Zhang Guiren – The Imperial Consort who murdered an Emperor because of a joke
Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang (also known as Zhang Guiren) was the favourite imperial concubine of Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[1] She was the head of Emperor Xiaowu’s imperial harem and his de facto empress.[2] One night, while drunk, Emperor Xiaowu made a joke about Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang being replaced because she had almost reached the age of thirty.[3] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang feared that she would be banished to the cold palace.[4] Therefore, she began to have evil thoughts of murdering the Emperor.[5]
The birthdate of Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang is unknown.[6] Her surname was Zhang, but her personal name is unknown. Her parents are unknown. Her early life is also unknown.[7] She eventually joined the harem of Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.[8] She was given the imperial rank of Honoured (officially the rank of Guiren).[9]
Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang was childless.[10] Despite her barrenness, Emperor Xiaowu was deeply devoted to her, and she was his favourite.[11] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang acted as the de facto empress and was head of the imperial harem.[12] It was said that all the other imperial concubines were afraid of her.[13]
On 6 November 396 C.E., Emperor Xiaowu and Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang were drinking together in Qingshu Palace.[14] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang was almost thirty years old.[15] When Emperor Xiaowu became drunk, he joked, “Someone your age should be replaced.”[16] Emperor Xiaowu did not mean what he said because he only said it as a joke.[17] However, Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang took his words seriously.[18] She was afraid that she would lose all her power and he would send her to the cold palace.[19] She became very angry.[20] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang decided to murder Emperor Xiaowu.[21]
That night, Emperor Xiaowu went to bed drunk. Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang sent his eunuchs away with gifts of wine.[22] Then, she got her maid to cover Emperor Xiaowu’s face with quilts.[23] They smothered Emperor Xiaowu until he died.[24] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang got away with murdering Emperor Xiaowu.[25] When his servants found the Emperor dead, Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang said that he died in his sleep.[26] Because Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty was mentally disabled, he let her get away with it.[27] Emperor An brought up no charges.[28] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang took advantage of the disabled Emperor.[29] She quickly fled the imperial palace, taking silver and gold with her.[30] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang’s life afterwards is unknown.[31]
Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang enjoyed much status and prestige in Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty’s harem.[32] When Emperor Xiaowu made a joke about her age, Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang took it seriously.[33] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang was afraid that he would banish her to the cold palace.[34] Therefore, she felt that she had to murder Emperor Xiaowu to save herself.[35] She was lucky enough to get away with regicide.[36] Imperial Honoured Consort Zhang’s murder of Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty is an unusual event in Chinese history because she is the only imperial concubine who has successfully committed regicide.[37]
Sources:
DayDayNews. (17 September 2019). “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”. Retrieved on December 17, 2024 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/....
Guang, S. (n.d.). Records of Jin Dynasty 晋纪: Zi Zhi Tong Jian资治通鉴; or Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance; Volume 79 – 118. (n.p.): DeepLogic.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] McMahon, 2013
[2] Guang, n.d.
[3] McMahon, 2013
[4] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[5] McMahon, 2013
[6] McMahon, 2013
[7] McMahon, 2013
[8] McMahon, 2013
[9] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[10] Guang, n.d.
[11] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[12] Guang, n.d.
[13] Guang, n.d.
[14] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[15] McMahon, 2013
[16] McMahon, 2013, p. 147
[17] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[18] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[19] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[20] McMahon, 2013
[21] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[22] Guang, n.d.
[23] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[24] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[25] McMahon, 2013
[26] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[27] McMahon, 2013
[28] McMahon, 2013
[29] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[30] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[31] McMahon, 2013
[32] Guang, n.d.
[33] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[34] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[35] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[36] DayDayNews, September 17, 2019, “Introduction to Sima Yao, the Ninth Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty”
[37] McMahon, 2013
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