Empress Fang Explained

Empress Xiaolie
Succession:Empress consort of the Ming dynasty
Reign:1534–1547
Reign-Type:Tenure
Predecessor:Empress Zhang
Successor:Empress Xiao'an
Birth Date:
Zhengde 11
(正德十一年)
Death Date:
Jiajing 26
(嘉靖二十六年)
Burial Place:Yongling Mausoleum
Death Place:Beijing
Spouse:Jiajing Emperor
House:Fang (方)
House-Type:Clan
Father:Fang Tai (方泰)

Empress Xiaolie (1516–1547), of the Fang clan, was a Chinese empress consort of the Ming dynasty, third empress to the Jiajing Emperor.

Early life

Fang originated from the area of Nanjing. She was selected for palace service in 1531, and chosen as a concubine for the emperor.

She was described as beautiful and talented. However, she refused to use bribes to improve her chances of being selected to share the bed of the emperor, and as the emperor did not wish to have sexual intercourse with women over the age of fifteen, her chance to experience a sexual encounter with the emperor was therefore past, which reportedly caused her great sorrow and emotional loss.[1]

Empress

In 28 January 1534, nine days after the deposition of Empress Zhang, Fang was nevertheless chosen by the emperor to succeed as empress consort of the imperial court. She was forced to make the decision because she sided with him during his dispute with his officials over the rituals honoring the imperial ancestors.[2]

Renyin palace rebellion

Empress Fang was described as the favorite spouse of the emperor, and saved the emperor's life during the Renyin palace rebellion. Emperor Jiajing, who was described as strict and liable to violent outbursts, was known for his cruelty toward his female staff and palace women, reportedly having had 200 women of the palace staff beaten to death during his reign.[3] In October 1542, sixteen palace maids formed a conspiracy to assassinate the emperor; not for political reasons, but as retaliation for his abuse.[4] One night when the emperor was in bed with his favorite concubine, Consort Duan, the sixteen maids attacked him in his bed and tried to strangle him.[5] They stuffed his mouth, jabbed at his penis, tied a silk cord around his neck and pulled until he lost consciousness.[6] At this moment, however, one of them, Golden Lotus Zhang, lost her nerve and left to alert the empress. Empress Fang rushed in, untied the knot and saved the emperor's life.[7]

The emperor could not speak after the attack and was in a state of shock. Therefore, the empress acted on his behalf and had all the sixteen conspirators executed, as well as Consort Duan.[8] When the emperor recovered, he could not believe that Duan had been involved as Duan had been his favorite. Although he was grateful to her for saving his life, and granted her official honors for this, he blamed her for Duan's death, and their personal relationship was permanently damaged. Fang was said to have become depressed as a result.[9]

Death

Empress Fang died in a fire in 1547. When a eunuch asked the emperor if the trapped empress should be saved, the emperor refused to answer, and she therefore burned to death.[10] He did nevertheless grant her all honors after her death.

Titles

Notes and References

  1. Hsieh Bao Hua: Concubinage and Servitude in Late Imperial China
  2. GEISS, James. The Chia-ching reign, 1522-1566. In TWITCHETT, Denis C.; MOTE, Frederick W.. The Cambridge History of China. Volume 8, The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644, Part 2. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1998. [Dále jen Geiss]. .
  3. Hsieh Bao Hua: Concubinage and Servitude in Late Imperial China
  4. Hsieh Bao Hua: Concubinage and Servitude in Late Imperial China
  5. Hsieh Bao Hua: Concubinage and Servitude in Late Imperial China
  6. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing
  7. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing
  8. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing
  9. Hsieh Bao Hua: Concubinage and Servitude in Late Imperial China
  10. Keith McMahon: Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing