Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin (Chinese: 秦宣太后; 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 her son 307-305 and held de facto power in Qin for 35 years during the Warring States period. She was one of the first women confirmed to have acted as regent in China and one of the most politically influential women noted since Lady Nanzi.[1]
Queen Dowager Xuan was a native of the State of Chu. Her ancestral name is Mi, the same as the royal house of Chu. She held the rank 'bazi' in King Huiwen's harem, so she was also called Mi Bazi.[2][3] In 325 BC, Mi Bazi gave birth to Prince Ji. She had two other sons with King Huiwen.
King Huiwen died in 311 BC, succeeded by his son King Wu of Qin. King Wu suffered an accident and died without issue in 307 BC. With support from King Wuling of Zhao and Wei Ran, Mi Bazi's son, Prince Ji claimed the Qin throne as King Zhaoxiang. Mi Bazi became Queen Dowager Xuan and regent for King Zhaoxiang (who hadn't come of age), with assistance from Wei Ran.[2][3]
Queen dowager
Queen Dowager Xuan bestowed titles to her half brothers Wei Ran and Mi Rong, as well as her two other sons . These four, collectively known as "Four Nobles" would hold power over Qin for years.[4]
Queen Dowager Xuan represented Qin's interests and protected and expanded Qin's realm. However, she refused to fight her homeland Chu when the state of Han, under the attack of Chu, asked Qin for reinforcement.[5]
She entered illicit relations with the "barbarian" Yiqu king and had two sons with him, but later tricked and killed him. Following that coup, the Qin army marched into Yiqu territory at the queen dowager's orders; the Qin annihilated Yiqu and thus came to possess the Ordos region.[6] Yiqu's fall rendered Qin a safe northern border. Since there was no more hostile forces in the north of Qin, Yiqu's fall ensured Qin's successful expansion eastward.[7]
Downfall and death
In 271 BC, Fan Ju warned King Zhaoxiang that the power controlled by the Queen Dowager and the "Four Nobles" threatened the king's rule. King Zhaoxiang then stripped Queen Dowager Xuan of her power, exiled the "Four Nobles" from the capital, and appointed Fan Ju to be Chancellor of Qin in place of Wei Ran.[4] Queen Dowager Xuan died in 265 BC and was buried at Mount Li.[3]
^Keith McMahon, Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao
^ ab"Records of the Grand Historian vol 72 - Biography of the Marquis of Rang". zh.wikisource.org (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-05-25.
^ abc"Records of the Grand Historian vol 5 - Annals of Qin". zh.wikisource.org (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-05-25.
^ ab"Records of the Grand Historian vol 79 - Biographies of Fan Sui and Cai Ze". zh.wikisource.org (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-05-26.
^Sima, Qian (2006). Records of the Grand Historian. Zhonghua Book Company. ISBN9787101051469.
^di Cosmo, Nicola (2002). Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History. Cambridge, UK New York: Cambridge University Press. p. 142. ISBN978-052-1-77064-4.
^Ma, Feibai (1983). Qinshi Ji(秦集史). Zhonghua Book Company.
May 29, 2023
queen, dowager, xuan, chinese, 秦宣太后, also, known, bazi, 羋八子, first, queen, dowager, chinese, history, concubine, king, huiwen, mother, king, zhaoxiang, acted, regent, held, facto, power, years, during, warring, states, period, first, women, confirmed, have, ac. Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin Chinese 秦宣太后 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 her son 307 305 and held de facto power in Qin for 35 years during the Warring States period She was one of the first women confirmed to have acted as regent in China and one of the most politically influential women noted since Lady Nanzi 1 Queen Dowager XuanBorn338 BCState of ChuDied265 BC aged 73 BurialMount LiSpouseKing Huiwen of QinIssueKing Zhaoxiang of QinPrince Shi 公子市 Prince Li 公子悝 2 sons with King of YiquPosthumous nameQueen Dowager Xuan 宣太后 Contents 1 Early life 2 Queen dowager 3 Downfall and death 4 In fiction and popular culture 5 ReferencesEarly life EditQueen Dowager Xuan was a native of the State of Chu Her ancestral name is Mi the same as the royal house of Chu She held the rank bazi in King Huiwen s harem so she was also called Mi Bazi 2 3 In 325 BC Mi Bazi gave birth to Prince Ji She had two other sons with King Huiwen King Huiwen died in 311 BC succeeded by his son King Wu of Qin King Wu suffered an accident and died without issue in 307 BC With support from King Wuling of Zhao and Wei Ran Mi Bazi s son Prince Ji claimed the Qin throne as King Zhaoxiang Mi Bazi became Queen Dowager Xuan and regent for King Zhaoxiang who hadn t come of age with assistance from Wei Ran 2 3 Queen dowager EditQueen Dowager Xuan bestowed titles to her half brothers Wei Ran and Mi Rong as well as her two other sons These four collectively known as Four Nobles would hold power over Qin for years 4 Queen Dowager Xuan represented Qin s interests and protected and expanded Qin s realm However she refused to fight her homeland Chu when the state of Han under the attack of Chu asked Qin for reinforcement 5 She entered illicit relations with the barbarian Yiqu king and had two sons with him but later tricked and killed him Following that coup the Qin army marched into Yiqu territory at the queen dowager s orders the Qin annihilated Yiqu and thus came to possess the Ordos region 6 Yiqu s fall rendered Qin a safe northern border Since there was no more hostile forces in the north of Qin Yiqu s fall ensured Qin s successful expansion eastward 7 Downfall and death EditIn 271 BC Fan Ju warned King Zhaoxiang that the power controlled by the Queen Dowager and the Four Nobles threatened the king s rule King Zhaoxiang then stripped Queen Dowager Xuan of her power exiled the Four Nobles from the capital and appointed Fan Ju to be Chancellor of Qin in place of Wei Ran 4 Queen Dowager Xuan died in 265 BC and was buried at Mount Li 3 In fiction and popular culture EditPortrayed by Ning Jing in The Qin Empire II Alliance 2012 and The Qin Empire III 2017 Portrayed by Sun Li in The Legend of Mi Yue 2015 References Edit Keith McMahon Women Shall Not Rule Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao a b Records of the Grand Historian vol 72 Biography of the Marquis of Rang zh wikisource org in Chinese Retrieved 2022 05 25 a b c Records of the Grand Historian vol 5 Annals of Qin zh wikisource org in Chinese Retrieved 2022 05 25 a b Records of the Grand Historian vol 79 Biographies of Fan Sui and Cai Ze zh wikisource org in Chinese Retrieved 2022 05 26 Sima Qian 2006 Records of the Grand Historian Zhonghua Book Company ISBN 9787101051469 di Cosmo Nicola 2002 Ancient China and Its Enemies The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History Cambridge UK New York Cambridge University Press p 142 ISBN 978 052 1 77064 4 Ma Feibai 1983 Qinshi Ji 秦集史 Zhonghua Book Company Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Queen Dowager Xuan amp oldid 1146737228, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
