Wang Yuanji

Wang Yuanji
王元姬
Empress dowager of the Jin Dynasty
Tenure9 February 266[1] – 20 April 268
Born217[a]
Tancheng County, Shandong
Died20 April 268 (aged 51)[2]
Luoyang, Henan
Burial
SpouseSima Zhao
Issue
Detail
Names
Family name: Wang (王)
Given name: Yuanji (元姬)
Posthumous name
Empress Wenming (文明皇后)
HouseHouse of Sima
FatherWang Su
MotherLady Yang (羊氏)[3]

Wang Yuanji (217 – 20 April 268[4]) was a Chinese noble lady, aristocrat and later empress dowager of Jin dynasty, who lived during the Three Kingdoms period. She was the wife of Sima Zhao, a regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. She became the empress dowager during the reign of her son Sima Yan, who ended the Wei regime and founded the Jin dynasty. She was posthumously honoured as "Empress Wenming" (literally "civil and understanding empress") after her death.

She is known for her wisdom, good moral character, contributions to the origin and stabilization of the Jin dynasty, and for predicting Zhong Hui's rebellion in 264.

  1. ^ ding'mao day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Tai'shi era, per Emperor Wu's biography in Book of Jin
  2. ^ a b ([泰始]四年,后崩,時年五十二, ...) Jin Shu vol. 31.
  3. ^ In 267, Lady Yang was posthumously conferred the title of xianjun (县君) and given the posthumous name 'Jing" (靖); her full posthumous title was "Lady Jing of Pingyang" (平阳靖君). (帝以后母羊氏未崇谥号,泰始三年下诏曰:“...其封夫人为县君,依德纪谥,主者详如旧典。”于是使使持节谒者何融追谥为平阳靖君。) Jin Shu, vol.31. Also, it is unknown if Lady Yang was related to Yang Hu and Yang Huiyu.
  4. ^ According to Sima Yan's biography in Book of Jin, Wang Yuanji died on the wu'zi day of the 3rd month of the 4th year of the Tai'shi era of his reign. This corresponds to 20 Apr 268 on the Julian calendar. [(泰始四年)三月戊子,皇太后王氏崩。 ] Jin Shu, vol.03


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