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墨書 Inktalez
She is a woman I admire, the first to dare to call herself "I," and she was also known for her regency. At the same time, she is considered the most unfortunate empress in history.
During her 16 years in power, she faced continuous natural disasters and man-made calamities, including meteorite strikes, conflicts among officials, and frequent fires.
However, in such a dire situation, she managed to turn the tide, extinguishing the flames of chaos and bringing stability to the Eastern Han.
She is known as "Crown of the Queen," Empress He Xi, Deng Sui.
But why is someone as exceptional as her referred to as the strongest "White Lotus"?
She is the most extensively documented consort in the Book of the Later Han, with the most beautiful descriptions of her appearance. Moreover, she was born into a prestigious family; her grandfather was Deng Yu, a founding general of the Eastern Han and the leader of the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai, who was a crucial aide to Emperor Guangwu.
Her beauty and superior lineage are not all that define her.
It is said that when Deng Sui was young, she had a dream in which she reached out and touched the sky. It was vast and magnificent, filled with stalactite-like formations. She was so excited that she gasped for breath.
Later, when she told her family about it, they asked a dream interpreter how to interpret this dream.
The interpreter said that even the ancient Emperor Yao had once dreamed of ascending to heaven; these were auspicious signs before a sage king accomplished great things. Her family was secretly delighted but did not dare to speak openly about it.
Why did such a legend arise? It was because Deng Sui showed extraordinary qualities from a young age.
At five years old, when her grandmother cut her hair and accidentally nicked her forehead, she immediately stopped without crying or making a fuss. When her grandmother asked why she endured it silently, she replied that it wasn't because it didn't hurt; rather, it was because her grandmother loved her enough to cut her hair. If she cried out, it would only hurt her grandmother's feelings.
A five-year-old child with such high emotional intelligence is vastly different from ordinary children. In modern society, this would be considered a prodigy.
Today we often say that high IQ does not guarantee success, but low emotional intelligence will certainly lead to failure. Deng Sui not only had high emotional intelligence but could also read historical texts by the age of six. Her insights were remarkable; alongside her father Deng Xun, he consulted her on various matters, big and small.
However, when Deng Xun's sons saw him doing this, he did not give them any attention.
Deng Xun's brother Deng Chang asked him, "Why don't you talk to your sons? Have you lost your mind?"
Deng Xun replied, "I have not lost my mind. Although my daughter is young, none of my sons can compare to her; she will surely benefit our family."
However, her mother did not like Deng Sui very much and often criticized her in the book, urging her to learn more feminine skills. In that era, it was difficult for women to marry if they did not know how to do needlework.
Deng Sui was very obedient; not only did she not argue with her mother, but she also practiced her skills diligently during the day and recited classics at night. As a result, everyone in the household referred to her as "Zhu Sheng."
Deng Sui found a way to have the emperor declare her, and she went to study scriptures, economics, astronomy, and arithmetic under Ban Zhao. These learning experiences also made her one of the early promoters of China's technological explosion.
She directly promoted and supported Cai Lun in improving papermaking techniques, successfully creating "Cai Hou Paper," which became the first widely used writing material in history, thanks to Cai Lun's craftsmanship and Deng Sui's foresight.
When Zhang Heng was researching the armillary sphere, Deng Sui, as the ruling empress dowager, invited Zhang Heng to court using an official carriage and provided him with ample appreciation and trust. In this favorable research environment, Zhang Heng invented the seismometer, the world's earliest instrument for measuring earthquakes, as well as the armillary sphere.
Deng Sui had a far-sighted vision in technology and was also exceptionally capable in promoting culture. She established the earliest coeducational school in history, providing educational opportunities for women.
The famous preschool education and official educational policies led to the creation of the world's first dictionary. At the same time, she supported figures like Cai Lun and Zhang Heng, leaving behind the enduring tale of "Three Saints in the Same Court."
This illustrates the power of knowledge; from these examples, one can see Deng Sui's foresight stemming from her extensive reading.
So why is such an outstanding person referred to as the strongest "White Lotus"? This story begins with her entry into the palace.
Deng Sui participated in a selection at the age of 16 and was directly chosen by Han He Emperor to enter the palace as a noble consort.
Historical records describe her appearance: "She stood seven feet two inches tall, with a beautiful face that was strikingly different from others, stunning everyone around her."
Although Deng Sui's beauty overshadowed all other women in the palace, Han He Emperor already had an empress.
The empress was a great-granddaughter of Yin Lihua, the founding empress of Eastern Han.
Speaking of Empress Yin, she had a familial relationship with Deng Sui; her mother was a niece of Yin Lihua, making it so that according to their generational hierarchy, the empress should refer to Deng Sui as aunt.
After entering the palace, Deng Sui's excellence provoked jealousy from the empress. Unable to handle this situation, the empress fell out of favor with Han He Emperor. Although she came from a prestigious family and looked good, she lacked education and had a rather simple mind.
Seeing Deng Sui being favored, she often pretended to be ill to make Han He Emperor rest elsewhere, deliberately preventing him from going to Deng Sui's quarters.
When the prince was born, Deng Sui did not boast and even took the initiative to congratulate the Empress. In front of Han He Emperor, she always maintained her humility; whenever he was present, she stood like a servant, bending her body.
She dared not wear brightly colored clothes like the Empress, but throughout history, men have always preferred gentle and non-dominant women. The Empress's actions were actually helping Deng Sui, making her increasingly favored by the Emperor.
The image of the Empress in the Emperor's mind formed a stark contrast with that of Deng Sui.
As the Empress became more unhinged, once again Han He Emperor fell gravely ill. Empress Yin did not worry about the Emperor's health; she believed that if he passed away, she would seize power and declared in her palace that if she gained power, she would ensure that the Deng family would have no future and would be completely eradicated.
This was overheard by one of her maidservants, who secretly informed Deng Sui. This maidservant had previously received help from Deng Sui during her troubles, so she was very grateful to her.
Upon hearing this, Deng Sui wept bitterly and said, "I have always served the Empress sincerely but have not received her protection; instead, she harbors such hatred for me. Now I can only die to protect the Deng clan."
After saying this, she attempted to take poison to commit suicide but was stopped by those in the palace who informed her that the Emperor had recovered.
Only then did Deng Sui abandon her suicidal thoughts.
The next day, Han He Emperor indeed recovered.
Later, unable to contain herself, Empress Yin was consumed by jealousy and resorted to drastic measures typical of women in the harem.
The Witchcraft Catastrophe during Emperor Wu of Han's reign served as a cautionary tale for all emperors; this time Han He Emperor truly could not tolerate it and directly deposed the Empress.
Seeing this situation, Deng Sui felt compelled to plead for the Empress since they were relatives. Her plea showcased her magnanimity. Han He Emperor not only intended to depose the Empress but also wanted to establish Deng Sui as Empress. Upon hearing this, Deng Sui immediately pretended to be seriously ill, retreating from public life and refusing visitors. However, Han He Emperor's decree could not be disobeyed, and ultimately she became Empress.
After becoming Empress, she continued to maintain a low profile and humility. Not only did she eliminate extravagance in the harem, but she also resolutely declined rewards for her family.
Her brother Deng Zhi was merely a middle-ranking general during Han He Emperor's reign, far below the standard for powerful relatives. Deng Sui's rise to political prominence stemmed from Han He Emperor's early death.
In the first year of Yuanxing, twenty-seven-year-old Han He Emperor passed away.
The one-hundred-day-old prince Liu Long ascended to the throne, and Deng Sui took charge as Dowager Empress, marking the beginning of her arduous yet remarkable path of governance.
During her 16 years in power, the Eastern Han Dynasty faced the most severe natural disasters in Chinese history, including droughts, floods, locust plagues, earthquakes, and fires. These calamities erupted year after year, often occurring simultaneously within a single year. The state and the imperial family exhausted all their resources but still could not adequately address the refugee crisis.
Additionally, ethnic minorities such as those from the Western Regions, Xiqiang, Xianbei, and Wuhuan frequently invaded and attacked, making it difficult for the Eastern Han Empire to defend itself. The borders were often in a state of emergency, posing a serious threat to the Eastern Han regime. In this dire situation, Deng Sui implemented a series of political measures and worked tirelessly, transforming the Eastern Han from a state of crisis to one of stability, ultimately restoring peace and achieving bountiful harvests.
Throughout this process, her close friend Ban Zhao assisted Empress Dowager Deng in governing the country behind the scenes.
As a capable assistant to Empress Dowager Deng, Ban Zhao was highly respected for her exceptional skills. Whether during her time or in later generations, although everyone knew she participated in governance, no one ever accused her of meddling in politics; instead, she received high praise.
In February 121 AD, Deng Sui fell ill and her condition gradually worsened. Even then, she remained concerned about her country.
Despite her illness, she managed to meet with ministers and inspect the recently renovated palace of the Crown Prince. She also granted promotions and pardoned the people.
Three months later, she completed her remarkable life at the age of 41 and was buried alongside her husband, Han He Emperor.
The legend of the strongest "white lotus" is largely about the stark contrast before and after her reign—submissive before taking power and decisive after. Coupled with her exceptional beauty, many believe that her apparent humility was actually a form of competition and that her gentleness was merely an act.
I would argue that this perspective is both right and wrong. The reason intelligent people are considered wise is that they understand what actions are appropriate for their position; they navigate their circumstances correctly regardless of their environment.
The roles before and after taking office are different and cannot be generalized.
People change as their positions change; when you become wealthy and a big boss, your approach to life will also undergo significant changes.
Regardless of how one views it, Deng Sui's achievements have had a profound impact on future generations. She is regarded as a model for wise empresses throughout history and truly embodies the title "Crown of the Queen."
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