Empress Zhen () (died October 7, 951?''

History of Liao The ''History of Liao'', or ''Liao Shi'' (''Liáo Shǐ''), is a Chinese historical book compiled officially by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), under the direction of the historian Toqto'a (Tuotuo), and finalized in 1344.Xu Elina-Qian, ...

'', vol. 5. Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter
) was an empress of the Khitan-led

Liao dynasty The Liao dynasty (; Khitan language, Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that exi ...

of China. She was one of the two empresses of Emperor Shizong (Yelü Ruan).

Background

It is not known where or when the future Empress Zhen was born. She was said to be a lady in the

Later Tang Tang, known in historiography as the Later Tang, was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China and the second of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history. The first three of the Later Tang's four ...

palace, but it is not clear whether she was a concubine of one of Later Tang's emperors or a

lady in waiting A lady-in-waiting or court lady is a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman but of lower rank than the woman to whom sh ...

. She was described to be beautiful. It is not known whether she remained in the palace during the succeeding state Later Jin.''History of Liao'', vol. 71. In 946, Yelü Ruan, then the Prince of Yongkang under his uncle Emperor Taizong, followed Emperor Taizong on his campaign to destroy Later Jin.''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song (960–1127), Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959&n ...

'', vol. 285.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 286. After Later Jin was destroyed, Emperor Taizong awarded Lady Zhen to Yelü Ruan, and it was said that he greatly favored her.

As empress

Emperor Taizong died in 947, and the Liao chieftains supported Yelü Ruan to succeed him (as Emperor Shizong).''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 287. Sometime after becoming emperor, he created Lady Zhen empress. It was said that she was strict, intelligent, and elegant. She was said to govern his palace with proper principles, and did not just do so with her own personal desires. She participated in Emperor Shizong's decision-making processes, and had strategies on how to deal with Later Jin's successor states Later Han and

Later Zhou Zhou, known as the Later Zhou (; ) in historiography, was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty and the last of the Five Dynasties that controlled most of northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Founded by Guo Wei ( ...

, but her strategies were not implemented. She bore him his third son,

Yelü Zhimo Yelü Zhimo (; ? — 983), also known by his title the King of Ning (宁王), was an imperial prince of the Liao dynasty. He was granted as the King of Ning during the reign of Emperor Muzong of Liao. He was the third son of Emperor Shizong by ...

(耶律只沒).''History of Liao'', vol. 64. In 950, for reasons lost to history, Emperor Shizong also created his oldest son Yelü Xian's mother

Xiao Sagezhi Xiao Sagezhi (; died October 8, 951''History of Liao'', vol. 5. Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), formally Empress Huaijie (懷節皇后, "the missed and careful empress"), was an empress of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of Chin ...

as an empress, but Empress Zhen remained empress as well. In 951, Emperor Taizong's cousin Yelü Chage (耶律察割) mutinied and killed Emperor Shizong in a coup. Empress Zhen was also killed, probably on the same day, as Empress Xiao Sagezhi was specifically indicated to have been killed on the next day. After Yelü Xian became emperor in 969, he buried both Empresses Zhen and Xiao at Yiwulü Mountain, and built a temple dedicated to them.

In popular culture

*Portrayed by Wang Yuanke in the 2020 Chinese TV series ''

The Legend of Xiao Chuo ''The Legend of Xiao Chuo'' () is a 2020 Chinese television series based on the novel Yan Yun Tai by Jiang Shengnan. It stars Tiffany Tang in the title role, along with Shawn Dou, Charmaine Sheh and Jing Chao. The series chronicles the life of leg ...

''.

Notes and references

, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Zhen, Empress 951 deaths Year of birth unknown Year of death uncertain Later Tang people Later Jin (Five Dynasties) people Liao dynasty empresses