Qin and Han · Imperial Consort

Zhao Feiyan 趙

Zhao

Attested BC 33 - BC 1

Passages: 9
Chapters: 5
Histories: 3

Overview

Zhao Feiyan was an Imperial Consort.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 33 to BC 7 成帝時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 78
BC 16 to BC 1 漢
Strongly inferred · Book of Sui 36, passage 7
BC 32 to BC 1 趙、李之傾惑
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 9, passage 18
BC 16 趙皇后得立
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 105, passages 122, 124
BC 16 趙飛燕為皇后
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 39

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Spouse of Emperor Cheng of Han (漢成帝)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 39

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 117 Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 3 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 96 Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye 2 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 2 passages
Book of Sui, Chapter 36 Volume 36 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts 1 passage
Book of Zhou, Chapter 9 Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses 1 passage

Career and standing

imperial favorite consort 女寵
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 78
empress 皇后
BC 16 趙皇后得立 · Installed
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 124
Held
BC 16 趙皇后得立 · Imperial favorite
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 122
empress 皇后
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 39

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Attested in
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 118
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 78

Events and relationships

Type consort-of · Person Emperor Cheng of Han (漢成帝)
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 132

Assessments and attributes

low birth
Birth status
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 122

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 280; Book of Han 117, passage 78

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 2 passages

又以掖庭獄大為亂阱，榜棰□於砲格，絕滅人命，主為趙、李報德復怨，反除白罪，建治正吏，多系無辜，掠立迫恐，至為人起責，分利受謝。 They turned the harem jail into a torture pit worse than the burning-pillar punishment, traded lives for Zhao and Li family vendettas, framed the innocent, extorted confessions, and invented debts to pocket bribes.

成帝性寬而好文辭，又久無繼嗣，數為微行，多近幸小臣，趙、李從微賤專寵，皆皇太后與諸舅夙夜所常憂。 Emperor Cheng was mild and loved letters, long lacked an heir, often slipped out among petty favorites, while Zhao Feiyan and Li Ping from humble rank seized his love—the empress dowager and her brothers lost sleep over it.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 2 passages

久之，趙飛燕貴幸，上欲立以為皇后，太后以其所出微，難之。 When Zhao Feiyan rose high enough to aim at the empress's throne, the empress dowager balked at her low birth.

歲餘，趙皇后得立，上甚德之，乃追顯長前功，下詔曰：「前將作大匠解萬年奏請營作昌陵，罷弊海內，侍中衛尉長數白宜止徙家反故處，朕以長言下公卿，議者皆合長計。 More than a year later Empress Zhao was installed, and the emperor, deeply grateful, recalled Chunyu Chang's earlier service. He issued an edict: "Former Director of Works Xie Wannian memorialized requesting construction at Changling, exhausting the empire. Palace Attendant and Defender of the Capital Chunyu Chang repeatedly stated that the work should stop and that relocated households should be returned to their former homes. I referred Chang's words to the dukes and ministers, and all who deliberated agreed with his plan.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 3 passages

會許皇后廢，班婕妤供養東宮，進侍者李平為婕妤，而趙飛燕為皇后，伯遂稱篤。 After Empress Xu fell, Lady Ban withdrew to serve the Dowager in the eastern palace, a maid named Li Ping rose to an honored lady, and Zhao Feiyan took the empress's seal; Ban Bo promptly claimed serious illness.

入侍禁中，設宴飲之會，及趙、李諸侍中皆引滿舉白，談笑大噱。 Inside the palace they threw banquets where the Zhao and Li women and the gentlemen-attendants tipped their cups, bellowed toasts, and roared with laughter.

永指以駮譏趙、李，亦無間云。 He aimed the rebuke at Zhao Feiyan and Li Ping, yet commentators say no one could gainsay his point.

Book of Sui, Chapter 36Volume 36 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 1 passage

故皇、英降而虞道隆，任、姒歸而姬宗盛，妹、妲致夏、殷之釁，褒、趙結周、漢之禍。 When E Huang and Nüying came down to Shun, the way of Yu flourished; when Ren and Si entered the Zhou house, the Ji clan rose to greatness. Mei Xi and Daji brought ruin upon Xia and Yin; Bao Si and Zhao Feiyan brought disaster upon Zhou and Han.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses · 1 passage

雖辛、癸之荒淫，趙、李之傾惑，曾未足比其髣髴也。 Even the debauchery of Kings Zhou and Li of old and the seductive sway of Zhao Feiyan and Lady Li of Han barely approach this in likeness.