Lady Chen

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen.

Lady Chen (Chinese: 陈夫人; fl.130 - 175) was the wife of Liu Hong (刘鸿), Prince Xiao of Bohai (勃海孝王, a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang of Han), and the biological mother of Liu Zuan who became Emperor Zhi of Han.

She entered Liu Hong's harem by her talent as an entertainer. Besides Liu Zuan, Lady Chen was not recorded to have any other children.[1]

In February 145, Emperor Chong of Han died, and as there was no heir to emperors An and Shun, the eight year old (by East Asian reckoning) Liu Zuan ascended the throne. The following year, Liu Zuan was poisoned by the general Liang Ji. General Liang was also the reason why Lady Chen was not given the status of either an empress, a royal wife or an empress dowager. She was widowed in August or September 147,[2] when Liu Hong died.

However, on 24 November 175,[3] Emperor Ling of Han honoured the mother of Emperor Chong by bestowing on her the title "noble lady of Xian hill", while Lady Chen was entitled "concubine of Prince Xiao of Bohai" (勃海孝王妃).[4] Nothing further was known of Lady Chen after this.

  1. ^ According to his biography in Book of the Later Han, Liu Hong died without any heirs. Also, being a relatively minor prince, it is unlikely that any daughters he might have were recorded.
  2. ^ 7th month of the 1st year of the Jian'he era, per Emperor Huan's biography in Book of the Later Han. The month corresponds to 14 Aug to 12 Sep 147 in the Julian calendar.
  3. ^ dingsi day of the 10th month of the 4th year of the Xi'ping era, per Emperor Ling's biography in Book of the Later Han
  4. ^ Book of the Later Han《后汉书》、Zizhi Tongjian《资治通鉴》