The Ancient Chinese Empresses Consorts Research

This thesis takes the biography of imperial concubine and relative in the twenty-five history book as main material, probes into the imperial concubine and relative in each ancient Chinese period. In the pre-Qin period, we collect the relevant records as much as possible on the basis of Zuo Zhuan, Guo Yu, Zhan Guo Ce and other ancient literature, using the archaeological material to carry out the research. In Han Dynasty and after that, we mainly use the literature methodology to analyze the characteristics and summary the relevant laws of imperial concubine and relative in each period, including the following aspects:the political influence of imperial concubine and relative; the relationship between imperial power and them; the relationship between imperial concubine and imperial relative; the situation of making peace with rulers of minority nationalities in the border areas by marriage in each period; the difference between Han Nationality regime and minority nationalities regime in these aspects.Before Han Dynasty, the narration is a prelude. In Han Dynasty, we emphatically analyze the potential influence of its regressive thought culture atmosphere to imperial concubine’s intervening in politics. In Three Kingdoms period, each country has its own features, Wei was characterized by conferring imperial concubine from the humble position; Shu emphasized its legitimate status; Wu appeared two powerful figures--Wu Guotai and princess Quan. During Jin Dynasty, imperial concubine and relative were closely related to the gentry. The Southern Dynasty is a transition period; in the Northern Dynasty, characteristic showed in the field of imperial concubine and relative is helpful to understand the subsequent minority nationalities regime. Sui Dynasty was characterized by paying attention to imperial concubine but despising imperial relative at the same time. Tang Dynasty was tolerant to femininity, unique empress Wu Zetian in history has appeared, and there were many princesses who intervened in political affairs. In Song Dynasty, imperial concubine and relative both self-limiting, and restrains mutually. Since Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, imperial concubine and relative can be divided into three groups according to its similarity: Song Dynasty and Ming Dynasty, Liao Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty, Jin Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Under the guidance of Neo-Confucianism, Song and Ming Dynasty restrict imperial concubine and relative; don’t make peace with other clans by marriage. Liao and Yuan Dynasty chinesize shallowly, therefore imperial concubine and relative have great power. Jin and Qing Dynasty chinesize deeply, restricting imperial concubine and relative strictly as well as Song and Ming Dynasty. On this basis, we have analyzed the following three questions emphatically:the adjustment and orientation of the order in the twenty-five history book of imperial concubine and relative’s biography; the polygamy of northern nationalities and the monogamy of Han Nationality; the matriarchy in ancient Chinese society.