227:, where are you?" Empress Wang wept and responded, "We have been found guilty and reduced to be maidservants. How can we still be referred to by honored titles?" She also begged, "If Your Imperial Majesty considered our past relationships and will allow us to again see the light of day, please rename this place 'Huixin Courtyard' ." Emperor Gaozong was initially receptive, responding, "I will do so right away." However, when Empress Wu heard this, she was enraged and issued their death warrants and sent people to cane Empress Wang and Consort Xiao 100 times each and cut off their hands and feet. She then had them put into large wine jars, saying, "Let these two witches be drunk to their bones!" When Empress Wang was informed of the orders, she bowed and stated, "May His Imperial Majesty live forever, and may
169:
while suggesting to
Emperor Gaozong that he take her as a concubine. Consort Wu was intelligent, alert, experienced and full of machinations, and therefore, when she first returned to the palace, she acted humbly and flattered Empress Wang, who trusted her greatly and recommended her to Emperor Gaozong. Soon, Emperor Gaozong became enamored with Consort Wu. Both Empress Wang and Consort Xiao lost favor, and soon, they realized the seriousness of the situation and joined forces to try to alienate Consort Wu from Emperor Gaozong, but were unsuccessful.
232:
for several days inside the wine jars before dying, and
Empress Wu had their bodies taken out of the wine jars and beheaded. When Empress Wu heard of Consort Xiao's curse, she forbade the palace personnel from keeping cats as pets, and even ordered the banning of cats as pets in the capital, Chang'an, but thereafter often dreamed of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, with scattered hair and bleeding limbs, seeking to kill her. She thereafter initially moved to
199:(唐會要) (begun 8th century) records no such events. Therefore, historians in generations after the Song dynasty conclude that the strange story was adapted by editors of the early Song dynasty from the horrible deeds of Han dynasty's Empress Dowager Lü Zhi, in order to defame and demonize Wu, the only female emperor ever, and to restrain later empress dowagers' power.
113:(later known as Wu Zetian), to Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Gaozong became enamored with Consort Wu. Empress Wang and Consort Xiao instead joined forces to try to counter Consort Wu, but in 655, Emperor Gaozong deposed both of them on accusations of witchcraft and replaced Empress Wang with Consort Wu. Soon, they were executed on the new Empress Wu's orders.
189:, meaning the formerly-compiled history of Tang dynasty, was completed around 945 A.D. and contains less inaccurate information than its predecessor. Both of these compilations are several hundred years away from Consort Xiao's and Wu Zetian's active period and contain the shocking and strange story in the following paragraph. Notwithstanding, the
261:
Empress Wu's hatred, causing him to be demoted and put under close watch a number of times. This situation was exacerbated by the unstoppable rise of
Empress Wu's influence and power over the throne, especially as Emperor Gaozong's illness grew, and he in 690, was eventually killed on the orders of Empress Wu (who by then was
231:
be favored forever. Dying is within my responsibility." However, Consort Xiao cursed
Empress Wu by saying, "Wu is a treacherous monster! I will be reincarnated as a cat and she would be reincarnated as a mouse so that I could grab her throat forever and ever!" Empress Wang and Consort Xiao suffered
222:
Six days after
Empress Wang's removal, Consort Wu was created empress. By order of the new Empress Wu, Empress Wang and Consort Xiao were put under arrest inside the palace, at a building that had its doors and windows tightly sealed, with only a hole on the wall to deliver food. One day, after the
168:
nuns. In either 650 or 651, when
Emperor Gaozong was visiting Ganye Temple to offer incense to Buddha, when he saw Consort Wu. Both of them wept. When Empress Wang heard this, she, wanting to divert Emperor Gaozong's favor from Consort Xiao, secretly instructed Consort Wu to grow her hair back,
260:
interceded, probably in 671, were they allowed to marry—and even then, Empress Wu simply found two imperial guards, Quan Yi (權毅) (for
Princess Yiyang) and Wang Xu (王勗) (for Princess Gao'an) to marry them immediately. Meanwhile, Li Sujie was allowed to be an imperial prince but continuously drew
172:
In 654, Consort Wu framed
Empress Wang for the death of her daughter, and in 655 further accused Empress Wang and her mother Lady Liu of using witchcraft. Emperor Gaozong deposed both Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, reducing them to commoner rank and imprisoning them inside the palace.
255:
On the orders of
Empress Wu, both of Consort Xiao's daughters, who by now carried the titles of Princess Yiyang and Princess Gao'an, were put under house arrest inside the palace, and were not allowed to marry. Not until Empress Wu's oldest son, the crown prince
244:, where these events occurred. Soon after Empress Wang's and Consort Xiao's deaths, at Empress Wu's urging, Emperor Gaozong had Empress Wang and her clan's surname changed from Wang (王, a typical surname meaning "king" or "monarch") to Mang (蟒, meaning "
157:, the second highest rank for imperial concubines. She continued to be favored, which drew jealousy from Empress Wang, and Empress Wang's jealousy soon caused both of them to face a different romantic rival.
215:. In recent years, more inconsistencies and contradictions have appeared when unearthed epitaphs are compared with relevant history compilations. For instance and reference, some of the key content on the
626:
day of the 10th month of the 6th year of the
Yonghui era of Tang Gaozong's reign, which corresponds to 16 Nov 655 on the Gregorian calendar. The same volume also recorded that Wu was made empress on the
219:(上官婉兒墓志) go against relevant recordings. Viewer discretion and critical thinking are advised while reading those texts. In conclusion, Consort Xiao and Empress Wang were most likely strangled to death.
193:
also clearly states that Consort Xiao and Empress Wang were strangled to death, other than different tortures human beings could bear under ancient medical conditions. A much earlier history,
185:, meaning the later-edited history of Tang dynasty, was compiled in the North Song dynasty, which is around 400 years after the recorded time of Consort Xiao's death. The
223:
coronation of Empress Wu, Emperor Gaozong thought of them and decided to visit them; when he saw the conditions they were in, he was saddened, calling out, "Empress,
203:(劉娥 Liu E), the most powerful empress dowager in the Song dynasty, had similar life experience to Wu and wore imperial robes (emperor's outfit). The editors of the
137:(良娣). In addition to Li Sujie, she bore two daughters, who were probably older than Li Sujie. It was also said that she was favored by him, more so than his wife
469:, requested Emperor Gaozong to let them marry, they were described to be already at least 39 years old, and this request was probably made in 671. See
442:
era of Tang Gaozong's reign, which corresponds to 16 Nov 655 in the Julian calendar. ((永徽六年)冬，十月，己酉，下诏称：“王皇后、萧淑妃谋行鸩毒，废为庶人，母及兄弟，并除名，流岭南。”)
428:
placed their deaths in the winter of 655. (故后王氏、故淑妃萧氏，...数日而死，又斩之。) The last recorded activity involving Empress Wang and Consort Wang in
248:") and Consort Xiao's and her clan's surname changed from Xiao (萧, another typical surname meaning "sad" or "calm") to Xiao (梟, meaning "
465:
That the two princesses were older than Li Sujie could be inferred from the fact that later, when their younger brother by Empress Wu,
741:
216:
710:
658:
579:
501:
699:
477:
121:
Little is known about Consort Xiao's background. What is known is that she was already a concubine of Li Zhi when he was
456:
era of Tang Gaozong's reign; said month ends on 3 December 655 in the Julian calendar. (永徽六年十月，废后及萧良娣皆为庶人，囚之别院。武昭仪令人皆缢杀之)
725:
721:
679:
600:
528:
382:
207:
coexisted with Liu E for a certain period. Apart from this, there are several discrepancies and inconsistencies in the
133:
was born in 646, before his ascension in 649. While she was a concubine to the crown prince, she carried the title of
164:. After Emperor Taizong's death, all of his concubines who did not bear sons were housed at Ganye Temple (感業寺) to be
160:
When Emperor Gaozong was crown prince, he had been attracted by the beauty of one of Emperor Taizong's concubines,
149:
In 649, after Emperor Taizong died, Li Zhi took the throne (as Emperor Gaozong). He created Crown Princess Wang
523:
stated that the princesses were "over 29" at the time, which would still make them older than Li Sujie. See
342:
746:
311:
302:
289:
236:(蓬萊宮), but continued to dream of them, and therefore eventually spent most time in the eastern capital
333:
328:
381:
Portrayed by Li Wen Wen (though her character is renamed "Consort Xu) in the 2014 Chinese TV series
361:
126:
98:
53:
280:
200:
138:
106:
548:
was born in 652, fixed the date of this incident as 650, but 651 is also a possibility. See
374:
8:
751:
252:"). Only after Empress Wu's own death in 705 were their clans' proper surnames restored.
410:
The timing of Empress Wang's and Consort Xiao's deaths was not clearly indicated in the
756:
60:
434:
with a defined date was their deposition in the same volume. This took place on the
705:
694:
495:
471:
448:
418:
412:
297:
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recorded that both women were strangled in the 10th month of the 6th year of the
262:
662:
622:
recorded that the deposition of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao took place on the
583:
505:
101:(Li Zhi). She was initially favored by him and bore him a son and two daughters—
716:
618:
519:
481:
430:
424:
245:
233:
735:
320:
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43:
369:
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105:
and the Princesses Yiyang and Gao'an—but later, after her romantic rival
39:
357:
161:
110:
94:
165:
130:
102:
65:
545:
541:
466:
257:
237:
150:
266:
287:
Portrayed by Kung Lien Hua in the 1985 Taiwanese TV series
278:
Portrayed by Chan Choi Yin in the 1984 Hong-Kong TV series
249:
318:
Portrayed by Xie Jin Tian in the 2006 Chinese TV series
309:
Portrayed by Jessie Chang in the 2003 Chinese TV series
390:
Portrayed by Liu Hai Lan in the 2017 Chinese TV series
349:
Portrayed by Sui Jun Bo in the 2011 Chinese TV series
544:, based on the fact that Empress Wu's oldest son
733:
16:Tang dynasty imperial consort of Emperor Gaozong
631:day of the same month, which was 6 days later.
652:indicated that they were strangled. Compare
573:indicated that they were strangled. Compare
438:day of the 10th month of the 6th year of the
153:, and he created Consort Xiao the rank of
340:Portrayed by Li Na in the 2011 TV series
269:) during the Tianshou era of her reign.
398:
327:Portrayed by Ban Min-jung in 2006-2007
734:
176:
144:
682:. (永徽六年十月，废后及萧良娣皆为庶人，囚之别院。武昭仪令人皆缢杀之)
603:. (永徽六年十月，废后及萧良娣皆为庶人，囚之别院。武昭仪令人皆缢杀之)
272:
89:(蕭淑妃, personal name unknown) (died
13:
14:
768:
550:Bo Yang Edition of Zizhi Tongjian
742:Tang dynasty imperial consorts
634:
610:
555:
534:
459:
404:
372:in the 2014 Chinese TV series
360:in the 2011 Chinese TV series
300:in the 1995 Chinese TV series
109:introduced another concubine,
1:
446:, vol. 200. Volume 51 of the
116:
90:
343:Secret History of Empress Wu
7:
217:Epitaph of Shangguan Wan'er
10:
773:
312:Lady Wu: The First Empress
290:The Empress of the Dynasty
59:
49:
26:
21:
640:This account is per the
561:This account is per the
240:and not in the capital
99:Emperor Gaozong of Tang
54:Emperor Gaozong of Tang
540:The modern historian
93:November 655), was a
399:Notes and references
375:The Empress of China
213:the Old Book of Tang
392:Legendary Di Renjie
177:Death and aftermath
145:As imperial consort
139:Crown Princess Wang
747:7th-century births
648:accepted, but the
569:accepted, but the
351:Meng Hui Tang Chao
273:Modern depictions
125:under his father
83:Pure Consort Xiao
76:
75:
764:
706:New Book of Tang
695:Old Book of Tang
687:
684:Old Book of Tang
673:
671:
670:
661:. Archived from
654:New Book of Tang
650:Old Book of Tang
642:New Book of Tang
638:
632:
614:
608:
605:Old Book of Tang
594:
592:
591:
582:. Archived from
575:New Book of Tang
571:Old Book of Tang
563:New Book of Tang
559:
553:
538:
532:
516:
514:
513:
504:. Archived from
496:New Book of Tang
492:
490:
489:
480:. Archived from
472:Old Book of Tang
463:
457:
449:Old Book of Tang
422:. Volume 200 of
419:New Book of Tang
413:Old Book of Tang
408:
209:New Book of Tang
205:New Book of Tang
191:Old Book of Tang
187:Old Book of Tang
183:New Book of Tang
92:
36:
34:
19:
18:
772:
771:
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560:
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539:
535:
511:
509:
500:
487:
485:
478:"舊唐書 列傳 卷三一至四十"
476:
464:
460:
409:
405:
401:
275:
263:empress dowager
179:
147:
127:Emperor Taizong
119:
72:Princess Gao'an
71:
70:Princess Yiyang
69:
38:
32:
30:
17:
12:
11:
5:
770:
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754:
749:
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730:
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717:Zizhi Tongjian
713:
702:
689:
688:
676:Zizhi Tongjian
646:Zizhi Tongjian
633:
619:Zizhi Tongjian
616:Volume 200 of
609:
597:Zizhi Tongjian
567:Zizhi Tongjian
554:
533:
525:Zizhi Tongjian
520:Zizhi Tongjian
458:
444:Zizhi Tongjian
431:Zizhi Tongjian
425:Zizhi Tongjian
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384:Young Sherlock
379:
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234:Penglai Palace
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146:
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118:
115:
74:
73:
68:, Prince of Xu
63:
57:
56:
51:
47:
46:
37:3 December 655
28:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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665:on 2008-02-19
664:
660:
655:
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647:
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621:
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606:
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598:
586:on 2008-02-19
585:
581:
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547:
543:
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530:
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522:
521:
508:on 2008-02-19
507:
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484:on 2007-10-11
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368:Portrayed by
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363:Beauty World.
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356:Portrayed by
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334:Yeon Gaesomun
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296:Portrayed by
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129:, as her son
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67:
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62:
58:
55:
52:
48:
45:
41:
29:
25:
20:
715:
704:
693:
683:
675:
667:. Retrieved
663:the original
659:"唐書 列傳 第一至十"
653:
649:
645:
644:, which the
641:
636:
628:
623:
617:
612:
604:
596:
588:. Retrieved
584:the original
580:"唐書 列傳 第一至十"
574:
570:
566:
565:, which the
562:
557:
549:
536:
524:
518:
517:. However,
510:. Retrieved
506:the original
502:"唐書 列傳 第一至十"
494:
486:. Retrieved
482:the original
470:
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447:
443:
439:
435:
429:
423:
417:
411:
406:
391:
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321:Wu Zi Bei Ge
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123:crown prince
120:
107:Empress Wang
86:
82:
79:Consort Xiao
78:
77:
44:Tang dynasty
22:Consort Xiao
370:Zhang Xinyu
201:Empress Liu
196:Tang Huiyao
87:Xiao Shufei
752:655 deaths
736:Categories
709:, vol. 76
698:, vol. 51
686:, vol. 51.
669:2008-02-19
656:, vol. 76
607:, vol. 51.
590:2008-02-19
577:, vol. 76
552:, vol. 47.
512:2008-02-19
499:, vol. 81
488:2007-10-11
475:, vol. 86
331:TV series
281:Empress Wu
162:Consort Wu
117:Background
111:Consort Wu
757:Wu Zetian
358:Cao Xiwen
303:Wu Zetian
95:concubine
33:655-12-03
720:, vols.
680:vol. 200
601:vol. 200
529:vol. 202
454:Yong'hui
440:Yong'hui
416:and the
242:Chang'an
166:Buddhist
131:Li Sujie
103:Li Sujie
66:Li Sujie
40:Chang'an
546:Li Hong
542:Bo Yang
467:Li Hong
258:Li Hong
238:Luoyang
151:empress
135:Liangdi
436:ji'you
298:Yu Hui
267:regent
246:python
229:Zhaoyi
225:Shufei
155:Shufei
50:Spouse
629:yimao
624:jiyou
61:Issue
674:and
595:and
493:and
265:and
211:and
181:The
27:Died
726:200
722:199
329:SBS
250:owl
97:of
85:or
738::
724:,
678:,
599:,
527:,
141:.
91:c.
81:,
42:,
728:.
712:.
701:.
672:.
593:.
531:.
515:.
491:.
394:.
387:.
378:.
353:.
345:.
337:.
324:.
315:.
305:.
293:.
283:.
35:)
31:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
