[ Favorite concubine of Liu Bian, danced for him as he died. Daughter of Tang Mao.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Lady T‘ang Chi
Simplified Chinese: 唐姫夫人
Birthplace: Yingchuan
Other Names: Lady Tang
Name Notes: ‘Lady Tang’ in various translations of the novel.
Rank and Titles
A Favourite Concubine to Liu Bian
Family and Relationships
Tang Mao (Father); Emperor Shao [Liu Bian] (Husband)
Fact vs. Fiction
Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction
- Was not strangled by soldiers at the behest of Li Ru. Instead, she danced for Dong Zhuo in an effort to have Liu Bian’s life spared. She returned to her family and was later captured, through unrelated circumstances, by Li Jue. [HHS:10B]
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 4
Hou Han shu: 10
Biography
Lady Tang Ji, of Yingchuan, was the daughter of Tang Mao and a favorite concubine to Liu Bian. In AD 190, when Liu Bian was pressed to take poison on orders from Dong Zhuo, she danced and sang for him at his request. She later returned home and resisted efforts on her father’s part to have her remarried.
In AD 192 Li Jue raided to the east and she was sized and delivered to Chang’an. Li Jue desired to married her, but she refused him. Though she didn’t reveal herself Jia Xu learned of her plight and informed Emperor Xian, who arranged for her release. She was awarded with land and attendants to maintain her status as concubine to the Late Emperor. (1)
1: Source: Dr. Rafe de Crespigny.