| Lady Du | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empress Dowager Zhaoxian | |||||||||
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| Empress dowager of the Song dynasty | |||||||||
| Tenure | 4 February 960 – 17 July 961 | ||||||||
| Emperor | Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu) (son) | ||||||||
| Born | 902 or January 903[1] Dingzhou, Hebei, China | ||||||||
| Died | 17 July 961 (aged 58–59[2]) Kaifeng, Henan, China | ||||||||
| Burial | An Mausoleum (安陵, in present-day Gongyi, Henan) | ||||||||
| Spouse | Zhao Hongyin | ||||||||
| Issue 3 others died young |
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| House | Zhao (by marriage) | ||||||||
| Father | Du Shuang (杜爽) | ||||||||
| Mother | Lady Fan (范氏) | ||||||||
Empress Dowager Du (杜太后, given name unknown, c. 902[1] – 17 July 961[4]) was an empress dowager of imperial China's Song dynasty. She was the wife of general Zhao Hongyin and the mother of Emperor Taizu of Song, who founded the Song dynasty.
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.
- ^ a b From 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).
- ^ a b c Song Shi, ch. 242.
- ^ Chikusa, p. 84.
- ^ Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, ch. 2.