Ji Tang

Background

Tang Ji was born in Xuchang, Henan province, but there is no information about the date of her birth. She was the daughter of Tang Mao.

Career

Tang Ji became a consort of Liu Bian (Emperor Shao), Emperor Ling's elder son and successor. Upon the death of Emperor Ling, Liu Bian succeeded to the throne. However, he was deposed by the warlord Dong Zhuo on 28 September of that year and replaced with his younger half-brother, Liu Xie (Emperor Xian). The deposed Emperor Shao became known as the Prince of Hongnong and was put under house arrest along with the rest of his family.

Some months later, in the spring of 190, a coalition of warlords started a campaign against Dong Zhuo in the name of freeing the Han central government from his control. As Dong Zhuo feared that the warlords might use Liu Bian as a figurehead to strengthen their legitimacy, on 6 March 190, he ordered his subordinate Li Ru to murder the prince. Realizing that he could not escape death, Liu Bian gave a feast so that he might take leave of Lady Tang and his concubines. He then asked Lady Tang to dance. Lady Tang sobbed with grief and all present were moved to tears. After that Liu Bian drank the poisoned wine and died.

Lady Tang returned to her native village but resisted her father’s attempts to make her remarry. Dong Zhuo died soon afterward, in 192, and the remnants of his army, under the command of Li Jue, rose in rebellion against the government, taking the city of Chang’an. Li Jue wanted to take her as his wife, but she resolutely refused to marry him. When the imperial secretary heard of this many years later, he sent a memorial to Emperor Xian telling him what had happened. Emperor Xian took pity on Lady Tang and issued an edict that she be escorted back to the court. He granted her the title Princess of Hongnong and she lived out her life in the gardens of his palace.

Achievements

• Tang Ji was known in Chinese history as a consort of Emperor Shao and a woman who remained loyal to the imperial family in difficult times. Her story remains in Records of the Three Kingdoms and well-known nowadays.

Personality

Tang Ji was a beautiful and courageous young woman.

Connections

Tang Ji was a consort of Emperor Shao and had no children.

Father:

Tang Mao

Tang Mao was a Governor of Guiji.

husband:

Liu Bian

Liu Bian, also known as Emperor Shao was the 13th emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty in China.

References

• Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E This new volume of the "Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women" spans more than 2,000 years from antiquity to the early seventh century. It recovers the stories of more than 200 women, nearly all of them unknown in the West.
  1998