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Xiang Li Traditional Chinese Watercolor

Southern & Northern Dynasties · 420 – 589

Zhu Lingyu

“Artist’s Note”

Empress Zhu Lingyu who succeeded to the throne. Emperor Xiao Baojuan was not a successful or respected emperor by any means, he also did not favor Zhu. Very little has been written about her.

“我是齐东昏侯,萧宝卷的皇后,诸令璩。继位的萧宝卷也是出了名的坏皇帝,我不得宠,是傀儡皇后。”

Xiao Baojuan 蕭寶卷

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiao_Baojuan

Xiao Baojuan, also known as Marquess of Donghun, was an emperor of the Southern Qi dynasty in China, reigning during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. His rule was marked by violence and arbitrary executions of high-level officials, which led to several major rebellions. Ultimately, his own general, Xiao Yan, rebelled against him, leading to his overthrow and the collapse of the Southern Qi dynasty. Xiao Baojuan was posthumously demoted to the title of Marquess of Donghun by Xiao Yan after being killed in a siege of the capital Jiankang.

Play · a new empress every day

Would you know her from a detail?

Every day, Empress Unveiled shows one of Xiang Li’s silk portraits very close — a hairpin, a hand, a fold of robe — and steps back with every guess. Six guesses to find her.

Also: daily Chinese history trivia · which Chinese empress are you?