Zhao Hede was an imperial consort during the Han dynasty.
Background
Zhao Hede was born in Jiangsu province, but there is no information about the date of her birth. However, it is clear she was younger than her sister Zhao Feiyan. Zhao Hede 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 Emperor Cheng became enamored with Zhao Hede's sister, Zhao Feiyan, he took not only her sister, but also her, as imperial consorts, and they became highly favored. In 18 BC, they falsely accused Empress Xu and Consort Ban of witchcraft; Empress Xu was deposed, and while Consort Ban was able to successfully plead her case. Zhao Hede and her sisters now dominated the palace.
After Zhao Hede's sister, Zhao Feiyan, was created empress Hede began to receive the nearly exclusive affection of Emperor Cheng. He appointed Zhao Hede as a lady of bright deportment and installed her in Zhaoyang Palace. For over ten years Zhao Hede monopolized the emperor’s affections, even though neither she nor her sister bore him a child or even became pregnant. Zhao Hede was extremely jealous of any concubine who bore Emperor Cheng a son. She is believed to have orchestrated the deaths of concubines and of at least two infant boys.
Emperor Cheng died suddenly in 7 BC, apparently from a stroke. Immediately there were many rumors that he had concubines who bore him sons, but that those sons and their mothers were murdered by Zhao Hede (out of jealousy) and possibly Emperor Cheng himself. Grieving her husband and apparently fearful of reprisal, Consort Zhao Hede killed herself.
Achievements
Personality
Zhao Hede was described to have been so perfect in her beauty that when she arrived at the palace, every person who saw her could not stop praising her beauty.
Physical Characteristics:
It is said that Zhao Hede was fair-skinned and plump.
Connections
Zhao Hede was a consort to 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.