress Dowager Ande is unknown.[3] Her personal name is Chen Guinü. Her father was Chen Guang, who was a musician.[4] Her mother is also unknown.[5] Her early life is mostly unknown.[6] She was originally a courtesan in Jiaofeng. She was known to be very beautiful.[7] She was also good at dancing and singing.[8] She was selected to enter the imperial palace to become an imperial concubine to Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. She was given the rank of Shuyuan.
Emperor Xiaowu highly favoured Imperial Consort Chen Guinü.[9] He was enthralled by her voice and her graceful dancing.[10] In 382 C.E., Imperial Consort Chen Guinü gave birth to a son named Prince Sima Dezong (the future Emperor An).[11] He was mentally disabled and could not speak.[12] In 386 C.E., Imperial Consort Chen Guinü gave birth to a second son named Prince Sima Dewen (the future Emperor Gong).[13] In 390 C.E., Imperial Consort Chen Guinü died at the age of twenty-seven.[14] If it had not been for the political events that ended the Jin Dynasty, Imperial Consort Chen Guinü’s name would have remained in obscurity.[15]
On 6 November 396 C.E., Emperor Xiaowu was murdered by his favourite imperial concubine, Imperial Consort Zhang.[16] Emperor Xiaowu was succeeded by Emperor An. Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty honoured his late mother, Imperial Consort Chen Guinü, by making her an empress dowager.[17] Imperial Consort Chen Guinü received the posthumous title of Empress Dowager Ande.[18] On 28 January 419 C.E., Duke Liu Yu murdered Emperor An and installed Emperor Gong on the Eastern Jin throne.[19] On 7 July 420 C.E., Emperor Gong abdicated.[20] This marked the end of the Jin Dynasty.[21] Liu Yu ascended the throne as emperor and founded the Liu-Song Dynasty.[22]
When examining the downfall of the Jin Dynasty, it is hard to overlook Empress Dowager Ande.[23] She seemed like she was destined for obscurity if it were not for her two sons, who ended a powerful dynasty.[24] Emperor An made the Jin Dynasty weak and left it in the hands of a powerful warlord named Liu Yu.[25] Emperor Gong officially ended the Jin Dynasty through his abdication.[26] The Liu-Song Dynasty that succeeded the Jin Dynasty only lasted fifty-nine years, which was from 420 to 479 C.E..[27]
Sources:
iNews. (n.d.). “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”. Retrieved on December 11, 2024 from https://inf.news/en/history/6fcd788fe....
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
Minpu, Y. (12 December 2015).“Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”. Yangtze Evening News. Retrieved on December 11, 2024 from https://web.archive.org/web/202404211....
Theobald, U. (16 June 2018). “Jin Andi 晉安帝 Sima Dezong 司馬德宗”. Chinaknowledge.de- An Encyclopedia on Chinese History, Literature, and Art. Retrieved on December 11, 2024 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/....
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 December 11, 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] Minpu, December 12, 2015, “Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”
[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] Minpu, December 12, 2015, “Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”
[8] Minpu, December 12, 2015, “Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”
[9] Minpu, December 12, 2015, “Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”
[10] Minpu, December 12, 2015, “Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”
[11] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[12] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Andi 晉安帝 Sima Dezong 司馬德宗
[13] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[14] Minpu, December 12, 2015, “Emperor Xiaowu: First he was forced to collapse by his wife, and then he was killed by his beloved concubine for saying the wrong thing. [孝武先: 被老婆逼崩溃 后因说错话遭宠妃杀死]”
[15] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[16] McMahon, 2013
[17] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[18] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[19] McMahon, 2013
[20] McMahon, 2013
[21] McMahon, 2013
[22] McMahon, 2013
[23] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[24] iNews, n.d., “The Tragic Life of Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin”
[25] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Andi 晉安帝 Sima Dezong 司馬德宗
[26] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”
[27] Theobald, June 16, 2018, “Jin Gongdi 晉恭帝Sima Dewen 司馬德文”
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