List of Chinese empresses and queens

The following is a list of empresses and queens consort of China. 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.

This article is about empresses consort of China. For empresses regnant of China, see Emperor of China.

Empresses and queens consort

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

Zhou dynasty
Name Birth Became Queen Ceased to be Queen Death Spouse
Tai Si c. 12th century BC 1099 BC 1050 BC c. 11th century BC King Wen
Queen Yi Jiang (邑姜) 1046 BC 1043 BC 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 827 BC 782 BC King Xuan
Queen Shēn (申后) 782 BC 772 BC King You
Bao Si (褒姒) 779 BC 771 BC
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 BC King Jing

Western Han dynasty
Name Parents Birth Marriage Became Empress Ceased to be Empress Death Spouse
Empress Lü Zhi Lü Wen, Prince Xuan of Lü

Princess Consort Xuan

 241 BC 202 BC 195 BC 18 Aug 180 BC Emperor Gaozu of Han
Empress Zhang Yan Zhang Ao, Prince of Zhao

Princess Yuan of Lu

 192 BC 192 BC 188 BC 163 BC Emperor Hui of Han
Empress Lü Lü Lu (呂祿) c.205 BC 184 BC 180 BC c.180 BC Emperor Houshao of Han
Empress Dou Dou Chong, Marquis Ancheng 205 BC 179 BC 179 BC 157 BC 135 BC Emperor Wen of Han
Empress Bo 158 BC 157 BC 151 BC 147 BC Emperor Jing of Han
Empress Wang Zhi Wang Zhong

Zang Er

 173 BC 150 BC 126 BC
Empress Chen Jiao Chen Wu, Marquess of Tangyi

Liu Piao, Princess Guantao

 141 BC 130 BC c.110 BC Emperor Wu of Han
Empress Wei Zifu Madam Wei (衛媼) 128 BC 91 BC
Empress Shangguan Lady Huo 89 BC(?) 84 BC 83 BC 74 BC: 37 BC Emperor Zhao of Han
Empress Xu Pingjun Xu Guanghan c.90 BC c. 76 BC 74 BC 71 BC Emperor Xuan of Han
Empress Huo Chengjun Huo Guang

Lady Xian

 70 BC: 66 BC 54 BC
Empress Wang Wang Fengguang, Marquess of Qiongcheng 64 BC 49 BC 16 BC
Empress Wang Zhengjun Wang Jin, Marquess of Yangping

Li Qin

 71 BC c.50 BC 48 BC 33 BC 13 AD Emperor Yuan of Han
Empress Xu Xu Jia, the Marquess of Ping'en 31 BC 18 BC 8 BC Emperor Cheng of Han
Empress Zhao Feiyan c. 32 BC 16 BC 7 BC 1 BC
Empress Fu Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang 6 BC 1 BC Emperor Ai of Han
Empress Wang Wang Mang

Lady Wang

 8 BC 4 AD 5 AD 23 AD Emperor Ping of Han

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

Eastern Han dynasty

Cao Wei

Shu Han

Eastern Wu

Jin dynasty
  • 265–274: Empress Yang Yan
  • 276–290: Empress Yang Zhi
  • 290–300: Empress Jia Nanfeng
  • 300–301, 301–304, 304, 304–305, 305, 306–307: Yang Xianrong
  • 307–311: Empress Liang Lanbi
  • 323–326: Empress Yu Wenjun
  • 336–341: Empress Du
  • 342–344: Empress Chu Suanzi
  • 357–361: Empress He Fani
  • 361–365: Empress Wang Muzhi
  • 365–366: Empress Yu Daolian
  • 375–380: Empress Wang Fahui
  • 396–403, 404–412: Empress Wang Shen'ai
  • 419–420: Chu Lingyuan

Huan Chu dynasty
  • 403–404: Empress Liu

Cheng Han
  • 315–334: Empress Ren
  • 334–338?: Empress Yan
  • 338–343: Empress Yan
  • 343–347: Empress Li

Han-Zhao
  • 304–?: Empress Huyan
  • 310: Empress Dan
  • 310–312: Empress Huyan
  • 313: Empress Zhang
  • 313–314: Empress Liu E
  • 315–318: Empress Jin Yueguang
  • 315–318: Left Empress Liu
  • 315–318: Empress Jin Yuehua
  • 316–318: Upper Empress Fan
  • 318: Left Empress Wang
  • 318: Middle Empress Xuan
  • 318: Empress Jin
  • 319–322: Empress Yang
  • 325–326: Empress Liu
  • 326–329: Empress Liu

Later Zhao
  • 330–333: Empress Liu
  • 337: Zheng Yingtao
  • 337–348: Du Zhu
  • 348–349: Empress Liu
  • 349: Empress Zhang

Ran Wei
  • 350–352: Empress Dong

Former Liang
  • 324?-346: Princess Yan
  • 346?-354: Princess Pei
  • 354–355: Empress Xin

Later Liang
  • 389–400: Princess Shi
  • 400–401: Empress Yang
  • 401–403: Empress Yang

Western Liang
  • Princess Yin

Northern Liang
  • 401–433: Princess Meng
  • 433?-437: Princess Li Jingshou
  • 437–439: Princess Tuoba

Southern Liang
  • 408–414: Queen Zhejue

Former Qin
  • 351–355: Empress Qiang
  • 355: Empress Liang
  • 357–385: Empress Gou
  • 385–386: Empress Yang
  • 387–389: Empress Mao
  • 392–393: Empress Li

Later Qin
  • 386–394: Empress She
  • 402–?: Empress Zhang
  • 412–?: Empress Qi
  • 416–417: Yao Hong's empress

Western Qin
  • 388–394, 394–400, 409–412: Queen Bian
  • 394: Queen Fu
  • 414–423: Queen Tufa
  • 429–431: Queen Liang

Former Yan
  • 337–348: Princess Duan
  • 348?–360: Empress Kezuhun
  • 369–370: Empress Kezuhun

Later Yan
  • 388–396: Duan Yuanfei
  • 396–398: Empress Duan
  • 404–407: Fu Xunying
  • 407–409: Empress Li

Northern Yan
  • 409–?: Princess Sun
  • 430–?: Princess Murong

Southern Yan
  • 398–405: Duan Jifei
  • 408–410: Empress Huyan

Xia
  • 407–425: Empress Kezuhun
  • 425–427: Helian Chang's empress

Liu Song
  • 422–424: Empress Sima Maoying
  • 424–440: Empress Yuan Qigui
  • 453: Empress Yin Yuying
  • 453–464: Empress Wang Xianyuan
  • 465: Empress Lu
  • 465–472: Empress Wang Zhenfeng
  • 472–477: Empress Jiang
  • 478–479: Empress Xie Fanjing

Southern Qi
  • 493–494: He Jingying
  • 494: Wang Shaoming
  • 498–501: Chu Lingqu
  • 501–502: Wang Shunhua

Northern Wei
  • 400–409: Empress Murong
  • 432–452: Empress Helian
  • 456–465: Empress Feng
  • 493–497: Empress Feng Qing
  • 497–499: Empress Feng Run
  • 501–507: Empress Yu
  • 508–515: Empress Gao
  • 5??–528: Empress Hu
  • 528–530: Empress Erzhu Ying'e
  • 530–531: Empress Erzhu
  • 532: Empress Erzhu
  • 533–534: Empress Gao

Western Wei
  • 535–538: Empress Yifu
  • 538–540: Empress Yujiulü
  • 553–554: Empress Yuwen
  • 554–556: Empress Ruogan

Eastern Wei
  • 539–550: Empress Gao

Northern Qi
  • 550–559: Empress Li Zu'e
  • 560–561: Empress Yuan
  • 561–565: Empress Hu
  • 565–572: Empress Hulü
  • 572–573: Empress Hu
  • 572–577: Empress Mu

Liang dynasty
  • 551: Empress Zhang
  • Empress Wang
  • 560–561: Empress Wang

Chen dynasty
  • Zhang Yao'er
  • Shen Miaorong
  • Wang Shaoji
  • Liu Jingyan
  • Shen Wuhua

Northern Zhou
  • 557–557: Empress Yuan Humo
  • 568–568: Empress Dugu
  • 568–578: Empress Ashina
  • 578–579: Yang Lihua
  • 579–580: Empress Sima Lingji

Sui dynasty

Tang dynasty
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
  • Empress Cao
Yan
  • Empress Duan
  • Empress Xin
Qi
  • Empress Cao

Qi
  • 907–924: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Maozhen

Former Shu
  • 908–918: Empress Zhou, empress consort of Wang Jian
  • 918–921: Empress Gao, first empress consort of Wang Zongyan
  • 921–926: Empress Jin Feishan, second empress consort of Wang Yan

Yan
  • 911–913: Empress Li and Empress Zhu, empress consorts of Liu Shouguang

Later Liang
  • 912–913: Empress Zhang, empress consort of Zhu Yougui

Southern Han
  • 919–935: Empress Ma, empress consort of Liu Yan

Later Tang
  • 924–926: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Cunxu
  • 930–933: Empress Cao, empress consort of Li Siyuan
  • 934–934: Empress Kong, empress consort of Li Conghou
  • 934–936: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Congke

Wu
  • 933–937: Empress Wang, empress consort of Yang Pu

Min

Southern Tang
  • 937–943: Empress Song, empress consort of Li Bian
  • 943–961: Empress Zhong, empress consort of Li Jing
  • 961–965: Queen Zhou the Elder, first queen consort of Li Yu
  • 968–975: Queen Zhou the Younger, second queen consort of Li Yu

Later Jin
  • 941–942: Empress Li, empress consort of Shi Jingtang
  • 943–946: Empress Feng, empress consort of Shi Chonggui

Yin

Later Han

Later Zhou
  • 954–956: Empress Fu the Elder, first empress consort of Chai Rong
  • 959–959: Empress Dowager Fu (Later Zhou), second empress consort of Chai Rong

Northern Han
  •  ?–968: Empress Guo, empress consort of Liu Jun
  • 968–?: Empress Ma, empress consort of Liu Jiyuan

Song dynasty
Empress Zheng of the Song dynasty
  • 960–963: Empress Wang, first empress consort of Emperor Taizu
  • 968–976: Empress Song, second empress consort of Emperor Taizu
  • 984–997: Empress Li, empress consort of Emperor Taizong
  • 997–1007: Empress Guo, first empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong
  • 1012–1022: Empress Liu, second empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong and Senior regent Song dynasty
  • 1024–1033: Empress Guo, first empress consort of Emperor Renzong
  • 1034–1063: Empress Cao, second empress consort of Emperor Renzong
  • 1065–1067: Empress Gao, empress consort of Emperor Yingzong
  • 1068–1085: Empress Xiang, empress consort of Emperor Shenzong
  • 1092–1096: Empress Meng, first empress consort of Emperor Zhezong
  • 1099–1100: Empress Liu, second empress consort of Emperor Zhezong
  • 1100–1108: Empress Wang, first empress consort of Emperor Huizong
  • 1111–1126: Empress Zheng, second empress consort of Emperor Huizong
  • 1126–1127: Empress Zhu, empress consort of Emperor Qinzong
  • 1127–1139: Empress Xing, first empress consort of Emperor Gaozong
  • 1143–1162: Empress Wu, second empress consort of Emperor Gaozong
  • 1162–1167: Empress Xia, first empress consort of Emperor Xiaozong
  • 1167–1189: Empress Xie, second empress consort of Emperor Xiaozong
  • 1189–1194: Empress Li Fengniang, empress consort of Emperor Guangzong
  • 1194–1200: Empress Han, first empress consort of Emperor Ningzong
  • 1200–1224: Empress Yang, second empress consort of Emperor Ningzong
  • 1227–1264: Empress Xie Daoqing, empress consort of Emperor Lizong
  • 1267–1274: Empress Quan, empress consort of Emperor Duzong

Yuan dynasty
Empress Chabi, consort to Kublai Khan
  • 1260–1281: Chabi, first empress consort of Emperor Shizu
  • 1283–1294: Nambui, second empress consort of Emperor Shizu
  • 1295–1307: Bulugan, empress consort of Emperor Chengzong
  • 1310–1311: Zhenge, empress consort of Emperor Wuzong
  • 1313–1320: Radnashiri, empress consort of Emperor Renzong
  • 1321–1323: Sugabala, empress consort of Emperor Yingzong
  • 1324–1328: Babukhan Khatun, empress consort of Emperor Taiding
  • 1328–1329: Budashiri, empress consort of Emperor Wenzong
  • 1329–1329: Babusha, empress consort of Emperor Mingzong
  • 1329–1332: Budashiri (second time), empress consort of Emperor Wenzong
  • 1332–1332: Daliyetemishi, empress consort of Emperor Ningzong
  • 1333–1335: Danashri, first empress consort of Emperor Huizong
  • 1337–1365: Bayan Khutugh, second empress consort of Emperor Huizong
  • 1340–1370: Empress Gi, third empress consort of Emperor Huizong

Ming dynasty
Empress Xiaocigao, Ming dynasty
Empress Xu, Ming dynasty
  • 1368–1382: Empress Ma, empress consort of the Hongwu Emperor
  • 1399–1402: Empress Ma, empress consort of the Jianwen Emperor
  • 1402–1407: Empress Xu, empress consort of the Yongle Emperor
  • 1424–1425: Empress Zhang, empress consort of the Hongxi Emperor
  • 1425–1428: Empress Hu Shanxiang, first empress consort of the Xuande Emperor
  • 1428–1435: Empress Sun, second empress consort of the Xuande Emperor
  • 1442–1449: Empress Qian, empress consort of the Zhengtong Emperor
  • 1449–1452: Empress Wang, first empress consort of the Jingtai Emperor
  • 1452–1456: Empress Hang, second empress consort of the Jingtai Emperor
  • 1457–1464: Empress Qian (second time), empress consort of the Tianshun Emperor (former Zhengtong Emperor)
  • 1464–1464: Empress Wu, first empress consort of the Chenghua Emperor
  • 1464–1487: Empress Wang, second empress consort of the Chenghua Emperor
  • 1487–1505: Empress Zhang, empress consort of the Hongzhi Emperor
  • 1506–1521: Empress Xia, empress consort of the Zhengde Emperor
  • 1522–1528: Empress Chen, first empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor
  • 1528–1534: Empress Zhang, second empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor
  • 1534–1547: Empress Fang, third empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor
  • 1566–1572: Empress Chen, empress consort of the Longqing Emperor
  • 1578–1620: Empress Wang Xijie, empress consort of the Wanli Emperor
  • 1621–1627: Empress Zhang, empress consort of the Tianqi Emperor
  • 1628–1644: Empress Zhou, empress consort of the Chongzhen Emperor

Southern Ming
  • 1645–1646: Empress Zeng, empress consort of the Longwu Emperor
  • 1646–1662: Empress Wang, empress consort of the Yongli Emperor

Qing dynasty
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

Manchukuo
Emperor Empress consort* Picture Birth Became empress consort Ceased to be empress consort Death
Puyi, the Xuantong Emperor Wanrong, Empress Xiaokemin
of the Manchu Gobulo clan		 13 November 1906 1 March 1934 17 August 1945
monarchy abolished		 20 June 1946

Empresses dowager

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

Northern Wei

Tang dynasty

Song dynasty
  • Empress Dowager Du
  • Empress Dowager Li
  • Empress Dowager Liu
  • Empress Dowager Yang
  • Empress Dowager Cao
  • Empress Dowager Gao
  • Empress Dowager Xiang
  • Empress Dowager Meng
  • Empress Dowager Liu
  • Empress Dowager Wei
  • Empress Dowager Wu
  • Empress Dowager Xie
  • Empress Dowager Li
  • Empress Dowager Yang
  • Empress Dowager Xie
  • Empress Dowager Quan
  • Empress Dowager Yang

Yuan dynasty

Ming dynasty
  • Empress Dowager Lü
  • Empress Dowager Zhang
  • Empress Dowager Hu
  • Empress Dowager Sun
  • Empress Dowager Wu
  • Empress Dowager Qian
  • Empress Dowager Zhou
  • Empress Dowager Wang
  • Empress Dowager Zhang
  • Empress Dowager Shao
  • Empress Dowager Jiang
  • Empress Dowager Chen
  • Empress Dowager Li
  • Empress Dowager Zou
  • Empress Dowager Ma
  • Empress Dowager Wang

Qing dynasty
Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing dynasty

Empresses whose titles were granted posthumously

Sui dynasty

Tang dynasty

Song dynasty
  • 961: Empress Dowager Du, mother of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong
  • 960: Empress He, married to Emperor Taizu
  • 976: Empress Yin, married to Emperor Taizong
  • 976: Empress Fu, married to Emperor Taizong
  • 997: Empress Li, mother of Emperor Zhenzong
  • 997: Princess Pan, married to Emperor Zhenzong
  • 1033: Consort Li, mother of Emperor Renzong
  • 1036: Empress Yang, married to Emperor Zhenzong
  • 1054: Empress Zhang, married to Emperor Renzong
  • 1101: Empress Chen, mother of Emperor Huizong
  • 1102: Empress Zhu, mother of Emperor Zhezong
  • 1113: Empress Mingda, married to Emperor Huizong
  • 1121: Empress Mingzhe, married to Emperor Huizong
  • 1159: Empress Xianren, mother of Emperor Gaozong
  • 1162: Empress Chengmu, married to Emperor Xiaozong

Yuan dynasty

Ming dynasty and Southern Ming dynasty

Qing dynasty
Empress Xiaoyichun, Qing dynasty

See also

References

    Bibliography
    • Stefanowska, A.D.; Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue, eds. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317475910.
    • Stefanowska, A.D.; Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue, eds. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: V. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317475880.
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