Empress Gongrangzhang

Empress Hu (Chinese: 胡皇后; pinyin: Hú huánghòu), born Hu Shanxiang around 1400 in Jining, Shandong Province, China, died on December 5, 1443. She was a consort of the Ming dynasty and held the title of empress during her husband's reign, posthumously honored as Empress Gongrangzhang.

Early Life:

Hu Shanxiang was born in Jining, a city in present-day Shandong Province. Her father was Hu Rong, a baihu (company commander). In 1417, she became the primary consort of Zhu Zhanji, who was the grandson-heir of the Ming emperor. In 1420, she gave birth to a daughter, Princess Shunde. Following Zhu Zhanji's ascension as Hongxi Emperor in 1424, she was appointed Crown Princess.

Marriage and Empress Consort:

When Zhu Zhanji became the emperor known as the Xuande Emperor in 1425, Hu Shanxiang was elevated to the position of empress. She was described as weak and ill, and her tenure as empress was marked by palace political dynamics. The emperor preferred Noble Consort Sun, who bore him a son in 1427, designated as Crown Prince. In 1428, due to her inability to produce a son and her health issues, Empress Hu was deposed in favor of the Crown Prince's mother. She was assigned the title Jingci Xianshi (静慈仙师), a title traditionally given to deposed empresses, though she was not required to become a nun.

Later Life:

Following her deposition, Empress Hu received some recognition and sympathy from her mother-in-law, the Empress Dowager, who often invited her to the Qingning Palace and included her in palace banquets alongside her successor, Empress Sun. After the death of the Empress Dowager in 1442, Hu lost her court influence. She continued to be ranked as a consort rather than an empress.

Death and Posthumous Recognition:

Empress Hu died of illness in 1443 and was buried in Jinshan according to rites for a concubine. Her status was not immediately restored after her death. However, after the death of Empress Dowager Sun in 1462, her posthumous status was reinstated in 1463, and she was posthumously honored with the title Empress Gongrang Chengshun Kangmu Jingci Zhang (恭讓誠順康穆静慈章皇后). A mausoleum was constructed for her reflecting her restored imperial rank.

Titles:

- Lady Hu (from 20 May 1402)

- Consort of the Imperial Grandson-heir (from 1417)

- Crown Princess (from 1424)

- Empress (from 27 June 1425)

- Jingci Xianshi (from 1428)

- Empress Gongrang Chengshun Kangmu Jingci Zhang (from 1463)

Offspring:

- Princess Shunde (1420–1443), first daughter of the Xuande Emperor

- Princess Yongqing (d. 1433), second daughter of the Xuande Emperor

In Popular Culture:

She has been portrayed by Deng Jiajia in the 2019 Chinese television series "Ming Dynasty" and by Zhang Nan in the 2022 series "Royal Feast."

References:

Sources include writings by Lily Xiao Hong Lee and Sue Wiles, notably "Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Tang Through Ming, 618-1644" (2014) and "Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644" (2015).