Princess Gaoyang

Princess Gaoyang
高阳公主
Born627
Died653 (aged 25–26)
SpouseFang Yi'ai
HouseHouse of Li
FatherEmperor Taizong of Tang
Princess Gaoyang
Traditional Chinese高陽公主
Simplified Chinese高阳公主
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinGāoyáng gōngzhǔ
Wade–GilesKao-yang kung-chu

Princess Gaoyang (Chinese: 高陽公主; 627 – 6 March 653) was the seventeenth daughter of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty.

Early life

Princess Gaoyang was born into the Tang imperial family around 627. Her birth mother is unrecorded. Her parents spoiled her and made sure she was well cared for; she had large rooms in the palace and many servants and attendants.

Alleged affair with Bianji

According to the New Book of Tang, in her late teens, Gaoyang had an affair with a monk named Bianji. They kept it well hidden for many years, as monks were not supposed to have intimate relationships, and Gaoyang herself was already betrothed to a rich noble named Fang Yi'ai, son of her father's chancellor Fang Xuanling. When their relationship was discovered, Bianji was taken from the monastery and executed by her father. Afterward, she led a dissolute private life, having extramarital affairs with the monks Zhixu and Huigong, and the Taoist priest Li Hu. After the death of Emperor Taizong, Princess Gaoyang "cried without mourning".

The affair is recorded in New Book of Tang and Zizhi Tongjian, written by Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang, respectively, in the Song dynasty. All other records before the New Book of Tang do not mention this. Some scholars therefore question the story, suggesting that Ouyang Xiu and Sima Guang's accounts might have been influenced by their strong anti-Buddhist views. However, the Old Book of Tang, which was written in the Tang dynasty, mentions that when Gaoyang's father-in-law Fang Xuanling was in the last days of his life, he submitted a petition to the Emperor through Gaoyang. The records state that the relationship between the Emperor and the Princess was still in harmony. Additionally, the princess' name and courtesies were carved into Fang Xuanling's tomb with great honor.[citation needed]

Later years and death

According to the New Book of Tang, Gaoyang became bitter after Bianji's death; her betrothal and wedding went as planned in spite of her protests. However, instead of animosity and resentment, Gaoyang and Fang Yi'ai grew closer and bonded over their mutual hatred for the imperial court. Gaoyang and her husband gathered an army and led a rebellion against her brother Emperor Gaozong and his wife Empress Wu Zetian. They stormed the palace but were stopped and captured. Gaoyang and her husband were executed by hanging shortly after.

Notes

  1. ↑ Volume 24 of The Complete Collection of Tang Dynasty Literature (Quan Tang Wen) records a decree granting the title of Princess Gaoyang to the 20th daughter of Emperor Xuanzong and awarding her a fief of 1,000 households.

References

  1. ↑ Pak-sheung, Ng (2022). "How Officials Rose to Success and Migrated to the Center: Considering the Tombs of Meritorious Officials at Zhaoling". Tang Studies. 40 (1): 83–120. doi:10.1353/tan.2022.0002. ISSN 1759-7633. S2CID 254536603.
  2. ↑ Kieschnick, John (31 December 1997). The Eminent Monk. University of Hawaii Press. doi:10.1515/9780824846015. ISBN 978-0-8248-4601-5.
  3. ↑ 《全唐文 卷二十四》○封高阳公主制　　用嘉成德，将及推恩，疏封锡号，礼典攸在。第二十女资身淑慎，禀训柔明。克备肃雍之仪，允彰图史之德。而方营鲁馆，宜启沁园，俾承宠於中闱，复增荣於列赋。仍食实封一千户。
  4. ↑ Zhang, Xiuping (1993). 100 Books That Influenced China: Da Tang Xiyu Ji. China: Nanning: Guangxi Renmin Press. pp. 392–398. ISBN 7-219-02339-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  5. ↑ Yiu, Martha Cheung Pui; Wusun, Lin (3 June 2014). An Anthology of Chinese Discourse on Translation (Version 1): From Earliest Times to the Buddhist Project. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-63927-5.
  6. ↑ "辩机和尚是谁？揭秘辩机和尚和高阳公主偷情疑案 -趣历史网". 趣历史 (in Chinese). 9 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Woo, X.L. (2008). Empress Wu The Great - Tang Dynasty China. New York: Algora Publishing. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-0-87586-660-4.