The following is a list of empresses and queens consort of China. China has periodically been divided into kingdoms as well as united under empires, resulting in consorts titled both queen and empress. The empress title could also be given posthumously.
Empresses and queens consort The title of empress consort (皇后 , húanghòu ) could also be given posthumously. The posthumous empresses are listed separately by the year they were given the title.
Zhou dynasty
Western Han dynasty
Xin dynasty
Eastern Han dynasty
Three Kingdoms period
Cao Wei
Shu Han
Eastern Wu
Jin dynasty
Huan Chu dynasty
Sixteen Kingdoms period
Cheng Han
Han-Zhao
Later Zhao
Ran Wei
Later Liang
Western Liang
Northern Liang
Southern Liang
Later Qin
Western Qin
Later Yan
Northern Yan
Southern Yan
Xia
Northern and Southern dynasties
Liu Song
Southern Qi
Northern Wei
Western Wei
Eastern Wei
Northern Qi
Liang dynasty
Chen dynasty
Northern Zhou
Sui dynasty
Tang dynasty Wu Zetian , an empress consort who became an imperial ruler during the Tang dynasty and during the emperor Gaozong. After the death of her husband, she became the sole ruler of China for more than two decades.626–636: Empress Zhangsun , empress consort of Emperor Taizong 650–655: Empress Wang , first empress consort of Emperor Gaozong 655–684: Wu Zetian , second empress consort of Emperor Gaozong, later also an empress regnant 684–684: Empress Wei , empress consort of Emperor Zhongzong 684–690: Empress Liu , empress consort of Emperor Ruizong 705–710: Empress Wei (second time), empress consort of Emperor Zhongzong 710–710: Empress Lu , empress consort of Emperor Shang 712–724: Empress Wang , empress consort of Emperor Xuanzong 758–762: Empress Zhang , empress consort of Emperor Suzong 786–786: Empress Wang , empress consort of Emperor Dezong 898–900: Empress He , empress consort of Emperor Zhaozong 901–904: Empress He (second time), empress consort of Emperor Zhaozong Qin Han (Dingyang) Xia Yan Qi
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
Qi
Yan
Later Liang
Southern Han
Later Tang
Wu
Min
Southern Tang
Later Jin
Yin
Later Han
Later Zhou
Northern Han ?–968: Empress Guo, empress consort of Liu Jun 968–?: Empress Ma, empress consort of Liu Jiyuan
Song dynasty Empress Zheng of the Song dynasty960–963: Empress Wang , first empress consort of Emperor Taizu 968–976: Empress Song , second empress consort of Emperor Taizu 984–997: Empress Li , empress consort of Emperor Taizong 997–1007: Empress Guo , first empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong 1012–1022: Empress Liu , second empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong and Senior regent Song dynasty 1024–1033: Empress Guo , first empress consort of Emperor Renzong 1034–1063: Empress Cao , second empress consort of Emperor Renzong 1065–1067: Empress Gao , empress consort of Emperor Yingzong 1068–1085: Empress Xiang , empress consort of Emperor Shenzong 1092–1096: Empress Meng , first empress consort of Emperor Zhezong 1099–1100: Empress Liu , second empress consort of Emperor Zhezong 1100–1108: Empress Wang , first empress consort of Emperor Huizong 1111–1126: Empress Zheng , second empress consort of Emperor Huizong 1126–1127: Empress Zhu , empress consort of Emperor Qinzong 1127–1139: Empress Xing , first empress consort of Emperor Gaozong 1143–1162: Empress Wu , second empress consort of Emperor Gaozong 1162–1167: Empress Xia , first empress consort of Emperor Xiaozong 1167–1189: Empress Xie , second empress consort of Emperor Xiaozong 1189–1194: Empress Li Fengniang , empress consort of Emperor Guangzong 1194–1200: Empress Han , first empress consort of Emperor Ningzong 1200–1224: Empress Yang , second empress consort of Emperor Ningzong 1227–1264: Empress Xie Daoqing , empress consort of Emperor Lizong 1267–1274: Empress Quan , empress consort of Emperor Duzong
Yuan dynasty Empress Chabi , consort to Kublai Khan 1260–1281: Chabi , first empress consort of Emperor Shizu 1283–1294: Nambui , second empress consort of Emperor Shizu 1295–1307: Bulugan , empress consort of Emperor Chengzong 1310–1311: Zhenge , empress consort of Emperor Wuzong 1313–1320: Radnashiri , empress consort of Emperor Renzong 1321–1323: Sugabala , empress consort of Emperor Yingzong 1324–1328: Babukhan Khatun , empress consort of Emperor Taiding 1328–1329: Budashiri , empress consort of Emperor Wenzong 1329–1329: Babusha , empress consort of Emperor Mingzong 1329–1332: Budashiri (second time), empress consort of Emperor Wenzong 1332–1332: Daliyetemishi , empress consort of Emperor Ningzong 1333–1335: Danashri , first empress consort of Emperor Huizong 1337–1365: Bayan Khutugh , second empress consort of Emperor Huizong 1340–1370: Empress Gi , third empress consort of Emperor Huizong
Ming dynasty Empress Xiaocigao , Ming dynastyEmpress Xu , Ming dynasty1368–1382: Empress Ma , empress consort of the Hongwu Emperor 1399–1402: Empress Ma , empress consort of the Jianwen Emperor 1402–1407: Empress Xu , empress consort of the Yongle Emperor 1424–1425: Empress Zhang , empress consort of the Hongxi Emperor 1425–1428: Empress Hu Shanxiang , first empress consort of the Xuande Emperor 1428–1435: Empress Sun , second empress consort of the Xuande Emperor 1442–1449: Empress Qian , empress consort of the Zhengtong Emperor 1449–1452: Empress Wang , first empress consort of the Jingtai Emperor 1452–1456: Empress Hang , second empress consort of the Jingtai Emperor 1457–1464: Empress Qian (second time), empress consort of the Tianshun Emperor (former Zhengtong Emperor) 1464–1464: Empress Wu , first empress consort of the Chenghua Emperor 1464–1487: Empress Wang , second empress consort of the Chenghua Emperor 1487–1505: Empress Zhang , empress consort of the Hongzhi Emperor 1506–1521: Empress Xia , empress consort of the Zhengde Emperor 1522–1528: Empress Chen , first empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor 1528–1534: Empress Zhang , second empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor 1534–1547: Empress Fang , third empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor 1566–1572: Empress Chen , empress consort of the Longqing Emperor 1578–1620: Empress Wang Xijie , empress consort of the Wanli Emperor 1621–1627: Empress Zhang , empress consort of the Tianqi Emperor 1628–1644: Empress Zhou , empress consort of the Chongzhen Emperor
Southern Ming
Qing dynasty
Manchukuo
Empresses dowager The title of Empress dowager (皇太后 , húangtàihòu ) was automatically given to a former Empress consort and widow of an Emperor. The title, Empress dowager, could be granted a widow of an Emperor even when she had not been the Empress consort during the reign of her spouse. Therefore, a separate list is given of the Empresses dowager, which, in some cases, equals the list of Empresses consort, and in other cases, not.
Han dynasty
Northern Dynasties
Northern Wei
Tang dynasty
Song dynasty
Yuan dynasty
Ming dynasty
Qing dynasty Empress Dowager Cixi , Qing dynasty
Grand empresses dowager
Empresses whose titles were granted posthumously
Sui dynasty
Tang dynasty
Song dynasty 961: Empress Dowager Du , mother of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong 960: Empress He, married to Emperor Taizu 976: Empress Yin, married to Emperor Taizong 976: Empress Fu, married to Emperor Taizong 997: Empress Li, mother of Emperor Zhenzong 997: Princess Pan , married to Emperor Zhenzong 1033: Consort Li , mother of Emperor Renzong 1036: Empress Yang, married to Emperor Zhenzong 1054: Empress Zhang, married to Emperor Renzong 1101: Empress Chen, mother of Emperor Huizong 1102: Empress Zhu, mother of Emperor Zhezong 1113: Empress Mingda, married to Emperor Huizong 1121: Empress Mingzhe, married to Emperor Huizong 1159: Empress Xianren, mother of Emperor Gaozong 1162: Empress Chengmu, married to Emperor Xiaozong
Yuan dynasty
Ming dynasty and Southern Ming dynasty
Qing dynasty Empress Xiaoyichun , Qing dynasty1626: Empress Xiaoliewu , married to Nurhaci 1636: Empress Xiaocigao , mother of Hong Taiji 1660: Consort Donggo , married to the Shunzhi Emperor 1663: Empress Xiaokangzhang , mother of the Kangxi Emperor 1723: Empress Xiaogongren , mother of the Yongzheng Emperor 1777: Empress Xiaoshengxian , mother of the Qianlong Emperor 1796: Empress Xiaoyichun , mother of the Jiaqing Emperor 1820: Empress Xiaomucheng , married to the Daoguang Emperor 1850: Empress Xiaodexian , married to the Xianfeng Emperor 1855: Empress Xiaojingcheng , married to the Daoguang Emperor 1908: Xingzhen, Empress Xiaoqinxian , married to Xianfeng Emperor , mother of Tongzhi Emperor
See also
References
Bibliography Stefanowska, A.D.; Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue, eds. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317475910 . Stefanowska, A.D.; Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue, eds. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: V. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317475880 .