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The following is a list of empresses and queens consort of China, who formed the highest tier of the imperial Chinese harem system. China has periodically been divided into kingdoms as well as united under empires, resulting in consorts titled both queen and empress. The empress title could also be given posthumously, as to the mothers and grandmothers of the founders of dynasties.
Empresses and queens
The title of empress (皇后, húanghòu) could also be given posthumously. The posthumous empresses are listed separately by the year they were given the title.
Predynastic Zhou (c. 1150–1046 BCE)
| Name | Picture | Birth | Became Queen | Ceased to be Queen | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tai Si (太姒) | c. 12th century BCE | 1099 BCE | 1050 BCE | c. 11th century BCE | King Wen |
Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE)
| Name | Picture | Became Queen | Ceased to be Queen | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Yi Jiang (邑姜) | 1046 BCE | 1043 BCE | King Wu | ||
| Wáng Sì (王姒) | King Cheng | ||||
| Wáng Jiāng (王姜) | King Kang | ||||
| Queen Fáng (房后) | King Zhao | ||||
| Wáng Zǔ Jiāng (王俎姜) | King Mu | ||||
| Wáng Guī (王媯) | King Gong | ||||
| Wáng Bó Jiāng (王伯姜) | King Yi | ||||
| Wáng Jīng (王京) | King Xiao | ||||
| Wáng Jí (王姞) | King Yi | ||||
| Shēn Jiāng (王姞) | King Li | ||||
| Queen Jiang (姜后) | 827 BCE | 782 BCE | King Xuan | ||
| Queen Shēn (申后) | 782 BCE | 772 BCE | King You | ||
| Bao Si (褒姒) | 779 BCE | 771 BCE | |||
| Jì Jì Jiāng (紀季姜) | King Huan | ||||
| Chén Guī (陈妫) | King Hui | ||||
| Queen Dí (翟后) | King Xiang | ||||
| Qí Jiāng (周灵王) | King Ling | ||||
| Queen Mù (穆后) | 527 BCE | King Jing |
Western Han dynasty (202 BCE–9 CE)
| Name | Picture | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Lü Zhi | Lü Wen, Prince Xuan of Lü Princess Consort Xuan |
241 BCE | 202 BCE | 195 BCE | 18 Aug 180 BCE | Emperor Gaozu of Han | ||
| Empress Zhang Yan | Zhang Ao, Prince of Zhao Princess Yuan of Lu |
192 BCE | 192 BCE | 188 BCE | 163 BCE | Emperor Hui of Han | ||
| Empress Lü | Lü Lu (呂祿) | c.205 BCE | 184 BCE | 180 BCE | c.180 BCE | Emperor Houshao of Han | ||
| Empress Dou | Dou Chong, Marquis Ancheng | 205 BCE | 179 BCE | 179 BCE | 157 BCE | 135 BCE | Emperor Wen of Han | |
| Empress Bo | 158 BCE | 157 BCE | 151 BCE | 147 BCE | Emperor Jing of Han | |||
| Empress Wang Zhi | Wang Zhong Zang Er |
173 BCE | 150 BCE | 126 BCE | ||||
| Empress Chen Jiao | Chen Wu, Marquess of Tangyi Liu Piao, Princess Guantao |
141 BCE | 130 BCE | c.110 BCE | Emperor Wu of Han | |||
| Empress Wei Zifu | Madam Wei (衛媼) | 128 BCE | 91 BCE | |||||
| Empress Shangguan | Lady Huo | 89 BCE(?) | 84 BCE | 83 BCE | 74 BCE | 37 BCE | Emperor Zhao of Han | |
| Empress Xu Pingjun | Xu Guanghan | c.90 BCE | c. 76 BCE | 74 BCE | 71 BCE | Emperor Xuan of Han | ||
| Empress Huo Chengjun | Huo Guang Lady Xian |
70 BCE: | 66 BCE | 54 BCE | ||||
| Empress Wang | Wang Fengguang, Marquess of Qiongcheng | 64 BCE | 49 BCE | 16 BCE | ||||
| Empress Wang Zhengjun | Wang Jin, Marquess of Yangping Li Qin |
71 BCE | c.50 BCE | 48 BCE | 33 BCE | 13 AD | Emperor Yuan of Han | |
| Empress Xu | Xu Jia, the Marquess of Ping'en | 31 BCE | 18 BCE | 8 BCE | Emperor Cheng of Han | |||
| Empress Zhao Feiyan | c. 32 BCE | 16 BCE | 7 BCE | 1 BCE | ||||
| Empress Fu | Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang | 6 BCE | 1 BCE | Emperor Ai of Han | ||||
| Empress Wang | Wang Mang Lady Wang |
8 BCE | 4 CE | 5 CE | 23 CE | Emperor Ping of Han | ||
Xin dynasty (9–23)
| Name | Parents | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Wang | Wang Xian, Marquess of Yichin | 9 | 21 | Emperor Wang Mang | ||
| Empress Shi | Shi Chen (史諶) | 23 | ||||
Eastern Han dynasty (25–220)
| Name | Picture | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guo Shengtong | Guo Chang, Marquess Si of Yin'an | c. 6 | 24 | 10 July 26 | 1 December 41 Deposed |
22 July 52 | Emperor Guangwu of Han | |
| Empress Yin Lihua | Yin Mu Deng |
5 | 41 | 29 March 57 Husband's death |
26 February 64 | |||
| Empress Ma | General Ma Yuan | Late 30s | 49 | 8 April 60 | 5 September 75 Husband's death |
16 August 79 | Emperor Ming of Han | |
| Empress Dou | Dou Xun Princess Piyang |
c. 63 | 77 | 3 April 78 | 9 April 88 Husband's death |
8 October 97 | Emperor Zhang of Han | |
| Empress Yin | Yin Gang | c. 80 | 92 | 31 March 96 | 24 July 102 Deposed |
c. August 102 | Emperor He of Han | |
| Empress Deng Sui | Deng Xun Lady Yin |
81 | 96 | 21 November 102 | 13 February 106 Husband's death |
5 April 121 | ||
| Empress Yan Ji | Yan Chang | 114 | 1 June 115 | 30 April 125 Husband's death |
28 February 126 | Emperor An of Han | ||
| Empress Liang Na | Liang Shang | 116 | 128 | 2 March 132 | 20 September 144 Husband's death |
6 April 150 | Emperor Shun of Han | |
| Empress Liang Nüying | Grand Marshal Liang Shang | 147 | 30 September 147 | 9 August 159 | Emperor Huan of Han | |||
| Empress Deng Mengnü | Deng Xiang Xuan |
159 | 27 March 165 Deposed |
165 | ||||
| Empress Dou Miao | Dou Wu | c. 165 | 10 December 165 | 25 January 168 Husband's death |
18 July 172 | |||
| Empress Song | Song Feng | 170 | 12 October 171 | c. November 178 Deposed |
c. November 178 | Emperor Ling of Han | ||
| Empress He | He Zhen |
8 January 181 | 13 May 189 Husband's death |
30 September 189 | ||||
| Empress Fu Shou | Fu Wan, Marquis of Buqi Ying |
190 | 20 May 195 | 8 January 215 | Emperor Xian of Han | |||
| Empress Cao Jie | Cao Cao | 6 March 215 | 11 December 220 Husband's abdication |
2 July 260 | ||||
Three Kingdoms period (220–280)
Cao Wei (220–266)
| Name | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Guo Nüwang | Guo Yong Lady Yong |
8 April 184 | 31 October 222 | 29 June 226 Husband's death |
14 March 235 | Cao Pi | |
| Empress Mao | Mao Jia | 26 December 227 | 22 September 237 | Cao Rui | |||
| Empress Guo | Guo Man Lady Du |
16 January 239 | 22 January 239 Husband's death |
8 February 264 | |||
| Empress Zhen | 29 May 243 | 22 August 251 | Cao Fang | ||||
| Empress Zhang | Zhang Ji | c. March 252 | c. April 254 Deposed |
||||
| Empress Wang | Wang Kui | c. May 254 | 17 October 254 Husband's deposition |
||||
| Empress Bian | Bian Long | April or May 255 | 2 June 260 Husband's death |
Cao Mao | |||
| Empress Bian | Bian Lin | 28 November 263 | 4 February 266 Husband's abdication |
Cao Huan | |||
Shu Han (221–263)
| Name | Parents | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Wu | 214 | 19 June 221 | 10 June 223 Husband's death |
September or October 245 | Liu Bei | |
| Empress Zhang | Zhang Fei | 221 | June 223 Husband's accession |
July or August 237 | Liu Shan | |
| Empress Zhang | February 238 | December 263 Husband's death |
||||
Eastern Wu (222–280)
| Name | Picture | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Pan | June or July 251 | February or March 252 | Sun Quan | |||||
| Empress Quan Huijie | Quan Shang | 244 | 16 February 253 | 9 November 258 Husband's death |
c. early 300s | Sun Liang | ||
| Empress Zhu | Zhu Ju Sun Luyu |
c. 250 | 16 September 262 | 3 September 264 Husband's death |
July or August 265 | Sun Xiu | ||
| Empress Teng Fanglan | Teng Mu | November 264 | 1 May 280 Husband's deposition |
Sun Hao | ||||
Jin dynasty (266–403, 404–420)
| Name | Picture | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Yang Yan | Yang Wenzong Lady Zhao |
238 | Before 265 | 20 March 266 | 25 August 274 | Emperor Wu of Jin | ||
| Empress Yang Zhi | Yang Jun | 259 | 13 December 276 | 16 May 290 husband's death |
6 March 292 | |||
| Empress Jia Nanfeng | Jia Chong Guo Huai |
257 | 2 April 272 | 16 May 290 husband's accession |
7 May 300 deposed |
13 May 300 | Emperor Hui of Jin | |
| Empress Yang Xianrong | Yang Xuanzhi (Duke of Xingjin) | In or before 290 | December 300 | 3 February 301 husband's deposition |
13 May 322 | |||
| December 300 | 1 June 301 husband's restoration |
8 January 307[a] husband's death | ||||||
| Empress Liang Lanbi | Liang Fen | Unknown | Before February 305 | 11 January 307 husband's accession |
311[b] | Unknown | Emperor Huai of Jin | |
| Empress Yu Wenjun | Yu Chen Lady Xun |
297 | Before May 318 | 4 January 323 husband's accession |
18 October 325 husband's death |
March or April 328 | Emperor Ming of Jin | |
| Empress Du Lingyang | Du Yi Lady Pei |
321 | 17 March 336 | 7 April 341 | Emperor Cheng of Jin | |||
| Empress Chu Suanzi | Chu Pou Xie Zhenshi |
324 | Before 342 | 10 February 343 | 17 November 344 husband's death |
5 July 384 | Emperor Kang of Jin | |
| Empress He Fani | He Zhun Lady Kong |
339 | 19 September 357 | 10 July 361 husband's death |
13 September 404 | Emperor Mu of Jin | ||
| Empress Wang Muzhi | Wang Meng Lady Yuan |
Unknown | Before 361 | 29 October 361 | 22 February 365 | Emperor Ai of Jin | ||
| Empress Yu Daolian | Yu Bing | Unknown | Before 361 | 13 August 365 | 5 July 366 | Emperor Fei of Jin | ||
| Empress Wang Fahui | Wang Yun Lady Liu |
c. 360 | 1 October 375 | 24 October 380 | Emperor Xiaowu of Jin | |||
| Empress Wang Shen'ai | Wang Xianzhi Princess Xin'an |
384 | 396 | 3 May 397 | 22 December 403 husband's deposition |
3 October 412 | Emperor An of Jin | |
| June 404 husband's restoration |
3 October 412 | |||||||
| Empress Chu Lingyuan | Chu Shuang | 384 | Before 419 | 12 February 419 | 7 July 420 husband's deposition |
7 August 436 | Emperor Gong of Jin | |
Huan Chu dynasty (403–404)
| Name | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Liu | Liu Dan | Unknown | Before 404 | Spring 404 | 19 June 404 husband's deposition |
Unknown | Huan Xuan |
Sixteen Kingdoms period (304–439)
Cheng-Han (304–347)
| Name | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Ren | Unknown | February or March 315 | August 334 husband's death |
Unknown | Emperor Wu of Cheng |
| Empress Yan | Unknown | 334 husband's accession |
338?[c] | Unknown | Li Qi |
| Empress Yan | Unknown | 338 husband's accession |
September 343 husband's death |
After 343 | Emperor Zhaowen of Han |
| Empress Li | Before 343 | 343 husband's accession |
347 husband's deposition |
Unknown | Li Shi |
Han-Zhao (304–329)
| Name | Picture | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Huyan | Huyan Yi | Unknown | Before 304 | 307 | Before or in 310 | Liu Yuan | ||
| Empress Shan | Shan Zheng | Unknown | Unknown | Early 310 | 29 August 310 husband's death |
Late 310 | ||
| Empress Huyan | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 310 husband's accession |
312 | Liu Cong | ||
| Empress Zhang Huiguang | Zhang Shi | Unknown | Early 313 | 313 | ||||
| Empress Liu E | Unknown | Unknown | 313 | 314 | ||||
| Empress Jin Yueguang | Jin Zhun | Unknown | 315 | 315 deposed |
315 | |||
| Left Empress Liu | Unknown | Unknown | 315 | Before 318 | ||||
| Empress Jin Yuehua | Jin Zhun | Unknown | 315 | 31 August 318 husband's death |
After 318 | |||
| Upper Empress Fan | Unknown | Unknown | 316 | 31 August 318 husband's death |
After 318 | |||
| Left Empress Wang | Wang Chen[d] | Unknown | 318 | 31 August 318 husband's death |
After 318 | |||
| Middle Empress Xuan | Xuan Huai[e] | Unknown | 318 | 31 August 318 husband's death |
After 318 | |||
| Empress Jin | Jin Zhun | Unknown | Before 318 | September 318 husband's accession |
September or October 318 husband's death |
Unknown | Liu Can | |
| Empress Yang Xianrong | Yang Xuanzhi | In or before 290 | Possibly 319[f] | 319 | 13 May 322 | Liu Yao | ||
| Empress Liu | Unknown | Unknown | 325 | 326 | ||||
| Empress Liu | Unknown | Unknown | 326 | Between February and September 329 husband's death |
Unknown | |||
Later Zhao (319–351)
| Name | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Liu | Unknown | Unknown | Before 330 | 330 husband's accession |
17 August 333 husband's death |
Fall 333 | Shi Le |
| Empress Zheng Yingtao | Unknown | Unknown | Before 334 | 337 | 337 deposed |
349 | Shi Hu |
| Empress Du Zhu | Unknown | Unknown | 337 | 348 deposed |
Unknown | ||
| Empress Liu | Liu Yao | 318 | 348 | 26 May 349 husband's death |
349 | ||
| Empress Zhang | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 349 husband's accession |
349 husband's deposition |
349 | Shi Zun |
Ran Wei (350–352)
| Name | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Dong | 350 husband's accession |
17 May 352 husband's deposition |
Ran Min |
Former Liang (301–376)
| Name | Became Princess/Empress | Ceased to be Princess/Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Yan | 324? | 346 husband's death |
Before 353 | Zhang Jun |
| Princess Pei | 346? | 353 husband's death |
354 | Zhang Chonghua |
| Empress Xin | 354 | 355 husband's death |
Unknown | Zhang Zuo |
Later Liang (386–403)
| Name | Parents | Marriage | Became Princess/Empress | Ceased to be Princess/Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Shi | Unknown | Before 383 | 389[g] | Unknown | Lü Guang | |
| Empress Yang | Yang Huan | Unknown | 400 husband's accession |
401 husband's death |
401 | Lü Zuan |
| Empress Yang | Unknown | Unknown | 401 husband's accession |
Unknown | Lü Long | |
Western Liang (400–421)
| Name | Became Princess | Ceased to be Princess | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Yin | N/A[h] | After 437 | Li Gao | |
Northern Liang (397–439)
| Name | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Princess | Ceased to be Princess | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Meng | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 401 husband's accession |
433 husband's death |
After 433 | Juqu Mengxun |
| Princess Li Jingshou | Li Gao Princess Dowager Yin |
Unknown | 420 | 433 husband's accession |
437 marriage annulled |
Unknown | Juqu Mujian |
| Princess Tuoba | Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei | 386 | 437 | 439 husband's deposition |
534 or 535 | ||
Southern Liang (397–404, 408–414)
| Name | Marriage | Became Princess | Ceased to be Princess | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Zhejue | Unknown | 408 | 414 husband's deposition |
Unknown | Tufa Rutan |
Former Qin (351–394)
| Name | Parents | Birth | Marriage | Became Empress | Ceased to be Empress | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Qiang | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 351 Husband's accession |
355 Husband's death |
356 | Fu Jian |
| Empress Liang | Liang An | Unknown | Before 355 | July 355 Husband's accession |
October 355 Executed |
Fu Sheng | |
| Empress Gou | Unknown | Unknown | Before 357 | 357 Husband's accession |
16 October 385 Husband's death |
Unknown | Fu Jian |
| Empress Yang | Unknown | Unknown | Before 380 | 385 Husband's accession |
386 Husband's deposition |
386 | Fu Pi |
| Empress Mao | Mao Xing | Unknown | 384? | 387 | 389 | Fu Deng | |
| Empress Li | Unknown | Unknown | 392 | 394 Husband's death |
Unknown | ||
Later Qin
- 386–394: Empress She
- 402–?: Empress Zhang
- 412–?: Empress Qi
- 416–417: Yao Hong's empress
Western Qin
- 388–394, 394–400, 409–412: Queen Bian
- 394: Queen Fu
- 414–423: Queen Tufa
- 429–431: Queen Liang
Former Yan
- 337–348: Princess Duan
- 348?–360: Empress Kezuhun
- 369–370: Empress Kezuhun
Later Yan
- 388–396: Duan Yuanfei
- 396–398: Empress Duan
- 404–407: Fu Xunying
- 407–409: Empress Li
Northern Yan
- 409–?: Princess Sun
- 430–?: Princess Murong
Southern Yan
- 398–405: Duan Jifei
- 408–410: Empress Huyan
Xia
- 407–425: Empress Kezuhun
- 425–427: Helian Chang's empress
Northern and Southern dynasties
Liu Song
- 422–424: Empress Sima Maoying
- 424–440: Empress Yuan Qigui
- 453: Empress Yin Yuying
- 453–464: Empress Wang Xianyuan
- 465: Empress Lu
- 465–472: Empress Wang Zhenfeng
- 472–477: Empress Jiang Jiangui
- 478–479: Empress Xie Fanjing
Southern Qi
- 493–494: He Jingying
- 494: Wang Shaoming
- 498–501: Chu Lingqu
- 501–502: Wang Shunhua
Northern Wei
- 400–409: Empress Murong
- 432–452: Empress Helian
- 456–465: Empress Feng
- 493–497: Empress Feng Qing
- 497–499: Empress Feng Run
- 501–507: Empress Yu
- 508–515: Empress Gao
- 5??–528: Empress Hu
- 528–530: Empress Erzhu Ying'e
- 530–531: Empress Erzhu
- 532: Empress Erzhu
- 533–534: Empress Gao
Western Wei
- 535–538: Empress Yifu
- 538–540: Empress Yujiulü
- 553–554: Empress Yuwen
- 554–556: Empress Ruogan
Eastern Wei
- 539–550: Empress Gao
Northern Qi
- 550–559: Empress Li Zu'e
- 560–561: Empress Yuan
- 561–565: Empress Hu
- 565–572: Empress Hulü
- 572–573: Empress Hu
- 572–577: Empress Mu
Liang dynasty
- 551: Empress Zhang
- Empress Wang
- 560–561: Empress Wang
Chen dynasty
Northern Zhou
- 557–557: Empress Yuan Humo
- 568–568: Empress Dugu
- 568–578: Empress Ashina
- 578–579: Yang Lihua
- 579–580: Empress Sima Lingji
Sui dynasty
- 581–602: Dugu Qieluo, empress consort of Emperor Wen
- 605–618: Empress Xiao, empress consort of Emperor Yang
Tang dynasty
- 626–636: Empress Zhangsun, empress consort of Emperor Taizong
- 650–655: Empress Wang, first empress consort of Emperor Gaozong
- 655–684: Wu Zetian, second empress consort of Emperor Gaozong, later also an empress regnant
- 684–684: Empress Wei, empress consort of Emperor Zhongzong
- 684–690: Empress Liu, empress consort of Emperor Ruizong
- 705–710: Empress Wei (second time), empress consort of Emperor Zhongzong
- 710–710: Empress Lu, empress consort of Emperor Shang
- 712–724: Empress Wang, empress consort of Emperor Xuanzong
- 758–762: Empress Zhang, empress consort of Emperor Suzong
- 786–786: Empress Wang, empress consort of Emperor Dezong
- 898–900: Empress He, empress consort of Emperor Zhaozong
- 901–904: Empress He (second time), empress consort of Emperor Zhaozong
- Qin
- Empress Ju
- Han (Dingyang)
- Empress Ju
- Xia
- Yan
- Qi
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
Qi
- 907–924: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Maozhen
Former Shu
- 908–918: Empress Zhou, empress consort of Wang Jian
- 918–921: Empress Gao, first empress consort of Wang Zongyan
- 921–926: Empress Jin Feishan, second empress consort of Wang Yan
Yan
- 911–913: Empress Li and Empress Zhu, empress consorts of Liu Shouguang
Later Liang
- 912–913: Empress Zhang, empress consort of Zhu Yougui
Southern Han
- 919–935: Empress Ma, empress consort of Liu Yan
Later Tang
- 924–926: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Cunxu
- 930–933: Empress Cao, empress consort of Li Siyuan
- 934–934: Empress Kong, empress consort of Li Conghou
- 934–936: Empress Liu, empress consort of Li Congke
Wu
- 933–937: Empress Wang, empress consort of Yang Pu
Min
- 935–935: Empress Chen Jinfeng, empress consort of Wang Yanjun
- 936–939: Empress Li Chunyan, empress consort of Wang Jipeng
- 942–944: Empress Li, empress consort of Wang Yanxi
Southern Tang
- 937–943: Empress Song, empress consort of Li Bian
- 943–961: Empress Zhong, empress consort of Li Jing
- 961–965: Queen Zhou the Elder, first queen consort of Li Yu
- 968–975: Queen Zhou the Younger, second queen consort of Li Yu
Later Jin
- 941–942: Empress Li, empress consort of Shi Jingtang
- 943–946: Empress Feng, empress consort of Shi Chonggui
Yin
- 943–?: Empress Zhang, empress consort of Wang Yanzheng
Later Han
- 947–948: Empress Li, empress consort of Liu Zhiyuan
Later Zhou
- 954–956: Empress Fu the Elder, first empress consort of Chai Rong
- 959–959: Empress Dowager Fu (Later Zhou), second empress consort of Chai Rong
Northern Han
- ?–968: Empress Guo, empress consort of Liu Jun
- 968–?: Empress Ma, empress consort of Liu Jiyuan
Song dynasty

- 929-958: Empress He, first empress consort of Emperor Taizu
- 960–963: Empress Wang, second empress consort of Emperor Taizu
- 968–976: Empress Song, third empress consort of Emperor Taizu
- 984–997: Empress Li, empress consort of Emperor Taizong
- 997–1007: Empress Guo, first empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong
- 1012–1022: Empress Liu, second empress consort of Emperor Zhenzong and Senior regent Song dynasty
- 1024–1033: Empress Guo, first empress consort of Emperor Renzong
- 1034–1063: Empress Cao, second empress consort of Emperor Renzong
- 1065–1067: Empress Gao, empress consort of Emperor Yingzong
- 1068–1085: Empress Xiang, empress consort of Emperor Shenzong
- 1092–1096: Empress Meng, first empress consort of Emperor Zhezong
- 1099–1100: Empress Liu, second empress consort of Emperor Zhezong
- 1100–1108: Empress Wang, first empress consort of Emperor Huizong
- 1111–1126: Empress Zheng, second empress consort of Emperor Huizong
- 1126–1127: Empress Zhu, empress consort of Emperor Qinzong
- 1127–1139: Empress Xing, first empress consort of Emperor Gaozong
- 1143–1162: Empress Wu, second empress consort of Emperor Gaozong
- 1162–1167: Empress Xia, first empress consort of Emperor Xiaozong
- 1167–1189: Empress Xie, second empress consort of Emperor Xiaozong
- 1189–1194: Empress Li Fengniang, empress consort of Emperor Guangzong
- 1194–1200: Empress Han, first empress consort of Emperor Ningzong
- 1200–1224: Empress Yang, second empress consort of Emperor Ningzong
- 1227–1264: Empress Xie Daoqing, empress consort of Emperor Lizong
- 1267–1274: Empress Quan, empress consort of Emperor Duzong
Yuan dynasty

- 1260–1281: Chabi, first empress consort of Emperor Shizu
- 1283–1294: Nambui, second empress consort of Emperor Shizu
- 1295–1307: Bulugan, empress consort of Emperor Chengzong
- 1310–1311: Zhenge, empress consort of Emperor Wuzong
- 1313–1320: Radnashiri, empress consort of Emperor Renzong
- 1321–1323: Sugabala, empress consort of Emperor Yingzong
- 1324–1328: Babukhan Khatun, empress consort of Emperor Taiding
- 1328–1329: Budashiri, empress consort of Emperor Wenzong
- 1329–1329: Babusha, empress consort of Emperor Mingzong
- 1329–1332: Budashiri (second time), empress consort of Emperor Wenzong
- 1332–1332: Daliyetemishi, empress consort of Emperor Ningzong
- 1333–1335: Danashri, first empress consort of Emperor Huizong
- 1337–1365: Bayan Khutugh, second empress consort of Emperor Huizong
- 1340–1370: Empress Gi, third empress consort of Emperor Huizong
Ming dynasty


- 1368–1382: Empress Ma, empress consort of the Hongwu Emperor
- 1399–1402: Empress Ma, empress consort of the Jianwen Emperor
- 1402–1407: Empress Xu, empress consort of the Yongle Emperor
- 1424–1425: Empress Zhang, empress consort of the Hongxi Emperor
- 1425–1428: Empress Hu Shanxiang, first empress consort of the Xuande Emperor
- 1428–1435: Empress Sun, second empress consort of the Xuande Emperor
- 1442–1449: Empress Qian, empress consort of the Zhengtong Emperor
- 1449–1452: Empress Wang, first empress consort of the Jingtai Emperor
- 1452–1456: Empress Hang, second empress consort of the Jingtai Emperor
- 1457–1464: Empress Qian (second time), empress consort of the Tianshun Emperor (former Zhengtong Emperor)
- 1464–1464: Empress Wu, first empress consort of the Chenghua Emperor
- 1464–1487: Empress Wang, second empress consort of the Chenghua Emperor
- 1487–1505: Empress Zhang, empress consort of the Hongzhi Emperor
- 1506–1521: Empress Xia, empress consort of the Zhengde Emperor
- 1522–1528: Empress Chen, first empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor
- 1528–1534: Empress Zhang, second empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor
- 1534–1547: Empress Fang, third empress consort of the Jiajing Emperor
- 1566–1572: Empress Chen, empress consort of the Longqing Emperor
- 1578–1620: Empress Wang Xijie, empress consort of the Wanli Emperor
- 1621–1627: Empress Zhang, empress consort of the Tianqi Emperor
- 1628–1644: Empress Zhou, empress consort of the Chongzhen Emperor
Southern Ming
- 1645–1646: Empress Zeng, empress consort of the Longwu Emperor
- 1646–1662: Empress Wang, empress consort of the Yongli Emperor
Qing dynasty
Empresses dowager
The title of Empress dowager (皇太后, húangtàihòu) was automatically given to a former Empress consort and widow of an Emperor. The title, Empress dowager, could be granted a widow of an Emperor even when she had not been the Empress consort during the reign of her spouse. Therefore, a separate list is given of the Empresses dowager, which, in some cases, equals the list of Empresses consort, and in other cases, not.
Han dynasty
- Empress Dowager Lü
- Empress Dowager Bo
- Empress Dowager Dou
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Shangguan
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Zhao
- Grand Empress Dowager Fu
- Empress Dowager Ding
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Yin
- Empress Dowager Ma
- Empress Dowager Dou
- Empress Dowager Deng
- Empress Dowager Yan
- Empress Dowager Liang
- Empress Dowager Dou
- Empress Dowager He
Northern Dynasties
Northern Wei
- Princess Dowager Helan
- Empress Dowager Helian
- Nurse empress dowager
- Empress Dowager Feng(Empress Dowager Wenming)
- Empress Dowager Gao
- Empress Dowager Hu
Tang dynasty
- 683–690: Empress Dowager Wu
- 710: Empress Dowager Wei
- 805–816: Empress Dowager Wang
- 820–848: Empress Dowager Guo
- 824–845: Empress Dowager Wang
- 826–847: Empress Dowager Xiao
- 846–865: Empress Dowager Zheng
- 904–906: Empress Dowager He
Song dynasty
- Empress Dowager Du
- Empress Dowager Li
- Empress Dowager Liu
- Empress Dowager Yang
- Empress Dowager Cao
- Empress Dowager Gao
- Empress Dowager Xiang
- Empress Dowager Meng
- Empress Dowager Liu
- Empress Dowager Wei
- Empress Dowager Wu
- Empress Dowager Xie
- Empress Dowager Li
- Empress Dowager Yang
- Empress Dowager Xie
- Empress Dowager Quan
- Empress Dowager Yang
Yuan dynasty
- Empress Dowager Khongirad
- Empress Dowager Naimans
- Empress Dowager Oirats
- Empress Dowager Khongirad
- Empress Dowager Khongirad
- Empress Dowager Khongirad
- Empress Dowager Khongirad
- Empress Dowager Khongirad
Ming dynasty
- Empress Dowager Lü
- Empress Dowager Zhang
- Empress Dowager Sun
- Empress Dowager Wu
- Empress Dowager Qian
- Empress Dowager Zhou
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Zhang
- Empress Dowager Shao
- Empress Dowager Jiang
- Empress Dowager Du
- Empress Dowager Chen
- Empress Dowager Li
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Wang
- Empress Dowager Liu
Qing dynasty
- 1643–1649: Empress Xiaoduanwen
- 1643–1688: Empress Dowager Zhaosheng
- 1661–1663: Empress Dowager Cihe
- 1661–1718: Empress Dowager Renxian
- 1722–1723: Empress Dowager Renshou
- 1735–1777: Empress Dowager Chongqing
- 1820–1850: Empress Dowager Gongci
- 1855: Empress Dowager Kangci
- 1861–1881: Empress Dowager Ci'an
- 1861–1908: Empress Dowager Cixi
- 1908–1913: Empress Dowager Longyu
Grand empresses dowager
Empresses whose titles were granted posthumously
Sui dynasty
- 581: Empress Lü Gutao, mother of Emperor Wen of Sui
Tang dynasty
- 618: Empress Dugu (Empress Yuanzhen, mother of Emperor Gaozu of Tang)
- 618: Duchess Dou (Empress Taimu), wife of Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of Tang before Li Yuan's ascension
Song dynasty
- 961: Empress Dowager Du, mother of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong
- 960: Empress He, married to Emperor Taizu
- 976: Empress Yin, married to Emperor Taizong
- 976: Empress Fu, married to Emperor Taizong
- 997: Empress Li, mother of Emperor Zhenzong
- 997: Princess Pan, married to Emperor Zhenzong
- 1033: Consort Li, mother of Emperor Renzong
- 1036: Empress Yang, married to Emperor Zhenzong
- 1054: Empress Zhang, married to Emperor Renzong
- 1101: Empress Chen, mother of Emperor Huizong
- 1102: Empress Zhu, mother of Emperor Zhezong
- 1113: Empress Mingda, married to Emperor Huizong
- 1121: Empress Mingzhe, married to Emperor Huizong
- 1159: Empress Xianren, mother of Emperor Gaozong
- 1162: Empress Chengmu, married to Emperor Xiaozong
Yuan dynasty
- 1336: Mailaiti, mother of Emperor Huizong
Ming dynasty and Southern Ming dynasty
- 1504: Empress Xiaosu, mother of the Chenghua Emperor
- 1566: Empress Xiaoke, mother of the Longqing Emperor
- 1566: Empress Xiaoyizhuan, married to the Longqing Emperor
- 1614: Empress Xiaoding, mother of the Wanli Emperor
- 1620: Empress Xiaojing, mother of the Taichang Emperor
- 1644: Empress Xiaozhejian
- 1644: Empress Xiaoyi
- 1644: Empress Xiaoxu
Qing dynasty

- 1626: Empress Xiaoliewu, married to Nurhaci
- 1636: Empress Xiaocigao, mother of Hong Taiji
- 1660: Empress Xiaoxian, married to the Shunzhi Emperor
- 1663: Empress Xiaokangzhang, mother of the Kangxi Emperor
- 1688: Empress Xiaozhuangwen, grandmother of the Kangxi Emperor
- 1723: Empress Xiaogongren, mother of the Yongzheng Emperor
- 1777: Empress Xiaoshengxian, mother of the Qianlong Emperor
- 1796: Empress Xiaoyichun, mother of the Jiaqing Emperor
- 1820: Empress Xiaomucheng, married to the Daoguang Emperor
- 1850: Empress Xiaodexian, married to the Xianfeng Emperor
- 1855: Empress Xiaojingcheng, married to the Daoguang Emperor
- 1908: Xingzhen, Empress Xiaoqinxian, married to Xianfeng Emperor, mother of Tongzhi Emperor
See also
- Imperial Chinese harem system
- Chinese nobility
- Ranks of imperial consorts in China
- Imperial consorts of Tang China
- Grand empress dowager
- Empress dowager
- Nurse empress dowager
- Consort clan
- List of Chinese monarchs
Notes
- ^ Yang Xianrong was deposed and restored four times each from 304 to 306. Her tenures as empress were as follows:
- June 301–February 304
- July–August 304
- November 304–April 305
- November 305
- May 306–January 307
- ^ Her fate after she and her husband were captured by Han-Zhao forces in July 311 is unknown.
- ^ Her husband was overthrown in 338, but it is unknown if she was still alive by this time.
- ^ Adoptive father.
- ^ Adoptive father.
- ^ It is unknown if she was a concubine or wife of Liu Yao before his accession to the throne.
- ^ If she was still alive in 396, she would have been created Empress.
- ^ Yin never held the title of Princess during the reign of her husband Duke Li Gao. She was honoured as princess dowager after his death.
References
Bibliography
- Stefanowska, A.D.; Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue, eds. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317475910.
- Stefanowska, A.D.; Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue, eds. (2015). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: V. 1: The Qing Period, 1644-1911. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781317475880.

