Song, Liao, and Jin · Consort

Empress Dowager Gao 高氏

Gao Shi

Attested AD 1069 - AD 1087

Passages: 11
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Empress Dowager Gao was a consort.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1087 元祐二年
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 130
AD 1085 哲宗即位
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 124
AD 1069 熙寧二年
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 123

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Emperor Zhezong (哲宗)
grandmother 祖母 · 2 generations
Strongly inferred · History of Song 110, passage 124

Career and standing

Grand Empress Dowager 太皇太后
Received
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 124
Held
Co regency · Negated false
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 133

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Liang Tao (梁燾)
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 131

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

History of Song, Chapter 110Volume 110 Treatises 63: Rites 13 · 11 passages

熙寧二年，神宗尊皇太后曹氏為太皇太后，詣文德殿跪奉玉冊授攝太尉曾公亮、金寶授攝司徒韓絳，又跪奉皇太后高氏玉冊授攝太尉文彥博、金寶授攝司徒趙抃，禮畢，百官稱賀。 In Xining 2, 1069, Shenzong honored Empress Dowager Cao as grand empress dowager. At Wende Hall he knelt and presented the jade patent to Acting Grand Commandant Zeng Gongliang and the gold seal to Acting Minister over the Masses Han Jiang. He knelt again and presented the jade patent of Empress Dowager Gao to Acting Grand Commandant Wen Yanbo and the gold seal to Acting Minister over the Masses Zhao Bian. When the rites were complete, all officials offered congratulations.

哲宗即位，詔尊太后高氏為太皇太后，皇后向氏為皇太后，德妃朱氏為皇太妃。 When Zhezong ascended the throne, an edict honored Empress Dowager Gao as grand empress dowager, Empress Xiang as empress dowager, and Virtuous Consort Zhu as imperial consort dowager.

太皇太后、皇太后於皇太妃稱賜，皇帝稱奉，百官不稱臣。 The grand empress dowager and empress dowager use the term 'bestow' when addressing the imperial consort dowager; the emperor uses 'present'; and officials do not style themselves as her subjects.

宰臣請特建太皇太后宮曰崇慶，殿曰崇慶、曰壽康； Chief ministers requested that a separate palace be built for the grand empress dowager, called Chongqing, with halls named Chongqing and Shoukang;

元祐二年，詔太皇太后受冊依章獻明肅皇后故事，皇太后受冊依熙寧二年故事，皇太妃與皇太后同日受冊，令太常禮官詳定儀注。 In Yuanyou 2, 1087, an edict ordered that the grand empress dowager receive the patent according to the precedent of Empress Dowager Zhangxian Mingsu, that the empress dowager receive it according to the Xining 2 precedent, and that the imperial consort dowager receive it on the same day as the empress dowager. Officials of the Temple of Rites were ordered to determine the ceremonial regulations in detail.

右諫議大夫梁燾請對文德殿，太皇太后曰：“大臣欲行此禮，予意謂必難行。” Right Remonstrance Grandee Liang Tao requested an audience at Wende Hall. The grand empress dowager said: "The senior ministers wish to perform this ceremony, but in my view it will surely be difficult to carry out."

中書舍人曾肇亦言：“太皇太后聽政以來，止於延和殿，受遼使朝見，亦止於禦崇政殿，未嚐踐外朝。 Secretariat Drafter Zeng Zhao also said: "Since the grand empress dowager began hearing government, she has remained at Yanhe Hall. Even when receiving audiences with Liao envoys she has proceeded only to Chongzheng Hall and has never entered the outer court.

今皇帝述仁祖故事，以極崇奉之禮，太皇太後儻以此時特下明詔，發揚皇帝孝敬之誠，而固執謙德，止於崇政殿受冊，則皇帝之孝愈顯，太皇太后之德愈尊，兩義俱得，顧不美歟？” Now the emperor follows the precedent of Emperor Renzong and offers the utmost ceremony of exalted service. If the grand empress dowager were at this time to issue a clear edict displaying the emperor's filial reverence while firmly holding to modest virtue and receiving the patent only at Chongzheng Hall, the emperor's filial piety would shine all the more brightly and the grand empress dowager's virtue would be all the more honored. Both aims would be served—would that not be admirable?"

太皇太后欣然納之，乃詔將來受冊止於崇政殿。 The grand empress dowager gladly accepted this, and an edict was issued that in future the patent would be received only at Chongzheng Hall.

九月六日，發太皇太后冊寶於大慶殿，發皇太后、太妃冊寶於文德殿，行禮如儀。 On the sixth day of the ninth month, the grand empress dowager's patent and seal were issued at Daqing Hall, and the empress dowager's and imperial consort dowager's patents and seals were issued at Wende Hall. The rites were performed according to ceremony.

紹聖元年，詔：“奉太皇太后旨，皇太妃特與立宮殿名，坐六龍輿，張糸散，出入由宣德正門。” In Shaosheng 1, 1094, an edict read: "Following the grand empress dowager's instructions, the imperial consort dowager was specially granted her own palace and hall names, the use of the six-dragon carriage, deployment of silk streamers, and entry and exit through the Xuande Main Gate."