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Xie Daoqing

Type Figure Region Southern Song Time 1210–1283 Also known as Empress Xie、Empress of Lizong、Grand Empress Dowager Shouhe Shengfu Ci

Xie Daoqing (1210–1283), from Tiantai in Zhejiang, was empress of Song Lizong, enthroned in 1231.…

Timeline

  1. 1210–1250Tiantai · TiantaiXie Daoqing came from the Xie clan of Tiantai (her grandfather was Xie Shenfu). Empress Dowager Yang selected her for the palace, and she was enthroned as empress on 14 January 1231. Lizong had no biological son and adopted his nephew Zhao Qi as heir.
  2. 1251–1260Lin'an · Southern SongFrom 1250, as Lizong was frequently ill in his later years, Xie Daoqing often took part in state deliberations within the inner court, helping maintain stability. Her adopted son Zhao Qi was made a prince in 1253 and invested as Crown Prince in the first year of Jingding (1260); powerful ministers like Jia Sidao also rose through connections with the Xie clan, deepening links between the inner court and the outer bureaucracy.
  3. 1264–1283Lin'an · Southern SongLizong died in 1264 and Duzong succeeded, with Xie Daoqing honored as empress dowager. Duzong died in 1274 and the young Emperor Gong took the throne; she ruled behind a screen as grand empress dowager, though military and political power largely remained with Jia Sidao. When Lin'an surrendered to Yuan in 1276 she carried the young emperor out in surrender; she was later demoted to Lady of Shouchun Commandery and died at Dadu in 1283.

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