Zhuang Zhi

Background

Zhuang Zhi lived in the district capital of Chu (a large state in what is now central China north of the Yangzi River). There is no exact information about the date of her birth.

Career

Zhuang Zhi lived at a time when the ruler, King Qingxiang, was surrounded by ministers who were being bribed by the rival state of Qin (in the region of the present-day provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu). Consequently, none of his upright ministers, including Qu Yuan, a man famous through the ages for his integrity, were able to get close to King Qingxiang to warn him of Qin’s plan to overthrow him.

When his corrupt ministers urged the king to go on a pleasure trip to Tang, Zhuang Zhi realized they were planning to stage a coup in his absence. Even though she was only twelve years old, she saw the danger her country was in and wanted to warn the king. She managed to do this and also warned him of the danger to his government of focusing on luxuries at the expense of the people. Despite the vast difference in their ages and status, the king heeded her words and turned back to the capital. As Zhuang Zhi had anticipated, the rebels had already closed the gates to the capital. King Qingxiang was nevertheless able to raise an army from provinces loyal to him and managed to quell the rebellion, whereupon he made Zhuang Zhi his queen.

Achievements

• Zhuang Zhi was known as one of the most outstanding characters of Chinese history. She became an example of a brave person, devoted to the native land.

Personality

Zhuang Zhi was known as a brave and wise woman.

Connections

Zhuang Zhi was the wife of King Qingxiang of Chu.

husband:

Qingxiang Wang

King Qingxiang was the ruler of the state of Chu, from 298 B.C to 263 B.C, during the Warring States period of ancient China.

References

• The Position of Woman in Early China According to the Lieh Nu Chuan, The Biographies of Chinese Women.
  1971
• 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