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Princess Pingyang (han dynasty)

Princess Pingyang (平陽公主) was the eldest daughter of Emperor Jing of Han and his second empress, Empress Wang Zhi. She was the eldest sister of Emperor Wu of Han. Her official title was Eldest Princess Yangxin (陽信長公主), but because she married the Marquess of Pingyang named Cao Shi (曹时) (aka Cao Shou (曹寿)), she was generally referred to as Princess Pingyang.

Even after her marriage, she maintained a close relationship with her brother, Emperor Wu, and he often visited her at her estate. It was at her estate that he met Wei Zifu, who would eventually become his second empress. At the time, Wei Zifu was working as a singer and dancer at the princess' estate. Emperor Wu took a liking to her and brought her back to his palace as a concubine. Wei Zifu's half-brother, Wei Qing, who was working as a horsekeeper at the princess' estate, was sent to work in the palace as well. He would later achieve great military success as a general.

When the Marquess of Pingyang died, Princess Pingyang's advisors suggested that she remarry. Subsequently, she married Wei Qing, who was by then a marquess himself.

Princess Pingyang bore Cao Shi a son named Cao Xiang (曹襄), who succeeded his father.

Last update 02-06-2012

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