Background
Guo Shengtong came from a wealthy family. Her father Guo Chang was a major landowner in the Zhending Commandery. Her mother was a daughter of Liu Pu, Prince Gong of Zhending.
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Shengtong Guo
Edit Profile郭聖通
also known as
Empress Guo
Career
In 25, after Liu Xiu proclaimed himself emperor of a restored Han Dynasty, Guo became an imperial consort. That year, she bore him his firstborn son, Liu Jiang.
In 26, Emperor Guangwu considered creating an empress. He favored his first love, Consort Yin. However, Consort Yin had not yet had a son by that point, and she declined the empress position and endorsed Consort Guo. Emperor Guangwu, therefore, created Guo empress and her son Prince Jiang crown prince.
However, as the years went by, Emperor Guangwu continued to favor his first love Consort Yin and not Empress Guo. She continuously complained about her lack of favor, which made Emperor Guangwu angry. In 41, he deposed her from her empress position and created Yin empress to replace her.
However, Emperor Guangwu, who has by that point created his sons only as dukes, promoted her son Liu Fu to Prince of Zhongshan and created her the Princess Dowager of Zhongshan—a title that had not previously been and would not be later used for any mother of an imperial prince whose husband was still alive. After Empress Guo was deposed, Emperor Guangwu continued to bestow her family honors as would otherwise befit an empress' family.
Empress Guo died in 52, from illness, and was buried in Beimang (north of the city of Luoyang).
Achievements
Connections
Guo Shengtong was the first empress of Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu), the founder of Eastern Han. During the seventeen years of her marriage to the emperor, Empress Guo gave birth to five sons: Liu Qiang, Liu Fu, Liu Kang, Liu Yan, and Liu Yan.
- Father:
- Guo Chang
- Mother:
- Princess Guo
- husband:
- Liu Xiu
- Son:
- Liu Qiang
- Son:
- Liu Fu
- Son:
- Liu Qiang
- Son:
- Liu Yan
- Son:
- Liu Yan
- Brother:
- Guo Kuang
Guo Chang was from a prominent clan and worked in the commandery Labor Section. He had won praise for his generosity in giving a considerable portion of his property in the form of houses and land to a younger half brother.
Liu Xiu, also known as Emperor Guangwu was an emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty, the restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus the founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han (the restored Han Dynasty).
Liu Qiang, also known as Prince Gong of Donghai, was a Chinese nobleman and crown prince of the Han dynasty from 26 to 43 AD.
Liu Fu at first was promoted from Duke Youyi to Prince of Zhongshan and was allocated the taxes of Changshan Commandery. In the year 44, Liu Fu was made Prince of Pei and she became Princess Dowager of Pei.
Liu Qiang was also known as Prince An of Jinan.
Liu Yan was also known as Prince Ji of Fuling.
Liu Yan was also known as Prince Jian of Zhongshan.
Guo Kuang was a Marquis of Anyang.
References
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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
