Images of the past

A chronologue of beauty

Thursday 30 August 2012

Women of Imperial China

Chinese Empresses,Consorts and Concubines


Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)


Consort Feng Yuan,consort of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty,she is in the middle of the painting depicting her saving the Emperor from a bear attack while consort Fu is shown on the left fleeing


Ban Jiey (c.48 BC-c.6 BC),consort of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty


Zhao Hede (died 7 BC),consort of Han Dynasty Emperor Cheng of Han


Yu Miaoyi (died 202 BC),consort of Emperor Shun of Han Dynasty


Court lady from the Han Dynasty


 Statue of a Lady in Han Court dress


A Han Court attendant


 Dacer from the Han Dynasty period


Figurine in Han period clothing

Chen Dynasty (557-589)


Emperor Fei (c.554-570 ) of the Chen Dynasty with two concubines



Tang Dynasty (1618-907)


Wu Zetian(c.625-705),concubineof Tang Dynasty Emperor Taizong and also consort to his son Emperor Gaozong,she would go on to become the first and only woman Emperor of China


 Consort Wu Zetian of Tang


Consort Wu Zetian


 Emperor Taizong of Tang


"Emperor Taizong in Dunhuang",Tang Dynasty painting


Emperor Gaozong of Tang


 Yang Guifei(719-756),consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty

 depicted mounting a horse


 Statue of Imperial Consort Yang Guifei


Japanese depiction of Consort Yang Guifei


 Emperor Xuanzong of Tang


Spring outing of the Tang Court


 A group of Tang palace ladies,mural from tomb of Emperor Gaozong's 6th son, Li Xian 706 AD


 Tang court ladies,mural from the tomb Princess Yongtai


 A Tang Dynasty dancer from a mural in the Astana graves


Tang Dynasty serving girl from the Astana graves


 Two female figurines in Tang ceremonial robes


 A court official of the Tang Dynasty


 Court Lady of the Tang Dynasty


Figurine of a Lady from the Tang Dynasty


 Female figurine from the Tang Dynasty


 Figurine of a Tang lady


 Two Tang Dynasty court ladies


 A Tang Dynasty official


 A figurine dressed as a Tang Dynasty Empress


Tang Dynasty handmaiden


Song Dynasty (960-1279)


 An Empress of the Song Dynsty,consort of Emperor Zhenzong(968-1022)


Empress Consort of Emperor Zhenzong of Song


Emperor Zhenzong of Song

Empress Cao (1016-1079),consort to Renzong of Song,with her maids


Emperor Renzong of Song

Empress Gao(1032-1093),Consort to Song Dynasty Emperor Yingzong


Empress Xiang (1047-1102),consort of Emperor Shenzong of Song


Empress Xiang of the Song Dynasty


Empress Xiansu (lived around 1127),consort of Emperor Huizong of Song


Empress Xiansu


Emperor Huizong of Song


Empress Xiansu of Song


Empress Renhuai (lived c. 1127),consort to Qinzong of Song


Empress Wu (1115-1197),consort to Gaozong of Song


Empress Wu


Emperor Gaozong of Song

Empress Chengsui (died 1203),consort to Xiaozong of Song


Empress Gongsheng (1162-1232),consort of Emperor Ningzong of Song


 Song Dynasty palace concert


 "Night Revels",a group of famous paintings from the Song Dynasty


 "Night Revels",women musicians playing the flute


  "Night Revels"


 "Night Revels",det.


 Court ladies preparing silk,Song dynasty


Women form the Song dynasty period preparing silk


Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)


Empress Chabi (1227-1281),consort of Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty


Empress Radnashiri (died 1322),consort of Yuan Dynasty Emperor Renzong


Empress Zhenge (died 1327),consort of Emperor Wuzong of Yuan


Emperor Wuzong of Yuan

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)


Empress Xiaocigao (1332-1382),consort of Ming Emperor Hongwu


 Emperor Hongwu of Ming


Empress Renxiaowen (1362-1407),consort of Ming Emperor Yongle


Emperor Yongle


Empress Xiaogongzhang (died 1462),consort to Xuande Emperor of the Ming Dynasty


 Ming Dynasty Empress Xiaoke,consort of Emperor Jiajing (1507-1567)


 Emperor Jiajing


Emperor Jiajing on horseback


Empress Xiaoan (d.1596),consort to Ming Emperor Longqing


Emperor Longqing of Ming


Empress Xiaoduanxian (1564-1620)consort of Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty


Empress Xiaoduanxian of Ming 


Phoenix crown worn by Empress Xiaoduanxian of Ming Dynasty


Imperial Noble Consort Wensu (1565-1612),consort of Emperor Wanli of Ming Dynasty was later created Empress Dowager Xiaojing

Empress Dowager Xiaojing


Crown of Empress Dowager Xiaojing


Phoenix coronet of Empress Dowager Xiaojing 


Emperor Wanli of Ming


A modern replica of Emperor Wanli's gold crown

Consort Fifth Grade Xiaohe,consort of Emperor Taichang of Ming (1582-1620) 

posthumously created Empress   Dowager


Consort Seventh Grade Xiaochun,consort of Emperor Taichang of Ming (1582-1620) 

posthumously created Empress   Dowager


Emperor Taichang of Ming

Empress Xiaojie (d.1644),consort of Emperor Chongzhen last ruler of the Ming Dynasty


 An Imperial Consort's crown form the Ming dynasty


Phoenix Crown belonging to a Ming Empress


Emperor Chongzhen


 Go players at the Imperial court,Ming Dynasty


Ladies of the Imperial Court of the Ming Dynasty


Court ladies having their portrait painted,Ming Dynasty


 Two ladies and a gentleman from the Ming Dynasty


Ming Dynasty palace ladies


Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)


 Empress Xiaozhe (d.1644),consort to first Qing Emperor Tianqi


Emperor Tianqi of Qing


Empress Xiaohuizhang (1641-1717),consort of Emperor Shunzi of the Qing Dynasty,

dressed as a Mongolian court lady


Empress Xiaokangzhang (1640-1663),consort of Emperor Shunzi


Emperor Shunzi of Qing


Empress Xiaogongren (1660-1723),Consort of Qing Emperor Kangxi


 Emperor Kangxi in armour


Emperor Kangxi of Qing


Empress Xiaojingxian(died 1731),consort of Emperor Yongzheng of Qing 


 Empress Xiaoshengxian(1693-1777),consort of Yongzheng Emperor


Emperor Yongzheng in a winter robe


 Emperor Yongzheng


Emperor Yongzheng and his concubines

Empress Xiaoxianchun (1712-1748),consort to Emperor Qianlong of Qing


 Empress Xiaoxianchun (1712-1748),consort of Emperor Qianlong of Qing


Ulunara the Step Empress (1718-1766),Consort of Qianlong of Qing


 Empress Xiaoyichun (1727-1775),consort of Qianlong Emperor


 Empress Xiaoyichun


Imperial Noble Consort Huixian (died 1745),consort of Qianlong Emperor


Imperial Noble Consort Huixian


 Noble Consort Xin (d.1764),concubine of Emperor Qianlong


Consort Jin,concubine of Emperor Qianlong of Qing


 Consort Rong or the Fragrant Concubine,favourite consort of Emperor Qianlong 


Consorts of the Qianlong Emperor of Qing Dynasty


Imperial Concubine Ling (1727-75),consort of Qianlong and her son future emperor Jiaqing.

Later created Empress Xiaoyichun 


 Emperor Qianlong  by European Qing court painter Guiseppe Castiglione


 Emperor Qianlong with some of his children and consorts


 Emperor Qianlong of Qing


 

Emperor Qianlong on horseback by Guiseppe Castiglione


Emperor Qianlong practicing calligraphy


Empress Xiaoherui (1776-1850),a consort to Qing Emperor Jiaqing


Emperor Jiaqing of Qing


Empress Xiaoshurui(1760-1797),consort of Daoguang Emperor of Qing


 

Empress Xiaoquangcheng (1808-1840),consort to Daoguang with her son


 Empress Xiaoquangcheng


Empress Xiaoquangcheng 


 Empress Xiaoquangcheng


Empress Xiaoquangcheng


Two of Emperor Daoguang's daughters,State Princess Shou-An whose mother was Empress Xiaoquangcheng and Sate Princess Shou-En daughter of Empress Xiaojingcheng


Empress Xiaojingcheng (1812-1855),consort of Emperor Daoguang


Consort Xiang (d.1861),concubine of Daoguang Emperor of Qing Dynasty


Emperor Daoguang with his children and consorts


 Empress Xiao Zhen Xian (1831-1861),consort of Xianfeng Emperor of Qing,

later Dowager Empress Ci'an


 Empress Xiao Qin Xian,consort of Xianfeng and later Empress Dowager Cixi


Empress Dowager Cixi


Empress Dowager Cixi


A Qing ceremonial headdress,possibly belonging to Empress Dowager Cixi


 Qing ceremonial headdress


 Qing ceremonial headdress


 Qing ceremonial headdress


Qing ceremonial headdress,det.



 Imperial Concubine Xin,consort to Emperor Xianfeng of Qing


Two concubines of the Emperor Xianfeng fishing in a palace pond


 Empress Xiaodingjing (1868-1913),consort of the Qing Emperor Guangxu


Empress Xiaodingjing


 Empress Wangrong (1906-1946),consort of Emperor Xuantong,the last Emperor of China


 Empress Wangrong,the last Empress of China


Empress Wangrong of China 


Empress Wangrong of China


Empress Wangrong of China


 Emperor Xuantong the last Emperor of China


 Two Qing palace ladies 


 Lady Yehenara from the Imperial Qing court



A semi-formal robe worn at the Qing court