Feng Yuan (馮媛, imperial title Zhaoyi (昭儀), died 6 BC) was an imperial consort during China's Han dynasty . She was a favorite of Emperor Yuan . She was viewed largely positively for her heroism and (presumed) humility, and viewed sympathetically for her death at the hand of her romantic rival Consort Fu .
37-590: Consort Feng may refer to: Feng Yuan (died 6 BC), concubine of Emperor Yuan of Han Empress Dowager Feng (442–490), wife of Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei Feng Qing ( fl. 5th century), first wife of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei Feng Run (died 499), second wife of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei Feng Xiaolian (died 581?), concubine of Gao Wei (penultimate emperor of Northern Qi) Empress Feng (Later Jin) ( fl. 10th century), wife of Shi Chonggui (last emperor of Later Jin) Topics referred to by
74-421: A bear had caught one person, it would continue attacking just that victim and no one else; because she was afraid that the bear would attack the emperor, she was willing to sacrifice herself. Consort Fu became greatly jealous of the praise that Feng received for this incident. In recorded history, Consort Fu was ambitious, jealous, cunning, and domineering, and tried in every way to eliminate her rival and control
111-449: A bear which had broken loose. Princess Dowager Feng, realizing that Empress Dowager Fu was behind the investigation, went back to her palace and committed suicide. In total, 17 members of the Feng clan died as a result of the investigations. Prince Jizi, then still a toddler, was spared. Before she committed suicide, Princess Dowager Feng reportedly said the following: That incident (involving
148-744: A consort to Emperor Yuan in 47 BC, the second year of his reign. She quickly became a favorite of his, along with Consort Fu. Consort Feng, along with Consort Fu, was given the imperial title Zhaoyi (昭儀) by Emperor Yuan, which is higher than any other imperial consort and one rank lower than the empress. She had a son with him, Liu Xing (劉興), who was later made the Prince of Xindu in c. July 37 BC. While both Consorts Fu and Feng were imperial consorts who it seems that both of them were equally admired and loved by Emperor Yuan, an incident occurred that would cause Consort Feng to be greatly praised and respected, at Fu's embarrassment and jealousy. In 38 BC, while Emperor Yuan
185-487: A dancing girl. However, she finally gave in to her son's wishes in 16 BC, but she never liked the Zhao sisters. Despite this, neither of the Zhao women nor another favourite of Emperor Cheng's, Consort Li, bore him a son. In 9 BC, still without an heir, Emperor Cheng appeared to come to the resolution of making either his younger brother Prince Liu Xing of Zhongshan ( 中山王劉興 ) or his nephew Prince Liu Xin of Dingtao (定陶王劉欣, son of
222-434: A false reason that he had discovered that Princess Dowager Feng was using witchcraft to curse Emperor Ai and his grandmother, Consort Fu, who by now carried the title empress dowager. Empress Dowager Fu, still resentful of Princess Dowager Feng from the days when they were romantic rivals, decided to use this opportunity to strike at Princess Dowager Feng. She sent a eunuch, Shi Li (史立), to serve as investigator, and Shi tortured
259-421: A good number of Princess Dowager Feng's relations (including her younger sister Feng Xi (馮習) and her sister-in-law Junzhi (君之), one of her younger brothers'wife), some to death, but still could not build a solid case against Princess Dowager Feng. Shi Li decided to show Princess Dowager Feng who was actually behind the investigation, by referring to an incident in which then-Consort Feng defended Emperor Yuan against
296-501: A struggle between Empress Wang and Consort Fu for their sons' status as heir to Emperor Yuan did erupt. As Crown Prince Ao grew older, Emperor Yuan became increasingly unhappy with Ao's fitness as imperial heir and increasingly impressed with Consort Fu's son, Prince Kang of Dingtao ( 山陽王劉康 ). Several incidents led to this situation. One incident happened in 35 BC, when Emperor Yuan's youngest brother Prince Liu Jing of Zhongshan ( 中山王劉竟 ) died. Emperor Yuan became angry when he felt that
333-526: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Feng Yuan It is not known when Feng Yuan was born. Her father Feng Fengshi (馮奉世) was a famous general during the reign of Emperor Xuan , and continued to serve in a number of important posts in the imperial government thereafter. She had nine brothers and three sisters. Her brothers Feng Yewang (馮野王), Feng Jun (馮逡), Feng Li (馮立), and Feng Can (馮參) all later became important officials as well. Feng Yuan became
370-592: The Han dynasty continued its growing disintegration as the emperor's maternal relatives from the Wang clan increased their grip on the levers of power and on governmental affairs as encouraged by the previous emperor. Corruption and greedy officials continued to plague the government and, as a result, rebellions broke out throughout the country. Emperor Cheng died childless after a reign of 26 years; both of his sons by concubines had died in infancy. One of them starved to death and another
407-425: The Zhao sisters falsely accused Empress Xu and Consort Ban of witchcraft. As a result, Empress Xu was deposed. While Consort Ban was able to successfully plead her case, she did not wish to return to the same environment and instead became a lady in waiting for Empress Dowager Wang. Then Emperor Cheng wanted to make Zhao Feiyan his empress, but Empress Dowager Wang complained about her low birth and prior occupation as
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#1732863108447444-460: The armed forces, replacing his own uncle Wang Feng (王鳳), whose autocratic nature he had become resentful of, but he changed his mind after the news was leaked. In retaliation, Wang Feng removed Feng Yewang from his posts. In 9 BC, Emperor Cheng, sonless, appeared to come to the resolution of making either his younger brother Prince Xing or his nephew Prince Liu Xin of Dingtao (Prince Kang's son) his heir. Emperor Cheng became convinced that Prince Xin
481-439: The bear) happened deep in the palace and long ago, during a previous reign. How could this minor official know about it? It is clear that someone wants me dead, and would not stop until I am. In 1 BC, after the deaths of Empress Dowager Fu and Emperor Ai, and after Emperor Yuan's wife Grand Empress Dowager Wang had seized power back from Emperor Ai's male favorite (and probable lover) Dong Xian , Princess Dowager Feng's reputation
518-527: The birth of an heir. She also framed Zhang Fang for a crime to exile him from the capital, but the Emperor and his lover maintained contact through letters, and Fang was even further promoted. In c. 19 BC , when Emperor Cheng was visiting Princess Yanga ( 陽阿公主 ), he became enamoured with her dancing girl Zhao Feiyan ( 趙飛燕 ) and her sister Zhao Hede ( 趙合德 ) and made them his concubines, and they became favoured over Empress Xu and Consort Ban. In 18 BC,
555-417: The clan of his murdered grandmother, the first wife of Emperor Xuan. He favoured Consort Ban as well. Neither Empress Xu nor Consort Ban bore him a child. He also had a male favorite, Zhang Fang, upon whom he lavished a great deal of wealth. Focused on the need for Emperor Cheng to have a son to be heir, Empress Dowager Wang openly encouraged Emperor Cheng to take on more concubines, but that did not result in
592-469: The empire when they were selecting officials for various position in the government. This led to a continued deterioration in Emperor Cheng's administration of the empire, who at times considered modifying this power structure but always failed to do so. For example, in 24 BC, based on suggestions from an official, Wang Zhang (王章, unrelated to the Wang clan), Emperor Cheng considered replacing Wang Feng with
629-431: The gods. In 6 BC, Emperor Ai, hearing about his cousin's illness, sent imperial physicians along with his attendant Zhang You (張由) to go to Zhongshan to treat Prince Jizi. This, however, would have dire consequences of Princess Dowager Feng. When the imperial attendant Zhang got to Zhongshan, suddenly, in a rage, left there and returned to the capital Chang'an . Once he did and was ordered to explain his conduct, he made up
666-626: The government. In addition to his oldest uncle Wang Feng ( 王鳳 ), who had inherited his father's title as the Marquess of Yangping, six of Empress Dowager Wang's brothers were created marquesses, in violation of the rule laid by Emperor Gao , the founder of the dynasty, who had decreed that only those who had contributed to the empire in substantial ways could be made marquesses. Wang Feng, Wang Shang ( 王商 ) and Wang Gen ( 王根 )), in addition to Empress Dowager Wang's cousin Wang Yin ( 王音 ), served successively as
703-414: The highly regarded official Feng Yewang ( 馮野王 ), the brother of his father's concubine Consort Feng . When Wang Feng realized this, Empress Dowager Wang became upset and, in response, Emperor Cheng executed Wang Zhang and relieved Feng Yewang of his position without any allegation of wrongdoing. Emperor Cheng had many favourites among his consorts. His first favourite was Empress Xu (created 31 BC), from
740-486: The intercession of Shi Dan led Emperor Yuan to cease those thoughts. When Emperor Yuan died in 33 BC, Crown Prince Ao ascended the throne (as Emperor Cheng). After the death of Emperor Yuan and the accession of Emperor Cheng, Empress Wang became empress dowager . Prince Kang, as was customary with imperial princes, was sent to govern his principality in Dingtao ( 定陶 ). Despite the attempts by Consort Fu and Prince Kang to gain
777-481: The late Prince Kang) his heir. Emperor Cheng became convinced that Prince Xin was more capable, and at the same time, Prince Xin's grandmother Consort Fu was endearing herself to the Zhaos and Wang Gen with lavish gifts, and so the Zhaos and Wang Gen both praised Prince Xin as well. Emperor Cheng made Prince Xin crown prince in 8 BC. Emperor Cheng died suddenly in 7 BC, apparently from a stroke (although historians also report
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#1732863108447814-410: The men in her family, but while Consort Feng is famous in history for her humility, respect, compassion and kindness, she just tries to live a peaceful life and protect her family. Consort Feng was never recorded in history as having had the same ambition that her rival Consort Fu had at displacing Crown Prince Liu Ao , the son of Empress Wang Zhengjun , with her son. This might have been because her son
851-456: The possibility of an overdose of aphrodisiacs given to him by Consort Zhao Hede). Immediately after his death, there were many rumours that he had in fact had concubines who bore him sons, but that those sons and their mothers were murdered by Consort Zhao Hede (out of jealousy) and she had possibly also murdered Emperor Cheng. Grieving for her husband and apparently fearful of reprisals, Consort Zhao Hede killed herself. Crown Prince Xin ascended
888-464: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Consort Feng . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consort_Feng&oldid=1222881492 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Title and name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
925-412: The supreme commander of the armed forces and were in effective control of the administration. After Wang Gen, Empress Dowager Wang's nephew Wang Mang served in the same role: The Wangs, while not particularly corrupt and apparently some of them were genuinely trying to help the emperor, but many of them were more concerned about increasing their governmental power and did not have the best interests of
962-399: The teenage Crown Prince Ao was insufficiently grieving—particularly because Princes Ao and Jing were of similar age and grew up together as playmates—and was showing insufficient respect towards Prince Jing. Prince Ao's head of household Shi Dan ( 史丹 ), a relative of Emperor Yuan's grandmother and a senior official respected by Emperor Yuan, managed to convince Emperor Yuan that Crown Prince Ao
999-406: The throne as Emperor Ai . A report by officials commissioned by Empress Dowager Wang concluded in 6 BC that Emperor Cheng did have two sons—one born to Consort Cao in 12 BC and one born to Consort Xu (a relative of the deposed Empress Xu) in 11 BC. However, one of the sons was murdered in their infancy by orders of Consort Zhao Hede, with at least the tacit agreement from Emperor Cheng. Consort Cao
1036-477: The throne as Emperor Ai. In the same year, Prince Xing also died, and his only son, the two-year-old Prince Jizi , succeeded him as the Prince of Zhongshan. Princess Dowager Feng continued to serve as princess dowager. Prince Jizi was born with a heart ailment, which when afflicting him, caused him to have circulation problems, manifesting itself outwardly as having his lips and appendages turn blue. Princess Dowager Feng raised him personally. She also often prayed to
1073-470: The throne as Emperor Cheng. Prince Xing went to his principality at Xindu, and Consort Feng went with him with the title Princess Dowager. When Prince Xing's principality was moved to Zhongshan (roughly modern Baoding , Hebei ) in 23 BC, Prince Dowager Feng was similarly moved with her son. Not much is known about her years in Zhongshan. In 24 BC, Emperor Cheng considered making her brother Yewang commander of
1110-404: The throne prior to Emperor Yuan's death, Empress Wang and Emperor Cheng did not bear grudges, and, against the advice of officials who were concerned that Prince Kang would become the subject of conspiracies, Emperor Cheng often summoned Prince Kang to the capital Chang'an for extended visits. Emperor Cheng trusted of his uncles (Empress Dowager Wang's brothers) and put them in important roles in
1147-411: Was Emperor Yuan's first-born son. On 17 June 47 BC, Emperor Yuan created him Crown Prince Ao. Emperor Yuan had two favourite concubines in addition to Empress Wang, Consort Fu and Consort Feng Yuan , each of whom bore him one son. Empress Wang apparently tried to maintain a cordial relationship with both women, and she was largely successful, at least as far as Consort Feng was concerned. However,
Consort Feng - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-532: Was more capable, and at the same time, Prince Xin's grandmother, Consort Fu, was endearing herself to Emperor Cheng's wife, Empress Zhao Feiyan , her sister and Emperor Cheng's favorite Consort Zhao Hede , and Emperor Cheng's uncle Wang Gen with lavish gifts, and so the Zhaos and Wang Gen both praised Prince Xin as well. (There was no evidence that Consort Feng carried out similar lobbying effort on behalf of her son.) Emperor Cheng made Prince Xin crown prince in 8 BC. In 7 BC, Emperor Cheng died, and Prince Xin ascended
1221-542: Was restored. Later that year, her grandson Prince Jizi would become emperor, although as effectively a young puppet of Grand Empress Dowager Wang's nephew Wang Mang . Wang Mang would eventually murder him in 5 CE and usurp the Han throne in 8. Emperor Cheng of Han Emperor Cheng of Han , personal name Liu Ao (劉驁; 51 BC – 17 April 7 BC), was an emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty ruling from 33 until 7 BC. He succeeded his father, Emperor Yuan . Under Emperor Cheng,
1258-473: Was suffocated in prison. The babies and their mothers were killed by the order of Emperor Cheng's favorite consort Zhao Hede , with the implied consent of the emperor. He was succeeded by his nephew, Emperor Ai , whose death was followed by Wang Mang's rise to power. Emperor Cheng was born circa 51 BC to then-Crown Prince Liu Shi (later Emperor Yuan ) and one of his consorts, Consort Wang (later more commonly known as Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun ). He
1295-717: Was trying to stop Emperor Yuan himself from grieving too much, but the seed of dissatisfaction was sown. As the princes further grew older, Emperor Yuan and Prince Kang became closer. They shared an affection for, and skills in music, particularly in the playing of drums. Prince Kang also showed high intelligence and diligence, while Crown Prince Ao was known for drinking and womanizing. When Emperor Yuan became seriously ill (c. 35 BC), Consort Fu and Prince Kang were often summoned to his sickbed to attend to him, while Empress Wang and Crown Prince Ao rarely were. During his illness, Emperor Yuan considered whether he should make Prince Kang his heir instead (apparently encouraged by Consort Fu) . Only
1332-463: Was watching a fight between wild animals, accompanied by a number of his concubines (but apparently not by Empress Wang Zhengjun ), a wild bear broke loose and tried to get out of the cage. All of the noble men and women present, including Consort Fu, fled the scene. Only Feng stepped toward the wild bear, which was killed at the last moment by imperial guards. When Emperor Yuan asked her why she did so, Consort Feng replied that she had heard that once
1369-505: Was younger not only to the crown prince, but also to Consort Fu's son Liu Kang (劉康), or it could have been that she was humbler and less ambitious. During Consort Feng's years as imperial consort, Emperor Yuan considered promoting her brother Yewang to prime minister or similar positions due to his abilities, but each time thought that he would be criticized for an appearance of nepotism , and so never actually promoted Yewang as such. In 33 BC, Emperor Yuan died, and Crown Prince Ao ascended
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