Empress Xiaochengjing

Empress Xiaochengjing (1471 – 28 August 1541), of the Zhang clan, was a Chinese empress consort of the Ming dynasty. She was married to the Hongzhi Emperor and was the mother of the Zhengde Emperor.

Family Background and Early Life:

Her birth occurred in 1471 in Xingji, now known as Qing County in Hebei Province. Her father was Zhang Luan (張巒). In 1487, she married Crown Prince Youcheng, becoming his wife and receiving the title of crown princess. Later that year, upon her husband's accession to the throne, she was elevated to empress.

Marriage and Reign as Empress:

As empress, she was notable for being the only empress in Chinese history to an adult emperor who had no concubines, as the Hongzhi Emperor is said to have loved her sincerely and chose to have no other wives or concubines. Her tenure as empress was characterized by her familial connections and court influence, although contemporary descriptions depict her as "foolish and demanding," with tendencies towards petty faults, including a desire for expensive objects, credulity towards certain religious teachings, and favoritism towards her family members. Her two brothers, Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling, received high positions and engaged in misusing their influence with her support.

Ascension and Title Changes:

In 1505, her husband died, and her son ascended as the Zhengde Emperor. She was then granted the title of empress dowager and, in 1510, was bestowed the title Cishou, translating to Empress Dowager Cishou (慈寿皇太后).

Later Court Events:

Following the death of her son in 1521, her nephew Zhu Houcong ascended the throne as the Jiajing Emperor. There was an expectation that he would continue the line of succession and treat Empress Zhang and the late Emperor as parental figures. Tensions arose when Lady Chiang, the Jiajing Emperor's mother, contested her reception as an imperial princess and with her son’s rumored intention to abdicate. Empress Zhang issued an edict under her seal elevating her status during this conflict. During Jiajing's reign, her relationship with the emperor deteriorated; he married Lady Chen in 1522, but he showed little affection for her, and in 1524 refused her a formal birthday audience. In 1525, her palace was destroyed by fire, leading to her relocation to a smaller residence, as imperial building projects were curtailed during her lifetime.

Death and Burial:

Empress Zhang died in 1541. Her burial was conducted with minimal ceremony, in accordance with the customs observed at the time.

Art Patronage:

She was a patron of art during the Ming dynasty, reflecting the influence of courtly women. A notable work attributed to her is the "Ordination Scroll," a handscroll that depicts her ordination as a Taoist priestess in 1493. The scroll features divine women called "jade maidens," Taoist deities, and her ordaining priest. This artwork is housed at the San Diego Museum of Art. She also influenced other artworks, including pieces attributed to Wu Wei and Zhang Lu, such as the handscroll "Su Shi Returning to Court." Her patronage of the arts was a means to legitimize and reinforce her power and influence within the court.

Titles:

Throughout her life, she held various titles, including Lady Zhang, Crown Princess, Empress, Empress Dowager, and Empress Dowager Cishou, with specific titles being conferred during the reigns of different emperors.

Children:

As empress, she bore:

- Zhu Houzhao (the Zhengde Emperor), born 26 October 1491, died 20 April 1521.

- Zhu Houwei (Prince Dao of Wei), born 1 January 1495, died 9 March 1496.

- Princess Taikang (Xiu Rong), born 15 February 1497, died 1 October 1498.