Empress Gao (1032–1093) was a Chinese empress of the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the res ...

, married to Emperor Yingzong. She served as the regent of China during the minority of her grandson,

Emperor Zhezong Emperor Zhezong of Song (4 January 1077 – 23 February 1100), personal name Zhao Xu, was the seventh emperor of the Song dynasty of China. His original personal name was Zhao Yong but he changed it to "Zhao Xu" after his coronation. He reig ...

, from 1085 until her death in 1093.Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles:
Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644
'

Life

Gao was from Mencheng in Hao Province. She was the niece of her predecessor, her maternal aunt Empress Cao, who was the empress of

Emperor Renzong of Song Emperor Renzong of Song (30 May 1010 – 30 April 1063), personal name Zhao Zhen, was the fourth emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned for about 41 years from 1022 to his death in 1063, and was the longest reigning Song dynasty empe ...

. She was chosen as the principal consort of the heir apparent by her aunt, Empress Cao. She had four sons and two daughters. In 1063, Emperor Yingzong succeeded Emperor Renzong, and Gao became Empress. In 1067, her spouse was succeeded by her son,

Emperor Shenzong of Song Emperor Shenzong of Song (25 May 1048 – 1 April 1085), personal name Zhao Xu, was the sixth emperor of the Song dynasty of China. His original personal name was Zhao Zhongzhen but he changed it to "Zhao Xu" after his coronation. He reigned ...

, and she was named

Empress Dowager Empress dowager (also dowager empress or empress mother) () is the English language translation of the title given to the mother or widow of a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese emperor in the Chinese cultural sphere. The title was a ...

. Her tenure as empress consort and empress dowager was undistinguished, and she had no power or influence during the reign of her spouse or son. During her son Shenzong's reign, she opposed the reform policy of

Wang Anshi Wang Anshi ; ; December 8, 1021 – May 21, 1086), courtesy name Jiefu (), was a Chinese economist, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. He served as chancellor and attempted major and controversial socioeconomic reforms ...

and supported

Sima Guang Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...

Regency

Upon the death of her son Shenzong in 1085, her underage grandson became Emperor Zhezong of Song. She was elevated to

Grand Empress Dowager Grand empress dowager (also grand dowager empress or grand empress mother) ( (太皇太后)) was a title given to the grandmother, or a woman from the same generation, of a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese emperor in the Chinese cultural ...

and became regent of China during the minority of her grandson. As Regent, Gao appointed conservatives such as

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

, who discontinued the New Policies initiated by

. As regent, she held court behind a lowered screen alongside the child emperor and used the same ceremonial prerogatives of a ruling emperor: her birthdays were celebrated with special names and diplomatic envoys were sent in her name rather than the emperor's. She was known to be strict toward her own relatives and refused to promote them to official posts during her reign. She has been traditionally recommended for her intelligence and good judgement in choosing officials, and her refusal to admit any influence to her relatives. Her government has been praised for restoring stability and keeping peace to the realm, but also criticized for being a period of reactionary passivity. In 1092, she selected Empress Meng to be the empress of her grandson. Gao was unwilling to retire when the emperor reached the age of seventeen, traditionally the age of majority. Her grandson the emperor favored the reformists of his father and resented both the conservatism and domineering ways of his grandmother. Gao kept her position of regent until her death. On her deathbed, she advised her officials to retire.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gao, Empress 1032 births 1093 deaths Song dynasty empresses Song dynasty empresses dowager Chinese grand empresses dowager 11th-century women rulers 11th-century Chinese women 11th-century Chinese people