Nuying Liang

Background

Liang Nuying was born in 125. She was the daughter of the Grand Marshal Liang Shang and the sister to Empress Liang Na, Emperor Shun's wife. There is no exact information about the date of her birth.

Career

In 146, Liang Nuying’s elder sister, empress dowager and regent, arranged her betrothal to Liu Zhi (Emperor Huan), the Marquis of Liwu. In the summer of the following year, Liang Nuying entered the imperial harem and in the autumn she was made Empress.

With support from her family to deal with eunuchs and other attendants within the harem, and with her own physical attractions to influence her young husband, it is not surprising that, as her biography says, she monopolized Emperor Huan’s attention and favors. During these first years, at least, no other women were permitted to approach him.

After Liang Nuying’s sister died in 150, she began to lose Emperor Huan's favor, but she continued to be greatly jealous. As she was sonless, she did not want any imperial consorts to have sons—so she would have them killed if they became pregnant.

In the autumn of 159, Empress Liang died and was buried with the honors of an empress. Later that year, Emperor Huan, in conjunction with eunuchs, overthrew Liang Ji in a coup d'etat. The Liang clan was slaughtered. On September 29, Empress Liang's tomb was retitled a tomb of an "Honored Lady", effectively meaning that she was posthumously demoted.

Achievements

• Liang Nuying was notoriously known as a cruel empress who did everything in order to monopolize her husband attention.

Personality

Liang Nuying was described as so luxurious in her living that her expenses far exceeded the empresses of the past.

She was an evil and jealous woman.

Connections

Liang Nuying was Emperor Huan's first wife. She had no children.

Father:

Liang Shang

Liang Shang was the Marquess of Chengshi and later became Grand Marshal.

husband:

Liu Zhi

Liu Zhi, also known as Emperor Huan, was the 27th emperor of the Han Dynasty after he was enthroned by the Empress Dowager and her brother Liang Ji on 1 August 146.

Sister:

Na Liang

Liang Na was an empress during the Han Dynasty.

Brother:

Liang Ji

Liang Ji was a politician and military commander of Han Dynasty 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