26 Facts About Chen Shubao

Chen Shubao, known as Houzhu of Chen, posthumous name Duke Yang of Changcheng, courtesy name Yuanxiu, childhood name Huangnu, was the fifth and last emperor of the Chinese Chen dynasty, which was conquered by the Sui dynasty in 589.

At the time of his ascension, Chen was already facing military pressure by Sui on multiple fronts, and, according to traditional historians, Chen Shubao was an incompetent ruler who was more interested in literature and women than in state affairs.

Chen Shubao was born in 553, when his father Chen Xu was serving as a mid-level official under Emperor Yuan of Liang at the capital of Jiangling.

Chen Shubao's mother was Chen Xu's second wife, Liu Jingyan, and he was Chen Xu's eldest son.

For reasons lost to history, Lady Liu and Chen Shubao were not taken to Chang'an, but left at Rang City.

Chen Shubao requested that Western Wei's successor state, Northern Zhou, return Chen Chang and Chen Xu to him, but Northern Zhou, while initially agreeing, did not do so during Emperor Wu's lifetime.

Chen Shubao was made crown prince, and his mother, Princess Liu, was made empress.

In fall 569, Chen Shubao married Shen Wuhua, the daughter of the official Shen Junli, as his wife and crown princess.

Chen Shubao thus wanted to command the official Jiang Zong, who was talented in literature, serve as his chief of staff, and he requested that Kong Huan, the minister of civil service, to make it so.

The ambitious Chen Shuling had designed on the throne, and when Emperor Xuan died, while Chen Shubao was mourning over Emperor Xuan's casket, Chen Shuling pulled out a sharpened knife and stabbed Chen Shubao in the neck, who then collapsed.

Empress Liu tried to stop Chen Shubao Shuling, but was stabbed several times.

However, the lady-in-waiting Lady Wu grabbed Chen Shuling, allowing Chen Shubao to get up and escape.

Chen Shubao honored his mother Empress Liu as empress dowager.

Chen Shubao made his wife Lady Shen empress and his oldest son Chen Yin crown prince.

In spring 583, displeased that Chen Shujian was, in his view, becoming overly powerful, Chen Shubao, encouraged by his associates Kong Fan and Shi Wenqing, made Chen Shujian the governor of Jiang Province to remove him from power.

When this was discovered, Chen Shubao considered executing Chen Shujian, but after Chen Shujian reminded him how Chen Shujian was responsible for saving him from Chen Shuling, Chen Shubao spared him but removed him from his posts.

Chen Shubao often spent his days feasting with his concubines, headed by Consort Zhang, as well as those ladies in waiting and officials who had literary talent, having those officials and ladies in waiting sing or write poetry to praise his concubines' beauty.

Further, at Kong Fan's urging, Chen Shubao transferred much of the military command to civilian officials, further causing the generals to be disgruntled.

In spring 588, Chen Shubao, believing Consorts Zhang's and Kong's accusations that Chen Yin resented him for not favoring Empress Shen, deposed Chen Yin and created him the Prince of Wuxing, instead creating Consort Zhang's son Chen Yuan crown prince.

Chen Shubao considered deposing Empress Shen and replacing her with Consort Zhang, but did not get a chance to do so before Sui launched a major attack in spring 588 as well.

Only then did Chen Shubao realize the seriousness of the situation, but instead of resisting in earnest, he panicked, leaving Shi in effective control of the situation.

Heruo defeated Xiao Mohe and captured him, and the rest of Chen Shubao troops collapsed, allowing the Sui forces to enter the capital.

In panic and abandoned by his officials, Chen Shubao hid in a well with Consorts Zhang and Kong, but was discovered and captured.

However, he and his household were generally treated well by the Sui generals, although Gao, blaming Consort Zhang for Chen Shubao's collapse, executed her.

Some Chen generals continued to resist, but were quickly defeated, particularly because at the Sui forces' request, Chen Shubao wrote letters to the Chen generals ordering them to surrender.

Chen Shubao engaged in heavy drinking, which Emperor Wen initially tried to curb, but later stopped doing so, reasoning that Chen Shubao needed to have something to do with his time.