Empress Gao (1032–1093) was a Song-dynasty empress and grand empress dowager, the wife of Zhao Shu, Emperor Yingzong. Her posthumous title was Xuanren Shenglie; she was associated with Bozhou and later moved to Kaifeng. She is also known as Empress Xuanren (宣仁皇后), Gao Taotao (高滔滔), Empress Dowager Xuanren (宣仁太后), and Empress Dowager Gao (高太后), while Empress Xuanren Shenglie is an English form.
Life
Her great-grandfather was Gao Qiong (高瓊), her grandfather Gao Jixun (高繼勳), her father Gao Zunfu (高遵甫), and her mother Cao Shi (曹氏); Gao Shili (高世吏) was a collateral grandfather, while Gao Zunhui (高遵惠) and Gao Zunyu (高遵裕) were paternal uncles. Her relatives also included the sibling Gao Shiquan (高士權), the younger brothers Gao Shilin (高士林) and Gao Shixun (高士遜), the collateral younger cousins Gao Shiju (高士涺) and Gao Shizuan (高士纘), and the nephews Gao Gongji (高公紀) and Gao Gongying (高公應).
She married Zhao Shu (1032–1067). Their children were Zhao Xu (1048–1085), second son Zhao Hao (1049–1095), third son Zhao Yun (1056–1088), and a daughter, Zhao Shi (1051–1080). She was invested as empress and later became empress dowager; in the first year of Yuanyou (1085), she became grand empress dowager.
Political role
While the emperor was young, she acted as regent as grand empress dowager, removed Wang Anshi’s partisans, appointed Sima Guang and others, abolished the New Policies, and brought about the Yuanyou governance. In 1091, she was served by the eunuchs Liang Weijian (梁惟簡), Chen Yan (陳衍), and Zhang Shiliang (張士良).
Posthumous remembrance
Su Zhe wrote the posthumous-title discussion. The associated text was 《大行太皇太后諡冊文》, listed with 《欒城集》. Qin Guan wrote elegiac poems and ci. The associated text was 《大行太皇太后挽詞》, listed with 《淮海集》。
References
- CBDB Gao Shi (Wife of Zhao Shu) (11688)
- Wikidata Empress Gao (Q5219495)