Empress Xie (Xiaozong) Explained

Empress Chengsu
Spouse:Emperor Xiaozong
Birth Date:1135
Birth Place:Danyang, Jiangsu, China
Death Date:13 June 1207 (aged)
Death Place:Lin'an, Zhejiang, China
Burial Place:Yongfuling (永阜陵)
Shaoxing, Zhejiang
Father:Xia Ning
Consort:yes
Succession:Empress consort of the Southern Song dynasty
Reign:12 September 1176 – 18 February 1189
Predecessor:Empress Chenggong
Successor:Empress Cixian
Succession1:Empress dowager of the Southern Song dynasty
Reign1:18 February 1189 – 21 October 1202
Succession2:Grand empress dowager of the Southern Song dynasty
Reign2:21 October 1202 – 13 June 1207
Posthumous Name:Empress Chengsu (成肅皇后)

Empress Xie (1135 – 13 June 1207) was a Chinese empress consort of the Song dynasty, married to Emperor Xiaozong of Song.

As Empress

Xie was selected as a concubine (and later consort) for Emperor Xiaozong by Empress Dowager Wu, who lamented his disinterest in women after the death of his second empress, Empress Xia.[1] While Xie eventually became his primary consort, she had no surviving children.

Unlike other Empresses in the Southern Song Dynasty who made an effort at participating in politics, Empress Xie had a rather politically detached personality and lived through much of the ensuing reigns until the thirteenth year of Emperor Ningzong's reign. However, she was described as "diligent, fair and frugal" when it came to managing matters in the inner palace.

Empress Xie was a reserved and non-meddling woman who lived in silence herself, having barely received any affection from her spouse and relatives. Thus, she was widely considered a tragic and lonely figure despite her elevated position.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Davis, Richard L. "Troubles in Paradise: the Shrinking Royal Family in Southern Song" . 2016-05-27 . 2016-09-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160916204842/http://www.npm.gov.tw/hotnews/9910seminar/download/all/B01.pdf . dead .