468:
demonstrate that he was still in control, particularly because he was interested in usurping the Jin throne. He spread false rumors that
Emperor Fei was impotent and that all his sons were actually sons of his close associates. In 371, he drafted a proposed edict for Empress Dowager Chu and submitted it to her while she was at a Buddhist shrine in her palace. She read his submission and commented that she suspected the same thing, and she signed the edict, although she added several sentences showing her grief:
532:, and his nephew Huan Shixiu (桓石秀). As Huan Chong was loyal to the imperial government, the threat of a Huan usurpation dissipated. After Huan Wen's death, Empress Dowager Chu formally took over as regent. In 376, after Emperor Xiaowu turned 14 and had his rite of passage, Empress Dowager Chu again gave up her regent authorities and was again referred to as Empress Dowager Chongde. She died in 384 and was buried with honors due an empress, with her husband Emperor Kang.
403:, causing Yao to rebel in fear and anger—Huan submitted a petition accusing Yin of crimes, and with popular sentiment against Yin, Sima Yu was forced to exile Yin. From that point on, the imperial government rarely went against Huan's wishes. In 354, Huan attacked Former Qin and enjoyed some initial successes, moving within miles of the Former Qin capital
383:
with major losses, Chu Pou died in humiliation on 1 Jan 350. During the next few years, however, without major campaigns on Jin's part, many of Later Zhao's southern provinces switched their allegiance to Jin, but not firmly so. Huan repeatedly requested permission to march north, but was constantly
325:
As Chu Suanzi herself grew older, she was known for her intelligence and foresight, and she was married to Sima Yue, who had then become the Prince of Langye, as his princess. When
Emperor Cheng chose to pass the throne to his brother rather than his sons at his death in 342, Sima Yue became emperor,
487:
As the niece of
Emperor Jianwen, Empress Dowager Chu had few roles during his reign—particularly because he himself had to negotiate a treacherous path that Huan had laid for him, as Huan himself intended to take the throne. Emperor Jianwen honored her as Empress Dowager Chongde, based on the name
467:
Similarly, because
Emperor Fei was also already an adult at the time he ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Chu did not serve as regent. However, after Huan Wen's major attack on Former Yan in 369 was repelled, at much loss of life, by joint forces of Former Yan and Former Qin, he pondered ways to
478:
Huan was initially apprehensive that
Empress Dowager Chu might not submit to his plan, so he was happy that she agreed despite her tone. Huan then removed Emperor Fei and replaced him with his granduncle Sima Yu the Prince of Kuaiji (as Emperor Jianwen). Empress Dowager Chu initially created the
387:
In 350, when
Empress Dowager Chu was bestowing a greater honor on Cai, Cai repeatedly declined—so much so that, as the emperor, the empress dowager, and the officials waited at the palace for the messengers that the empress dowager sent to his home to return with him, they waited from morning to
355:
was her key advisor. He Chong initially wanted to share that authority with her father Chu Pou, but Chu Pou believed that as the empress dowager's father, it was inappropriate for him to serve in that capacity, and therefore remained a provincial governor. Eventually, in 345, that role went to
347:
After Lady Chu became empress dowager, she received an official petition stating that since her mother Lady Xie had already received a title, the deceased wives of her father, Ladies Xun and Bian, should be granted titles posthumously as well. Empress
Dowager Chu dismissed the petition.
450:
As
Emperor Ai was two years older than Emperor Mu and already 21 at the time of his ascension, Empress Dowager Chu did not serve as regent initially. However, in 364, when Emperor Ai became poisoned by pills given by magicians which he took while trying to seek
512:, and the rumor at the time was that he was going to execute Wang Tanzhi and Xie An, and then take over the throne. However, after Wang and Xie met him, he apparently changed his mind and returned to his defense post at Gushu (姑孰, in modern
479:
former emperor the Prince of
Donghai—a title he had held previous to becoming Prince of Langye and then emperor—but Huan pressured her into demoting him further to Duke of Haixi, a title that he would be known by in many historical accounts.
441:
In 361, Emperor Mu died at the age of 18. As he had no sons, Empress
Dowager Chu ordered that his cousin Sima Pi the Prince of Langye (Emperor Cheng's oldest son) be made emperor, and he took the throne as Emperor Ai.
318:, successively on the staffs of Sima Yang (司馬羕) the Prince of Xiyang and then of Sima Yue the Prince of Wu—the future Emperor Kang. He was respected for the appropriateness of his speech. Her mother was a sister of
500:, officials loyal to the imperial clan and trying to prevent a Huan usurpation, persuaded her to become regent again. She agreed, but did not take official regent capacity initially.
388:
evening, causing the seven-year-old emperor to be drained. Yin used this opportunity to accuse Cai of disrespect and had him excluded from government and reduced to commoner status.
372:
in 347, effectively, the imperial government lost authority over the western provinces, with Huan being only nominally submissive. In response, Sima Yu invited the equally renowned
455:, he fell ill and could not handle matters of state. Empress Dowager Chu again served as regent at that point. After he died sonless in 365, she ordered that his younger brother
1078:
407:, but eventually hesitated when he was close, and Former Qin fought back and forced him to retreat. In 356, Huan marched north again and was able to force Yao out of the
438:(加冠禮)), Empress Dowager Chu officially stripped herself of her role as regent, and moved to Chongde Palace (崇德宮), which would be her residence for the rest of her life.
302:(373–376). Despite the power she held, she appeared to largely yield to the judgement of high-level officials who advised her and rarely made decisions on her own.
473:
This widow has suffered more than a hundred kinds of grief. I consider those who have died and those who still live, and my heart is like being cut by knives.
768:
330:
of Xunyang" (寻阳乡君). That year, she also bore him his only son, Sima Dan. He died just one year later, however, and her infant son Sima Dan, whom he created
1140:
1058:
326:
and he created her empress on 10 February 343, when he was 21 and she was 18. At the same time, Lady Chu's mother Lady Xie was also created "
384:
rebuffed by Sima Yu and Yin, who were concerned that he would be even harder to control if he recovered central and northern China for Jin.
1150:
1135:
399:—and after the second failure, which was caused by Yin's arrogance toward one of the former Later Zhao generals who surrendered to Jin,
1145:
761:
1160:
1094:
1066:
1062:
1175:
1054:
754:
727:
1165:
1155:
1050:
880:
1004:
524:, but Wang and Xie dragged on, and after Huan died later in 373, his territories were divided among his brothers
1090:
1042:
1170:
778:
271:
45:
411:
region, which he had occupied, and this allowed Jin to regain control of the territory south of the
1034:
710:
360:
the Prince of Kuaiji. After He Chong's death in 346, the authority was shared between Sima Yu and
1106:
1102:
1098:
1086:
1082:
1074:
1038:
635:
era of Emperor Cheng's reign. This corresponds to 10 Feb 343 in the Julian calendar. (壬子，立皇后褚氏。)
488:
of her palace. After he died in 372, he was succeeded by his son and crown prince Sima Yao (as
1070:
1046:
559:, vol.79. Their father Xie Kun's epitaph recorded that he had only one daughter, named Zhenshi.
357:
352:
351:
Due to Emperor Mu's young age, Empress Dowager Chu was quickly called upon to serve as regent.
489:
299:
112:
315:
8:
1130:
1125:
746:
275:
189:
921:
806:
801:
456:
423:(段龕) had been a nominal Jin vassal since 351 but was conquered by Former Yan's emperor
108:
295:
291:
201:
196:
104:
100:
521:
492:), and while she initially instinctively thought that Huan should be named regent,
327:
251:
874:
431:
279:
212:
21:
520:), although he continued to pressure the imperial government to grant him the
1119:
999:
816:
391:
In 352 and 353, Yin made two failed attempts at northern expeditions against
1022:
886:
597:
era of Yao's reign. This corresponds to 5 Jul 384 in the Julian calendar.
572:, she was 61 (by East Asian reckoning) when she died. (太元九年，崩于显阳殿，年六十一...)
513:
412:
331:
17:
1014:
991:
974:
966:
949:
931:
911:
903:
844:
831:
821:
811:
793:
720:
493:
452:
404:
179:
136:
74:
916:
869:
864:
859:
529:
424:
396:
392:
380:
939:
839:
548:
400:
369:
319:
64:
314:
was a mid-level official during the reign of Emperor Kang's brother
525:
509:
420:
416:
365:
175:
854:
738:
408:
373:
311:
283:
267:
231:
147:
497:
361:
287:
81:
379:
In 348, after he led a failed campaign against the collapsing
517:
262:(康獻皇后, literally "the joyful and wise empress"), at times as
674:
Sima Guang, ed. (1956) . 資治通鑒 . Beijing: Zhonghua Publishing
576:, vol.32. Thus by calculation, her birth year should be 324.
555:
recorded that Chu Suanzi was his niece (时康献皇后临朝，即尚之甥也，...)
776:
305:
334:
just before his death, became emperor (as Emperor Mu).
430:
In 357, as Emperor Mu turned 14 and went through his
459:the Prince of Langye succeed him (as Emperor Fei).
482:
376:to join as a key advisor to the empress dowager.
1117:
503:
683:(太后方在佛屋烧香，内侍启云“外有急奏”，太后乃出。尚倚户前视奏数行，乃曰“我本自疑此”)
762:
631:day of the 12th month of the 8th year of the
462:
278:, and, outliving him by 40 years, she was an
593:day in the 6th month of the 9th year of the
445:
342:
769:
755:
119:Empress consort of the Eastern Jin dynasty
31:Empress dowager of the Eastern Jin Dynasty
568:According to Empress Chu's biography in
1141:Jin dynasty (266–420) empresses dowager
1118:
306:Background and life as empress consort
750:
623:According to Sima Yue's biography in
585:According to Sima Yao's biography in
508:In 373, Huan Wen visited the capital
337:
661:(有司奏，谢夫人既封，荀、卞二夫人亦应追赠，皆后之前母也。太后不许。)
627:, Lady Chu was made empress on the
13:
14:
1187:
127:10 February 343 – 18 November 344
728:Empress of Jin Dynasty (266–420)
1151:Jin dynasty (266–420) Buddhists
1136:Jin dynasty (266–420) empresses
690:
677:
668:
655:
642:
617:
604:
579:
562:
542:
483:During Emperor Jianwen's reign
258:; 324 – 5 July 384), formally
1:
1161:4th-century empresses consort
1146:Jin dynasty (266–420) regents
1079:5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms
535:
504:During Emperor Xiaowu's reign
55:18 November 344 – 5 July 384
7:
1176:Mothers of Chinese emperors
290:for three of them: her son
10:
1192:
589:, Empress Chu died on the
463:During Emperor Fei's reign
298:(364–366), and her cousin
282:during the reigns of five
84:of the Eastern Jin Dynasty
15:
1166:4th-century Chinese women
1156:4th-century women regents
1031:
1013:
990:
983:
965:
958:
930:
902:
895:
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792:
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446:During Emperor Ai's reign
343:During Emperor Mu's reign
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92:344–357, 364–366, 373–376
88:
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59:
51:
43:
36:
356:Emperor Mu's granduncle
960:Grand empresses dowager
696:(“未亡人罹此百忧，感念存没，心焉如割。”)
286:, including serving as
264:Empress Dowager Chongde
219:Empress Kangxian (康獻皇后)
44:Empress dowager of the
294:(344–357), her nephew
779:Jin dynasty (266–420)
364:. After the general
272:Jin Dynasty (266–420)
985:Posthumous empresses
610:(时康献皇后临朝，即尚之甥也，...)
419:, where the warlord
310:Chu Suanzi's father
1171:4th-century regents
415:(except for modern
274:. Her husband was
190:Emperor Kang of Jin
46:Eastern Jin Dynasty
338:As empress dowager
1113:
1112:
897:Empresses dowager
787:Empresses consort
777:Empresses of the
745:
744:
735:Succeeded by
245:
244:
223:
222:
202:Emperor Mu of Jin
173:(aged 59–60)
1183:
771:
764:
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717:Preceded by
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560:
551:'s biography in
546:
522:nine bestowments
260:Empress Kangxian
257:
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34:
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731:
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711:Chinese royalty
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432:rite of passage
345:
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280:empress dowager
266:(崇德太后), was an
213:Posthumous name
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107:
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38:
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490:Emperor Xiaowu
484:
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307:
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300:Emperor Xiaowu
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113:Emperor Xiaowu
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1044:
1040:
1036:
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1024:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1016:
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1003:
1001:
1000:Zhang Chunhua
998:
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989:
982:
976:
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863:
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853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
837:
835:
833:
829:
823:
820:
818:
817:Yang Xianrong
815:
813:
810:
808:
805:
803:
800:
799:
797:
795:
791:
784:
780:
772:
767:
765:
760:
758:
753:
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749:
740:
730:
729:
722:
715:
712:
708:
699:
693:
686:
680:
671:
664:
658:
651:
648:(封母谢氏为寻阳乡君。)
645:
638:
634:
630:
626:
620:
613:
607:
600:
596:
592:
588:
582:
575:
571:
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541:
533:
531:
527:
523:
519:
515:
511:
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382:
377:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
354:
349:
335:
333:
329:
323:
321:
317:
316:Emperor Cheng
313:
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297:
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50:
47:
42:
35:
27:
23:
19:
1067:N. Dynasties
1063:S. Dynasties
944:
887:Chu Lingyuan
875:Wang Shen'ai
849:
726:
697:
692:
684:
679:
670:
662:
657:
649:
644:
636:
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628:
624:
619:
611:
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581:
573:
569:
564:
556:
552:
544:
507:
486:
477:
472:
466:
449:
440:
435:
429:
413:Yellow River
390:
386:
378:
350:
346:
332:crown prince
324:
309:
276:Emperor Kang
263:
259:
247:
246:
25:
18:Chinese name
1059:16 Kingdoms
1015:Eastern Jin
992:Western Jin
975:Li Lingrong
967:Eastern Jin
950:Li Lingrong
932:Eastern Jin
912:Wang Yuanji
904:Western Jin
881:Empress Liu
845:Du Lingyang
832:Eastern Jin
822:Liang Lanbi
812:Jia Nanfeng
794:Western Jin
721:Du Lingyang
625:Book of Jin
587:Book of Jin
570:Book of Jin
553:Book of Jin
494:Wang Tanzhi
453:immortality
241:Xie Zhenshi
180:Eastern Jin
171:(384-07-05)
137:Du Lingyang
132:Predecessor
109:Emperor Fei
75:Li Lingrong
60:Predecessor
22:family name
1131:384 deaths
1126:324 births
1120:Categories
1051:3 Kingdoms
1023:Chen Guinü
1005:Xiahou Hui
945:Chu Suanzi
917:Yang Huiyu
870:Wang Fahui
865:Yu Daolian
860:Wang Muzhi
850:Chu Suanzi
536:References
530:Huan Chong
425:Murong Jun
397:Former Qin
393:Former Yan
381:Later Zhao
368:conquered
296:Emperor Ai
292:Emperor Mu
248:Chu Suanzi
169:5 July 384
105:Emperor Ai
101:Emperor Mu
37:Chu Suanzi
940:Yu Wenjun
840:Yu Wenjun
614:, vol.79.
549:Xie Shang
514:Ma'anshan
436:jiaguanli
427:in 356).
401:Yao Xiang
370:Cheng Han
320:Xie Shang
143:Successor
71:Successor
65:Yu Wenjun
922:Yang Zhi
807:Yang Zhi
802:Yang Yan
737:Empress
732:343–344
719:Empress
700:, vol.32
687:, vol.32
665:, vol.32
652:, vol.32
639:, vol.07
633:Xiankang
601:, vol.09
526:Huan Huo
510:Jiankang
421:Duan Kan
417:Shandong
405:Chang'an
366:Huan Wen
353:He Chong
328:Xiangjun
284:emperors
176:Jiankang
146:Empress
135:Empress
97:Monarchs
63:Empress
16:In this
855:He Fani
739:He Fani
698:Jin Shu
685:Jin Shu
663:Jin Shu
650:Jin Shu
637:Jin Shu
612:Jin Shu
599:Jin Shu
595:Taiyuan
591:guichou
574:Jin Shu
557:Jin Shu
457:Sima Yi
409:Luoyang
374:Yin Hao
358:Sima Yu
312:Chu Pou
288:regents
270:of the
268:empress
252:Chinese
232:Chu Pou
148:He Fani
1091:W. Xia
1033:Xia →
498:Xie An
362:Cai Mo
254::
238:Mother
228:Father
186:Spouse
124:Tenure
82:Regent
52:Tenure
20:, the
1035:Shang
629:renzi
518:Anhui
197:Issue
89:Reign
1107:Qing
1103:Ming
1099:Yuan
1087:Song
1083:Liao
1075:Tang
1039:Zhou
528:and
496:and
395:and
166:Died
158:Born
1095:Jīn
1071:Sui
1055:Jìn
1047:Han
1043:Qin
256:褚蒜子
161:324
39:褚蒜子
26:Chu
24:is
1122::
1105:→
1101:→
1097:→
1093:/
1089:/
1085:/
1081:→
1077:→
1073:→
1069:→
1065:/
1061:→
1057:/
1053:→
1049:→
1045:→
1041:→
1037:→
516:,
322:.
178:,
883:)
879:(
770:e
763:t
756:v
434:(
250:(
28:.
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