Liang Nüying
Liang Nüying(LươngNữOánh)[1](died 9 August 159), formallyEmpress Yixian( ý hiến hoàng hậu, literally "the meek and wise empress" ) was anempressduring the EasternHan dynasty.She wasEmperor Huan's first wife.
Family background
[edit]It is not known when Liang Nüying was born,[2]but what is known is that in her young age she was accustomed to an honored position as a daughter of the Grand Marshal Liang Shang ( lương thương ) and a younger sister of EmpressLiang Na,Emperor Shun's wife, and later regent to his sonEmperor Chong,and two successors from collateral lines, EmperorsZhiandHuan.Indeed, it was because she was betrothed to Emperor Huan (who was then the Marquess of Liwu) that her elder brother, the powerfulLiang Ji,insisted on making him emperor in August 146 after poisoning Emperor Zhi. After Emperor Huan became emperor, he married her in 147 and created her empress on 30 September.[3]
As empress
[edit]As an empress, Empress Liang was somewhat in the shadow of her sister, theempress dowager,and brother, and not much is known about her. Traditional history indicates that because of her honored position as the empress dowager's sister, initially, Emperor Huan did not dare to have any other favorite consorts. She was described as so luxurious in her living that her expenses far exceeded the empresses of the past. She was completely autocratic and arrogant in the administration of palace affairs, just as her brother Liang Ji was with officials and generals in the government. After her sister died in April 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. With Liang Ji effectively in control of government, Emperor Huan did not dare to respond, but he would rarely have sexual relations with her. Empress Liang died in anger on August 9, 159 and was buried with the honors of an empress.[4]On 28 August of that same year, she was buried in Yiling.[5]
Later that year, Emperor Huan, in conjunction witheunuchs,overthrew Liang Ji in acoup d'etat.The Liang clan was slaughtered. On September 14, Empress Liang's tomb was retitled a tomb of an "Honored Lady",[6]effectively meaning that she was posthumously demoted. On the same day,Deng Mengnüwas made empress.
Notes
[edit]- ^According to aXu Hanshucitation in vol.137 ofTaiping Yulan,"Nüying" was Lady Liang's courtesy name.
- ^Lady Liang's biography inBook of the Later Hanindicated that she was younger than her sister Liang Na, who was born in 116. Also, her father Liang Shang died in 141 and she was made empress in 147. Thus, Lady Liang's birth year should be between 116 and 137.
- ^yiweiday of the 8th month of the 1st year of theJian'heera, per Emperor Huan's biography inBook of the Later Han
- ^De Crespigny, Rafe."Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling"(PDF).Asian Studies.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 7 September 2006.Retrieved1 May2012.
In the autumn, in the seventh month on the day bingwu [9 Aug], the Empress Liang died.
- ^De Crespigny, Rafe."Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling"(PDF).Asian Studies.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 7 September 2006.Retrieved1 May2012.
On the day yichou [28 Aug] the Gentle and Generous Empress was buried at Yiling
- ^De Crespigny, Rafe."Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling"(PDF).Asian Studies.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 7 September 2006.Retrieved1 May2012.
On the day renwu [14 Sep] the Honoured Lady Liang [Meng] was established as Empress. The Yiling Tomb [of the late Empress Liang Nüying] was demoted to be the tomb of an Honoured Lady.