CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Queen Dowager Xuan宣太后
Wife of Duke Wen of Zheng, younger sister of King Cheng of Chu, led two daughters to reward the army.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 8
- RELATION RECORDS
- 10
- SOURCE WORKS
- 4
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Queen Dowager Xuan, 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
7 figures · 8 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Queen Dowager XuanisKing Zhaoxiang of Qin’s mother
Marquis of Rang—Queen Dowager Xuanbrothers
Queen Dowager Xuan—King Cheng of Chusiblings
Queen Dowager Xuan—King Zhaoxiang of Qinmother-son
Wei Ran—Queen Dowager Xuansiblings
Lao Ai—Queen Dowager Xuanshare bed
Source record
Xiang Shou—Queen Dowager Xuanforeign tribe
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 2 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
King Zhaoxiang of Qin→Queen Dowager Xuandepose
Fan Sui→Queen Dowager Xuanaccuse
Source record
9 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Mother of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, a Chu native. Qin's Queen Dowager, died.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Strategies of the Warring States · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
Wife of Duke Wen of Zheng, younger sister of King Cheng of Chu, led two daughters to reward the army. A Chu woman, secretly had an affair with Duke Jing of Cai. Mother of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, ruled the court, appointed her younger brother Wei Ran as chancellor.
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.
- Literature / legend4 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
4 relations3 verified quotations- Queen Dowager Xuan→ siblings →King Cheng of Chu
- Queen Dowager Xuan→ siblings →Marquis of Rang
- Queen Dowager Xuan→ mother-son →King Zhaoxiang of Qin
- Lao Ai→ share bed →Queen Dowager Xuan
Verified original text · 3
正是楚成王之妹
siblings · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 34
原来穰侯名魏冉，乃是宣太后之弟。
siblings · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 97
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Official history5 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
6 relations6 verified quotations- Queen Dowager Xuan→ mother-son →King Zhaoxiang of Qin
- King Zhaoxiang of Qin→ depose →Queen Dowager Xuan
- Fan Sui→ accuse →Queen Dowager Xuan
- Marquis of Rang→ brothers →Queen Dowager Xuan
Verified original text · 6
昭王母故号为芈八子，及昭王即位，芈八子号为宣太后。
mother-son · Records of the Grand Historian, 穰侯列传
昭王母宣太后
mother-son · Records of the Grand Historian, 范睢蔡泽列传
4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history3 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history1 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
The romance confuses her with same-surname Mi women such as the wife of Duke Wen of Zheng and the wife of the heir of Cai.
The official history (Records of the Grand Historian, 'Annals of Qin') records that Queen Dowager Xuan was the mother of King Zhaoxiang of Qin. However, fictional accounts have conflated the life stories of Wen Mi, wife of Duke Wen of Zheng, and Mi Shi, wife of the Crown Prince of Cai, into her person, which is a major case of mistaken identity. The original text: 「昭襄母楚人，姓芈氏，号宣太后。」 (Records of the Grand Historian, 'Annals of Qin', data/raw/shiji/秦本纪.txt)
Relationship network
- mother-sonQueen Dowager Xuan → King Zhaoxiang of QinhistRecords of the Grand Historian, 穰侯列传Records of the Grand Historian, 范睢蔡泽列传
Original text (2)
昭王母故号为芈八子，及昭王即位，芈八子号为宣太后。
昭王母宣太后
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
原来穰侯名魏冉，乃是宣太后之弟。
Original text (1)
穰侯，华阳君，昭王母宣太后之弟也
- mother-sonQueen Dowager Xuan → King Zhaoxiang of QinlitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 97
Original text (1)
宣太后芈氏，楚女，乃昭襄王之母。
Original text (1)
其异父长弟曰穰侯，姓魏氏，名冉；同父弟曰芈戎，为华阳君。
Original text (1)