[ Empress dowager during Jin Dynasty. Wife of Sima Zhao and mother of Sima Yan.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Wang Yüanchi
Simplified Chinese: 王元姬
Pronunciation: Wang2 Yuan2ji1
Cantonese (Yale): Wong Yungei
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Wong Jyungei
Other Names: Lady Wang, Empress Wenming
Name Notes: Formerly Empress Wenming (文明皇后; “civil and understanding empress”)
Rank and Titles
Empress; Empress Dowager
Family and Relationships
Wang Lang (Grandfather); Wang Su (Father); Sima Zhao (Husband); Sima Yan, Sima You (Sons)
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 119
Biography
Wang Yuanji was the daughter of Wang Su, a Wei officer. (1) She married Sima Zhao (who became the de facto leader of Wei). At one point she advised her husband that, “Zhong Hui will cease to be loyal when he comes across profit. He is also enterprising and ambitious. If you show him too much favor, he will be certain to arise in rebellion. He should not be given too much trust.” (2) Her analysis on Zhong Hui turned out to be correct, as Zhong Hui later launched an insurrection against Sima Zhao’s rule. (3)
I have been unable to find more information about her.
1: [URL=https://the-scholars.com/viewtopic.php?p=561227#p561227][/URL]
2: [URL=https://the-scholars.com/viewtopic.php?p=561227#p561227][/URL]
3: [URL=https://the-scholars.com/viewtopic.php?p=561227#p561227][/URL]