Zhengjun Wang

Background

Wang Zhengjun was born in Yuancheng (modern Handan, Hebei) in 71 B.C. She was the second daughter of Wang Jin, the then-Minister of Justice and Lady Li. Although she was one of 12 children, only Wang and two brothers were born to Lady Li.

Career

Wang Zhengjun grew to be a mild and virtuous young woman and received several offers of marriage. However, each of her husbands-to-be died before the wedding could be held. In 53 B.C., when she was eighteen, Wang Zhengjun entered the palace as one of the unranked palace women with the title of Woman of the Household.

Two years later Wang Zhengjun was chosen as a concubine for the heir apparent Liu Shi. Three years after, Wang gave birth to a male child, Liu Ao, whereas none of the crown prince's previous concubines had. In 49 B.C., Emperor Xuan died, and Liu Shi became Emperor Yuan. He made Consort Wang empress, and her son his heir apparent.

As Crown Prince Ao grew older, Emperor Yuan became increasingly unhappy with his fitness as imperial heir and impressed with Consort Fu's son, Prince Liu Kang. Liu Ao managed to retain his position as heir apparent until his father’s death largely because of the affection that his grandfather Emperor Xuan had shown to him, together with the innate cautiousness of his mother, Empress Wang.

When Emperor Yuan died in 33 B.C., Liu Ao ascended the throne as Emperor Cheng. Wang Zhengjun was granted the title Empress Dowager Wang and her paternal relatives gradually gained in influence. After the death of Emperor Cheng, in 7 B.C. the throne passed briefly to his nephew Liu Xin (Emperor Ai), then to another of his nephews, the nine-year-old Liu Kan (Emperor Ping).

Empress Dowager Wang, now Grand Empress Dowager Wang, decreed that her nephew Wang Mang be appointed Commander-in-Chief to assist Emperor Ping. Grand Empress Dowager Wang showed special favor to Wang Mang, granting him the imperial reward known as the Nine Gifts. However, after the emperor’s death - it is said that Wang Mang had the boy poisoned - she was unable to prevent Wang Mang from seizing more power by appointing Liu Ying, a great-great-grandson of Emperor Xuan, as heir apparent and making himself his regent.

When Wang Mang declared himself emperor on January 9, 9 C.E. he changed the name of the dynasty from Han to Xin and also changed Grand Empress Dowager Wang’s title to Grand Empress Dowager Mother Wen. Wang Zhengjun never acknowledged the new dynasty, and when Wang Mang changed the calendar and the holidays as well as the uniform of the imperial household attendants, she ordered her ladies in waiting to continue to observe the Han calendar and wear the Han uniforms. He tried to attend to her needs earnestly to try to please her, but his attempts failed.

Grand Empress Dowager Wang died in 16 C.E. at the age of eighty-four and was buried in Wei Tomb.

Achievements

• Wang Zhengjun was known in Chinese history as a woman who tried to influence the empire as well as she could, and whose failure, leading to the downfall of the Western Han Dynasty, was her overdependence on her clan (the Wangs).

Personality

Wang Zhengjun was a kind and beautiful woman.

Connections

Wang Zhengjun was the wife Emperor Yuan of Han. She had a son Liu Ao.

Father:

Wang Jin

Wang Jin was the Marquess of Yangping.

Mother:

Li Qin

husband:

Liu Shi

Liu Shi, also known as Emperor Yuan was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 B.C. to 33 B.C.

Son:

Liu Ao

Liu Ao, also known as Emperor Cheng, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 until 7 B.C.

Brother:

Wang Feng

Wang Feng was a People's Republic of China politician, born in Shaanxi Province.

Brother:

Wang Man

Brother:

Wang Dan

Wang Dan was a major politician in the Song dynasty, serving as the grand councilor from 1006 until shortly before his death in 1017.

Brother:

Chong Wang

Wang Chong was a Chinese meteorologist, astronomer, and philosopher active during the Han Dynasty.

Brother:

Wang Sheung

Wang Sheung was the Marquess Jincheng of Chengdu.

Brother:

Wang Li

Wang Li was the Marquess Fang of Hongyang.

Brother:

Wang Jin

Wang Jin was the Marquess Yang of Quyang.

Brother:

Wang Fengshi

Wang Fengshi was the Marquess of Dai of Gaoping.

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