Wang Yuanji - Biography

Biography

Wang Yuanji was a native of Tan (郯), Donghai (東海), which is in present-day Tancheng County, Linyi, Shandong. Her father was Wang Su, who served as a military commander in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, and received the title of "Marquis of Lanling" (蘭陵侯).

When she was eight years old, she already had a good memory and could recite the Confucian classics fluently. Once, when she was nine, her mother fell sick, and she remained by her mother's side all the time to take care of her. She possessed savoir faire, and performed well when her parents allowed her to manage household chores. Her grandfather Wang Lang doted on her and felt that she was extraordinary. He said, "This girl will bring glory to our family. What a pity she isn't a boy!" When Wang Yuanji was 12, her grandfather died and she cried her heart out. Her father respected her even more after that incident and felt that she was indeed very special.

She married Sima Zhao after reaching adulthood (around the age of 15). She bore Sima Zhao four sons - Sima Yan, Sima Dingguo (司馬定國), Sima You and Sima Zhao (司馬兆). She also bore him a daughter whose personal name was not recorded in history, but was known as Princess Jingzhao (京兆公主) in the Jin Dynasty. After her marriage, she maintained her good moral character and served her in-laws well. She cried her heart out again when her father died.

When Sima Zhao became the regent in the state of Cao Wei later, he recognised Zhong Hui's talent and promoted the latter to higher appointments. Wang Yuanji told her husband, "Zhong Hui is someone who will forsake moral principles for his personal gain. He is likely to cause trouble if he is overly indulged and favoured. He should not be entrusted with important responsibilities." Wang Yuanji's prediction came true later as Zhong Hui started a rebellion in 263 after helping Wei conquer its rival state Shu Han.

Sima Zhao died in 265 and was succeeded by his eldest son Sima Yan as regent of Wei. Later that year, Sima Yan forced the last Wei ruler, Cao Huan, to abdicate in his favour, thereby ending the Cao Wei regime and establishing the Jin Dynasty. After ascending the throne, Sima Yan instated his mother as empress dowager and granted her Chonghua Palace (崇化宮) as her residence. After becoming the empress dowager, Wang Yuanji continued to live a humble and frugal life - there were no expensive furniture and decorations in her room, she kept her meals simple, wore old clothes again after washing them. She also personally did weaving work, and managed the imperial harem well as there was harmony among the emperor's concubines.

Wang Yuanji died in 268 at the age of 52 (by East Asian age reckoning). She was buried at Chongyangling (崇陽陵; somewhere in present-day Yanshi, Luoyang, Henan) together with her husband Sima Zhao. Sima Yan personally wrote a eulogy praising his mother's moral character, and ordered a court historian to have it published.