Empress Guo

Historical Record

Empress Guo, styled Nüwang (King among Women), was a native of Guangzong in Anping, her forebears having been local officials for generations. Her father Guo Yong rose to the office of Administrator of Nan Commandery, and her mother, née Dong, was the Lady of Tangyang. Empress Guo was born on the yimao day of the third month of the first year of the Zhongping era of the Han (184), and from childhood displayed extraordinary qualities; her father Guo Yong once praised her as "the king among my daughters." Her parents both died in her early years, and she wandered homeless amid the wars, later being taken into the household of the Marquis of Tongdi. When Cao Cao was Duke of Wei, Empress Guo gained entry to the Eastern Palace. She was quite resourceful and often offered counsel to Cao Pi. In the matter of Cao Pi being established as crown prince, Empress Guo too contributed her planning.^[1]

After Cao Pi acceded as King of Wei, Empress Guo was made a Lady; once Cao Pi became emperor, she was further made an Honored Concubine. The death of Empress Zhen stemmed in some degree from the favor shown to Empress Guo.^[1] In the third year of the Huangchu era (222), Emperor Wen, Cao Pi, wished to make Empress Guo his empress. The Gentleman of the Interior Zhan Qian submitted a memorial of remonstrance, holding that a daughter of a great clan should be made empress, and that one should not, out of favor, cause "a lowly person to rise suddenly to honor," lest it open a source of disorder for later ages. The emperor, however, did not adopt Zhan Qian's advice, and in the end set up Empress Guo as empress.^[1]

From entering the Eastern Palace to ascending the position of empress, Empress Guo, even while deeply favored, remained ever respectful and grave, and was renowned for her filial devotion. She gave much instruction and encouragement to Honored Concubine Chai and other palace consorts; when consorts of the palace erred, she often made up for them, explained their reasons before the emperor, and even bowed her head to confess fault on their behalf, so that throughout the six palaces, high and low, none held any grievance. She was frugal by nature and not fond of music, and often took the Han Empress Mingde Ma as her model.^[1]

Empress Guo's brothers all died in her early years, so she had her elder cousin Guo Biao continue her father's line, and he was appointed Commandant of the Imperial Equipage. She strictly disciplined the consort kin, once issuing an order that her relatives' marriages must match their station within their own locality, and that they must not, relying on power, force alliances with others. She also stopped her elder sister's son Meng Wu from taking a concubine in his home district, and admonished the families that, since women were few in the world, they should be given first to the soldiers and officers, and that one must not casually take concubines.^[2]

In the fifth year of the Huangchu era (224), Emperor Wen campaigned eastward, and Empress Guo remained to guard the Yongshi Terrace at Xuchang. At the time it rained for days on end and the city towers were much damaged, and the officials memorialized that she move her residence. Empress Guo, citing the story of Lady Zhenjiang of King Zhao of Chu, insisted on remaining where she was and would not lightly move.^[3] In the sixth year of the Huangchu era (225), Emperor Wen campaigned eastward against Wu as far as Guangling, and Empress Guo remained to guard the Qiao palace. At the time Guo Biao stayed on guard duty and wished to build a dam to catch fish, but Empress Guo admonished him that the canal should be kept open, and that he should not privately make use of the government's bamboo and timber.^[3]

After Emperor Ming, Cao Rui, ascended the throne, he honored Empress Guo as Empress Dowager, who resided in the Yong'an Palace. In the fourth year of the Taihe era (230), Emperor Ming posthumously gave Empress Guo's father Guo Yong the title Marquis Jing of Anyang Township, and her mother, née Dong, the title Lady of the Capital Township. Empress Guo died at Xuchang in the spring of the third year of the Qinglong era (235), and on the gengyin day of the third month was buried west of the Shouyang Tomb.^[4]

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Empress Guo appears mainly after the death of Emperor Ming, Cao Rui. She was honored as Empress Dowager; after Cao Rui's death, Sima Yi and Cao Shuang jointly assisted the crown prince Cao Fang to accede. Cao Fang is described as Cao Rui's adopted son, his origins kept secret within the palace and unknown to outsiders.^[5] The novel gives little ink to Empress Guo's character and life, presenting her more as a background figure in the transfer of imperial power, her role being chiefly to be honored as Empress Dowager and to witness the power struggle between Sima Yi and Cao Shuang in the later Cao Wei period.^[5]

The novel does not depict in detail Empress Guo's experiences in Cao Pi's time—her resourcefulness, respectfulness, frugality, and management of the harem as recorded in history—nor does it mention her feud with Empress Zhen. Her portrayal in the novel centers mainly on her honored status as Empress Dowager after Cao Fang's accession, while of her specific conduct in political or court life it offers little. This forms a contrast with the historical record's detailed accounts of her as "resourceful," "ever the more respectful and grave," and "frugal by nature."^[1]

Key Relationships

* Cao Pi (spouse_of): Empress Guo was the empress of Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei. She won Cao Pi's favor from her time in the Eastern Palace and was set up as empress after Cao Pi acceded. The histories record that "though she enjoyed singular favor, her heart grew ever the more respectful and grave," and that "the death of Empress Zhen was owing to her favor."^[1]
* Cao Wei (member_of): As Cao Pi's empress and Cao Rui's Empress Dowager, Empress Guo was one of the core members of the Cao Wei regime, holding a lofty position and a certain influence in the court. Her strict discipline of the consort kin reflects her intent to safeguard the stability of Cao Wei rule.^[2]
* Cao Fang (kin_of): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Fang is described as Cao Rui's adopted son, and Empress Guo was honored as Empress Dowager after Cao Fang's accession.^[5] In history, Emperor Ming Cao Rui's birth mother was Lady Zhen, and because Lady Zhen was put to death, Cao Rui was raised by Empress Guo.^[6] Thus there existed a nominal grandmother-grandson relationship between Empress Guo and Cao Fang.
* Cao Rui (kin_of): The histories record that Emperor Ming Cao Rui, because his birth mother née Zhen was put to death, was raised by Empress Guo.^[6] Although Cao Rui harbored a grievance over his birth mother's death, Empress Guo treated him with affection while she held her position.^[6] After Emperor Ming acceded, he honored Empress Guo as Empress Dowager, with the title of the Yong'an Palace.^[4]

Iconic Scenes

* Being set up as empress and Zhan Qian's remonstrance: In the third year of the Huangchu era, Emperor Wen wished to make Empress Guo his empress, and the Gentleman of the Interior Zhan Qian submitted a memorial of remonstrance, holding that one should not, out of favor, set up "a lowly person to rise suddenly to honor," fearing it would open a source of disorder for later ages. The emperor, however, did not heed him and in the end set up Empress Guo as empress. This event not only displays Empress Guo's standing in Cao Pi's heart, but also reflects the court ministers' anxiety at the time about the harem meddling in governance.^[1]
* Disciplining the consort kin: Empress Guo managed the consort kin strictly, once admonishing that her relatives' marriages must match their station and that they must not, relying on power, force alliances. She also stopped her elder sister's son Meng Wu from taking a concubine, and stressed that women should be given first to the soldiers and officers. This reflects her frugal, prudent character and her sense of responsibility for safeguarding social order and Cao Wei rule.^[2]
* Holding fast to the Yongshi Terrace: In the fifth year of the Huangchu era, Emperor Wen campaigned eastward, and Empress Guo remained to guard the Yongshi Terrace at Xuchang. At the time it rained for days on end and the city towers were much damaged, and the officials memorialized that she move her residence. Empress Guo, taking the story of Zhenjiang as a model, insisted on not lightly moving, showing her firmness and her steadfastness in duty.^[3]
* Being honored as Empress Dowager (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after Emperor Ming Cao Rui died and the crown prince Cao Fang acceded, Empress Guo was honored as Empress Dowager. This scene marks her status as the foremost woman of Cao Wei, and indirectly takes part in the opening of the later Cao Wei power struggle, though the novel does not deeply depict her specific actions.^[5]
* Emperor Ming forcing Empress Guo's death (recorded in historical sources but not adopted in the main text of the Records of the Three Kingdoms; see the cited Weilüe and Han Jin Chunqiu): Although the main text of the Records of the Three Kingdoms records that Empress Guo "died suddenly of grief," the Weilüe and the Han Jin Chunqiu contain a record that Emperor Ming Cao Rui, grieving anew over the death of his birth mother Empress Zhen, learned that before her death Empress Zhen had been framed by Empress Guo, and in the end forced Empress Guo to her death. This contentious scene, if true, lays bare the complex and tragic relationship between Empress Guo and Cao Rui, and the cruelty of the struggles within the harem.^[4]