Empress Yang (30 June 1162 – 18 January 1233), formally titled Empress Gongsheng and also known as Yang Meizi, was a Chinese empress consort whose political acumen enabled her to serve as de facto empress regnant for years. She is considered "one of the most powerful empresses of the Song dynasty and...[possibly] the Southern Song dynasty's most powerful Empress."
Yang is generally described as intelligent, ruthless and, at times, malicious, while outwardly maintaining a saintly and liberal image. She was the second Song empress after Empress Dowager Liu to come from a humble background and, like Liu, was an astute wielder of power both at court and in the palace. Her later claim to be from a distinguished military family is believed by modern historians to be a fabrication for political reasons.
Recent historiography uncovered a connection between Empress Yang and an artist named Yang Meizi, who were believed for centuries to have been two different people. This discovery has led to the reappraisal of previous narratives involving both names. Yang Meizi, hitherto dismissed as concerned chiefly with romance and beauty, was granted a dimension of leadership and political acumen. Empress Yang, already respected, gained an aspect of humanity which was formerly foreign to her image.
Biography It is said that she came from Kuaiji, reportedly the biological or adopted daughter of courtesan,南宋·周密《齐东野语·杨太后》："慈明杨太后养母善声伎……如杭，或导之入慈福宫为乐部头。后方十岁，以为则剧孩儿"。 Zhang Shansheng (d. 1170), who became an actress in the service of Empress Dowager Wu. Historical accounts suggest that Zhang Shansheng left the palace, but allegedly learned through a vision that her daughter would become a famous politician. Zhang Shansheng then returned to the palace as a court musician, rising through the ranks due to her musical abilities. It is recorded that one day, Empress Wu called for Madame Zhang only to learn that Madame Zhang had died. Yang Meizi, her daughter (also known as Yang Guizhi (杨桂枝)), was the natural substitute, and she was swiftly brought into the palace. From the age of ten Yang took her mother's place as entertainer, and became renowned for her skill at playing the pipa.明·田汝成《西湖游览志余》："杨皇后在杨才人以下，年十岁，为则剧孩儿。及长，以琵琶隶慈福宫"。
As imperial concubine In 1195, Yang married Zhao Kuo, the future Emperor Ningzong, and was named the Lady of Pingle Commandery (平乐郡夫人). She was promoted to the title jieyu (婕妤) in 1197 when her mentor and advocate, Grand Empress Dowager Wu, died at the age of 82. Needing a new way to shore up her position, Yang had the palace eunuchs find an official who was willing to be her accomplice in changing her family history, and with his cooperation, she claimed to be the sister of the official Yang Cishan, and assumed his surname. After this, she invited him to the palace for a "reunion feast" to celebrate the discovery of her long lost family, who would prove to be very helpful in her rise to power. In 1199, Yang was promoted to wanyi (婉仪), and, in 1200, to guifei (贵妃) the highest title a secondary wife could attain.
As imperial noble consort In 1200 Ningzong's official consort, Empress Han, died of an illness. Consort Cao (曹美人), described as gentle and submissive, and Yang, who had borne the Emperor two sons, were the front-runners to succeed her as Empress. Yang had other advantages as, following the death of Empress Wu, she had effectively run the harem and presided over most duties of the Inner Court. Han Tuozhou, an uncle of the deceased Empress Han, advised Ningzong against choosing Yang, seeing her ambition and talent as a potential threat. According to one story, Ningzong arranged a dinner for each consort to decide which one to elevate. Yang allowed Cao to have her dinner first. This meant that the emperor came to Yang's dinner at night, already somewhat drunk from his dinner with Cao. Yang convinced the drunk emperor to sign an edict making Cao empress at the table. This first edict was intercepted by Han Tuozhou, as she had expected. Believing he had won, he relaxed his guard, allowing Yang to outmaneuver him and convince Ningzong to sign another edict which named her as empress. Another version simply states that Ningzong simply preferred Yang's intelligence and knowledge over Cao's demureness, and thus Yang did not have to do much to convince him.
As empress consort Empress Yang quickly proved her worth as empress. Ningzong, a man who had been brought up as a pampered child, was the unfortunate victim of the Song Dynasty's recent family squabbles. Most notable among these were the conflict between his father, Emperor Guangzong and his grandfather, Emperor Xiaozong, as well as the related rivalry between his mother, Empress Li, and his great-grandmother, Empress Wu. As a result, he appears to have never emotionally recovered from these psychological wounds. Even if he was mature and possessed the qualities of a good ruler, he was a man of frail health and questionable mental faculties, which suited Yang's purposes.
Yang never forgave Han Tuozhou for trying to prevent her from becoming empress. She tried several times to turn the emperor against him, first by appointing members of the Wu Clan to power. The intent was to rival the growing influence of the Han Clan under Tuozhou's leadership. In addition Yang had her adopted brother, Yang Cishan, promoted to a high military position, which increased her political power even more.
Following the Jin-Song war of 1205–07, which ended in a stalemate, Yang was able to increase her support while Han Touzhou, whose militaristic policies had caused the conflict for no real return, had become unpopular with the court at large. The discontent allowed Yang to sow the seeds that would allow her to orchestrate his downfall, as the Emperor grew less confident in him. Finally, with her smear campaign successful, Empress Yang ordered Yang Cishun and her ally, Shi Miyuan, to murder Han on his way to the Palace for the Daily Assembly. He was intercepted at the Sixth Platoon Bridge by the Imperial Guard Commander Xie, dragged into the Yuchin garden right outside the Imperial City, and bludgeoned to death by a mob of infuriated elite Palace guards. While Ningzong discovered the plot, Yang had pleaded with him to stay out of it, and he agreed not to interfere once she threatened to commit suicide.
For carrying out his task, Shi Miyuan was rewarded with promotion to Minister of Rites. In 1208, he became Grand Chancellor, a position through which he came to dominate the Imperial Court. He placed numerous spies within the Palace, including in the harem of the designated crown prince, ensuring that nothing happened in the palace without him knowing. For her own part, Empress Yang was capable of mimicking Ningzong's handwriting, and she sometimes used this talent for "ghostwriting" to achieve her ends. Notably, it is highly possible that she wrote the imperial "consents" for Han Tuozhou to be expelled and assassinated. Ghostwriting was used extensively by rulers in and around the Song dynasty as a way of delegating imperial responsibility, but was sometimes cast in a bad light because many ghostwriters were of low class status.
Consolidation of power Sources:Zhao, Yi. Study on the Female Painting and Calligraphy in the Southern Song Dynasty from the Controversies of "Hundred Flowers Scroll." Jiang Su University, Master Dissertation, 2017.
Although Empress Yang enjoyed political favour, she made a point of acting with self restraint on a number of occasions, seemingly to avoid negative comparisons with previous Song Empress Liu E, as well as Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. Nonetheless, a balance of power existed at the Imperial Court between the bureaucracy and the Inner Palace, and a relationship which was mutually beneficial ensued.
Yang's foster son and crown prince designate, Zhao Kai, loved and respected her as though she were his mother, leading her to support his claims and grant him political counsel. Furthermore, Emperor Ningzong grew to trust her enough to make her his secret chief advisor, a post in which she revised his petitions and suggested appointments and dismissals of officials in the Court. Her powers reached their height when she had the Imperial Seal, previously misused by Han Touzhou, returned to the palace and specifically to her care.
For fifteen years she experienced little opposition, as Shi Miyuan controlled the Grand Chancellory. However in 1220 the new crown prince, Zhao Hong, began to argue against her involvement in political affairs. Shi, also threatened by Hong, then found a new candidate in Zhao Yuju, who would be proclaimed as Emperor Lizong on Ningzong's death. Yang was apparently reluctant to do this, although if accounts are to be believed Shi persuaded her, allegedly by threatening to massacre her adopted family. Zhao Hong was deposed and forced to accept the situation, after which he was exiled to the country.
As empress dowager and regent In gratitude for giving him the throne, Emperor Lizong invited Yang to reign as his co-regent behind a lowered silk and pearl screen. She accepted the offer and ruled jointly with him until her death in 1233, eight years later. To the opposition of many at court, she selected Empress Xie Daoqing rather than the emperor's favorite Consort Jia (died 1247) as empress.
In assuming the co-regency with Lizong, Yang became the true wielder of power at the Imperial Court, able to issue just about any decree she wanted when she wanted. She also became the arbitrator of bureaucratic disputes and granted special names to her birthday celebrations. In 1226, Yang was named Empress Dowager Shouming. In 1228, she was additionally named Empress Dowager Shoumingcirui (寿明慈睿皇太后). In 1231, she was named Empress Dowager Shoumingrenfucirui (寿明仁福慈睿皇太后)
She proved not so different from her predecessors when she sent envoys to the Jurchens in her own name, as well as having open meetings with the Courtiers, especially Shi Miyuan. It was rumoured, but never proven, that they were lovers based on this closeness. She went the extra step of styling herself Her Imperial Majesty, and the Officials referred to her as "Bixia", a title reserved solely for Emperors. As Emperor Lizong allowed himself to be politically dominated by his foster mother, her actions ultimately made her appear no less than an Emperor herself.
It was during Emperor Lizong's regime that she further cemented her political footing. Having been deprived of the throne, Zhao Hong yielded to pressure from his supporters and raised a revolt to return to the capital and take the throne by force. The coup d'état, which was planned to be a quick victory, was defeated within two weeks, after which Yang declared Hong a rebel and traitor. He was tried by a State Tribunal and, while the Emperor was unwilling to kill Hong, the verdict was death. Yang issued an edict ordering Hong to commit suicide by strangulation.
Despite all this, her outwardly kind nature made her a popular figure among the people, who idolized her as the living embodiment of the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin. In addition, Yang was a staunch patron of the Arts and Buddhism. She spent much of her personal wealth renovating and expanding temple complexes, funding the academies, as well as retraining and re-equipping the largely inefficient Southern Song army.
On a number of occasions Yang carried out religious ceremonies in public, which accorded her a celestial aura. For example, as Empress Dowager, she carried out the Sericultural Ceremony to the goddess of silkworms, despite the ceremony being reserved for Empress Consorts. The worship at the Ancestral Temple, which had become another popular trend for powerful Empress Dowagers, was supposed to be done by the Emperor alone. Yang was the third and last woman to perform these rites after Empresses Liu E and Wu.