Consort Chen (Sui dynasty)

Consort Chen (577 - 605), born Princess Ningyuan (Chinese: 寧遠公主), was a daughter of the Emperor Xuan of Chen and an imperial concubine to the Emperor Wen of Sui, founder of the Sui dynasty.

18th century depiction of Consort Chen

Background

The future Consort Chen was born in 577, during the reign of her father Emperor Xuan as Princess Ningyuan of Chen. Princess Ningyuan's mother was Emperor Xuan's concubine Consort Shi (施姬) (551 - 609). A native of Chang'an, Consort Shi was the daughter of Shi Jifeng (施績封), Prince of Shixing (始興王). In addition to Princess Ningyuan, she had borne Emperor Xuan two sons: Shu'ao (Prince of Linhe) and Chen Shuxing (Prince of Ruanling). Both sons later became officials under the Sui Dynasty.[1]

The year Princess Ningyuan was born, Northern Qi, at whose expense Emperor Xuan had expanded Chen, fell to Northern Zhou. Cornered, Chen lost many of the gains that it had made from its conquest of Northern Qi territory.

In 582, when Princess Ningyuan was five, Emperor Xuan died, and the throne was inherited by Princess Ningyuan's older half-brother Chen Shubao, who was an incompetent ruler. On 10 February 589, Chen Shubao surrendered to Emperor Wen of Sui, ending the Chen Dynasty. Chen Shubao and his household (which presumably included Princess Ningyuan) were then escorted to the Sui capital.[2][3][4]

As Imperial Consort

After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Princess Ningyuan was honored as Lady Xuanhua (宣華夫人). She became a consort of Emperor Wen, but he never had relations with her when Empress Dugu was alive. After Empress Dugu's death, Emperor Wen favored Consort Chen and another concubine, Consort Cai.

In 604, Emperor Wen resided at Renshou Palace at the advice of his officials. He was accompanied by Consort Chen and Consort Cai, and his son Yang Guang. Emperor Wen was sick and frail, and Yang Guang seized the opportunity to sleep with Consort Chen. Consort Chen reported the incident to Emperor Wen, who was angered and sought to replace Yang Guang as the crown prince with Yang Yong. Yang Guang found out and decided to kill Emperor Wen with the assistance of an official named Yang Su. After Emperor Wen's death, Yang Guang took Consort Chen as one of his concubines, along with Consort Cai.[5]

The Sui dynasty was short-lived and destroyed by the Tang dynasty.

References
  1. Book of Sui
  2. 《大業略記》:「高祖在仁壽宮,病甚,煬帝侍疾，而高祖美人尤嬖倖者，惟陳蔡而已。帝乃召蔡於別室，既還，面傷而法亂，高祖問之，蔡泣曰：「皇太子為非禮。」高祖大怒,嗜指出血，召兵部尚書柳述、黃門侍郎元岩等令發詔追廢人勇，即令廢立。帝事迫，召左僕射楊素、左庶子張衡進毒藥。帝簡驍健宮奴三十人皆服婦人之服，衣下置杖，立於門巷，以為之衛。素等既入，而高祖暴崩。」。
  3. 《資治通鑒》卷一八十: 初，文献皇后既崩，宣华夫人陈氏、容华夫人察氏皆有宠。陈氏，陈高宗之女；蔡氏，丹杨人也。上寝疾于仁寿宫，尚书左仆射杨素、兵部尚书柳述、黄门侍郎元岩皆入阁侍疾，召皇太子入居大宝殿。太子虑上有不讳，须预防拟，手自为书，封出问素；素条录事状以报太子。宫人误送上所，上览而大恚。陈夫人平旦出更衣，为太子所逼，拒之，得免，归于上所；上怪其神色有异，问其故。夫人泫然曰：「太子无礼！」上恚，抵床曰：「畜生何足付大事！独孤误我！」乃呼柳述、元岩曰：「召我儿！」述等将呼太子，上曰：「勇也。」述、岩出阁为敕书。杨素闻之，以白太子，矫诏执述、岩，系大理狱；追东宫兵士帖上台宿卫，门禁出入，并取宇文述、郭衍节度；令右庶子张衡入寝殿侍疾，尽遣后宫出就别室；俄而上崩。故中外颇有异论。陈夫人与后宫闻变，相顾战栗失色。晡后，太子遣使者继小金合，帖纸于际，亲署封字，以赐夫人。夫人见之，惶惧，以为鸩毒，不敢发。使者促之，乃发，合中有同心结数枚，宫人咸悦，相谓曰：「得免死矣！」陈氏恚而却坐，不肯致谢；诸宫人共逼之，乃拜使者。其夜，太子蒸焉。
  4. 隋炀帝杨广“因色弑父”这种说法被诸多近现代史学家质疑，仁寿宫变也成为千古疑案。
  5. 《Book of Sui 卷三十六 列传第一》: 及炀帝嗣位之后，出居仙都宫。寻召入，岁余而终，时年二十九。帝深悼之，为制《神伤赋》。
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