CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Empress Xiao萧后
Sui empress, captured by Li Jing and sent to the capital.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 8
- RELATION RECORDS
- 16
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Empress Xiao, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
3 figures · 5 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Emperor Yang of Sui—Empress Xiaospouse
Empress Xiao—Dou Xianniangpeer
Yuwen Huaji—Empress Xiaospouse
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
5 figures · 6 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Li Shimin→Empress Xiaocourteous reception
Dou Jiande→Empress Xiaosubmit
Empress Xiao→Yuwen Huajidepend
Empress Xiao→Dou Xianniangreceive
Luo Cheng→Empress Xiaodecree
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Wu Zetian→Empress Xiaojealousy
Li Jing→Empress Xiaocapture
Yuwen Huaji→Empress Xiaoretain favor
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Dou Xianniang→Empress Xiaoescort
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Old Book of Tang
Sui empress, captured by Li Jing and sent to the capital; Empress of Emperor Yang of Sui, captured by Li Jing.
In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang
Empress of Emperor Yang, jealous because the emperor favored Xuanhua, later schemed to select beauties.; Empress of Emperor Yang, discussed building palaces with the emperor.; Empress of Emperor Yang, accompanied the emperor on a tour of the Western Garden.
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.
- Official history4 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
2 relations2 verified quotations- Li Jing→ capture →Empress Xiao
- Dou Jiande→ submit →Empress Xiao
Verified original text · 2
获隋齐王暕之子杨正道及炀帝萧后
capture · Old Book of Tang, 李靖李𪟝传
建德入城，先谒隋萧皇后，与语称臣
submit · Old Book of Tang, 王世充窦建德传
- Literature / legend33 profile notes
Romance of Sui and Tang
15 relations24 verified quotations- Li Shimin→ courteous reception →Empress Xiao
- Empress Xiao→ serve →Li Shimin
- Wu Zetian→ jealousy →Empress Xiao
- Emperor Yang of Sui→ spouse →Empress Xiao
Verified original text · 24
太宗携著萧后进宫
courteous reception · Romance of Sui and Tang, 069
太宗闻知，深为惋惜，厚加殡殓
bury richly · Romance of Sui and Tang, 070
22 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
New Book of Tang
1 relations1 verified quotations- Dou Jiande→ submit →Empress Xiao
Verified original text · 1
建德入，先谒萧皇后，语称臣。
submit · New Book of Tang, 王窦传
History vs. fiction
The romance adds a large amount of fictional plots such as beauty contests.
The official history only records her as Emperor Yang's empress. The Old Book of Tang, in the biographies of Li Jing and Li Shiji, records: 'Captured Yang Zhengdao, son of the King of Qi, and Empress Xiao of Emperor Yang, and sent them to the capital.' The novel adds court anecdotes such as designing a beauty contest due to jealousy of Consort Xuanhua, see Romance of Sui and Tang, Chapter 20: 'Empress Xiao said: "I wanted to strengthen the bond between husband and wife, so I advised Your Majesty to send away Xuanhua, but I did not expect Your Majesty to be so attached."'
Relationship network
- courteous reception← Li Shimin → Empress XiaolitRomance of Sui and Tang, 069Romance of Sui and Tang, 070
Original text (2)
太宗携著萧后进宫
太宗闻知，深为惋惜，厚加殡殓
Original relation: bury richly · Romance of Sui and Tang, 070
Original text (1)
萧后泣对太宗道
Original text (1)
媚娘见他风流可爱，便生起妒忌心来
- spouse← Emperor Yang of Sui → Empress XiaolitRomance of Sui and Tang, 028Romance of Sui and Tang, 030Romance of Sui and Tang, 031Romance of Sui and Tang, 034Romance of Sui and Tang, 035Romance of Sui and Tang, 036Romance of Sui and Tang, 039Romance of Sui and Tang, 040Romance of Sui and Tang, 047
Original text (8)
萧后并辇回宫
萧后对炀帝道……妾见木兰庭上，万花齐放，故差奴婢们迎请陛下一赏
携了萧后的手
萧后接住问道：“陛下与众臣商议的水道何如？”
御妻
道：“陛下不见妾的招纸么？”
炀帝道：“御妻之言有理
炀帝与萧后在宫中，安寝了一宵
Original text (3)
道：“好个皇帝，才做得几日，便背弃正妻、奸淫父妃
道：“陛下与众臣商议的水道何如？”
御妻
Original text (1)
获隋齐王暕之子杨正道及炀帝萧后
- submit← Dou Jiande → Empress Xiaohist × litNew Book of Tang, 王窦传Old Book of Tang, 王世充窦建德传Romance of Sui and Tang, 051
Original text (3)
建德入城，先谒隋萧皇后，与语称臣
孤所以带萧后来者，恐留在中原，又为他人所辱
Original relation: settle · Romance of Sui and Tang, 051
建德入，先谒萧皇后，语称臣。
Original relation: submit · New Book of Tang, 王窦传
Original text (1)
宇文化及见萧后花容，大有姿色，心下十分眷爱，便不忍下手
Original text (1)
是夜正与萧后酣寝宫中
Original text (1)
萧后道：“将军既然如此，何不立其后以彰大义？”
Original text (1)
道：“当初我见公主外边军律严精
Original text (1)
勇安公主又在宫中选了二三十名精壮的宫人
Original text (1)
老身便同公主夫人，回中原去走遭。”
Original text (1)
萧后、沙夫人与窦线娘见过了礼。
Original text (1)
萧后看线娘面貌，不要说人材端正，兼之倜傥风流，更自可人。
Original text (1)
罗成道：“殿下请进问声萧娘娘，可要出来接旨？”