List of Chinese imperial consorts

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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

Empress Zheng of the Song dynasty

Empress Chabi, consort to Kublai Khan

Empress Xu, Ming dynasty

Empress Xiaozhaoren, Qing dynasty

Empress Xiaoyichun, Qing dynasty

Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing dynasty

The following is a list of consorts of rulers of China. China has periodically parted in kingdoms as well as united in empires, and there has been consorts with the title Queen as well as Empress. The title Empress could also be given posthumously. Note that this is a list for the main consort of the monarch and holder of the title Empress or Queen.

Empress Consorts[]

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[]

• AD 26–41: Guo Shengtong
• 41–57: Empress Yin Lihua
• 60–75: Empress Ma
• 78–88: Empress Dou
• 96–102: Empress Yin
• 102–106: Empress Deng Sui
• 108–125: Empress Yan Ji
• 132–144: Empress Liang Na
• 147–159: Empress Liang Nüying
• 159–165: Empress Deng Mengnü
• 165–168: Empress Dou Miao
• 171–178: Empress Song
• 180–189: Empress He
• 195–214: Empress Fu Shou
• 215–220: Empress Cao Jie

Three Kingdoms period[]

Cao Wei[]

• 222–226: Empress Guo Nüwang
• 227–237: Empress Mao
• 238–239: Empress Guo
• 243–251: Empress Zhen
• 252–254: Empress Zhang
• 254: Empress Wang
• 255–260: Empress Bian
• 263–265: Empress Bian

Shu Han[]

• 221–223: Empress Wu
• 223–237: Empress Zhang
• 238–263: Empress Zhang

Eastern Wu[]

• 251–252: Empress Pan
• 252–258: Empress Quan Huijie
• 262–264: Empress Zhu
• 264–280: Empress Teng Fanglan

Jin dynasty[]

• 265–274: Empress Yang Yan
• 276–290: Empress Yang Zhi
• 290–300: Empress Jia Nanfeng
• 300–301, 301–304, 304, 304–305, 305, 306–307: Yang Xianrong
• 307–311: Empress Liang Lanbi
• 323–326: Empress Yu Wenjun
• 336–341: Empress Du
• 342–344: Empress Chu Suanzi
• 357–361: Empress He Fani
• 361–365: Empress Wang Muzhi
• 365–366: Empress Yu Daolian
• 375–380: Empress Wang Fahui
• 396–403, 404–412: Empress Wang Shen'ai
• 419–420: Chu Lingyuan

Huan Chu dynasty[]

• 403–404: Empress Liu

Sixteen Kingdoms period[]

Cheng Han[]

• 315–334: Empress Ren
• 334–338?: Empress Yan
• 338–343: Empress Yan
• 343–347: Empress Li

Former Zhao[]

• 304–?: Empress Huyan
• 310: Empress Dan
• 310–312: Empress Huyan
• 313: Empress Zhang
• 313–314: Empress Liu E
• 315–318: Empress Jin Yueguang
• 315–318: Left Empress Liu
• 315–318: Empress Jin Yuehua
• 316–318: Upper Empress Fan
• 318: Left Empress Wang
• 318: Middle Empress Xuan
• 318: Empress Jin
• 319–322: Empress Yang
• 325–326: Empress Liu
• 326–329: Empress Liu

Later Zhao[]

• 330–333: Empress Liu
• 337: Zheng Yingtao
• 337–348: Du Zhu
• 348–349: Empress Liu
• 349: Empress Zhang

Ran Wei[]

• 350–352: Empress Dong

Former Liang[]

• 324?-346: Princess Yan
• 346?-354: Princess Pei
• 354–355: Empress Xin

Later Liang[]

• 389–400: Princess Shi
• 400–401: Empress Yang
• 401–403: Empress Yang

Western Liang[]

• Princess Yin

Northern Liang[]

• 401–433: Princess Meng
• 433?-437: Princess Li Jingshou
• 437–439: Princess Tuoba

Southern Liang[]

• 408–414: Queen Zhejue

Former Qin[]

• 351–355: Empress Qiang
• 355: Empress Liang
• 357–385: Empress Gou
• 385–386: Empress Yang
• 387–389: Empress Mao
• 392–393: Empress Li

Later Qin[]

• 386–394: Empress She
• 402–?: Empress Zhang
• 412–?: Empress Qi
• 416–417: Yao Hong's empress

Western Qin[]

• 388–394, 394–400, 409–412: Queen Bian
• 394: Queen Fu
• 414–423: Queen Tufa
• 429–431: Queen Liang

Former Yan[]

• 337–348: Princess Duan
• 348?–360: Empress Kezuhun
• 369–370: Empress Kezuhun

Later Yan[]

• 388–396: Duan Yuanfei
• 396–398: Empress Duan
• 404–407: Fu Xunying
• 407–409: Empress Li

Northern Yan[]

• 409–?: Princess Sun
• 430–?: Princess Murong

Southern Yan[]

• 398–405: Duan Jifei
• 408–410: Empress Huyan

Xia[]

• 407–425: Empress Kezuhun
• 425–427: Helian Chang's empress

Northern and Southern dynasties[]

Liu Song[]

• 422–424: Empress Sima Maoying
• 424–440: Empress Yuan Qigui
• 453: Empress Yin Yuying
• 453–464: Empress Wang Xianyuan
• 465: Empress Lu
• 465��472: Empress Wang Zhenfeng
• 472–477: Empress Jiang
• 478–479: Empress Xie Fanjing

Southern Qi[]

• 493–494: He Jingying
• 494: Wang Shaoming
• 498–501: Chu Lingqu
• 501–502: Wang Shunhua

Northern Wei[]

• 400–409: Empress Murong
• 432–452: Empress Helian
• 456–465: Empress Feng
• 493–497: Empress Feng Qing
• 497–499: Empress Feng Run
• 501–507: Empress Yu
• 508–515: Empress Gao
• 5??–528: Empress Hu
• 528–530: Empress Erzhu Ying'e
• 530–531: Empress Erzhu
• 532: Empress Erzhu
• 533–534: Empress Gao

Western Wei[]

• 535–538: Empress Yifu
• 538–540: Empress Yujiulü
• 553–554: Empress Yuwen
• 554–556: Empress Ruogan

Eastern Wei[]

• 539–550: Empress Gao

Northern Qi[]

• 550–559: Empress Li Zu'e
• 560–561: Empress Yuan
• 561–565: Empress Hu
• 565–572: Empress Hulü
• 572–573: Empress Hu
• 572–577: Empress Mu

Liang dynasty[]

• 551: Empress Zhang
• 560–561: Empress Wang

Northern Zhou[]

• 557–557: Empress Yuan Humo
• 568–568: Empress Dugu
• 568–578: Empress Ashina
• 578–579: Yang Lihua
• 579–580: Empress Sima Lingji

Sui dynasty[]

• 581–602: Dugu Qieluo, empress consort of Emperor Wen
• 605–618: Empress Xiao, empress consort of Emperor Yang

Tang dynasty[]

• 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

• Empress Ju

Han (Dingyang)

• Empress Ju

Xia

• Empress Cao

Yan

• Empress Duan
• Empress Xin

Qi

• Empress Cao

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period[]

Qi[]

• 907–924: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Maozhen

Former Shu[]

• 908–918: Empress Zhou, empress consort of Wang Jian
• 918–921: Empress Gao, first empress consort of Wang Zongyan
• 921–926: Empress Jin Feishan, second empress consort of Wang Yan

Yan[]

• 911–913: Empress Li and Empress Zhu, empress consorts of Liu Shouguang

Later Liang[]

• 912–913: Empress Zhang, empress consort of Zhu Yougui

Southern Han[]

• 919–935: Empress Ma, empress consort of Liu Yan

Later Tang[]

• 924–926: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Cunxu
• 930–933: Empress Cao, empress consort of Li Siyuan
• 934–934: Empress Kong, empress consort of Li Conghou
• 934–936: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Congke

Wu[]

• 933–937: Empress Wang, empress consort of Yang Pu

Min[]

• 935–935: Empress Chen Jinfeng, empress consort of Wang Yanjun
• 936–939: Empress Li Chunyan, empress consort of Wang Jipeng
• 942–944: Empress Li, empress consort of Wang Yanxi

Southern Tang[]

• 937–943: Empress Song, empress consort of Li Bian
• 943–961: Empress Zhong, empress consort of Li Jing
• 961–965: Queen Zhou the Elder, first queen consort of Li Yu
• 968–975: , second queen consort of Li Yu

Later Jin[]

• 941–942: Empress Li, empress consort of Shi Jingtang
• 943–946: Empress Feng, empress consort of Shi Chonggui

Yin[]

• 943–?: Empress Zhang, empress consort of Wang Yanzheng

Later Han[]

• 947–948: Empress Li, empress consort of Liu Zhiyuan

Later Zhou[]

• 954–956: Empress Fu the Elder, first empress consort of Chai Rong
• 959–959: Empress Dowager Fu (Later Zhou), second empress consort of Chai Rong

Northern Han[]

• ?–968: , empress consort of Liu Jun
• 968–?: , empress consort of Liu Jiyuan

Song dynasty[]

• 960–963: 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[]

• 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[]

• 1368–1382: 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[]

• 1645–1646: Empress Zeng, empress consort of the Longwu Emperor
• 1646–1662: Empress Wang, empress consort of the Yongli Emperor

Qing dynasty[]

Emperor	Empress consort*	Picture	Birth	Became empress consort	Ceased to be empress consort	Death
Hong Taiji	Jerjer, Empress Xiaoduanwen of the Mongol Borjigit clan		31 May 1599	August 1636	21 September 1643 husband's death	28 May 1649
Fulin, the Shunzhi Emperor	Erdeni Bumba, Empress of the Mongol Borjigit clan			27 September 1651	25 October 1653 deposed
	Alatan Qiqige, Empress Xiaohuizhang of the Mongol Borjigit clan		5 November 1641	July/August 1654	5 February 1661 husband's death	7 January 1718
Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor	Empress Xiaochengren of the Manchu Hešeri clan		3 February 1654	October/November 1665	6 June 1674
	Empress Xiaozhaoren of the Manchu Niohuru clan		1653	18 September 1677	18 March 1678
	Empress Xiaoyiren of the Manchu Tunggiya clan			23 August 1689	24 August 1689
Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor	Duoqimuli, Empress Xiaojingxian of the Manchu Ula-nara clan		28 June 1681	28 March 1723	29 October 1731
Hongli, the Qianlong Emperor	Empress Xiaoxianchun of the Manchu Fuca clan		28 March 1712	23 January 1738	8 April 1748
	Empress of the Manchu Nara clan		11 March 1718	2 September 1750	19 August 1766
Yongyan, the Jiaqing Emperor	Empress Xiaoshurui of the Manchu Hitara clan		2 October 1760	12 February 1796	5 March 1797
	Empress Xiaoherui of the Manchu Niohuru clan		20 November 1776	27 May 1801	2 September 1820 husband's death	23 January 1850
Mianning, the Daoguang Emperor	Empress Xiaoshencheng of the Manchu Tunggiya clan		5 July 1792	28 December 1822	16 June 1833
	Empress Xiaoquancheng of the Manchu Niohuru clan		24 March 1808	18 November 1834	13 February 1840
Yizhu, the Xianfeng Emperor	Empress Xiaozhenxian of the Manchu Niohuru clan		12 August 1837	November/December 1852	22 August 1861 husband's death	8 April 1881
Zaichun, the Tongzhi Emperor	Empress Xiaozheyi of the Manchu Arute clan		25 July 1854	15 October 1872	12 January 1875 husband's death	27 March 1875
Zaitian, the Guangxu Emperor	Jingfen, Empress Xiaodingjing of the Manchu Yehe-nara clan		28 January 1868	26 February 1889	14 November 1908 husband's death	22 February 1913
Personal name, posthumous name, maiden clan

Manchukuo[]

Emperor	Empress consort*	Picture	Birth	Became empress consort	Ceased to be empress consort	Death
Puyi, the Xuantong Emperor	Wanrong, Empress Xiaokemin of the Manchu Gobulo clan		13 November 1906	1 March 1934	17 August 1945 monarchy abolished	20 June 1946
Personal name, posthumous name, maiden clan

Empress Dowagers[]

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[]

• Empress Dowager Lü
• Empress Dowager Bo
• Empress Dowager Dou
• Empress Dowager Wang
• Empress Dowager Shangguan
• Empress Dowager Wang
• Empress Dowager Wang
• Empress Dowager Zhao
• Grand Empress Dowager Fu
• Empress Dowager Wang
• Empress Dowager Yin
• Empress Dowager Ma
• Empress Dowager Dou
• Empress Dowager Deng
• Empress Dowager Yan
• Empress Dowager Liang
• Empress Dowager Dou
• Empress Dowager He

Northern Dynasties[]

Northern Wei[]

• Princess Dowager Helan
• Empress Dowager Helian
• Nurse empress dowager
• Empress Dowager Feng(Empress Dowager Wenming)
• Empress Dowager Gao
• Empress Dowager Hu

Tang dynasty[]

• 683–690: Empress Dowager Wu
• 710: Empress Dowager Wei
• 805–816: Empress Dowager Wang
• 820–848: Empress Dowager Guo
• 824–845: Empress Dowager Wang
• 826–847: Empress Dowager Xiao
• 846–865: Empress Dowager Zheng
• 904–906: Empress Dowager He

Song dynasty[]

• Empress Dowager Du
• Empress Dowager Li
• Empress Dowager Liu
• Empress Dowager Cao
• Empress Dowager Gao
• Empress Dowager Xiang
• Empress Dowager Meng
• Empress Dowager Liu
• Empress Dowager Zheng
• Empress Dowager Wu
• Empress Dowager Xie
• Empress Dowager Li
• Empress Dowager Yang
• Empress Dowager Xie
• Empress Dowager Quan
• Empress Dowager Yang

Yuan dynasty[]

• Empress Dowager Khongirad
• Empress Dowager Naimans
• Empress Dowager Oirats
• Empress Dowager Khongirad
• Empress Dowager Khongirad
• Empress Dowager Khongirad

Ming dynasty[]

• Empress Dowager Lü
• Empress Dowager Zhang
• Empress Dowager Hu
• Empress Dowager Sun
• Empress Dowager Qian
• Empress Dowager Zhou
• Empress Dowager Wang
• Empress Dowager Zhang
• Empress Dowager Chen
• Empress Dowager Li
• Empress Dowager Zou
• Empress Dowager Ma
• Empress Dowager Wang

Qing dynasty[]

• 1643–1649: Empress Xiaoduanwen
• 1643–1688: Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang
• 1661–1663: Empress Xiaokangzhang
• 1661–1718: Empress Dowager Renxian
• 1722–1723: Empress Dowager Renshou
• 1735–1777: Empress Xiaoshengxian
• 1820–1850: Empress Dowager Gongci
• 1855: Empress Xiaojingcheng
• 1861–1881: Empress Dowager Ci'an
• 1861–1908: Empress Dowager Cixi
• 1908–1913: Empress Dowager Longyu

Empresses whose titles were granted posthumously[]

Sui dynasty[]

• 581: Empress Lü Gutao, mother of Emperor Wen of Sui

Tang dynasty[]

• 618: Empress Dugu (Empress Yuanzhen, mother of Emperor Gaozu of Tang)
• 618: Duchess Dou (Empress Taimu), wife of Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of Tang before Li Yuan's ascension

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[]

• 1336: Mailaiti, mother of Emperor Huizong

Ming dynasty and Southern Ming dynasty[]

• 1504: Empress Xiaosu, mother of the Chenghua Emperor
• 1566: Empress Xiaoke, mother of the Longqing Emperor
• 1566: Empress Xiaoyizhuan, married to the Longqing Emperor
• 1614: Empress Xiaoding, mother of the Wanli Emperor
• 1620: Empress Xiaojing, mother of the Taichang Emperor
• 1644: Empress Xiaozhejian
• 1644: Empress Xiaoyi
• 1644: Empress Xiaoxu

Qing dynasty[]

• 1626: 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

See also[]

• Chinese nobility
• Ranks of imperial consorts in China
• Imperial consorts of Tang China
• Grand empress dowager
• Empress dowager
• Nurse empress dowager
• Consort clan
• List of Chinese monarchs

References[]