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Queen Daochang of Zhao (Chinese: 趙悼倡后; pinyin: Zhào Dàochànghòu, died 228 BC), also known as Queen Mianchang of Zhao,[Chinese script needed] Lady Chang (倡姬; Chàngjī; 'Singing Lady'), or Queen Chang (倡后; Chànghòu; 'Singing Queen'), was the consort of King Daoxiang of Zhao.[1] She was the concubine of the king. She was the mother of King Youmiu, and given the title of Queen Dowager when he became king. She had an affair with a high official and accepted bribes, and has been described as a bad role model in traditional Chinese history writing.
Early life
editQueen Daochang was originally a courtesan from Handan. She later married a kinsman (宗族) of the Zhao royal family and became a widow after her husband's death. King Daoxiang married her because of her beauty. Li Mu persuaded King Daoxiang not to take her as his concubine on the grounds that the woman was of improper origin and disrupting the clan bloodline would lead to the overthrow of the country, but King Daoxiang refused to listen.
At first, King Daoxiang and his previous queen had Zhao Jia, who was established as the crown prince. After advocating, she became favored by King Daoxiang, and conspired to frame Zhao Jia for committing crimes, so that he could be deposed as the crown prince. King Zhao Daoxiang then made her the queen, and her son Zhao Qian was the prince.
As Queen Dowager
editIn 236 BC, King Daoxiang died, and Zhao Qian succeeded to the throne as King Youmiu. Zhao's behavior became even more wanton after his death. She often had affairs with Lord Chunping (春平侯), accepted bribes from Qin, and killed the famous general Li Mu.
But historical records have different opinions on the cause of Li Mu's death.[2]
Death and aftermath
editIn 228 BC, Qin general Wang Jian led his army to attack Handan, the capital of Zhao, and captured Qian, king of Zhao. Officials of the State of Zhao resented Queen Zhao Dao for mistreating the country, so they killed her and exterminated her clan, and established Zhao Jia as the acting king in Dai County.
In 222 BC, Wang Ben took advantage of the destruction of Yan State and turned to attack Dai County, captured Jia of Dai, and Zhao State was completely destroyed.[3]
References
edit- ^ Zhao Guo Shi Gao (Draft History of the Zhao State), Shen Changyun, Zhonghua Book Company, China.
- ^ 《战国策·卷六·秦策四·秦王欲见顿弱》记载为秦王政命顿弱携带万金，游说赵王杀李牧。《战国策·卷七·秦策五·文信侯出走》记载为赵王迁的宠臣韩仓谗言陷害李牧，致使李牧被赐死。《战国策·卷二十一·赵策四·秦使王翦攻赵》记载为王翦贿赂郭开，反间杀死李牧。而《史记·卷八十一·廉颇蔺相如列传》记载为郭开谗言陷害李牧后，李牧拒不交出兵权，被赵王迁派人处决。
- ^ 《列女传·卷七·孽嬖·赵悼倡后》：倡后者，邯郸之倡，赵悼襄王之后也。前日而乱一宗之族。既寡，悼襄王以其美而取之。李牧谏曰：“不可。女之不正，国家所以覆而不安也。此女乱一宗，大王不畏乎？”王曰：“乱与不乱，在寡人为政。”遂娶之。初，悼襄王后生子嘉为太子。倡后既入为姬，生子迁。倡后既嬖幸于王，阴谮后及太子于王，使人犯太子而陷之于罪，王遂废嘉而立迁，黜后而立倡姬为后。及悼襄王薨，迁立，是为幽闵(缪)王。倡后淫佚不正，通于春平君，多受秦赂，而使王诛其良将武安君李牧。其后秦兵径入，莫能距迁，遂见虏于秦，赵亡。大夫怨倡后之谮太子及杀李牧，乃杀倡后而灭其家，共立嘉于代，七年，不能胜秦，赵遂灭为郡。