Lady Wu

Historical Record

Lady Wu, as the empress of the Shu Han Zhaolie Emperor Liu Bei, has a comparatively brief record in the historical sources, but her status was eminent and of great significance to the stability of the Shu Han regime. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, after Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in the summer, fourth month, of the first year of the Zhangwu era (221 CE), Lady Wu was formally established as empress in the fifth month ^c:4952. This event marks the final confirmation of her identity in Liu Bei's political career and consolidated her position as mother of the state. In the same period, Liu Bei's eldest son Liu Shan was established as crown prince, his second son Liu Yong was enfeoffed as Prince of Lu, and Liu Li was enfeoffed as Prince of Liang ^c:4952; these measures together formed the political configuration of early Shu Han. The historical sources do not record in detail Lady Wu's background, early life, or the specific course of her union with Liu Bei, nor do they mention whether she bore children. Her role as empress is reflected more in the political symbolism represented by her station. In the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the records concerning Lady Wu center mainly on the key event of her being established as empress, and thereafter rarely mention her specific activities or words and deeds. It is worth noting that the historical sources also mention the death of Sun Quan's mother, Lady Wu ^c:1292, which indicates that during the Three Kingdoms period several women named Lady Wu played important roles on the political stage, but Liu Bei's empress Lady Wu and Sun Quan's mother Lady Wu were not the same person.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Lady Wu's image and experiences receive a richer literary shaping that fills the gaps in the historical record, and her union with Liu Bei is depicted with more drama. In the novel, Lady Wu first appears in Chapter 77 ^c:955. At this point Liu Bei had returned from Dongchuan to Chengdu, and Fa Zheng advised him that, since his former lady had died and Lady Sun had returned south, the way of human relations should not be neglected, and recommended that Liu Bei take a consort to assist in domestic governance. Fa Zheng recommended Wu Yi's younger sister, Lady Wu, stressing that she was "beautiful and virtuous" and that a physiognomist had once foretold that she "would surely become greatly honored" ^c:955. The novel also notes in particular that Lady Wu had once been betrothed to Liu Yan's son Liu Mao, but Liu Mao died early and Lady Wu was thus widowed. Liu Bei at first hesitated because Liu Mao was of the same clan as himself, thinking it "not proper in principle," but Fa Zheng persuaded him with the example of "Duke Wen of Jin and Huai Ying," and in the end Liu Bei adopted the advice and took Lady Wu as his consort ^c:955. This episode is unattested in the histories and is an artistic invention of the novel to enrich the relationships and dramatic conflict among the characters. The novel also clearly states that Lady Wu later bore Liu Bei two sons: the elder, Liu Yong, styled Gongshou; and the younger, Liu Li, styled Fengxiao ^c:955.

In Chapter 80, when the King of Hanzhong, Liu Bei, received the abdication and proclaimed himself emperor, changing the era to the first year of Zhangwu, Lady Wu was formally established as empress, the eldest son Liu Shan was established as crown prince, the second son Liu Yong was enfeoffed as Prince of Lu, and Liu Li was enfeoffed as Prince of Liang ^c:958. This episode basically accords with history, but in the novel Lady Wu's installation as empress is set against the backdrop of Liu Bei's enthronement ceremony, appearing more solemn and grand. The novel's depiction makes Lady Wu not merely Liu Bei's spouse but one of the symbols of the legitimacy of the Shu Han regime. In Chapter 85, when Cao Pi's five armies invaded the borders and the Later Lord Liu Shan was in a panic, the Empress Dowager (that is, Lady Wu) also appeared to express her worry over the Chancellor Zhuge Liang, and for a time wished to go personally to the ancestral temple to summon and question Zhuge Liang ^c:9151. Although in the end, at Dong Yun's persuasion, she did not go, this detail displays Lady Wu's influence in the inner palace as Empress Dowager, as well as her concern for the great affairs of state, making her image more rounded and full.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han (serves): Lady Wu, as Liu Bei's empress and empress dowager, was an important component of the Shu Han regime, her status symbolizing the continuation and stability of the Shu Han imperial house. She contributed to Shu Han's internal governance and imperial succession; especially in the novel, as empress dowager she showed concern for state affairs at a critical moment ^c:9151.
* Liu Bei (spouse_of): Lady Wu was Liu Bei's empress, formally established after Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor ^c:4952. In the novel she is depicted as a woman "beautiful and virtuous," and bore Liu Bei two sons, Liu Yong and Liu Li ^c:955.
* Liu Mao (spouse_of) (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Lady Wu was once the betrothed or wife of Liu Yan's son Liu Mao, but Liu Mao died early and Lady Wu was thus widowed, only later marrying Liu Bei ^c:955. This episode is not recorded in the histories.
* Wu Yi (kin_of): Wu Yi was Lady Wu's elder brother. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it was precisely her identity as Wu Yi's younger sister that led Fa Zheng to recommend Lady Wu to Liu Bei ^c:955.

Signature Scenes

* Being established as empress: In the fifth month of the first year of Zhangwu (221 CE), after Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor, Lady Wu was formally established as empress ^c:4952. This event was the most important milestone of Lady Wu's life, confirming her supreme position in the Shu Han imperial house. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this scene is depicted more grandly, taking place at the same time as Liu Bei's enthronement, displaying her nobility as mother of the state ^c:958.
* Fa Zheng recommending Lady Wu as consort (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after the King of Hanzhong, Liu Bei, returned from Dongchuan to Chengdu, Fa Zheng advised him and recommended Wu Yi's younger sister Lady Wu as his consort. Fa Zheng stressed that Lady Wu was "beautiful and virtuous" and bore the prophecy that she "would surely become greatly honored," and persuaded Liu Bei to accept this widowed woman who had once been betrothed to Liu Mao ^c:955. This scene is the key turning point of Lady Wu's entry into Liu Bei's life and her eventual becoming empress, displaying the novel's deft arrangement of the characters' relationships.
* The Empress Dowager worrying over state affairs (novel only): In Chapter 85 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when the state of Wei's five armies invaded the borders and the Later Lord Liu Shan was in a panic, the Empress Dowager (Lady Wu) also expressed her worry that the Chancellor Zhuge Liang, being ill, did not come out to attend to affairs, and for a time proposed to go personally to the ancestral temple to summon and question Zhuge Liang ^c:9151. Although this in the end did not take place, it vividly portrays Lady Wu's concern, as empress dowager, for the safety of the nation, as well as her influence in the inner palace, adding to her image the luster of a model of motherly dignity for all the realm.