Empress Gi
| Empress Gi | |
|---|---|
| Empress of the Yuan dynasty Empress Dowager |
|
| Reign | 1340–1369/70 (29–30 years) |
| Born | 1315 |
| Died | 1369/70 (aged 54–55) |
| Spouse | Toghon Temür |
| Issue | Biligtü Khan Ayushiridara |
| Father | Gi Ja-o |
Empress Gi (or Empress Ki; Hangul: 기황후; 1315–1369/70), known as Empress Qi (or Ch'i; 奇皇后) in Chinese and Öljei Khutuk (Өлзий хутуг) in Mongolian, was one of the primary empresses of Toghon Temür of the Yuan dynasty and the mother of Biligtü Khan Ayushiridara. She was from a Goryeo, present-day Korea, aristocratic family.
Öljei Khutuk, the Mongolian name by which she came to be known, was born to Gi Jao (기자오; 奇子敖) in Haengju (행주; 幸州, modern Goyang) in Goryeo. She had an elder brother named Gi Cheol (Hangul: 기철; Hanja: 奇轍, Mongolian: Bayn Bukha). She became a concubine of Toghon Temür and was the mother of Ayushiridara. Lady Gi (also known as Lady Ki) was born into a lower-ranked aristocratic family of bureaucrats. Until the late 19th century, Goryeo society was divided into fourteen castes with the royalty at the top and slaves at the bottom. Massive numbers of Goryeo boy eunuchs, Goryeo girl concubines, falcons, ginseng, grain, cloth, silver, and gold were sent as tribute to the Mongol Yuan dynasty. Goryeo incurred negative consequences as a result of the eunuch Bak Bulhwa's actions. The tribute payment brought much harm to Goryeo. It was considered prestigious to marry Goryeo women. In 1333, the teenage Lady Gi was sent as "human tribute" to Yuan as the Goryeo kings had to provide a certain number of beautiful teenage girls to serve as concubines of the Mongol Emperors once every three years. Lady Gi did not wish to leave her family in Goryeo, and was taken to Yuan very much against her will as she had no desire to be "human tribute". The concubines of the Emperor were his slaves and in effect the Emperor's harem. After she arrived in Yuan, Gi chose to make the best of her situation by being the best concubine she could be. Extremely beautiful and skilled at dancing, conversation, singing, poetry, and calligraphy, she quickly become the favorite concubine of Toghon Temür. The Emperor fell in love with Lady Gi and it was soon noted that Toghon Temür was spending far more time in her company than he was with the first empress Danashri.
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