Grand empress dowager explained
Grand empress dowager (also grand dowager empress or grand empress mother) ((太皇太后) was a title given to the grandmother,[1] or a woman from the same generation, of a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese monarch in the Chinese cultural sphere.
The great empress dowager was preferred over the empress dowager and had priority over the emperor in terms of respect. Some grand empresses dowager held regency during the emperor's childhood. Some of the most prominent empress dowagers extended their regencies beyond the time when the emperor was old enough to govern alone. This was seen as a source of political turmoil, according to the traditional views of Chinese historians.
Chinese grand empresses dowager
Han dynasty
Cao Wei
Jin dynasty (266–420)
Liu Song dynasty
Chen dynasty
Northern Wei dynasty
Northern Qi dynasty
Northern Zhou dynasty
Tang dynasty
Song dynasty
Liao dynasty
Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
- Tangkuo, Grand Empress Dowager of Qingyuan Palace (1135–1136), during the reign of Emperor Xizong
- Heshilie, Grand Empress Dowager of Mingde Palace (1135–1143), during the reign of Emperor Xizong
Yuan dynasty
Ming dynasty
Qing dynasty
See also
- Empress dowager
- Từ Dụ (1810–1902), Vietnamese royal and only ever person to be crowned Great Grand Empress Dowager
References
- Book: The Cambridge History of China: Volume 8, The Ming Dynasty. Twitchett. Denis C.. Mote. Frederick W.. 1998-01-28. Cambridge University Press. 9780521243339. 18. en.
