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Empress Chen (Longqing)

Empress Xiao'an (d. 1596), of the Chen clan, was a Chinese empress consort of the Ming dynasty. She was the second wife of the Longqing Emperor.

In 1558, following the death of his first wife Lady Li, Zhu Zaiji, Prince of Yu, married Lady Chen. Upon his ascension to the throne as the Longqing Emperor in 1567, he appointed her as his empress. After only two years, however, she fell out of favor with the Emperor and was moved to a separate palace in 1569. She became ill and was not properly cared for. The Emperor told opposing officials that she did not understand his family affairs and that she had no son and was in poor health. Another alleged reason for her removal was her criticism of the Emperor's preoccupation with women and music.

The Emperor's son from another wife, the heir to the throne and future Wanli Emperor, however, treated the Empress well and visited her regularly. After his ascension to the throne, he granted her the title of empress dowager and always treated her with respect as his father's principal wife.

Titles

The titles of Empress Chen:

  • During the reign of the Jiajing Emperor ():
  • Lady Chen ()
  • Princess Consort of Yu (; from 1558)
  • During the reign of the Longqing Emperor ():
  • Empress (; from 1567)
  • During the reign of the Wanli Emperor ():
  • Empress Dowager Rensheng (; from 1572)
  • Empress Dowager Rensheng Zhenyi (; from 1578)
  • Empress Dowager Rensheng Zhenyi Kangjing (; from 1582)
  • Empress Xiao'an Zhenyi Gongchun Wenhui Zuotian Hongsheng (; from 1596)

References

Citations

Works cited