Fu Zhaoyi

Biography

Family Background and Early Years

Fu came from Wen County in Henei Commandery. Her father died early, and her mother remarried a man from Wei Commandery named Zheng Weng, with whom she had a son, Zheng Yun. As a young woman, Fu entered the palace and served as a cairen under Empress Dowager Shangguan. After Liu Shi, the future Emperor Yuan of Han, was established as crown prince, Fu gained his favor. In 49 BCE, the first year of the Huanglong era, Liu Shi became emperor and appointed Fu as a jieyu. She was deeply favored.

Fu was regarded as intelligent and adept at personal relations. Even palace attendants and people around her poured libations to the earth on her behalf and wished her long life. She bore one daughter, Princess Pingdu, and one son, Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao. Liu Kang possessed literary and artistic talents and was especially loved by Emperor Yuan.

Creation of the Zhaoyi Rank

Emperor Yuan favored both Fu Jieyu and Feng Yuan, another jieyu. Feng Yuan bore Liu Xing, Prince Xiao of Zhongshan. The emperor wished to elevate the status of both women, but because each had a son who was a prince and the emperor was still alive, they could not be styled "prince's empress dowager." He therefore created the title zhaoyi, granted them seals and ribbons, and ranked them above jieyu. The title was explained as meaning "to make manifest her exemplary bearing" and conveyed respect. Under Emperors Cheng and Ai, Zhao Zhaoyi and Dong Zhaoyi, neither of whom had sons, continued to use the title.

Empress Dowager of Dingtao

In 33 BCE, the first year of the Jingning era, Emperor Yuan died. Fu Zhaoyi accompanied her son Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao, to his principality and became known as Empress Dowager of Dingtao. In 22 BCE, the second year of the Yangshuo era, Liu Kang died and his son Liu Xin inherited the title of Prince of Dingtao. Liu Xin's mother was Lady Ding, but Empress Dowager Fu personally raised him.

In 9 BCE, the fourth year of the Yuanyan era, Liu Xing, Prince Xiao of Zhongshan, and Liu Xin, Prince of Dingtao, came to court at the same time. Empress Dowager Fu repeatedly presented valuable gifts to Zhao Zhaoyi (Zhao Feiyan) and to Wang Gen, maternal uncle of Emperor Cheng, privately seeking Liu Xin's designation as heir. Since Emperor Cheng had no crown prince, Zhao Zhaoyi and Wang Gen both wished to secure Liu Xin's goodwill in advance and praised him before the emperor. Emperor Cheng also thought highly of Liu Xin and made him crown prince the following year.

After Liu Xin was established as crown prince, Empress Dowager Fu was permitted frequent access to his residence. Wang Zhengjun, Emperor Cheng's mother, said that the crown prince had been raised by Fu from childhood and that her visits could be regarded as the affection of a wet nurse, posing no obstacle. Fu was therefore allowed to visit him, while his birth mother Lady Ding, who had not raised him, was not allowed to meet him.

During the Reign of Emperor Ai

In 7 BCE, the second year of the Suihe era, Emperor Cheng died and Liu Xin succeeded him as Emperor Ai. Dong Hong, Marquis of Gaochang, sought to please the new emperor by citing the Qin precedent of Xia Ji and petitioned that Lady Ding be honored as "Empress Dowager of the Emperor." Shi Dan, General of the Left, and Grand Marshal Wang Mang jointly impeached Dong Hong. Newly enthroned and still deferential in political matters, Emperor Ai accepted Shi Dan's argument and reduced Dong Hong to commoner status.

Empress Dowager Fu was enraged and demanded that Emperor Ai grant her an elevated title. Emperor Ai reported the matter to Wang Zhengjun and had her issue an edict honoring Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao, as "Emperor Gong." Emperor Ai then argued that, according to the principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals that "a mother is ennobled through her son," Fu should be honored as Empress Dowager Gong and Lady Ding as Empress Gong, each with Left and Right Zhanshi offices and fiefs modeled on those of an empress dowager and empress.

Wang Zhengjun was then living in Changle Palace, while Fu still resided at the Dingtao princely mansion. Emperor Ai asked Chancellor Kong Guang and Grand Minister of Works He Wu where Fu should live. Kong Guang had long heard that Fu was "forceful and violent, and skilled in political calculation" and feared that proximity to the emperor would allow her to interfere in government. He proposed constructing a separate princely palace for her. He Wu instead recommended the Northern Palace, and Emperor Ai accepted his proposal. The Northern Palace, however, was connected to Weiyang Palace by the Zifang elevated passage. Fu used this route morning and evening to reach the emperor's quarters, pressed Emperor Ai for higher titles, and sought advancement for her relatives.

Fu demanded a title matching that of Wang Zhengjun. Shi Dan, Kong Guang, and even Fu's relative Fu Xi opposed her. After several years of political struggle, Fu's faction succeeded in removing Shi Dan and Kong Guang and also dismissed Fu Xi, clearing the way for further elevation. In April 5 BCE, the second year of the Jianping era, Emperor Ai formally removed the word "Dingtao" from Liu Kang's title "Emperor Gong of Dingtao." At the same time, Empress Dowager Gong became "Grand Empress Dowager of the Emperor" and Empress Gong became "Empress Dowager of the Emperor". In June 3 BCE, Fu was elevated again as "Grand Empress Dowager of the Emperor", and her residence was called Yongxin Palace.

After attaining this exalted status, Fu became increasingly overbearing. In speaking to Wang Zhengjun, mother of Emperor Cheng, she even called her an "old woman." Fu and Feng Yuan, mother of Prince Xiao of Zhongshan, had both served Emperor Yuan, and Fu retained old resentments. She later accused Feng Yuan of cursing Emperor Ai and forced her to commit suicide.

Death and Posthumous Treatment

In 2 BCE, the first year of the Yuanshou era, Empress Dowager Fu died. She was interred with Emperor Yuan at Weiling and styled Empress Fu of Xiaoyuan. The following year, Emperor Ai died and the Fu clan lost power. Wang Mang returned to dominance, posthumously reduced Fu's title to "Mother of Prince Gong of Dingtao," opened her tomb, removed the empress dowager's seals and ribbons, replaced her inner coffin with a wooden one, and reburied her at the tomb of Prince Gong of Dingtao. Her original burial mound was leveled within twenty days.

Major Activities

Rivalry in the Inner Palace

Fu and Feng Yuan were both favored consorts of Emperor Yuan and each bore him a son. Emperor Yuan created the rank zhaoyi for the two women, placing it above jieyu. Their rivalry in the palace continued for years and generated deep resentment. After Fu gained power, she accused Feng Yuan of employing witchcraft to curse Emperor Ai and forced her suicide. Seventeen members of Feng's clan reportedly died as a result of the ensuing implicatory prosecutions.

Securing the Succession for Liu Xin

In 9 BCE, the fourth year of the Yuanyan era, Empress Dowager Fu used valuable gifts to win the support of Zhao Zhaoyi and Wang Gen for her grandson Liu Xin's succession. Zhao and Wang praised Liu Xin before Emperor Cheng, contributing to the emperor's decision to make him crown prince. This was Fu's most consequential political maneuver and directly affected the political structure of the late Western Han.

Contest over Titles and Conflict with the Wang Clan

After Emperor Ai's accession, Fu repeatedly pressed for higher titles, progressing from Empress Dowager Gong to the newly created higher ranks and ultimately claiming a status parallel to that of Wang Zhengjun. She engaged in a fierce struggle with the Wang consort clan, including Wang Mang and Wang Gen, and ultimately prompted Emperor Ai to remove Wang Mang from office and send him away from the capital. During Fu's lifetime, the Wang clan temporarily lost political influence.

Promotion of Her Relatives

Once Fu had achieved high status, she vigorously promoted members of the Fu and Zheng families. Six members of the Fu clan were enfeoffed as marquises, two served as Grand Marshal (Fu Xi and Fu Yan), six held offices at the level of the Nine Ministers or two-thousand-shi rank, and more than ten served as palace attendants or in various bureaus. For a time, the family possessed immense power.

Personal Relations

Family

• Father: A man of the Fu clan from Wen County in Henei; died early.
• Mother: Remarried Zheng Weng of Wei Commandery and bore Zheng Yun.
• Maternal half-brother: Zheng Yun; died early and was posthumously honored as Marquis Jie of Yangxin.
• Son: Liu Kang, Prince Gong of Dingtao.
• Daughter: Princess Pingdu.
• Grandson: Emperor Ai of Han, Liu Xin.
• Nephews: Fu Xi (Grand Marshal, Marquis of Gaowu), Fu Yan (Grand Marshal, Marquis of Kongxiang), and Fu Shang (Marquis of Ruchang).
• Nephew through her maternal family: Zheng Ye, Marquis of Yangxin.

Rulers and Officials

• Emperor Yuan of Han, Liu Shi: Husband.
• Emperor Ai of Han, Liu Xin: Grandson and emperor.
• Wang Zhengjun: Grand Empress Dowager and political opponent.
• Wang Mang: Grand Marshal and political opponent.
• Shi Dan: Grand Minister of Works; opponent.
• Kong Guang: Chancellor; opponent.

Associates and Conflicts

• Feng Yuan (Feng Zhaoyi, Empress Dowager of Zhongshan): Rival for imperial favor; later forced to commit suicide.
• Zhao Feiyan (Zhao Zhaoyi, later empress of Emperor Cheng): Political collaborator in the effort to secure Liu Xin's succession.
• Fu Xi: Nephew; dismissed after opposing her claim to higher titles.

Historical Assessment

Han and Contemporary Sources

• The "Biography of Kong Guang" in the Book of Han records Kong Guang's assessment that Empress Dowager Fu was "forceful and violent, and skilled in political calculation," and notes his concern that she would interfere in government if allowed constant proximity to Emperor Ai.
• The "Traditions of Imperial Relatives" in the Book of Han records that Fu became "especially arrogant" after gaining power and even addressed Wang Zhengjun as an "old woman," illustrating her increasingly domineering conduct.
• After Wang Mang returned to power, he posthumously reduced her title and ordered her tomb opened and her remains reburied, reflecting the political repudiation of Fu in the subsequent regime struggle.

Wei, Jin, Tang, and Song Periods

• Zhi Yu of the Western Jin mentioned the creation of the zhaoyi rank in Jueyi Yaozhu, explaining it as a title meant to "make manifest her exemplary bearing" and therefore to honor its holder.
• Ban Gu, author of the Book of Han, recorded Fu's career in detail in the "Traditions of Imperial Relatives." Although he did not offer an explicit overall judgment, his use of statements by Kong Guang, Shi Dan, and others suggests criticism of her intervention in government.
• The Tang commentator Yan Shigu examined details concerning Fu Zhaoyi in his annotations to the Book of Han without offering an overtly moralized judgment.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Wang Fuzhi of the Ming–Qing transition discussed the problem of consort-clan politics in the late Western Han in Du Tongjian Lun, treating Empress Dowager Fu and the Wang clan together and regarding intervention by imperial relatives as an important cause of the dynasty's decline.
• The Qing scholar Zhao Yi discussed the elevation of Empress Dowager Fu and Empress Dowager Ding in Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories, arguing that the principle by which a mother rose in status through her son contributed to the expansion of consort-clan power.
• Wang Mingsheng examined the successive changes to Fu's titles in detail in Shiqishi Shangque.

Modern Period

• Lü Simian's History of the Qin and Han treats Fu as an important figure in the politics of imperial relatives in the late Western Han and argues that her conflict with the Wang clan intensified the political crisis of the dynasty.
• Qian Mu's Outline of National History refers to the struggle among the Fu, Ding, and Wang families as an important element in the late Western Han problem of consort-clan politics.
• Modern scholars generally view Fu's efforts to secure her grandson's succession, elevate her own titles, and promote her relatives as a concentrated example of the intensification of consort-clan politics in the late Western Han.