Empress Xiaochengjing
| Empress Zhang | |||||
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| Born | 1471 | ||||
| Died | 1541 (aged 69–70) | ||||
| Spouse | Hongzhi Emperor (m. 1487–1505) | ||||
| Issue |
Zhengde Emperor Prince Dao of Wei Princess Taikang |
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| Posthumous name | |
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| 孝成靖肅莊慈哲懿翊天贊聖敬皇后 |
Empress Xiaochengjing (1471 – 1541), was a Chinese Empress consort of the Ming Dynasty, married to the Hongzhi Emperor and mother of the Zhengde Emperor.
Empress Xiaochengjing née Zhang was the daughter of Zhang Luan (張巒). She was born and in Xingji (nowadays Qing county, Hebei province). In 1487, she married then-Crown Prince Youcheng and was thus give the title of crown princess. She was created empress when her husband succeeded the throne later that year. She remains the only empress to an adult emperor who had no concubines in Chinese history. The emperor did not want other wives or concubines because he is said to have loved her sincerely.
Empress Zhang was described as a "foolish and demanding woman, capable of no more than petty faults", but those included a constant desire for expensive objects, credulity about the teachings of the most specious Buddhist and Taoïst clerics, and limitless favour for her family, especially her two unrestaindly venel brothers. This pair, Zhang Heling (張鶴齡) and Zhang Yanling (張延齡), with the support of their sister the Empress and her mother, Lady Gin, made careers of misusing their high position.
In 1505, the Hongzhi Emperor died and her son ascended the throne as the Zhengde Emperor. Being his mother she was created empress dowager. In 1510 she was bestowed upon the titles of Cishou (慈寿皇太后).
In 1521, the childless emperor Zhengde died and his cousin, Zhu Houcong, ascended the throne as the Jiajing Emperor. It was thought that he would continue the line of succession in the role of the deceased emperor's adoptive younger brother and treat his aunt, Empress Zhang, and deceased uncle as father and mother. A crisis developed when Jiajing's mother, Lady Chiang, arrived at Tongzhou. She heard that she was to be received as a princess rather than as an empress and that her son was pressured to refer her as his aunt. She threatened to return to Anlu with her son, who informed Empress Zhang he intended to abdicate. An edict was issued under Empress Zhang's seal giving her an imperial title.
Empress Zhang, however, continued to regard Lady Chiang as an unimportant princess, receiving her with the courtesies proper for an imperial princess, her title of empress dowager notwithstanding. Her behaviour infuriated the emperor no less than it did his mother; henceforth, he used every means at his disposal to humiliate and intimidate Empress Zhang and her family.
In 1522, Jiajing married Lady Chen, who was chosen by Empress Zhang as his Empress. Jiajing did not warm to his new bride and had little to do with her. In the spring of 1524, the Jiajing emperor refused her a formal audience on the occasion of her birthday, whereas several weeks earlier he had arranged elaborate ceremonies in honor of his mother's birthday. The officials who protested were arrested, and the emperor let it be known that he would not tolerate further criticism of his private life. He clearly intended to honor his mother at his aunt's expense in this and court ceremonies.
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