Lady Zhang Chunhua
| Zhang Chunhua | |
|---|---|
| Born | 189 |
| Died | 247 (aged 58) |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 張春華 |
| Simplified Chinese | 张春华 |
| Pinyin | Zhāng Chūnhuá |
| Wade–Giles | Chang Ch'un-hua |
| Posthumous name |
|
Zhang Chunhua (189-247) was the wife of Sima Yi, a prominent politician, general and regent of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. She was posthumously honoured as Empress Xuanmu in 265 by her grandson Sima Yan, who ended the Wei regime and established the Jin dynasty that year.
Zhang Chunhua was from Pinggao County (平臯縣), Henei Commandery (河內郡), which is in present-day Wen County, Henan. She was born in the late Eastern Han dynasty during the reign of Emperor Ling or Emperor Shao. Her father, Zhang Wang (張汪), served as the Prefect (令) of Suyi County (粟邑縣) in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Her mother, whose maiden family name was "Shan" (山), was a grandaunt of Shan Tao, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. In her youth, Zhang Chunhua was already known for her good moral conduct, intelligence and wisdom.
Zhang Chunhua married Sima Yi and bore him three sons – Sima Shi, Sima Zhao and Sima Gan (司馬幹). She also bore him a daughter whose personal name was not recorded in history, but was historically known as Princess Nanyang (南陽公主) of the Jin dynasty.
Once, the warlord Cao Cao wanted to recruit Sima Yi into the Han civil service, but Sima lied that he was ill and stayed at home. One day, while Sima Yi was drying his books under the sun, there was a sudden downpour, so Sima immediately rushed out to collect his books. One of Sima Yi's maids saw what happened. Zhang Chunhua was worried that the maid would leak out news that Sima Yi was well and get their family into trouble, so she killed the maid to silence her. She then personally prepared meals for the family. Sima Yi was very impressed with her.
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