Empress Wang Fahui (王法慧) (360–380), formally Empress Xiaowuding (孝武定皇后, literally "the filial, martial, and quieting empress") was an empress during Jin Dynasty (265-420). Her husband was Emperor Xiaowu.
When Emperor Xiaowu was due to marry, the regent Xie An wanted to look for a noble family that was meek and virtuous. Since he respected Wang Fahui's father Wang Yun (王蘊) and brother Wang Gong (王恭) greatly, he personally visited Wang Fahui to examine her, and he was impressed with her politeness and beauty. In 375, he therefore selected her as Emperor Xiaowu's empress. He was 14 and she was 15.
Once she became empress, however, she became obsessed with drinking and was also proud and jealous, and Emperor Xiaowu was displeased. He therefore summoned Wang Yun, his father-in-law, to ask him to counsel his daughter to change her ways. Wang, during this meeting, became so fearful that he took off his hat to apologize. He then rebuked her, and she changed her behavior. She died in 380 and was buried with honors due an empress. She did not bear any sons.
| Chinese royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Empress Yu Daolian |
Empress of Jin Dynasty (265–420) 375–380 |
Succeeded by Empress Wang Shen'ai |
| Empress of China (Southeastern) 375–380 |
||
| Empress of China (Southwestern/Central) 375–380 |
Succeeded by Empress Gou of Former Qin |
|
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Wang Fahui, Empress |
| Alternative names | |
| Short description | Jin Dynasty empress |
| Date of birth | 360 |
| Place of birth | |
| Date of death | 380 |
| Place of death | |
Famous quotes containing the word empress:
“We never really are the adults we pretend to be. We wear the mask and perhaps the clothes and posture of grown-ups, but inside our skin we are never as wise or as sure or as strong as we want to convince ourselves and others we are. We may fool all the rest of the people all of the time, but we never fool our parents. They can see behind the mask of adulthood. To her mommy and daddy, the empress never has on any clothes—and knows it.”
—Frank Pittman (20th century)