Nanzi (南子) also called Wey Ling Nanzi Lily Xiao Hong Lee, A. D. Stefanowska, Sue Wiles. 2007. (? – 480 BC) was the consort of

Duke Ling of Wey Duke Ling of Wey () (ruled 534 — 492 BC) was the 28th ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Wey, the son of Duke Xiang of Wey. He was the subject of Chapter 15 of the ''Analects'' of Confucius. His given name was Yuan (). Family Duke Ling was ...

(r. 534–492 BC) in the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

. She was most famous for her meeting with

Confucius Confucius ( ; zh, s=, p=Kǒng Fūzǐ, "Master Kǒng"; or commonly zh, s=, p=Kǒngzǐ, labels=no; – ) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. C ...

in 496 BC. She was de facto ruler of Wey in the place of her spouse, who was disinterested in politics. Keith McMahon,
Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao
'

Life

Nanzi was a native of

Song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...

, possibly a daughter of Duke Ping of Song. At some point she married

and was favoured by her husband. Because her spouse lacked interest in government issues and effectively retired from politics, he left her to conduct the affairs of state for him with his approval. Alongside

Fu Hao Fu Hao () died c. 1200 BC, posthumous temple name Mu Xin (母辛), was one of the many wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty and also served as a military general and high priestess. Minimal evidence detailing Fu Hao's life and military ach ...

Yi Jiang Yi Jiang (; 11th century BC), was a Chinese queen and government minister. She was married to King Wu of Zhou (r. 1046–1043 BC). She was the first queen of the Zhou dynasty. She, Fu Hao and Lady Nanzi belonged to the few politically influential w ...

and

Queen Dowager Xuan Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin (; 338(?)–265 BC), also known as Mi Bazi (羋八子), was the first queen dowager in Chinese history. A concubine of King Huiwen of Qin and the mother of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, Queen Dowager Xuan acted as regent for h ...

, she is one of only four women noted as influential political players in China prior to

Empress Lü Empress (Dowager) Lü Zhi (241–18 August 180 BC), commonly known as Empress Lü () and formally Empress Gao of Han (), was the empress consort of Gaozu, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. They had two known children, Liu Ying (later Em ...

, and perhaps the first woman to have ruled a Chinese state. In 497 BC, Gongshu Shu (公叔戌), a minister of Wey, wanted to send away Nanzi's supporters in the court. In response, Nanzi accused Shu of plotting a coup. Already hated by Duke Ling for his wealth, Gongshu Shu fled to Lu. In 496 BC, Nanzi had an affair with Zhao of Song (depicted as her brother in some accounts), who had been summoned to Wey on her behalf. Duke Ling's eldest son Kuaikui heard a song that mocked the affair ("Since you have allayed the heat of your sow, why not send back our old boar?") and was enraged. Kuaikui tried to kill Nanzi but she escaped. Duke Ling took her side, and Kuaikui was driven out of Wey along with his courtiers. In 493 BC, Duke Ling died. Duchess Nanzi wanted to enthrone prince Ying in line with Duke Ling's wishes. Ying refused the proposition, but instead recommended Zhe, son of his exiled brother Kuaikui. Zhe succeeded Duke Ling as

Duke Chu of Wey Duke Chu of Wey (, died 469 BC) was 29th ruler of the ancient Chinese state of Wey. He ruled the duchy twice: the first time between 493 BC and 481 BC, the second time between 477 BC and 470 BC. His given name was Zhé (輒). Zhé was the son ...

. In 481 BC, Kuaikui returned and ousted his son to become

Duke Zhuang II of Wey Duke Zhuang of Wey (, died 478 BC) was a ruler of the Chinese state of Wey. He ruled the duchy between 480 BC until his death in 478 BC. His given name was Kuǎikùi (蒯聵). Kuaikui was the eldest son of Duke Ling of Wey. He was appointed th ...

. Nanzi was executed by the ruling Duke Zhuang in 480 BC.

Nanzi and Confucius

Nanzi is remembered for her meeting with

when the latter visited Wey in 496 BC. Nanzi summoned Confucius, telling him that he had to meet her first to gain access to her husband the duke. Confucius reluctantly paid Nanzi a visit. His disciple

Zilu Zhong You (542–480BC), commonly known by his courtesy names Zilu and Jilu, was one of the best known and most faithful disciples of Confucius. Among Confucius's disciples, he was the second in terms of ability and accomplishment in statesmans ...

was displeased about this, prompting Confucius to exclaim: "Wherein I have done improperly, may Heaven reject me, may Heaven reject me!" ("予所否者、天厭之、天厭之"). One month later, upon seeing Duke Ling and Nanzi riding the same chariot, Confucius commented "I have never seen a person who loves virtue as much as he loves beauty" before leaving Wey.

In popular culture

Nanzi is depicted in the ''Depraved Favorites'' section of the '' Biographies of Eminent women'' (Lienü zhuan) alongside

Kong Bo Ji Kong Bo Ji (6th-century BC – 476 BC), was a Chinese noblewoman. She was the daughter of Duke Ling of Wey (r. 534–492 BC), sister of Duke Zhuang II of Wey, and paternal aunt of Duke Chu of Wey. She was married to Kong Wenzi and the mother of ...

and described as "deceitful and lustful", blamed for the succession crisis and accused of having caused the "disorder of five generations". One separate story in the ''Benevolence and Wise'' section is about an unnamed wife of

, who is praised for her wisdom. The text doesn't establish whether this person is Nanzi. Nanzi is portrayed by

Zhou Xun Zhou Xun (, born 18 October 1974) is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the Four Dan Actresses of China. She gained international fame for her roles in '' Suzhou River'' (2000) and ''Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress'' ...

in the 2010 biopic

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanzi 480 BC deaths 5th-century BC Chinese people Executed royalty Duchesses 5th-century BC Chinese women