韦

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Empress Wei韦后

TangHistory × Fiction

Empress of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, shared hardships with the emperor, had an affair with Wu Sansi, aspired to emulate Wu Zetian, plotted to murder Emperor Zhongzong, was killed by rebel troops, and fell into Avici Hell.

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DIRECT FIGURES
9
RELATION RECORDS
16
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Empress Wei, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

5 figures · 7 records
1 more in the complete record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

4 figures · 4 records
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

4 figures · 5 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

During the Shenlong era, Empress Wei wielded power, and later gathered bird feathers to make a saddle cover. She was the empress of Emperor Zhongzong and mother of Princess Anle. After her downfall, she committed treason and usurped the throne, and was suppressed with the participation of Princess Taiping.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Empress of Emperor Zhongzong, shared hardships with the emperor. As consort of the Prince of Luling, she admired Wu Sansi. As empress of Emperor Zhongzong, she had an affair with Wu Sansi and secretly plotted to recall Emperor Zhongzong.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    5 profile notes
    8 relations8 verified quotations
    • Empress Wei→ empress →Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
    • Princess Taiping→ participate pacify →Empress Wei
    • Wu Sansi→ adultery →Empress Wei
    • Li Longji→ kill →Empress Wei
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 中宗为萧氏婚主，韦庶人为崔氏婚主

      spouse · Old Book of Tang, 魏元忠韦安石萧至忠宗楚客纪处讷传

    2. 韦后作逆称制

      participate pacify · Old Book of Tang, 外戚传

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    9 profile notes
    5 relations7 verified quotations
    • Empress Wei→ empress →Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
    • Emperor Zhongzong of Tang→ spouse →Empress Wei
    • Empress Wei→ poison →Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
    • Wu Sansi→ adultery →Empress Wei
    Verified original text · 7
    1. 也会挟制夫君，中宗甚畏之

      coerce · Romance of Sui and Tang, 076

    2. 立妃韦氏为皇后

      spouse · Romance of Sui and Tang, 072

    5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    15 profile notes
    7 relations8 verified quotations
    • Empress Wei→ empress →Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
    • Empress Wei→ satirize emperor →Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
    • Empress Wei→ fear →Princess Taiping
    • Wu Sansi→ adultery →Empress Wei
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 帝幽废，与后约

      empress · New Book of Tang, 后妃传上

    2. 韦后为亚献

      empress · New Book of Tang, 行一志

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Empress Wei had an affair with Wu Sansi, and Emperor Zhongzong even kept score for them; they also plotted rebellion. The novel depicts their debauchery and disruption of court affairs based on historical facts.

  • attestedEmpress Wei and Wu Sansi had an affair, playing a game of double sixes while Emperor Zhongzong kept score.

    The New Book of Tang, Biographies of the Five Princes, records: 'Moreover, Sansi and [the Empress] engaged in licentious acts, and thus they slandered others with strange accuracy.' The official history records that Sansi entered the palace to play double sixes with Empress Wei, and Zhongzong kept score for them. The Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chapter 75, details that when Zhongzong returned from hunting and entered the palace, he saw Wu Sansi and Empress Wei 'playing a game of double sixes,' with Zhongzong standing by, laughing and giving advice. Later, Empress Wei and Princess Anle poisoned Zhongzong, and they were executed in the Tanglong coup, all according to historical facts.

Relationship network

10 figures · 44 links
Empress WeiEmpress WeiEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangPrincess TaipingPrincess TaipingWu SansiWu SansiLi LongjiLi LongjiXiao ZhizhongXiao ZhizhongPrincess AnlePrincess AnleZong ChukeZong ChukeWei JuyuanWei JuyuanWei SiliWei Sili
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 五行志; Romance of Sui and Tang, 072; New Book of Tang, 二王韦陆二李杜传; Old Book of Tang, 外戚传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 073; New Book of Tang, 五王传; Old Book of Tang, 玄宗本纪上

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.