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 emperor in the Chinese cultural sphere.
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
- Grand Empress Dowager Bian (226–230), during the reign of Emperor Ming
Jin dynasty (266–420)
Liu Song dynasty
- Grand Empress Dowager Xiao Wenshou (422–423), during the reign of Emperor Shao
- Grand Empress Dowager Lu Huinan (464–466), during the reign of Emperor Qianfei
Chen dynasty
- Grand Empress Dowager Zhang Yao'er (566–568), during the reign of Emperor Fei
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
- Grand Empress Dowager of Dagi (1321–?), during the reign of Emperor Yingzong
- Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri (1333–1338), during the reign of Emperor Huizong
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.
