Empress Dowager Du facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady Du |
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| Empress Dowager Zhaoxian | |||||||||
Palace portrait on a Hanging scroll, kept in National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
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| Empress dowager of the Song dynasty | |||||||||
| Tenure | 4 February 960 – 17 July 961 | ||||||||
| Emperor | Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu) (son) | ||||||||
| Born | 902 or January 903 Dingzhou, Hebei, China |
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| Died | 17 July 961 (aged 58–59) Kaifeng, Henan, China |
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| Burial | An Mausoleum (安陵, in present-day Gongyi, Henan) | ||||||||
| Spouse | Zhao Hongyin | ||||||||
| Issue 3 others died young |
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| House | Zhao (by marriage) | ||||||||
| Father | Du Shuang (杜爽) | ||||||||
| Mother | Lady Fan (范氏) | ||||||||
Empress Dowager Du (杜太后) was an important woman in Chinese history. She lived around 902 to 961 AD. She was the wife of a general named Zhao Hongyin. She was also the mother of Emperor Taizu of Song, who started the Song dynasty.
After her death, another son, Emperor Taizong, became emperor. He said his mother had left a special will. This will supposedly said he should be the next ruler. Many historians today think this story about the will might not be true.
Becoming Empress Dowager
In 960, Empress Du's oldest son, Zhao Kuangyin, took control. He led a sudden change of power, called a coup d'état. This ended the Later Zhou dynasty. He made the young 7-year-old emperor step down. Then, Zhao Kuangyin declared himself the new emperor of the Song dynasty.
When Lady Du heard the news, she was not surprised. She simply said, "My son has always wanted to achieve great things." She was given the special title of empress dowager. This happened in a big ceremony with many important officials. But she did not look happy.
When asked why, she said, "I heard it is very hard to be a ruler. An emperor is above everyone. If he rules fairly, he earns respect. But if he rules badly, he can never go back to being a normal person. This is why I am worried." Emperor Taizu bowed and promised to remember her words.
The Golden Shelf Promise
Just one year later, Empress Dowager Du became very sick. Emperor Taizu personally took care of her. He even fed her medicine. When she got worse, a minister named Zhao Pu was called. He was there to write down her last wishes.
Empress Dowager Du asked her son, "Do you know why you became an emperor?" Emperor Taizu was crying and could not answer. His mother asked again. He replied that it was because of her and his ancestors' blessings.
"Wrong," his mother said. "It was because Emperor Shizong of (Later) Zhou let his young child become emperor. If the Later Zhou had an older emperor, you would not have become ruler. When you pass away, remember to give the throne to your younger brother. Our country is big, and there are many people. An older emperor is a blessing for the dynasty."
Emperor Taizu cried and agreed. Empress Dowager Du also told Zhao Pu, "You must also remember and follow my words." Zhao Pu wrote down this conversation. He signed it and sealed it in a special golden shelf. This shelf was kept by trusted palace helpers.
Family Life
Lady Du came from an official family. She was the oldest of eight children. When she grew up, she married general Zhao Hongyin. They had seven children together:
- Zhao Guangji (赵光济), their first son, who died young.
- Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), their second son, born in 927. He later became the first Song emperor.
- Zhao Kuangyi (赵匡义), their third son, born in 939. He was later known as Zhao Guangyi and then Zhao Jiong.
- Zhao Kuangmei (赵匡美), their fourth son, born in 947. He was later called Zhao Guangmei and then Zhao Tingmei.
- Zhao Kuangzan (赵匡赞), their fifth son, who also died young.
- A daughter who first married Mi Fude (米福德). After he died, she married Gao Huaide.
- Another daughter who died young.
Lady Du was a strict mother. She taught her children to follow rules and traditions. Her husband, Zhao Hongyin, passed away in 956.
