List of Chinese empresses and queens

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"Empress of China" redirects here. For other uses, see Empress of China (disambiguation).
This article is about empresses consort of China. For empresses regnant of China, see Emperor of China.

The following is a list of empresses and queens consort of China, who formed the highest tier of the imperial Chinese harem system. China has periodically been divided into kingdoms as well as united under empires, resulting in consorts titled both queen and empress. The empress title could also be given posthumously, as to the mothers and grandmothers of the founders of dynasties.

Empresses and queens

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The title of empress (皇后, húanghòu) could also be given posthumously. The posthumous empresses are listed separately by the year they were given the title.

Predynastic Zhou (c. 1150–1046 BCE)

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Name Picture Birth Became Queen Ceased to be Queen Death Spouse
Tai Si (太姒) c. 12th century BCE 1099 BCE 1050 BCE c. 11th century BCE King Wen

Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE)

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Name Picture Became Queen Ceased to be Queen Death Spouse
Queen Yi Jiang (邑姜) 1046 BCE 1043 BCE King Wu
Wáng Sì (王姒) King Cheng
Wáng Jiāng (王姜) King Kang
Queen Fáng (房后) King Zhao
Wáng Zǔ Jiāng (王俎姜) King Mu
Wáng Guī (王媯) King Gong
Wáng Bó Jiāng (王伯姜) King Yi
Wáng Jīng (王京) King Xiao
Wáng Jí (王姞) King Yi
Shēn Jiāng (王姞) King Li
Queen Jiang (姜后) 827 BCE 782 BCE King Xuan
Queen Shēn (申后) 782 BCE 772 BCE King You
Bao Si (褒姒) 779 BCE 771 BCE
Jì Jì Jiāng (紀季姜) King Huan
Chén Guī (陈妫) King Hui
Queen Dí (翟后) King Xiang
Qí Jiāng (周灵王) King Ling
Queen Mù (穆后) 527 BCE King Jing

Western Han dynasty (202 BCE–9 CE)

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Name Picture Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Lü Zhi Lü Wen, Prince Xuan of Lü
Princess Consort Xuan 		241 BCE 202 BCE 195 BCE 18 Aug 180 BCE Emperor Gaozu of Han
Empress Zhang Yan Zhang Ao, Prince of Zhao
Princess Yuan of Lu 		192 BCE 192 BCE 188 BCE 163 BCE Emperor Hui of Han
Empress Lü Lü Lu (呂祿) c.205 BCE 184 BCE 180 BCE c.180 BCE Emperor Houshao of Han
Empress Dou Dou Chong, Marquis Ancheng 205 BCE 179 BCE 179 BCE 157 BCE 135 BCE Emperor Wen of Han
Empress Bo 158 BCE 157 BCE 151 BCE 147 BCE Emperor Jing of Han
Empress Wang Zhi Wang Zhong
Zang Er 		173 BCE 150 BCE 126 BCE
Empress Chen Jiao Chen Wu, Marquess of Tangyi
Liu Piao, Princess Guantao 		141 BCE 130 BCE c.110 BCE Emperor Wu of Han
Empress Wei Zifu Madam Wei (衛媼) 128 BCE 91 BCE
Empress Shangguan Lady Huo 89 BCE(?) 84 BCE 83 BCE 74 BCE 37 BCE Emperor Zhao of Han
Empress Xu Pingjun Xu Guanghan c.90 BCE c. 76 BCE 74 BCE 71 BCE Emperor Xuan of Han
Empress Huo Chengjun Huo Guang
Lady Xian 		70 BCE: 66 BCE 54 BCE
Empress Wang Wang Fengguang, Marquess of Qiongcheng 64 BCE 49 BCE 16 BCE
Empress Wang Zhengjun Wang Jin, Marquess of Yangping
Li Qin 		71 BCE c.50 BCE 48 BCE 33 BCE 13 AD Emperor Yuan of Han
Empress Xu Xu Jia, the Marquess of Ping'en 31 BCE 18 BCE 8 BCE Emperor Cheng of Han
Empress Zhao Feiyan c. 32 BCE 16 BCE 7 BCE 1 BCE
Empress Fu Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang 6 BCE 1 BCE Emperor Ai of Han
Empress Wang Wang Mang
Lady Wang 		8 BCE 4 CE 5 CE 23 CE Emperor Ping of Han

Xin dynasty (9–23)

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Name Parents Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Wang Wang Xian, Marquess of Yichin 9 21 Emperor Wang Mang
Empress Shi Shi Chen (史諶) 23

Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)

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Name Picture Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Guo Shengtong Guo Chang, Marquess Si of Yin'an c. 6 24 10 July 26 1 December 41
Deposed 		22 July 52 Emperor Guangwu of Han
Empress Yin Lihua Yin Mu
Deng 		5 41 29 March 57
Husband's death 		26 February 64
Empress Ma General Ma Yuan Late 30s 49 8 April 60 5 September 75
Husband's death 		16 August 79 Emperor Ming of Han
Empress Dou Dou Xun
Princess Piyang 		c. 63 77 3 April 78 9 April 88
Husband's death 		8 October 97 Emperor Zhang of Han
Empress Yin Yin Gang c. 80 92 31 March 96 24 July 102
Deposed 		c. August 102 Emperor He of Han
Empress Deng Sui Deng Xun
Lady Yin 		81 96 21 November 102 13 February 106
Husband's death 		5 April 121
Empress Yan Ji Yan Chang 114 1 June 115 30 April 125
Husband's death 		28 February 126 Emperor An of Han
Empress Liang Na Liang Shang 116 128 2 March 132 20 September 144
Husband's death 		6 April 150 Emperor Shun of Han
Empress Liang Nüying Grand Marshal Liang Shang 147 30 September 147 9 August 159 Emperor Huan of Han
Empress Deng Mengnü Deng Xiang
Xuan 		159 27 March 165
Deposed 		165
Empress Dou Miao Dou Wu c. 165 10 December 165 25 January 168
Husband's death 		18 July 172
Empress Song Song Feng 170 12 October 171 c. November 178
Deposed 		c. November 178 Emperor Ling of Han
Empress He He Zhen
Xing 		8 January 181 13 May 189
Husband's death 		30 September 189
Empress Fu Shou Fu Wan, Marquis of Buqi
Ying 		190 20 May 195 8 January 215 Emperor Xian of Han
Empress Cao Jie Cao Cao 6 March 215 11 December 220
Husband's abdication 		2 July 260

Three Kingdoms period (220–280)

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Cao Wei (220–266)

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Name Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Guo Nüwang Guo Yong
Lady Yong 		8 April 184 31 October 222 29 June 226
Husband's death 		14 March 235 Cao Pi
Empress Mao Mao Jia 26 December 227 22 September 237 Cao Rui
Empress Guo Guo Man
Lady Du 		16 January 239 22 January 239
Husband's death 		8 February 264
Empress Zhen 29 May 243 22 August 251 Cao Fang
Empress Zhang Zhang Ji c. March 252 c. April 254
Deposed
Empress Wang Wang Kui c. May 254 17 October 254
Husband's deposition
Empress Bian Bian Long April or May 255 2 June 260
Husband's death 		Cao Mao
Empress Bian Bian Lin 28 November 263 4 February 266
Husband's abdication 		Cao Huan

Shu Han (221–263)

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Name Parents Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Wu 214 19 June 221 10 June 223
Husband's death 		September or October 245 Liu Bei
Empress Zhang Zhang Fei 221 June 223
Husband's accession 		July or August 237 Liu Shan
Empress Zhang February 238 December 263
Husband's death

Eastern Wu (222–280)

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Name Picture Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Pan June or July 251 February or March 252 Sun Quan
Empress Quan Huijie Quan Shang 244 16 February 253 9 November 258
Husband's death 		c. early 300s Sun Liang
Empress Zhu Zhu Ju
Sun Luyu 		c. 250 16 September 262 3 September 264
Husband's death 		July or August 265 Sun Xiu
Empress Teng Fanglan Teng Mu November 264 1 May 280
Husband's deposition 		Sun Hao

Jin dynasty (266–403, 404–420)

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Name Picture Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Yang Yan Yang Wenzong
Lady Zhao 		238 Before 265 20 March 266 25 August 274 Emperor Wu of Jin
Empress Yang Zhi Yang Jun 259 13 December 276 16 May 290
husband's death 		6 March 292
Empress Jia Nanfeng Jia Chong
Guo Huai 		257 2 April 272 16 May 290
husband's accession 		7 May 300
deposed 		13 May 300 Emperor Hui of Jin
Empress Yang Xianrong Yang Xuanzhi (Duke of Xingjin) In or before 290 December 300 3 February 301
husband's deposition 		13 May 322
December 300 1 June 301
husband's restoration 		8 January 307[a]
husband's death
Empress Liang Lanbi Liang Fen Unknown Before February 305 11 January 307
husband's accession 		311[b] Unknown Emperor Huai of Jin
Empress Yu Wenjun Yu Chen
Lady Xun 		297 Before May 318 4 January 323
husband's accession 		18 October 325
husband's death 		March or April 328 Emperor Ming of Jin
Empress Du Lingyang Du Yi
Lady Pei 		321 17 March 336 7 April 341 Emperor Cheng of Jin
Empress Chu Suanzi Chu Pou
Xie Zhenshi 		324 Before 342 10 February 343 17 November 344
husband's death 		5 July 384 Emperor Kang of Jin
Empress He Fani He Zhun
Lady Kong 		339 19 September 357 10 July 361
husband's death 		13 September 404 Emperor Mu of Jin
Empress Wang Muzhi Wang Meng
Lady Yuan 		Unknown Before 361 29 October 361 22 February 365 Emperor Ai of Jin
Empress Yu Daolian Yu Bing Unknown Before 361 13 August 365 5 July 366 Emperor Fei of Jin
Empress Wang Fahui Wang Yun
Lady Liu 		c. 360 1 October 375 24 October 380 Emperor Xiaowu of Jin
Empress Wang Shen'ai Wang Xianzhi
Princess Xin'an 		384 396 3 May 397 22 December 403
husband's deposition 		3 October 412 Emperor An of Jin
June 404
husband's restoration 		3 October 412
Empress Chu Lingyuan Chu Shuang 384 Before 419 12 February 419 7 July 420
husband's deposition 		7 August 436 Emperor Gong of Jin

Huan Chu dynasty (403–404)

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Name Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Liu Liu Dan Unknown Before 404 Spring 404 19 June 404
husband's deposition 		Unknown Huan Xuan

Sixteen Kingdoms period (304–439)

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Cheng-Han (304–347)

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Name Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Ren Unknown February or March 315 August 334
husband's death 		Unknown Emperor Wu of Cheng
Empress Yan Unknown 334
husband's accession 		338?[c] Unknown Li Qi
Empress Yan Unknown 338
husband's accession 		September 343
husband's death 		After 343 Emperor Zhaowen of Han
Empress Li Before 343 343
husband's accession 		347
husband's deposition 		Unknown Li Shi

Han-Zhao (304–329)

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Name Picture Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Huyan Huyan Yi Unknown Before 304 307 Before or in 310 Liu Yuan
Empress Shan Shan Zheng Unknown Unknown Early 310 29 August 310
husband's death 		Late 310
Empress Huyan Unknown Unknown Unknown 310
husband's accession 		312 Liu Cong
Empress Zhang Huiguang Zhang Shi Unknown Early 313 313
Empress Liu E Unknown Unknown 313 314
Empress Jin Yueguang Jin Zhun Unknown 315 315
deposed 		315
Left Empress Liu Unknown Unknown 315 Before 318
Empress Jin Yuehua Jin Zhun Unknown 315 31 August 318
husband's death 		After 318
Upper Empress Fan Unknown Unknown 316 31 August 318
husband's death 		After 318
Left Empress Wang Wang Chen[d] Unknown 318 31 August 318
husband's death 		After 318
Middle Empress Xuan Xuan Huai[e] Unknown 318 31 August 318
husband's death 		After 318
Empress Jin Jin Zhun Unknown Before 318 September 318
husband's accession 		September or October 318
husband's death 		Unknown Liu Can
Empress Yang Xianrong Yang Xuanzhi In or before 290 Possibly 319[f] 319 13 May 322 Liu Yao
Empress Liu Unknown Unknown 325 326
Empress Liu Unknown Unknown 326 Between February and September 329
husband's death 		Unknown

Later Zhao (319–351)

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Name Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Liu Unknown Unknown Before 330 330
husband's accession 		17 August 333
husband's death 		Fall 333 Shi Le
Empress Zheng Yingtao Unknown Unknown Before 334 337 337
deposed 		349 Shi Hu
Empress Du Zhu Unknown Unknown 337 348
deposed 		Unknown
Empress Liu Liu Yao 318 348 26 May 349
husband's death 		349
Empress Zhang Unknown Unknown Unknown 349
husband's accession 		349
husband's deposition 		349 Shi Zun

Ran Wei (350–352)

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Name Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Spouse
Empress Dong 350
husband's accession 		17 May 352
husband's deposition 		Ran Min

Former Liang (301–376)

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Name Became Princess/Empress Ceased to be Princess/Empress Death Spouse
Princess Yan 324? 346
husband's death 		Before 353 Zhang Jun
Princess Pei 346? 353
husband's death 		354 Zhang Chonghua
Empress Xin 354 355
husband's death 		Unknown Zhang Zuo

Later Liang (386–403)

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Name Parents Marriage Became Princess/Empress Ceased to be Princess/Empress Death Spouse
Princess Shi Unknown Before 383 389[g] Unknown Lü Guang
Empress Yang Yang Huan Unknown 400
husband's accession 		401
husband's death 		401 Lü Zuan
Empress Yang Unknown Unknown 401
husband's accession 		Unknown Lü Long

Western Liang (400–421)

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Name Became Princess Ceased to be Princess Death Spouse
Princess Yin N/A[h] After 437 Li Gao

Northern Liang (397–439)

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Name Parents Birth Marriage Became Princess Ceased to be Princess Death Spouse
Princess Meng Unknown Unknown Unknown 401
husband's accession 		433
husband's death 		After 433 Juqu Mengxun
Princess Li Jingshou Li Gao
Princess Dowager Yin 		Unknown 420 433
husband's accession 		437
marriage annulled 		Unknown Juqu Mujian
Princess Tuoba Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei 386 437 439
husband's deposition 		534 or 535

Southern Liang (397–404, 408–414)

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Name Marriage Became Princess Ceased to be Princess Death Spouse
Queen Zhejue Unknown 408 414
husband's deposition 		Unknown Tufa Rutan

Former Qin (351–394)

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Name Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Qiang Unknown Unknown Unknown 351
Husband's accession 		355
Husband's death 		356 Fu Jian
Empress Liang Liang An Unknown Before 355 July 355
Husband's accession 		October 355
Executed 		Fu Sheng
Empress Gou Unknown Unknown Before 357 357
Husband's accession 		16 October 385
Husband's death 		Unknown Fu Jian
Empress Yang Unknown Unknown Before 380 385
Husband's accession 		386
Husband's deposition 		386 Fu Pi
Empress Mao Mao Xing Unknown 384? 387 389 Fu Deng
Empress Li Unknown Unknown 392 394
Husband's death 		Unknown

Later Qin

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Western Qin

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Former Yan

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Later Yan

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Northern Yan

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Southern Yan

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Xia

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Northern and Southern dynasties

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Liu Song

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Southern Qi

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Northern Wei

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Western Wei

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Eastern Wei

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Northern Qi

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Liang dynasty

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Chen dynasty

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Northern Zhou

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Main article: Empress of Northern Zhou

Sui dynasty

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Tang dynasty

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Wu Zetian, an empress consort who became an imperial ruler during the Tang dynasty and during the emperor Gaozong. After the death of her husband, she became the sole ruler of China for more than two decades. Qin
  • Empress Ju
Han (Dingyang)
  • Empress Ju
Xia Yan Qi

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period

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Qi

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Former Shu

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Yan

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Later Liang

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Southern Han

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Later Tang

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Wu

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Min

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Southern Tang

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Later Jin

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Yin

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Later Han

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Later Zhou

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Northern Han

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Song dynasty

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Empress Zheng of the Song dynasty

Yuan dynasty

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See also: List of Yuan empress consorts
Empress Chabi, consort to Kublai Khan

Ming dynasty

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Empress Xiaocigao, Ming dynasty Empress Xu, Ming dynasty

Southern Ming

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Qing dynasty

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Emperor Empress consort* Picture Birth Became empress consort Ceased to be empress consort Death
Hong Taiji Jerjer, Empress Xiaoduanwen
of the Mongol Borjigit clan 		31 May 1599 August 1636 21 September 1643
husband's death 		28 May 1649
Fulin, the Shunzhi Emperor Erdeni Bumba, Empress
of the Mongol Borjigit clan 		27 September 1651 25 October 1653
deposed
Alatan Qiqige, Empress Xiaohuizhang
of the Mongol Borjigit clan 		5 November 1641 July/August 1654 5 February 1661
husband's death 		7 January 1718
Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor Empress Xiaochengren
of the Manchu Hešeri clan 		3 February 1654 October/November 1665 6 June 1674
Empress Xiaozhaoren
of the Manchu Niohuru clan 		1653 18 September 1677 18 March 1678
Empress Xiaoyiren
of the Manchu Tunggiya clan 		23 August 1689 24 August 1689
Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor Duoqimuli, Empress Xiaojingxian
of the Manchu Ula-nara clan 		28 June 1681 28 March 1723 29 October 1731
Hongli, the Qianlong Emperor Empress Xiaoxianchun
of the Manchu Fuca clan 		28 March 1712 23 January 1738 8 April 1748
Empress
of the Manchu Nara clan 		11 March 1718 2 September 1750 19 August 1766
Yongyan, the Jiaqing Emperor Empress Xiaoshurui
of the Manchu Hitara clan 		2 October 1760 12 February 1796 5 March 1797
Empress Xiaoherui
of the Manchu Niohuru clan 		20 November 1776 27 May 1801 2 September 1820
husband's death 		23 January 1850
Mianning, the Daoguang Emperor Empress Xiaoshencheng
of the Manchu Tunggiya clan 		5 July 1792 28 December 1822 16 June 1833
Empress Xiaoquancheng
of the Manchu Niohuru clan 		24 March 1808 18 November 1834 13 February 1840
Yizhu, the Xianfeng Emperor Empress Xiaozhenxian
of the Manchu Niohuru clan 		12 August 1837 November/December 1852 22 August 1861
husband's death 		8 April 1881
Zaichun, the Tongzhi Emperor Empress Xiaozheyi
of the Manchu Arute clan 		25 July 1854 15 October 1872 12 January 1875
husband's death 		27 March 1875
Zaitian, the Guangxu Emperor Jingfen, Empress Xiaodingjing
of the Manchu Yehe-nara clan 		28 January 1868 26 February 1889 14 November 1908
husband's death 		22 February 1913
Puyi, the Xuantong Emperor Wanrong, Empress Xiaokemin
of the Manchu Gobulo clan 		13 November 1906 (titular) (titular) 20 June 1946

Empresses dowager

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The title of Empress dowager (皇太后, húangtàihòu) was automatically given to a former Empress consort and widow of an Emperor. The title, Empress dowager, could be granted a widow of an Emperor even when she had not been the Empress consort during the reign of her spouse. Therefore, a separate list is given of the Empresses dowager, which, in some cases, equals the list of Empresses consort, and in other cases, not.

Han dynasty

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Northern Dynasties

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Northern Wei

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Tang dynasty

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Song dynasty

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Yuan dynasty

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Ming dynasty

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Qing dynasty

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Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing dynasty

Grand empresses dowager

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Further information: Grand empress dowager § Chinese grand empresses dowager

Empresses whose titles were granted posthumously

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Sui dynasty

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Tang dynasty

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Song dynasty

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Yuan dynasty

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Ming dynasty and Southern Ming dynasty

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Qing dynasty

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Empress Xiaoyichun, Qing dynasty

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Yang Xianrong was deposed and restored four times each from 304 to 306. Her tenures as empress were as follows:
    • June 301–February 304
    • July–August 304
    • November 304–April 305
    • November 305
    • May 306–January 307
  2. ^ Her fate after she and her husband were captured by Han-Zhao forces in July 311 is unknown.
  3. ^ Her husband was overthrown in 338, but it is unknown if she was still alive by this time.
  4. ^ Adoptive father.
  5. ^ Adoptive father.
  6. ^ It is unknown if she was a concubine or wife of Liu Yao before his accession to the throne.
  7. ^ If she was still alive in 396, she would have been created Empress.
  8. ^ Yin never held the title of Princess during the reign of her husband Duke Li Gao. She was honoured as princess dowager after his death.

References

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Bibliography

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