Zhao Feiyan, also known as Empress Xiaocheng, was an empress during the Han Dynasty.
Background
Zhao Feiyan was born in 45 B.C. She was a daughter of two hereditary servants of imperial princes or princesses. After her father, Feng Wanli, died she and her sister were adopted by a housekeeper to a rich family. Their adoptive father's name was Zhao Lin and they took his surname.
Career
When Zhao Feiyan grew up, she was assigned to the household of Princess Yang'a, the sister of Emperor Cheng. She became a dancing girl there, and she received the name that she would become known for - Feiyan. Later Emperor Cheng noticed her at a feast given by the Princess of Yang’e. Captivated by her graceful figure, he summoned her to the imperial palace, where she became his favorite concubine, and he promoted her to the rank of Lady of Handsome fairness.
In 18 B.C., Zhao Feiyan and her sister Zhao Hede falsely accused Empress Xu and Consort Ban of witchcraft. Empress Xu was deposed while Consort Ban was able to successfully plead her case. She became a lady in waiting for Empress Dowager Wang. The Zhao sisters now dominated the palace. Emperor Cheng wanted to make Feiyan the new empress, but Empress Dowager Wang complained about her low birth and prior occupation as a dancing girl. In 16 B.C., she finally capitulated to her son's wishes, and in preparation, Emperor Cheng first created Feiyan's father Zhao Lin the Marquess of Chengyang, so that she would no longer be viewed as coming from low birth. In the summer of that year, she was created Empress.
After she became empress, Zhao Feiyan was largely replaced in the emperor’s affections by her sister Zhao Hede, with whom she resided in the opulent Zhaoyang Palace. Zhao Hede remained loyal to her sister, however, speaking well of her to the emperor so that Zhao Feiyan’s position was unaffected. Nevertheless, Zhao Feiyan did her best to retain the emperor’s favor. Emperor Cheng had two sons - one born to Consort Cao in 12 B.C. and one born to Consort Xu in 11 B.C. However, both of the sons were murdered in their infancy by orders of Zhao Feiyan's sister. Zhao sisters engaged in many tactics, such as forced abortions, assassinations, and poisonings, to make sure that no other concubine would bear an imperial heir.
Emperor Cheng died suddenly one morning in 7 B.C.E. He had not been ill and suspicion immediately fell on Zhao Feiyan’s sister, with some saying his death was caused by sexual indulgence. As soon as Empress Dowager Wang announced there would be an investigation, Zhao Hede committed suicide. Emperor Cheng's nephew Crown Prince Xin ascended the throne as Emperor Ai. He promoted Zhao Feiyan to empress dowager in 6 B.C. A few months later, however, the emperor relieved the male members of the Zhao family of their titles and demoted them to the rank of commoner when the results of the investigation into Emperor Cheng’s death implicated Zhao Hede. He protected Zhao Feiyan, however, because she had helped him become the heir apparent.
In 1 B.C., Emperor Ai died and Grand Empress Dowager Wang seized power back from Emperor Ai's favorite Dong Xian. Commander-in-Chief Wang Mang immediately approached Empress Dowager Wang about Empress Dowager Zhao (Zhao Feiyan) and within a short time, Zhao Feiyan had been demoted to Empress of Emperor Cheng and moved to the Northern Palace. A few months later, she was further demoted to a commoner and ordered to guard her husband's tomb. That day, she committed suicide.
Achievements
Personality
Zhao Feiyan was a beautiful woman and a talented dancer.
Physical Characteristics:
It is said that Zhao Feiyan was so slender and so agile in dance that she was like a flying swallow.
Connections
Zhao Feiyan was a wife of Emperor Cheng. She had no children.
Crisis and Conflict in Han China
This volume illustrates the growth of two attitudes towards government in China during the first century B.C., the one progressive, realist and forward-looking, the other conservative, idealist and harking back to the past. It demonstrates the close relationship that existed between political decisions, intellectual policy and the choice of religious observances of state, whilst showing how personal ambitions and the intrigues of the palace were intimately involved with the interplay of these two basis attitudes.