Empress Song (Han dynasty)

Family background and marriage to Emperor Ling

The later Empress Song was born into a clan that was honoured, but not particularly powerful, during the Eastern Han dynasty. Her father Song Feng (宋酆) was a grandnephew of Consort Song, the imperial consort of Emperor Zhang who gave birth to his first crown prince Liu Qing. During the early reign of Emperor Ling, Song Feng served as the commander of the capital (Luoyang) defence forces. Her paternal aunt was the consort of Liu Kui (劉悝), the Prince of Bohai (勃海王), a younger brother of Emperor Ling's predecessor Emperor Huan.

In 170, Lady Song was selected to be an imperial consort with the rank of guiren. On 12 October 171, even though she was not a favoured consort, she was created empress, perhaps because of her noble lineage. Song Feng was created a marquis.

The Liu Kui incident, fall and death

However, even after becoming empress, Empress Song never had Emperor Ling's favour. This, combined with her weak personality, emboldened the concubines who wanted to replace her; these concubines then often defamed her. What proved to be more damaging to her was the "Liu Kui incident".

In February 165, Liu Kui had been demoted due to treason; he then approached powerful eunuch Wang Fu (王甫) and promised him a large sum of money if Wang Fu could persuade Emperor Huan to restore his title. On 20 January 168, Emperor Huan's edict restored Liu Kui to the title of Prince of Bohai. However, Liu Kui did not fulfill his promise. In return, Wang Fu falsely accused Liu Kui of treason in November 172; Liu Kui was forced to commit suicide, and his entire household was executed. Thereafter, Wang Fu and his confederates became constantly concerned that if Empress Song became powerful, she would avenge her aunt, who was Liu Kui's consort. They therefore joined with the concubines to falsely accuse her of using witchcraft against Emperor Ling.

In November 178, Emperor Ling finally believed them and deposed Empress Song. Empress Song was imprisoned and died in despair. Her father Song Feng and her brothers were all executed. Song Qi (宋奇), formally the Marquis of Yinqiang (隐强侯), who was also executed, was probably a brother of the empress; and as his wife was a younger cousin of Cao Cao, Cao Cao was dismissed from his post as the Prefect of Dunqiu. Some of the eunuchs not involved in the plot who took pity on the late empress gathered her body and those of her family members and gave them proper burials, but as commoners.

References

• Book of the Later Han, volume 10, part II

References

1. Vol.57 of ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'' recorded that Lady Song died in the month where she was deposed as empress.
2. ''guichou'' day in the autumn (8th month) of the 4th year of the ''Jianning'' era, per vol.56 of ''Zizhi Tongjian''
3. 1st month of the 8th year of the ''Yanxi'' era, per vol.55 of ''Tongjian''. The month corresponds to 30 Jan to 28 Feb 165 in the Julian calendar.
4. ([永康元年]十二月，壬申，复瘿陶王悝为勃海王。) ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol.56. Emperor Huan's biography in ''Houhanshu'' recorded the same date for this incident.
5. According to vol.56 of ''Zizhi Tongjian'' and Emperor Huan's biography in ''Houhanshu'', Emperor Huan died five days after Liu Kui was restored to the title of Prince of Bohai, on the ''ding'chou'' day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the ''Yong'kang'' era.
6. 10th month of the 1st year of the ''Xiping'' era, per vol. 57 of ''Tongjian''. The month corresponds to 4 Nov to 3 Dec 172 in the Julian calendar.
7. Vol. 57 of ''Tongjian'' recorded that Empress Song was deposed in the 10th month of the 1st year of the ''Guanghe'' era of Emperor Ling's reign. This corresponds to 29 Oct to 27 Nov 178 in the Julian calendar.