20 Reasons Why Being an Empress in a Chinese Dynasty Was Tough

Empresses were more often the result of political or family arrangements than of romantic unions. Marriage could seal alliances between factions or lineages at court. If you were of noble birth, “no” was not a safe answer for your family.

In theory, you outshone all the other concubines living under the same roof. In practice, the emperor had the right to take pleasure with several of them. If you failed to retain his favor for even one night, your household could come crashing down by dawn.

Relationships, words, and even expressions could take on political significance, as rumors spread from one servant to another. Your allies could just as easily disappear. No one was ever completely safe, not even during holidays or periods of national mourning.

Concubines and other imperial consorts were not merely potential lovers. Their relatives might conspire to advance their sons in the line of succession—or behind your back. A false accusation or a rumor could lead to exile, death, or both.

Failing to produce an heir was one of the quickest ways to lose one’s rank. An empress was expected to give birth to a son. If she failed to do so, or was unable to do so for a long time, other members of the family or officials would quickly take her place.

Medical and obstetric knowledge was very limited. Childbirth was a dangerous time for the mother, even for an empress. You could die while doing the one thing your rank required of you.

Your sons were the future emperors, and some officials were doing everything in their power to harm or control them. You spent your life protecting them and shielding them from rival factions as best you could. Even if you didn’t agree with the way the world worked, your job was to protect them and raise them so they could take over as leaders.

Daily life was closely monitored by servants, eunuchs, and bureaucrats. Your comings and goings, your actions and words—even your bodily functions—followed an official protocol. It was very rare to have a moment when no one was around you.

A casual remark or an unintentional slight could be used against you. Court documents and gossip stuck in people’s minds and spread. Your reputation mattered more than your intentions.

Court etiquette governed everything, from the way you dressed to the order in which you walked in a procession. Rituals governed the way you spoke, when and how you mourned the deceased, and even your intimate relationships. Improvisation was dangerous and disruptive.

If you fell out of favor with the emperor, your family would likely suffer the consequences along with you. Your rise or fall could affect your loved ones for years to come. You were just as much the center of that name as anyone else.

In a culture focused on youth, beauty and age mattered far more than age and experience. As you grew older, there was a strong chance you would be replaced by a younger concubine. Wisdom did not always save you from obsolescence.

If your son were a minor, you could have served as regent during his early years. This increased power made you a prime target for those who stood to lose their influence under your reign. Assassination has been the fate of many empress regents throughout Chinese history.

As empress, you were a model of grace, virtue, and propriety for the entire country. Even the slightest hint of jealousy or ambition could have been used to bring you down. The expectations placed on you as a human being were very low.

Religious and spiritual life was an important duty for an empress. However, most officials were also government bureaucrats. A visit to a temple or shrine, even in private, could be closely monitored.

Poison was a near-universal fear for most women at court. It was particularly difficult to trust food and medicine, even if they were prepared under your direct orders. A single false friend could end your life.

An emperor had the right to demote or even depose an empress. A crown without imperial favor was of little value. Emperors rose to power more quickly than empresses.

Former empresses were sometimes banished and isolated after falling out of favor with the sovereign. In some cases, they were imprisoned or sent to a convent. The end of your reign offered no guarantee of your future.

Most male historians blamed the empress for political setbacks or misfortunes. An ambitious woman was corrupt. A powerful woman pulled the strings from behind the scenes. The way history would remember you was just as merciless as the way the living did.

Ultimately, you were, in theory, the most powerful woman in the country. In practice, your life was constrained by fear, obligations, and the instinct for survival. It was easy to look impressive as an empress, dressed in silk and surrounded by stone. But living that life was an entirely different matter.