After her death, another son, Emperor Taizong, succeeded Emperor Taizu, claiming legitimacy on grounds of their mother's will, alleged to be sealed in a golden shelf at her death. Many historians believe that this was actually a fabrication by Emperor Taizong.
Becoming the empress dowager
In 960, her eldest surviving son Zhao Kuangyin staged a coup d'état to end the Later Zhou, forcing the 7-year-old Emperor Gong of Later Zhou to abdicate power and declaring himself the emperor of the new Song dynasty. Upon hearing the news, Lady Du was not surprised and merely stated: "My son has always been ambitious." She was honored as the empress dowager in a grand ceremony before all ministers but did not appear happy. When asked why, she replied: "I heard it is very difficult to be a ruler. Being above all commoners, if an emperor governs according to the ethics, then he deserves all their respect. However, if he mismanages the sovereign, he can no longer be a commoner even if he begs. This is why I am worried." Emperor Taizu bowed and promised to remember that.[2]
Promise of the Golden Shelf
Just a year later, Empress Dowager Du fell sick, and Emperor Taizu personally fed her medicine and attended her by her bed. When the illness worsened, minister Zhao Pu was summoned to record the will. Empress Dowager Du asked her son, "Do you know why you became an emperor?" In tears, Emperor Taizu could not answer. The mother asked again, and Emperor Taizu responded that it was all due to the blessings of her and the ancestors. "Wrong," the mother said, "It was because Emperor Shizong of (Later) Zhou made his young kid succeed him as the emperor. Had (Later) Zhou had an older emperor, how could you become one? When you pass away, remember to pass the throne to your younger brother. The country is wide, the population is large, an older emperor is the blessing of the dynasty." Emperor Taizu cried and nodded his head. Empress Dowager Du also told Zhao Pu: "You shall also remember and follow my words." This conversation was recorded by Zhao Pu with his signature at the end and sealed in a golden shelf to be kept by reliable palace attendants.[2]
Family
The eldest of 8 children from an official family, Lady Du married general Zhao Hongyin upon reaching adulthood and bore him 7 children:[2]
Lady Du was a strict mother who taught the children to follow rules and traditions.[2] Her husband Zhao Hongyin died in 956.
Notes and references
^ abFrom her date and Chinese age at death, we can deduct that she was born in the 2nd year of the Tian'fu era of the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang (between 11 February 902 and 31 January 903).
^Song Shi, vol. 244 gives his name as Zhao Guangji (赵光济). Most likely the original name (if there was one) would have had the same generation name "Kuang " (匡) as Zhao Kuangyin, but was changed once Zhao Kuangyin became emperor due to naming taboo.
^Song Shi, vol. 244 gives his original name as Zhao Guangzan (赵光美). Most likely the original name would have had the same generation name "Kuang" (匡) as Zhao Kuangyin, but was changed once Zhao Kuangyin became emperor due to naming taboo.
^Song Shi, vol. 244 gives his name as Zhao Guangzan (赵光赞). Most likely the original name (if there was one) would have had the same generation name "Kuang " (匡) as Zhao Kuangyin, but was changed once Zhao Kuangyin became emperor due to naming taboo.
