Chu Suanzi, formally Empress Kangxian, at times as Empress Dowager Chongde, was an empress of the Eastern Jin.
13 Facts About Chu Suanzi
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Chu Suanzi's husband was Emperor Kang, and, outliving him by 40 years, she was an empress dowager during the reigns of five emperors, including serving as regents for three of them: her son Emperor Mu, her nephew Emperor Ai, and her cousin Emperor Xiaowu.
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Chu Suanzi was respected for the appropriateness of his speech.
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Chu Suanzi died just one year later and her infant son Sima Dan, whom he created crown prince just before his death, became emperor.
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In 357, as Emperor Mu turned 14 and went through his rite of passage, Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi officially stripped herself of her role as regent, and moved to Chongde Palace, which would be her residence for the rest of her life.
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Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi again served as regent at that point.
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Similarly, because Emperor Fei was already an adult at the time he ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi did not serve as regent.
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Chu Suanzi spread false rumors that Emperor Fei was impotent and that all his sons were actually sons of his close associates.
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In 371, he drafted a proposed edict for Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi and submitted it to her while she was at a Buddhist shrine in her palace.
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Chu Suanzi read his submission and commented that she suspected the same thing, and she signed the edict, although she added several sentences showing her grief:.
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Chu Suanzi agreed, but did not take official regent capacity initially.
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In 376, after Emperor Xiaowu turned 14 and had his rite of passage, Empress Dowager Chu Suanzi again gave up her regent authorities and was again referred to as Empress Dowager Chongde.
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Chu Suanzi died in 384 and was buried with honors due an empress, with her husband Emperor Kang.