Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Empress of Houzhu

Mu Yeli 穆邪利

Attested AD 570 - AD 576

Passages: 11
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Mu Yeli was an empress of Houzhu.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Changed name	Mu	穆氏	Mu
Courtesy name	Sheli	舍利	Sheli
Childhood name	Huanghua	黃花	Huanghua

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 572 to AD 576 as empress under Houzhu
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 154, 157
AD 570 武平元年六月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 147

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Lu Taiji (陸太姬)
adopted as daughter 養以為女 · Adoptive parentage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 146
Child of Qingxiao (輕霄)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 142
Parent of Gao Heng (高恒)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 147
Spouse of Gao Wei (高緯)
Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 154

Career and standing

Installed
Empress
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 154

Assessments and attributes

Item Seal of the Heaven-King's Consort 天王后璽 · Relation Portent for
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 151-152
Item seven-treasure carriage 七寶車 · Relation Commissioned for
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 155

Source notes

some said she was Song Qindao's daughter
Field parentage · Witness Person Id Song Qindao (宋欽道)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 142
To Mu 穆氏
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 149

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 11 passages

斛律后廢，陸媼欲以穆夫人代之，太后不許。 When Empress Hulu was deposed, Lu Aun wished to install Lady Mu in her place, but the Empress Dowager refused.

陸媼既非勸立，又意在穆夫人，其後於太后前作色而言曰：「何物親侄女，作如此語言！」 Lu Aun, who had not supported the elevation and still favored Lady Mu, later appeared before the Empress Dowager with a dark look and said, "What sort of niece is this, to speak such words!"

後主穆后 Houzhu, Empress Mu

後主皇后穆氏，名邪利，本斛律後從婢也。 Empress Mu of Houzhu, named Yeli, had originally been an attendant in Empress Hulu's household.

小字黃花，後字舍利。 Her pet name was Huanghua; later she was styled Sheli.

欽道伏誅，黃花因此入宮，有幸於後主，宮內稱為舍利太監。 After Song was executed, Huanghua entered the palace by that connection, won Houzhu's favor, and was known within the inner quarters as Director Sheli.

女侍中陸太姬知其寵，養以為女，薦為弘德夫人。 Lady Attendant Lu Taiji, knowing of her favor, adopted her as a daughter and recommended her as Lady of Hongde.

陸以國姓之重，穆、陸相對，又奏賜姓穆氏。 Lu cited the weight of the dynastic surname—Mu paired with Lu—and petitioned that she be granted the surname Mu.

詔書頒告，以為穆后之瑞焉。 An edict proclaimed the find far and wide as an auspicious portent for Empress Mu.

後主既立穆皇后，復為營之。 After Houzhu installed Empress Mu, such garments were commissioned again.

言黃花不久也，後主自立穆后以後，昏飲無度，故云清觴滿杯酌。 It meant Huanghua would not endure; after Houzhu made Mu empress, he drank without measure—hence "brim the clear cup and pour."